Ranch: Discovered ranch dog, Scout aka Brownie is deaf.

Since moving Scout a couple of weeks ago to his new perimeter post from his old run line.  I felt that something was not right with him.  I just brushed it off as stress from the heat.  Each day, since moving him, I would normally call out to him before approaching his post.  He never came out of his dog house.  Weird...normally he'll coming running and challenging the integrity of his lead.  I brushed it off as stress again.  Thinking that he was not happy being relocated to his new perimeter post. 

Today, I finally realized after I kept calling to him, whistling, calling his name.  And then walking right in front of his house, he came out when he saw me.  I knew right then...he's deaf. 

I was hoping to train him into a hunting dog, like his dam, Duchess.  Now, just thinking about it.  I never heard him barking on the South Side.  I figured he had that area under control.  No wonder that Dinga Tres, Toron Binadu (6 point deer buck) got past him.  Scout never heard him.  It all makes sense now.  The only time Scout would actually bark, is when he probably sees anything that's not supposed to be in his or close to his area. 

Rissa informed me this evening during dinner.  That Scout was recovering from choking a couple of weeks ago when he was still on the runner.  I remember someone had rerouted his lead in between the cable run.  So he won't run back and forth on his runner.  He probably got his lead chain twisted it up that caused a choking hazard.  That explains the collar rash around his neck.  It was severe.  Again, I thought it was the flies that caused the collar rash, similar to what the flies do to the goats.  They lay their eggs on the goats...causing a maggot infestation.  I thought the same thing happened to Scout. 

Now everything makes sense on why Scout is now deaf.  Someone rerouted his chain lead, that caused him to choke on his collar from the twisting and then severe chaffing into his neck.  I know who did it.  Everytime that person does something on the ranch to make convenient for them.  I have to change it back to what I want.  I'm going to fence off the ranch from the house and keep them out. 

I have to decide what I am going to do with a deaf ranch dog. 

Saturday's Escapade from the heat.

Niece Arissa and I went and ran errands today.  We went to Ross at GPO this morning.  I looked around and bought two really nice shirts.  One shirt, an island print, I'll wear for tomorrow night's graduation ceremony.  The other shirt, I'll use when I am teaching.  While waiting in line, I met up with Pastor Clint and his son, Renren.  Arissa ran into Kristine, Clint's wife behind me in the checkout line.  We looked around at the two shoe stores.  I didn't see the boots I wanted.  So it was agreed that my current boots will suffice for the graduation ceremony. 

We had eaten a large breakfast that morning that Rissa had cooked up.  So we were still full when lunch time rolled around.  We decided to head over to Yogurtland to get some frozen yogurt and hide from the heat.  Yogurtland is my once a month treat to myself.  So I got the big cup.  Ris, got the Medium cup.  That was a refreshing treat.  Note to self:  Chocolate Mocha yogurt does not go well with tangarine tango, mango mix, and coconut yogurts.  Do not mix that in the future.  I'll keep the other three flavors next time.  Rissa had the Root Beer float yogurt.  I'll try that next time. 

It was funny seeing Clint, Kristine, and their kids walk into Yogurtland.  We got a chance to fellowship while they enjoyed their yogurt treats.  It was just nice and cool inside. 

At Home Depot, Ris and I got her PPE; safety goggles, and mask, for her lab assignment at school.  She's going to be dissecting frogs.  I got some nails for my home projects.  We ran into Bro. John, Kaelani, and her best friend Tricia.  Bro. John was shopping around for a dog kennel for the German Shepherd they got the other day.  Also, ran into Pastor Billy at the Contractor's Desk.  He was doing some shopping too. 

Funny how we ran into church family on our outing today. 

On the way, home, I stopped by the Vietnamese restaurant and ordered my tray of lumpia for tomorrow's graduation refreshments.  I pray it'll be enough. 

Special thanks to my sister Marissa.  Yes, the VIP's helped out a lot today.  Thank you...much love. 


Keep Smiling... 

Ranch: Eastside Clean up progressing.

Been busy today with the on going clean up on the Eastside of my house.  We did a lot in two days.  Still a lot more to go.  But it is one step at a time.

Arissa and I resumed our burning of yard debris.  Yeah, I know we should compost but we have too much to compost.  Yet, I still have to burn to smoke my mango trees to keep the insects away.  We used the chainsaw to cut more unwanted brush and trees.  It's looking a lot better.

That one planter that we were prepping yesterday.  We added dried mango leaves to the rabbit manure layer, today.  Then we wet it down again.  I want the worms in the manure to  stay healthy.  Next, will be to add potting mix.  I'll have to double check on the approve potting mix for organic production.  We plan to grow red onions and garlic in that planter. 

I had a source of compost to put into that planter.  But it has been contaminated with other junk.  That's what happens when family members think that compost pile is a trash can.  They have no concept of composting.  So I'll have to incinerate that compost pile soon. 

We moved most of the pots away from the planter today.  Not much growing in those pots, only weeds.  We have a really old aluminum extension ladder that we acquired years ago in the '70's.  I moved that away from the area and into the main ranch area and propped it up against a mango tree.  I'm gonna use that for any vegetable vines that I'll grow. 

Arissa and I collected some young coconut saplings, transferred and planted them along the street on the property line/border.  I plan to plant more coconut saplings on another line inside the property line but staggered from the line closest to the road.  These will be future live fence posts for livestock. 

New Goal:  Prep and plant one garden plot each week. 


Keep Smiling

Ranch: Cleaning Eastside of the House.

Catching up on my cleaning.  I worked on the Eastside of the house today.  Did a lot of burning.  Have a big coconut stump to get rid of.  I could compost it.  But, I do have to smoke my mango tree daily to get rid of those pesky insects.  

I cut down all the violet brushes on that side, pulling out some ornamental taro, and cleaned out one of the planters.  My niece/god-daughter, Arissa helped me out.  Lot of ranch training needed for that girl.  Reminded me of when her brother, AJ, started working the ranch.  We did okay.  Still progressing forward. 

New goal is to put up a new row of vegetables each weekend.  That should get us ready year round.  We do have Local Mangoes ready, harvested a couple and enjoyed eating each one.  Waiting for my big Vietnamese Mango tree.  Fruits are slowly getting big.  That's going to be my daily breakfast. 

I'll post pics of our on-going project later this week. 



Keep Smiling

"45 lessons life taught me and five to grow on" by Regina Brett

"1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short -- enjoy it.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything which isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to be happy. But it's all up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive but don't forget.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have not what you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

46. Use your God-given gifts and talents and serve people.

47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

48. If you don't ask, you don't get.

49. Yield.

50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."


Regina Brett  2006, 2009.

Opportunity to teach for my Alma Mater.

Yesterday, I received a call from my Alma Mater for an opportunity to teach with them.  I'm elated with the referral.  It never dawned on me that I would get a call from them asking me to teach.  It has always been a dream of mine to go back to teach for this college but as a JROTC instructor.  When I left the army, after 8 years, instead of retiring, I knew that dream would never happen.  Now, it's a great possibility. 

Electronics and Electrical were fun classes while I was a young student in my teens.  Working with my hands and building things were awesome back then.  Now, I may have the opportunity to give back as an instructor there.   

The courses are all set for the evening schedule,1700 to 2000 (5 to 8 pm), Monday to Friday.  So it doesn't interfere with my commitment to OSH Solutions or my safety clients during the day.

Just getting the referral is an awesome feeling.  It's a good feeling to know that certain people are keeping an eye on what I do.  Especially, now that I'm in the Construction Safety Field. 



Keep Smiling

PM-Scheduling.

I was able to complete my homework earlier to day.  It was for my Project Management Class in Scheduling.  That was a hard assignment.  Since Wednesday last week, I was struggling with it.  Today, I was finally able to  figure it out. Instead of trying to do it in my head.  I just started doing it on paper to help me with my motivation.   Sure enough, it worked. 

At class this evening, we went through it together.  I was short by $1000. I miscalculated the vehicle rentals and the OT.  I was also a day early in completing the case study.  However, I now understand how to do scheduling for construction. 

This evening we had a surprise exam.  I thought we were going to do the exam on Wednesday.  All the students decided to take it. I wanted more time to study.  but decided to go with the group.  Anyway, I passed my test!

Now our class is down to 2 modules.  Only 4 sessions to go, approximately 2 to 3 weeks left.