Every day is a new day and with that, a new opportunity.
EVERYONE is welcome and please join us each morning at 7:30 AM PACIFIC
to tell us what you're working on, share your show & tell, vent, whatever you want...
...this is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.
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I've been owned by many animals in my life. I currently don't have any around. In addition to a cat allergy I've become accustomed to fewer duties in my life the last two decades. Now, I know many of you will declare that animals in your life are NOT a burden. I understand and am especially glad for the animals who give you love. For me, I needed to minimize duties. About a decade ago I stopped buying houseplants. Now I only have a couple of orchid plants but often no plants at all. It all reduces my stress level.
For many of you, having animals around you reduces your stress level.
As a child, we had several dogs and cats over the years. Admiral the collie, Rocky the white husky who died in our arms, Whiskers the mutt. Sooo many cats that I won't start naming them. We had herds of sheep and goats. Once in grade school, just after we introduced goats to our sheep herd, I went to the corral to pet the goats and learned they were not docile like the sheep. I was in shock as the billy goat butted my stomach, forcefully nonstop, with my back against a fence. I was screaming. My mom had to run to the corral and pull me out. I'll never forget the marks it left on my belly. I primarily only like to eat goats now. I've had goldfish, frogs that I captured as tadpoles and gerbils that got eaten by our cats.
The animal I loved the most was my palomino, Blondie. My dad would saddle her up for me but I was only allowed to trot her. Once she broke into a gallop and I loved it. We were one. I think she loved it, too. My dad yelled to stop and I was lectured on never going faster than a trot. I hated trotting.
When I ran for our track team in high school I thought of those powerful palomino legs galloping. She helped me place in the mile.
My greatest adventure with Blondie, that I kept a secret from my dad until I was 30, happened after school one day.
So, I came home and discovered my dad wasn't home. Oh giddyup! I was very young but proceeded to saddle Blondie myself. I got to the cinch part and wondered exactly how to do it. I'd watched a million times but really wasn't sure when it came down to it. I did my best.
Oh man, she and I headed for the huge alfalfa field, both intent on a great ride. I kicked her sides and snapped the reins. Off she went in a glorious gallop. God, it was exhilarating. Until I felt my saddle start to slip to the side. I quickly realized that I hadn't cinch the saddle properly and then the saddle started slipping off fast. I knew I was going to fall under her hooves. I realized I could die if she hit my head just so. I had no plan B so I fell off with the saddle, hit the ground hard, dirt crammed in my ear and inside my collar. Then came the hooves whisking close to my cheek and chest. She missed me, all of me. I sat up quickly amazed that one of those four thundering legs didn't nail me. Blondie stopped when the reins dropped, she walked back to me. I threw the saddle on her back and walked with her to the corral.
I kept that secret from my father for a very long time.
What kind of animals live with you? (hat tip: jakedog42)
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I'm listening.
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Latest Updates on Kossack Regional Meet-Up News Below the Fold
COMMUNITY BUILDING UPDATES:
Let's build communities!
Every region needs a meat-space community like SFKossacks.
We take care of each other in real life.
I urge YOU to take the lead and organize one in your region.
Please tell us about it if you do and we're here for advice.
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THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
:: New Regions Organizing! ::
These are the groups that have started since * NEW DAY * began. Please Kosmail navajo if you have started a group before that.
NEW GROUPS LIST:
• California Central Valley Kossacks
Organizer: tgypsy
• New England Kossacks
Organizers:
Clytemnestra (Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island)
Common Sense Mainer (Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont)
• Houston Area Kossacks
Organizer: Chrislove
• Kossacks in India
Organizer: chandu
~~~
ESTABLISHED GROUPS LIST: (List will grow as we discover them)
• SFKossacks Founded by navajo, Formed: May 2, 2005, More than 80 members
• Maryland Kos Founded by timmyc, Formed: Feb 23, 2011, More than 54 members
• New York City Founded by Eddie C, More than 58 members
• Baja Arizona Kossacks Founded by buddabelly, Formed: Feb. 13. 2011, 90 members
• Nashville KosKats Founded by ZenTrainer, Formed: Jan 30, 2012, 28 members
• Virginia Kos Founded by JamieG from Md, Formed: May 3, 2011, 67 members
:: Current Diaries in Planning Mode ::
•
Baltimore area kossack meetup suggestion by
sreeizzle2012
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:: Events Currently on the Books for ALL Kossacks ::
Saturday, September 15th
Central Valley Kossacks Lunch!
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Ket Mo Ree Thai Restaurant & Bar
238 G St.
Davis, CA
530-759-2255
HOST: tgypsy
RSVPs So Far:
1. tgypsy
2. cooper888
3. gotmooned (Mr cooper888)
4. SallyCat
5. Mr. Cat
6. mrsgoo
7. Kestrel - tentative (Maybe)
Latest diary about this event: Central Valley Kossacks: Let's Meet Up
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DailyKos readers who live and/or work in New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont)
Saturday, September 15th
New England Kossak Meet Up!
TIME: Noon - 3pm
LOCATION: Bangkok Cafe
369 Central Street
Foxborough, MA 02035
508-543-THAI (8424)
map
HOST: Clytemnestra
Affirmative RSVPs thus far:
1. Clytemnestra
2. Rick DeVille (husband of SadieSue)
3. SadieSue (they will be coming from Western Mass willing to carpool)
4. GreyHawk
5. Hawkwife
6. thankgodforairamerica (coming from central, CT willing to carpool)
7. 8. 9. Moody Loner, mommyp00ka, and the Little
10. jarbyus
11. bjedward
12. msdobie
13. dlcmassage
Maybes:
litho
brillig
northerntier (will be coming from central VT, willing to carpool. )
The Poet Deploreate (will be coming from the North Shore, willing to carpool.)
Phil S 33
Samantha Clemens (progressive radio talk show host)
rougegorge
annieli
TrueBlueMajority
Thestral
GreenMountainBoy02
commonmass
Latest diary about this event, including activities to do in the area.
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Sunday, September 16th
Portland, Oregon Area Meet-Up
TIME: 4:00 PM
LOCATION: Red and Black Cafe
400 SE 12th Avenue
Portland, Oregon
The Red and Black is located in the beautiful Buckman neighborhood, which is home to many social justice groups. Right around the corner from the vegan mini mall! It's on the 70 bus line and within easy walking distance to the 19, 20, 12, and 6. Located conveniently in the Central part of Portland in a free parking SE neighborhood.
HOSTS: Horace Boothroyd III and Sara R
Send Horace Boothroyd III a Kosmail to RSVP.
EVERYONE is welcome!
RSVP LIST:
1. Horace Boothroyd III
2. loggersbrat
3. Sara R
4. DruidQueen
5. llbear
MAYBees:
ZhenRen
Latest diary about this event: Portland OREGON Kossacks- Important Group Formation Post and Meetup
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Monday, October 1st
NYC MEET-UP
TIME: 6:30 PM
LOCATION: The Three Monkeys
236 W 54th St., between Broadway and 8th Ave.
(212) 586-2080
UP ON THE DECK!
HOST: Sidnora
Send Sidnora a Kosmail to RSVP.
Latest diary about this event: 10/1: NYC Meetup on Deck!
EVERYONE is welcome!
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Saturday, October 13th
Cheers & Jeers Meet-Up
TIME: 1:00 - 4:00 PM
LOCATION: Margaritas Mexican Restaurant
775 Lafayette Road
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
HOSTS: Common Sense Mainer and Bill in Portland Maine
Send Common Sense Mainer an email at cuckolds04103@gmail.com to RSVP. (He prefers his email listed.)
EVERYONE is welcome!
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Friday, October 19th
SFKossack Red Carpet Rollout for Dave in Northridge
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Yank Sing
Rincon Center
101 Spear St.
San Francisco
Send navajo a Kosmail to RSVP.
RSVP LIST:
1. Dave in Northridge
2. navajo
3. Lorikeet
4. Steveningen
5. jpmassar
6. kimoconnor
7. norm (Maybe)
8. MrNavajo
9. remembrance
10. Glen the Plumber
11. Dharmasyd
12. boatsie
13. side pocket
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Send navajo a kosmail if you post a diary about an event so we can update our round-up.
This diary is an example of what SFKossacks do year-round to build our community.
Personal bonds are strengthened and more are feeling comfortable
creating events on their own.
SFKossacks has been organizing since 2005.
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Okay. Floor's open.
Tell us what you are doing on this NEW DAY?