Jordan Update

I want to thank everyone for your kind words, your support, your prayers, and for reiki. It really means a lot to me.

And so for the update. On the way to the stable this morning, we called the vet to let him know Jordan was still agitated (the stable owner had already called), and still not doing what he needed to do. Since he has ulcers (we discovered), and was so freaked out by being tubed (a tube goes through a nostril down into the stomach. Five gallons of water, Epsom salt, and a laxative, are pumped into the stomach.), the vet didn't want to try that again. He suggested that we let Jordan graze a little, and start giving him small meals later to see if that helped. Otherwise, he would have to go to the hospital and have IV fluids with heavy doses of drugs to help him. Needless to say, we didn't want that.

So, we walked him. Let him graze. Walked him some more. Put him in his stall. Walked him. Let him graze...You get the point. For seven hours. He started getting some bran mash around 3, got some more around 5. And was walked, and walked, and walked. Well, we finally had to come home to feed the dogs and eat dinner. We had JUST pulled up to the house, and the stable owner called. She said she was passing by Jordan's stall, and lo and behold, there was some manure. She said it was dry as a bone, but there nonetheless. YAY!! So, he will get more mash at 8 tonight, and walked. We'll go back at midnight to give him more, and walk him. But this is good news indeed.

We have learned that Jordan is a very stoic horse. We learned he had bad feet for a long time (not anymore, thanks to good supplements and a good farrier), and as a result, had a high pain threshold. As noted above, we learned that he has probably had ulcers for a long time, but just tolerated them - that high pain threshold again. He is now on good drugs for that.

Hopefully, it is the beginning of a full return to health. And I thank you all again for your support during this difficult time. The prayers and good energy seem to be working!

One of my friends mentioned that she is praying to St. Francis, the patron saint of animals, for Jordan. So I want to share this statue from Brookgreen Gardens with you. I had the privilege of meeting the sculptor, the father of a friend, years ago. His name is Julian Harris, and he also did Jimmy Carter's Inaugural Medal. A while back, I had been telling someone about this sculpture, how beautiful it was, turned a corner at Brookgreen Gardens, and there it was! And there it still is to this day! Anyway - this is for you, M.E., and any others who pray to St. Francis, or appreciate beautiful sculpture:

Jordan, Redux...

This is Jordan with the two mini-horses - they are all great friends.

Unfortunately, Jordan is not better today, and we are on our way over to walk him some more. Apparently, he also has ulcers, and is quite agitated today. Our wonderful stable owner was kind enough to get up in the middle of the night, twice, to check on him. She ended up walking him at 3:30 a.m., and made him more alfalfa tea this morning.

Will keep you posted.

In the meantime, how about that Harry Reid telling Blagojevich who would be acceptable to HARRY for PEBO's Senate seat. Who knew that this was how American politics are now - who the people want doesn't make one damn bit of difference. It is who those in the Club want, and any effort to buck that will lead to armed guards at the gates (at least for Burris).

This is not democracy, and they are most certainly not Democrats.

Jordan

OK, this will be a brief post today. Our horse, Jordan (the one on the left - that's his best friend, Peanut, the pony on the right following him), has colic. We were at the stable all Friday evening, and are on our way back over in a few minutes. Unfortunately, he has not responded to the treatment from last night, and may need another one this afternoon. So, no telling when I'll get back to the political scene this weekend, but hopefully by tomorrow. Just wanted to let you know!

Oh, and this is the kind of work Jordan did before he retired (the big jumps), in case you are wondering:

The Lines Are Buzzing...

With the possibility that Paterson will pick Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg after all. Sigh. Between the crapola with Burris and Kennedy, I scarcely recognize our form of government any more. But it is not yet a done deal on Kennedy Schlossberg, so this isn't about that specifically.

Rather, I want to share with you the backbone, the intestinal fortitude, with which some of NY's politicians are made. You may recall that not everyone in NY was happy with the whole Kennedy Schlossberg push for Clinton's Senate seat. Specifically, the Assembly Speaker, Sheldon Silver, was opposed to her appointment. I know I should not be surprised by this, but in this NY Post article, "Silver Now Takes Shine To Caroline," we learn WHY he has made this 180 turn. Ready for this? Here it is:

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who last week sharply questioned whether Caroline Kennedy should be appointed to the US Senate, said yesterday he's rethinking his views because he believes Gov. Paterson may soon pick her.

The emphasis is mine. I am practically speechless. Silver wasn't, though:

"I have determined there's a good possibility she will be the appointee of the governor," Silver, the state's second most powerful Democrat, told The Post.

"If she is the appointee of the governor, I will certainly be supportive of her. I will work for her and will work strenuously for her election."

Let's see - even though he was opposed to her the other day, because he now thinks the governor may pick her, he's for her. Wow - way to stick to the courage of your convictions there, Silver! Oh, yeah - and he's willing to work for her re-election, too! Just like that - snap! I am sure his constituents are thrilled that he is such a man of his word.

Here is the recap of the past week on Silver's position:

Last week, Silver said Kennedy seemed more loyal to Mayor Bloomberg, who has twice defeated Democratic opponents, than she was to Paterson.

He also said he was unhappy with Kennedy's less than 100 percent commitment to support the Democratic candidate who'll run against Bloomberg, who was twice elected as a Republican, this year.

Asked if he was now more favorably inclined toward Kennedy then he was last week, Silver responded, "Yes, it's true."

The speaker insisted he had no inside information - from the governor or anyone else - that Kennedy would be named to replace Hillary Rodham Clinton, President-elect Barack Obama's choice to be secretary of state.

But he said he reached the conclusion her appointment was likely because of "public opinion polls, which are not negative, and because the governor, I think, wants to run [in 2010] with a strong candidate, and I'm sure . . . having a well-known woman on the ticket will be helpful."

Well, one would think. Didn't help Hillary, but, oh, yeah - that's because she was cheated, as we all were. But I digress.

Here's the problem. Silver's math comprehension:

While a national poll earlier this week showed a majority of Americans view Kennedy as qualified to be senator, a survey of New York voters last week found that 41 percent felt she was not qualified and 40 percent thought she was.

Apparently, he is not clear on PERCENTAGES. A friend who's a math professor could help him with that. And even though it is a small percentage, it is not that Kennedy Schlossberg is being received with OVERWHELMING support the way, oh, I dunno, CLINTON was. Just sayin'.

But get this explanation for why it should be the exceedingly wealthy, connected Kennedy (and someone remind me why this is not a "pay to play" scheme? Does ANYONE think favors have not been promised for her to get in? Really??):

Meanwhile, Bloomberg's top political aide, Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheekey - who has been lobbying for Kennedy - played his trump card yesterday. He argued that only Kennedy, an early Obama supporter, would have the clout a cash-strapped New York will need within the next administration.

"I think New York needs someone who can work with the new president. I think New York needs someone who supported the new president. I think New York desperately shouldn't appoint someone who opposed the new president," Sheekey said.

I think Sheekey means to say this is the payback for all Kennedy Schlossberg did for Obama during the campaign, like comparing him to her father, though there is absolutely no basis whatsoever for such a comparison. And for her coming out of her private little world to stump all over creation for The One (and no doubt, her uncle's influence in having the RBC make a mockery of any sense of decency and fair play).

Just seems to me that this is different only in small degrees from what has happened in IL. She is someone Obama wants in there because she won't EVER buck him (I assume that's what Sheekey means when he says she'll "work" with PEBO), and will simply be a yes-woman to him. We all know that would NOT have been Hillary's role - acquiescing to whatever PEBO wants. The other piece of the equation often left out is the representation of the people of NY. Cuomo would be a much better pick for that, but why quibble. If PEBO wants her in, you know she'll get it, even though she is unqualified for it. Welcome to New Politics Obama-style, same as Chicago-style. Seems it's here to stay...

Happy New Year!!

I hope The Fates bring you all a wonderful new year, with good health, with loved ones around you, with work you find meaningful, and with a life lived well.

And may we all have a new year, a new era, of justice and truth winning out; with accountability being the rule, not the exception; with a return to ethics and morality so that the vast majority consider plagiarism, theft of policy ideas from others, and voter fraud reprehensible, not acceptable; that winning at all costs is no longer the norm; that our "elected" officials are held to standards of decency and honesty; may we see the end of misogyny and sexism being accepted, even encouraged; may we see the end of treating too many American citizens as second class citizens, whether based on skin color or whom one loves; and may we have a peace that reigns, here and around the world.