Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Better Day

Today has been a bit better day.  Last night was rough, though.  I fell asleep around 9 p.m. with the tv on.  Woke back up, clicked it off and went right back to sleep.  But I woke again around midnight.  I laid in bed (with Mike and three dogs, we were baby sitting my nieghbor's dog cause he had to go somewhere).  I just couldn't go back to sleep.  It was nearly 2 a.m., so I got up and watched Animal Planet.  About 3 a.m. I went back to bed, but couldn't sleep still.  It was around 4:30 a.m. when I finally dozed off, and had to get up at 6 a.m. for work.  So I got very little sleep last night.

Got a call from SFC Cook today before lunch.  I was gonna call her if she hadn't called after lunch.  She had bad news and good news.  The bad news is that there were too many people worried about rules and regs than good soldiers.  So I am getting outprocessed from the Army Reserves.  I was considering going back to my old part time job at a local gas station.  Last time I worked there they got robbed, and one of my co-workers was shot in the back of the head point blank.  (He lived)  Plus, I'd be getting home around 1 a.m. and having to get up at 6 a.m.  I'd certainly be able to make more money, but I'd be working every week as opposed to one weekend a month.  There was good news, however.  She said that once the paper work was processed (2-4 weeks) I could take that same paperwork right down to a recruiter and get right back in, and even got back to the same unit I was in.  Of course, you know I argued the stupidity of that.  It is a complete waste of time, money, personnel, and paperwork.  But then again, we are talking about the government.  So, I probably will not be participating in March's drill, which is okay, because it is a field experience with boring classes and running another range at Fort Bragg.  I really was not looking foreward to it.

As far as my civilian job, it is quite a headache right now.  We are doing a full annual inventory this weekend, which means late night Friday and all day Saturday at work.  That should help because it means overtime.  But it also means that I have to have everything I do for the whole district, including end-of-month reports done right away, and right.  I'm finding crazy mistakes that are not necessarily ours, that date back as far as last August!  That's part of why I was cranky yesterday.  I know this will all spill into next week as well.  I just want it to hurry and get over all ready!

AND......I was excited about my hens that we raised from last spring and summer starting to lay this year.  But I got a huge disappointment this week!  Four of the five RI/Buff hens are squaring off now and trying to become fathers!  I now have four red-headed cockrels that I have no use for!  Unless I can find them new homes, they will probably end up in the freezer.  I just won't be the one to do the ugly deed.  I simply cannot kill any animal that I have been feeding and taking care of in captivity.  I'll probably give one of the chickens to a neighbor if they do the deed for me.  I want February to just be over now!!

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Randy and Mike, Things do not seem to be all that positive at the moment, do they. Perhaps it is just the time of year and everything will look up when the spring comes and the weather improves.

I do worry about your taking back your job at the petrol station. From where I am it seems remarkably dangerous to me and very long hours.

Still, things seem to be looking up on the army front even if the bureaucracy is very silly - I believe it is the same in the UK and possibly everywhere. Governments are the same the world over.

bubble said...

your having a crap year so far like us...it just don't seem to end does it!

I hate not being able to sleep...god knows how mum does it lol!

I will not speak to you again if those poor roosters end up in your freezer...lol! just kidding...kind of ;)

Ames xxx

Joanna@BooneDocksWilcox said...

The reason Matt (Foothills Poultry) and I were on the "outs" for a while was because I set some roosters/cockerels out in the woods, lots of thick under brush and running water. I am VERY protective of my girls and I'm not going to have them being constantly raped. I only keep one rooster per at least a dozen girls (only one male can get to 'em).

I can't butcher them so I thought setting them out in the woods was the most humane thing but Matt and I got in a big fight and I quit the NCPoultry yahoo group.

He sent me some mustard that I really like and we made up. :-)

Anyway, you have to do something with those extra males.

Matt, you can tune in here _______ :-)

Chicken Boys said...

LOL....I won't turn them out. Too many predators here to get them, I'm sure. I have a number of roosters...9 or 10 I think....but I keep them separated. The mean ones are the best looking ones, but get a lady or two from time to time. The nicer ones get rotated into the main coop. I don't know if that's the best thing to do, but it seems to be working for us.

Aaerelon said...

Too bad about the 'hens'/sleep/reserves. I would suggest not going back to a place where your coworker got shot in the back of the head. Just a thought but it's up to you!

Tracey said...

Oh Bless you.....come over and read my post it will cheer you up.....I hope! xxx

Jimmy said...

What about a gas station in a nicer neighborhood? OR, how about becoming a policeman? Seems you'd be perfect!

Ole Career Counselor Jim

BTW, Sweet Betsy is something different to what I showed. Do a Google Image search. It popped up there for me.

veterankindergartenteacher said...

Don't you just love government bureaucracy....NOT!!!

Chickens in the Basement said...

Maybe it's not going to affect you guys, but our stupid weatherman used the "S" word for tomorrow night! Yep, ready for March!

Odette Bautista Mikolai said...

oh yes, March is coming whether you like it or not! looking forward to it myself...
xoxoxo

Foothills Poultry said...

It is so disappointing when those favorites turn out to be 'extra' boys. Especially with what their fate will be here. I do my best to find them homes. I even give some away, but in the end there are only so many you can find homes for. The rest are either sold as meat for someone else to deal with or we process them here. I managed to find homes for all the bantams boys last year, but ended up with 6 standard size meat boys.

As far as too many boys per girls, the boys are kept away from the ladies once the male hormones get the best of them. I have the room to slap together an extra 'temp' lot when I need.

Good points:
1. At least I know they had a great life until the end.
2. I know EXACTLY what they have eaten. No antibiotics, steroids, hormones, or anything that would be bad for us. Can't find that is a store.

~~Matt~~

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

Oh I'm so sorry your week is off to a bit of a crummy start! That's crazy about the reserves! But you're right, that's the government--It just doesn't make sense,and that's how they like it! I could tell you stories from my husbands career that really show how "stuck on stupid" they can sometimes be! But I do hope you're able to find what you need to balance the income without having to worry about becoming a statistic in the middle of the night!

If I had chickens, I'd take one off your hands! :-)

Hang in there, and I hope you get some sleep!

Little Messy Missy said...

I don't think I would go back to the 1st job...scary! Sorry about the roosters sneaking in and posing as hens....they must have watched "Some Like It Hot"! Good luck.

Callie Brady said...

Sure hope you get some rest!
Everything always looks way, way worse when I'm tired. Nix on the station job. Signing up again sounds like a plan. Can you take the roosters to a feed store? Ours takes them and sells them or gives them away. Maybe the last part of February will be better. Hope so!

Cat said...

I am glad you are doing a bit better. I sure agree about the stupidity of the you have to leave so you can come back bit... But, as you said, it's the government. *sigh*.

Had the same problems with all the boys, we have 'done the deed' to make the roosters freezer ready, but just didn't have the time this year. I donated 6 to a gentleman that sounded distinctly happy to be getting them. (BUT, one of the hens laid her first egg today! YAY!!)

Anywho, thinking good thoughts for you!

Cat

Toni aka irishlas said...

Sound like your having one of my weeks! Hope you get some rest - insomnia sucks!
Here's hoping you get some homes for your boys..
Hang tight - things will look up eventually..

Nekkid Chicken said...

Randy And Mike,

The government is as the government does. Sorry stealing a line for Forest. LOL

I too wish this February was over seems neverending cycle of crapola.

My husband has to off our animals when necessary too because I can't kill something I have fed. Especially if I have kissed its face. ROFL yeppers I have kissed goats, chickens, cats, dogs etc. etc. But, I had to draw the line at our pig, Mr. Salad Fingers --- he had teeth and cranky.

Maybe I will go write a song:

I Kissed a Goat.

No worries, all will be fine as soon as you figure out you will will be fine.

Hope that makes sense

Much love from

Hoe Hen Inn
~:> NC

Gill - That British Woman said...

praying that things turn around for you all. Do not go back to the gas station it's much too dangerous.

Gill in Canada

Callie Brady said...

You could check around your area for anyone who has some working farm dogs. (ask at feed stores, vets, county fair) You could talk to these people and find out what dogs are available in your area. You may meet some nice people that will answer questions about chicken care too. Good luck!

farmlady said...

Sounds like your biggest problem is sleep deprivation and too many roosters. It makes the whole world look like chicken $#!T.
I don't have any answers but you need a break and I hope one comes soon.
Try to get a good nights sleep...

BadPenny said...

maybe the roosters could join the government?

Sorry you are having a bad time of it. Don't go back to the petrol station - Hope things settle for you soo

LemonyRenee' said...

Somehow I missed this post until now. I'm so sorry you have so many hassles right now. I hope things smooth out soon.

Donna said...

Really hope things have smoothed down by now!! Hate to hear about the chickens too...hard thing to do!
Hope this week is better for you both!!
hughugs