March 31, 2006   About Donkeys and the Occasional Mule
 
OK, for those of you that haven't figured out that "DonKeyHoeTee"is a phoenetic variation on "Don Quixote" and arrived here searching on info about donkeys, I'm sorry to disappoint.
 
However, just for the record, there was one donkey I knew. Her name was Maimee and she lived on the North Texas farm my uncle and cousin co-own. The farm's purpose is to raise beef cattle. Maimee's job was important, since donkeys will protect newborn calves from predators such as coyotes. On remote farms such as this, with grazing pastures varying over many acres, the cattle are allowed to range, unlike our Wisconsin dairy herds who return to the barn or barn lots every evening.
 
Maimee passed away just less than a year ago after getting into and grazing on new wheat, which cattle can digest but donkeys evidently cannot. Maimee was a tall gal for a donkey at atleast five feet at the withers.
 
Maimee would be the first at the gated entrance to the farm, recognizing the sound of my uncle's pickup. She often received special treats and sugar cubes upon this greeting, so she got to be extremely punctual. My aunt usually was the source for these treats, and drew the donkey''s immediate attention. Maimee would follow my aunt, frequently nipping to get more attention and treats. It seems tha donkeys do not have a good feel for the difference between a nip and a downright painful, bruise-producing bite!
 

Maimee at the gate
 
Years before I met Maimee I had worked for a ski resort in Northern Illinois named Fox Trails. We had two mules, Maisy and Daisy, who hauled the sleigh that carried patrons on moonlight sleighrides through nearby fields. These mules were Houdinis when it came to escape from their barn and corral, and they became something of a legend in a large surrounding area. Many times I'd arrive at work to be told "the girls are out again!" Some property owner would find this wayward twosome munching on produce in the backyard orchard, or grazing in a garden, even in the middle of winter. For some strange reason they always went East from the resort, and usually wound up in a nearby town about 4 miles away.
 
The "Girls" tended to trust only my friend Bob and me, so the resort would always send us out on the rescue missions. We'd rehalter this duo and lead them back to the resort. It usually meant Bob driving the old pickup with me sitting on the tailgate holding the leads, all at 4 miles an hour in sub-zero temps! But that's another story.
 

 
Until later.....DKHT

 
March 28th, 2006  A Landmark Birthday
 
OK, I've just hit another decade-based landmark birthday. I'm not gonna tell you just what decade is involved, but it's more than sufficient to validate tons of wisdom and experience...trust me.
 

 
Until later.....DKHT

 
March 27th, 2006  Form Letter from Mark Green
     Congressional Representative - 8th District, (R) Wisconsin
 
I feel that my representatives in government need to hear from their constituents on major issues. After all, they are supposed to represent us. I receive information from a great variety of organizations, from AARP to wildlife issues, environmental and health/insurance issues.
 
I recently sent a note to 8th District representative Mark Green (R-WI) regarding my opposition to H.R. 525, the "Small Business Health Fairness Act". Despite the positive spin given given in the title of this act, it simply bases itself in screwing employees while reducing costs to employers.
 
Mark replied that he disagreed. He feels that the AHP act will reduce health care costs for employers...DUH? His totally naive response that this will 'protect against "cherry picking" only healthy employees' makes it obvious to me that he is either oblivious to what's happening in Wisconsin companies, or he has become just another Washington bureaucrat/Republican, giving us 'spin' when we want facts.
 
Northern Wisconsin employers have long ago learned how to "profile" employees. Older staff, who may have more health care concerns, have had their positions 'eliminated' only to be replaced a few months later with candidates just out of school. Oh yeah, these companies also learned that they can trump up phony dismissal reasons in hope of not paying unemployment compensation. Fortunately, the state unemployment folks have 'determined' which companies have habitually practiced this procedure and at least decide on behalf of the former employees. Kind of a 'reverse profiling' of which I approve.
 
But then, these companies fund the Republican Party...Hmmmm
 
What we need, Mark, is to bring American jobs back to American workers. What we need is reciprocal trade policies. We need to either "sh*t or get off the pot" when it comes to the war on terrorism. What we need is total and committed emphasis in the war on drugs. What we need is an inelligent, affordable, universal health care plan for all Americans. What we need is affordable prescription drugs. What we need is a responsible third political party that has the interests of all of America. What we don't need are bureaucrats who are simply interested in passing thinly veiled legislation that only lines the pockets of the wealthy business owners at the expense of those who actually do the work!
 
Sorry, Mark. I've had respect for you in the past. But this "Assistant Majority Whip" and "Committee on the Judiciary" and "Commitee on International Relations" on your letterhead is blowing a horn that tells us Wisconsin is no longer quite as important to you. You ask for my respect. My respect comes from performance.
 
Mark... You lost my vote....and my respect! You can gain it back by thinking more about the people you represent and stop selling us out.
 

 
Until later.....DKHT

 
March 25, 2006  Emails
 
I've been working on a major project lately but wanted to share some stuff a friend sent me.
 
The first part I dedicate to my new neighbor, who redefines the meaning of 'moron'.
 
* This guy has reached rock-bottom and has started to dig.
* He is really not so much of a has-been, but more of a definite won't be.
* When he opens his mouth, it seems that it is only to change feet.
* He has delusions of adequacy.
* He is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot.
* A gross ignoramus - 144 times worse than an ordinary ignoramus.
* When his IQ reaches 50, he should sell.
 
There's lots more, but I figured I'd include the most recent missive.
 
This is (reportedly) the transcription of the ACTUAL radio conversation between the British and the Irish off the coast of Kerry Ireland October 1998.
Released by the Chief of Naval Operations 10-10-98
 
IRISH: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.
 
BRITISH: Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision.
 
IRISH: Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.
 
BRITISH: This is the Captain of a British Navy Ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.
 
IRISH: Negative. I say again, you will have to divert YOUR course.
 
BRITISH: THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER HMS BRITIANNIA; THE SECOND LARGEST SHIP IN THE BRITISH ATLANTIC FLEET! WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THREE DESTROYERS, THREE CRUISERS AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS! WE DEMAND YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH! I SAY AGAIN, THAT IS 15 DEGREES NORTH OR COUNTER MEASURES WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THIS SHIP!
 
IRISH: We are a lighthouse................Your Call.
 

 
Until later.....DKHT

 
March 18, 2006  Warming up in Northern Wisconsin
 
Finally a sunny cloudless day here in these Northwoods. The weather forecast calls for temperatures just above freezing which will hopefully melt some of this snow.
 
We're not out of the 'seasonal' woods yet. A few years back we had 5 inches of snow on opening day of the fishing season....May 5th of that year!
 
Warmer weather brings the opportunity to air out the cabin and freshen the stuffiness of a long winter. And you have to grab that opportunity before the warmth of Spring triggers the white pines to release their pollen. Since my place is surrounded on three sides with large white pines, the yellow pollen is wind driven in huge dense clouds, much like a dust storm. It coats everything it hits (that's one of the reasons I bought a pressure washer).
 
The time of year approaches when the critters are birthing their young. Last year the mother fox had her pups under the neighbor's cabin. I was fascinated to watch the three week old kits playing like puppies only 50 feet from my front porch.
 
Many years back and one cabin ago I recall doing dishes one afternoon while gazing out the kitchen window. Our resident woodchuck emerged after spending the winter in his den below the snow and ice. That spring day most snow was gone and the sun was finally high enough to generate noticeable heat. I had named the woodchuck "Chuck" since we had been neighbors for several years, and I felt he deserved a name. So Chuck crawled out of his home and sat on his hind legs at the edge of his hole in the ground. He faced the sun, crossed his front paws, closed his eyes and let the sun penetrate into his cold bones.
 
He looked so comfortable that I quickly finished the dishes and went out on the front porch to let the sun soak into my winter weary body as well. We sat there for about an hour, Chuck and me, being both warmed and energized by the sun.
 
Until later.....DKHT

 
March 17, 2006  Happy St. Patrick's Day!
 
I'm not sure why, since my Irish ancestry is of an even smaller percentage than my Choctaw ancestry, but I always look forward to St. Pat's Day. My late wife, Peg was of Irish roots, and together we looked forward to celebrating this special day.
 
We enjoyed watching a video of "The Quiet Man" with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, while scarfing down corned beef and cabbage and carrots and those delicious little 'taters.
 
In years past I''ve purchased my (double) portion of corned beef and cabbage from one of the local grocery deli's. Last year that store changed cooks (notice I didn't say chefs) and the resulting slop tasted only of spice. Couldn't tell cabbage from corned beef. Just this horrid taste of... cloves? and maybe bay leaves? and other stuff evidently used to mask the terrible inability to cook this very simple eons-old dish!
 
So, this year, I'm gonna try a new grocery deli for my early meal . But my secret weapon is to pick up a small brisket and a couple of heads of those small organic cabbages that I can cook at home (I already have the baby carrots). I have a great recipe that I found in a 50-year-old cook book. I can enjoy left-overs for several days if it's good food. So I figure I can OD on CB&C for a few days so that I can have my ‘fix’ for another year. I may even rerun ‘The Quiet Man’. A few times.
 

 
Until later.....DKHT

 
March 13,2006  Mother Nature's wrath
 
A few last "gotcha's" from old Mother Nature! As I write this we are being inundated with over 8 inches (so far) of heavy wet snow. Area schools scrambled to provide early closings so students can get home before the roads become impassible. Radio stations are warning folks to travel only in emergencies.The winds, although sporadic, can be quite strong and are expected to cause heavy drifting.
 
That's the good news. The bad news is that we can expect several more days of the same! And to think, only two days ago the temperatures were in the balmy 40's and the seasonal melt actually started exposing a few patches of dirt and grass.
 
The website changeover to the new server went without a hitch back on the evening of the 9th. I made the request with GoDaddy and by the time I finished reading the automated response email indicating my request was logged in, the changeover already had taken place. Surprised the heck outta Paul and I.
 
I was delighted to receive an email from my old email friend, Peter Hinson. Peter lives in a colorful village in England by the name of Cranfield. Pete publishes the local monthly newsletter the "Cranfield Express". He also edits, writes and solicits advertisers for the newsletter, so I'm not surprised that he's doggedly tired after a full day of changing hats and meeting deadlines. A message from this busy fella is truly appreciated. The enterprising Peter spotted my link (see Favorite Links) and comments here on DonKeyHoeTee.com and included some kind words in his February issue. PDF versions of the newsletter are available at the previous link.Peter and I met via email on a website comment page (a long forgotten website...it was well over 12 years ago) and we've been corresponding 'across the pond' ever since.
 
I have been intrigued by some of the similarities between Peter's Cranfield and my Hazelhurst. OK, Bedfordshire, England and Wisconsin, USA are completely different in climate, topography, history, etc. Yet both communities are small and have a 'home-town' attitude. They experience the same modern dilemmas and experiences, such as dealing with youth vandalism and arguable zoning practices. They have their Parish Council (local) and Mid-Beds Council (regional) and we have our Hazelhurst Town Board and Oneida County Board (one difference is that the British tend to be far more polite when addressing the Council members, whilst we Yanks tend to tell the Board exactly 'where to get stuffed'!!! Frequently!)
 
It's been fun for me to watch how a parallel community addresses its issues over the years. But if you just want to visit a neat town in another country, visit Cranfield Village. WWII USAF aviators may recall being stationed at Cranfield. The airfield is still there and an air academy still operates on the field property. But checkout the link. Lotsa history and pictures. If you like it, tell Peter in the guest book. I will attempt to have him invert the messages from newest to oldest, but you know the Brits...they have this thing for 'history' :)
 
Until later.....DKHT

 
March 9,2006  Moving to the new server
 
In the last few days the temperature has been in the high 30's and low 40's during the day, and the past two nights the temp's barely gotten to freezing. Officially it's the Big Thaw in the Northwoods! There's some snow and ice on the driveway and road where snow has been plowed, but that will turn to ice-cold slippery puddles very soon. Until the ground thaws, things remain wet and messy. But we endure these conditions because SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!!!!
 
Recently my old pal Paul who owns and runs Badgertech.net (web hosting and services) decided to pick up his own web server after having some bad experiences with the outfit that maintained his previous server. He's changing over his and some client's sites from ColdFusion and MS SQL to PHP and MySQL. In addition, he has a full-time day job, a family, and many hours dedicated to sampling various beers, but if anybody can do it all, Paul can.
 
So I've been testing my beta site on the new server before we throw the switch at GoDaddy. Fortunately, it's been years since I've done any ColdFusion or db stuff so my site is both 'young' (not much content built up over the past few months) and uncomplicated, using good old HTML and some CSS. Paul chides me on how small my site is and how measly the bandwidth it utilizes. I counter that it's the quality of readership, not the quantity.
 
I swear that only I am able to screw up something so simple. Paul did an excellent job of porting over the content, including the management software which has all email setups. So everything looked OK. Tried FTP'ing to the new site and was shut out regardless of what I tried. A quick email to Paul had him setting up a new email client so I could get in. Once able to FTP, I reset the account info and passwords. Then I decided to visit GoDaddy and login to remind myself just what I had to alter for the switch to the new server. Somehow I wrote down the wrong password in my log and couldn't access my account. Tried to recall the passsword hint....there was none!. Tried resetting my password, and that wouldn't work either. They wanted the last four numbers from my original credit card and my PIN number. I panicked! It's been a year since I set up the account and I use several credit cards. I was stumped by the PIN number (if I'd have calmed down I could've guessed it). Anyway, the gal at GoDaddy asked my email address and I was able to confirm the address on file, so she did a password reset, and I finally got in!
 
Next, I decided to checkout my Domains By Proxy account. Again I had the wrong password. AAARRGH ! This time I was able to reset the password online, and finally got in. I had problems at first and sent an email to DBP support, but 20 minutes later I figured out what I had done wrong, fixed it, then sent off another email to DBP support cancelling my earlier request. Gotta give the Support groups at both GoDaddy and Domains By Proxy a huge 'thumbs up' for their service and responsiveness.
 
In the next several days this site shall be seamlessly integrated onto the new server, so says pal Paul. I've been waiting for this opportunity to add tons of content, images, etc. and see just how much bandwidth I can chew up :-)
 
Until later.....DKHT

 
March 4, 2006  Rattlesnakes, scorpions, cactus and mesquite
 
It's early March and I finally got confirmation that the Clay County, TX property I'm purchasing has been successfully closed.
 
My bank account took a beating but I now have a 10.2 acre hunk of North Texas. And this property is kinda neat, in spite of the likely possibility of sharing this place with nasty snakes and scorpions, prickly pear cactus and thorny mesquite. This is a land where everyting either stings, punctures or bites. It sure takes a special pioneer to settle this savage territory.
 
So. I figure that I may be able to get the local fire department to do a controlled burn to clear the heavy grass and critters, once the fire hazard is over in this area. A few good spring rains should help. Then a couple of days work with a hired bulldozer should clear out the dead mesquite, create a tank (pond), a temporary driveway with some culverts. I've always believed that heavy equipment is paramount in settling a hostile land.
 
I don't want any "nasty-grams" from environmentalists. The truth is that this property has been allowed to "go wild". Surrounding properties have nice homes and manicured, irrigated lawns. Most are ten to twenty acre parcels and have some livestock (horses, cattle, sheep and goats are allowed; pigs are NOT allowed). Since rattlesnakes can kill people, pets and livestock, I don't want to my property as a breeding ground for deadly critters that can endanger anyone or anything in the community. Scorpions can make you pretty darned sick and perhaps even kill small children. I'll let the healthy mature mesquite stay, but the dead stuff has got to go and new growth has to be controlled. Mesquite thorns can and do pierce truck and tractor tires with ease. Some of the prickly pear cactus may stay if I figure out how to confine them since this cactus, like mesquite, is quite invasive.
 
Even though they say cooked rattlesnake tastes like chicken, I don't believe it. If that were true we'd have rattlesnake farms and a new "other white meat" in the grocery stores. Scorpions have little positive purpose other than to star in films as the deadly creature of death placed in the hero's bedroom by the arch villian. And God put mesquite on this Earth only to, well, burn. (OK, Mexican farmers used to utilize mesquite brush as a form of barbed-wire fencing before barbed-wire was invented. But now we actually have barbed wire!) They say that prickly pear cactus makes great jellies and sauces. Once again, the grocery stores I shop at must not be aware of this staple!
 
News on other fronts... Regarding the website, I've discovered some problems constraining tables across various browsers, so I've decided to reconfigure the site using more CSS2. That should make it easier to ultimately migrate to PHP or Coldfusion and SQL. Bet you couldn't wait to hear that! Anyway, thanks again to pal Paul for showing me the error of my ways (hope he can separate the CF and PHP stuff on his home site soon!).
 
On March 1st we had the heaviest snowstorm of the winter here in Wisconsin's Northwoods. Over six inches of snow fell in one day. Another "up-yours" message from old Mom Nature! The daytime temps are already above freezing and are predicted to climb. But I am looking forward to geocaching weather again!
 
Until later.....DKHT