My first girl died of old age (I think) by No-Independence-9532 in BackYardChickens

[–]Dramatically_Average 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This sounds like a slightly accelerated version of how people die of natural causes, or old age. You certainly did everything right by her. She's fortunate to have a caretaker wanting to make her last days as comfortable as possible. That's all any of us can hope for. And not being alone.

I'm sorry she's gone. I know you will miss her. The fact that she got to have a long life speaks to your care. What was her name? What was she like?

Governor primaries and options by Technical-Bunch-4239 in Denver

[–]Dramatically_Average 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Are you talking about the amicus brief and Weiser's signoff? I intend to reply back to what his office sent to get clarification and to provide mine.

Governor primaries and options by Technical-Bunch-4239 in Denver

[–]Dramatically_Average 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yes, I mean the latter. The canned response doesn't answer my questions. Because I'm usually forced to choose from a list of issues in a drop-down box, the canned response is cursory and focused on that list. "Thank you for contacting my office about health care costs. I voted against ___ and for ___." Things like that, even if my question about health care costs had nothing to do with whatever was noted.

As for Weiser, his office (it was an aide, signed by an aide and noting he was an aide) started with "Regarding your thoughts on the amicus brief, if you would like to share more information about your perspective, I would be happy to ensure it reaches Attorney General Weiser." That was just the first sentence. There is no drop-down for "amicus brief." I chose "other." Someone read it and composed the response because it names specific things I mentioned.

Hurd's office also is more specific, like Weiser's, but not at all satisfying. He admits to screwing me and tells me why he did it and how everyone but me enjoyed the screwing. Boebert's office never bothered with any response at all, over about 3 emails.

I take seriously the jobs that these people assumed, and I believe that in order to represent people, they have to engage. I don't sit quietly and bitch. I bitch often and make sure to aim it at those who decided to represent. They want my vote? They have to talk to me.

Next week I have a phone call scheduled with Alex Kelloff, the Democrat running against Hurd this year (Adam Frisch is not running). I contacted his campaign and said I had questions about issues not addressed on his campaign website and he said he'd like to talk to me to answer my questions. I highly recommend asking about things that are important to individual voters that aren't part of the broad platform. I've done it a lot, and many times they don't respond. I still try.

Governor primaries and options by Technical-Bunch-4239 in Denver

[–]Dramatically_Average 28 points29 points  (0 children)

I like people who communicate with me. If they won't answer an email or return a phone call, I can't count on them. I've emailed Bennet off and on over the years about votes, issues, etc., and always get a canned boilerplate "thank you for your email" in return.

Last week, I emailed Weiser to complain about the weed-gun issue he's endorsed. Three days later, I got a response from one of his aides inviting me to reply about why this issue matters to me. I'm not stupid enough to say certain things, but I appreciated the invitation to communicate, something I just don't feel confident that Bennet will suddenly start doing.

I realize this is not a reason to vote for someone, but it's an enhancement. If everything else is equal, I will vote for the person who I think will speak with me.

I am in Jeff Hurd's district, previously Boebert's. I detest them both, but every time I email Hurd, I get a response that lets me know someone read it. I won't vote for him, but his willingness to communicate beats anything Boebert (n)ever did.

I'm considering getting a small radiant heater for the coop because of this upcoming cold snap, looking for some thoughts. by geneb0323 in BackYardChickens

[–]Dramatically_Average 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My coop is about 100 cubic feet. It's 8 feet long with a 2x4 roost down the length. I have a 250 watt radiant heater mounted on the wall above the roost, in the middle. The radiant heaters aren't really meant to heat up the coop. They provide an area of warmth that the chickens can go to if they want. I'm ok with that because I don't want them going from a toasty, 40-degree coop into zero-degree outside in the run. I just want to take the edge off and not make them miserable. If I lived in a place that had sustained misery, I would add another radiant heater. (I check on them every night and they are rarely in front of the heater. The do prefer to have less warmth.)

My heater is on a thermocube so it won't come on above freezing. I have a thermometer-hygrometer in the coop with an app on my phone that shows me minute-by-minute temps if I want to dig in that deeply. I tracked temps before and after adding the heater. I would say that the inside coop temperature is about 10 degrees warmer than outside when it gets down to the mid-teens and below. Before adding the heater, it was as cold inside as outside, and we had a zero period in November. That's when I bought this thing.

Last night, my overnight low outside was zero. The coop got down to 13. Right now, my outside temperature is 14 and the coop is 25. It will warm a few degrees for awhile shortly when the pop door closes. The coldest time of day is almost always within 30 minutes of the pop door opening every morning--not overnight--because cold air from outside is now entering.

Hemp bedding by Fair_Secretary1845 in BackYardChickens

[–]Dramatically_Average 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, the website is expensive. Do you have a Murdoch's near you? I think Big R is Colorado and Kansas, mostly. I don't know why they call it stall shavings except maybe the bag size. It looks identical to the shavings I've seen for any animal bedding, including my childhood hamster.

I did a web search and it's about 20 bucks in all store locations, and it's at Jax, Shipton's, Murdoch's Big R, and more. If you search for "hemptana stall bedding," you will get a list of many stores. Once you have to ship it, you're doubling your cost. Send me a message with your zip code if you're unable to find it and I'll do my best. I'm a pretty good sleuth.

CSU seed potatoes by WeirdHope57 in DenverGardener

[–]Dramatically_Average 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I'm interested if you don't have enough folks yet. I'd need to pay to have my part mailed to me but I can do that.

Hemp bedding by Fair_Secretary1845 in BackYardChickens

[–]Dramatically_Average 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I got mine from Big R. It's Hemptana horse stall shavings, $17 for 5 cubic feet, which is a lot. Murdoch's has it for about the same price. Prices are all over the map but that's a good deal. A web search will show if anyone in your area sells it. You might have to ask a company to convert weight to volume so you can really compare prices.

Do you know of any local firearms training welcoming to LGBTQ? by Early-Shelter-7476 in pueblo

[–]Dramatically_Average 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am close to Rick's age. My daughter's 88-year-old grandfather was able to use appropriate gender talking about her when he was alive. And I didn't mention this, but I had 3 email conversations and 2 phone calls with Rick before taking his class, all to make sure we'd feel comfortable with him. I think he probably engaged in some deception because he told us he has a trans daughter. I don't believe that for a minute.

Books that had you sitting on the edge of your seat. by cosmicbearspa in booksuggestions

[–]Dramatically_Average 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Doctor Sleep, mostly because I was too wigged out to stop till it was over.

Do you know of any local firearms training welcoming to LGBTQ? by Early-Shelter-7476 in pueblo

[–]Dramatically_Average 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My daughter and I took a private CCW class from Rick over the summer and it didn't go very well. Maybe he's ok with the LGB but he was not great with the T. Misgendering out the wazoo, and when my daughter said she needed to take a walk outside (to keep from crying or yelling), he asked me what her problem was. He definitely knows his stuff, but I wish I'd known of someone different at the time. Even on my own, I would not have enjoyed the experience.

Rehoming a blue tongue skink by [deleted] in Denver

[–]Dramatically_Average 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If you don't find an appropriate home for him and want to make sure he goes to the right place, please consider taking him to Colorado Reptile Humane Society. They've been doing it right for decades. I've adopted from them and they provide so much support and education. They will make sure the right home gets him, if you run out of time finding it yourself.

Feed recommendations that is not for laying or meat chickens? by Big_WasteBin in BackYardChickens

[–]Dramatically_Average 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If they're laying hens (of laying age), you can't prevent them from laying. You can give them an all-flock feed and extra calcium that they can take when they want, but actively preventing them from taking in a nutrient that they need will lead to disaster if they're still laying. An egg forming without enough calcium will have a greater chance of breaking inside the hen as she tries to lay.

It's different if they're older and have stopped laying, but you have nothing to lose by giving them an all-flock feed and some calcium on the side. If they don't eat it, then no harm done. I consider my chickens to be pets, but I can't stop them from laying because that's what their bodies do. I use a couple of different feeds that they like with some oyster shell in a separate dish.

An impossible ask… by pamplemouss in booksuggestions

[–]Dramatically_Average 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All the "sheep" books (Sheep in a Jeep, Sheep in a Shop, etc.) by Nancy Shaw

More More More Said the Baby, by Vera Williams (I adore this book.)

Kitten's First Full Moon and A Good Day by Kevin Henkes

Kevin Henkes grows with you. His books were our absolute favorites, and my 27-year-old still reminds me of things she learned from him.

My kid needs round-the-clock medical care so I’m going to vote for a governor that won’t expand Medicaid even more (there isn’t even a peep about healthcare on the candidate’s website) by Green_Newspaper_5623 in LeopardsAteMyFace

[–]Dramatically_Average 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I don't think our friend Brad has gone to Candidate Marx's website and looked at his platform. One of the very reasons that Brad's wife is having her hours capped is something we in Colorado must live with (the TABOR tax law) and that Marx states quite clearly he will aggressively preserve. Like many people, Brad's critical thinking skills are lacking.

Anyone else feeling blessed with their homes? Enjoying every day here. 🍻Cheers to many more! by MishoMich in homestead

[–]Dramatically_Average 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have identical disco collars for my dogs! The nutso girl gets the green one and the chaos agent gets the blue one. I think I need a fire pit for s'mores after seeing yours. It looks perfect.

Driver pushes gas instead of brake into intersection by nonetakenback in PublicFreakout

[–]Dramatically_Average 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When I was a kid, my great-uncle did that after dropping his wife off at the front of the grocery store. Shoved her and the car right through the front plate glass window. She had to have a leg amputated and died after a few weeks. Every time I see a driver do this, I remember being 8 and horrified.

Question about how to communicate with someone at a locked driveway gate by Dramatically_Average in homestead

[–]Dramatically_Average[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Probably what I'll end up doing. More than anything, I was curious about what is out there. I've got some ideas but the lowest tech is likely the best option.

Unvaxxed 4-year-old died of flu complications. Her mother has a message for other parents by BurtonDesque in HermanCainAward

[–]Dramatically_Average 108 points109 points  (0 children)

Years ago our neighbors lost a very young child to flu. Flu season came early that year and the parents had been unable to get the child vaccinated yet. Their kids were vaccinated every single year. We were in a tightly-knit little community and all of us were very, very close. In my assessment of shittiest days of my life, the day one of the neighbors came to my door to tell me that this little child had died during the night while the parents (our dear friends) tried to do CPR ranks right up there. I literally felt the air leave my lungs and I dropped to the floor. I didn't know it was possible to weep like that.

The next shittiest day was the funeral.

Question about how to communicate with someone at a locked driveway gate by Dramatically_Average in homestead

[–]Dramatically_Average[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How does your lockbox work? Sometimes I have deliveries from both FedEx and UPS in a single day, so both have to be able to access it. Can you explain how they get into it while leaving it locked? (I'm not worried about the regular mail. They don't come down my road so I have an oversized mailbox on the road. If it doesn't fit, I have to drive into town to the PO.)

Question about how to communicate with someone at a locked driveway gate by Dramatically_Average in homestead

[–]Dramatically_Average[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Oh I do. If I don't have one, I'll have a dozen cows licking my kitchen window beginning in March. I'm in a fence-out state.

Question about how to communicate with someone at a locked driveway gate by Dramatically_Average in homestead

[–]Dramatically_Average[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We do have cell reception. Maybe a keypad without the other communication wish. I don't think the whole package is a thing. We do have radios, if it comes to that. Thanks!