JUSTUSNAK...Summer coming to an end!?

[Denim Deb]

So glad I kind of figured out what moulage meant before looking!!

I thought it was some type of food.

 

[justusnak]

This really is a great job. Its hot out there, and we walk MILES in the heat, however they provide lots of water. This one is only 3 days, but I heard there is another one in 2 weeks....and it will last almost 2 weeks...AND, THEY pay 12 to 14$/hr! For me the money is a good thing, but the experience is even better. We get to help these young military learn how to deal with disasters, and have fun! I hope I can do the next one as well. These types of training go on in almost every state...I just love it!

 

[justusnak]

5:45 am, I am up ... not sure I am awake, but I am up. Drinking a cup of coffee before I head out to the animals. Need to open 3 duck pens, 7 coops, feed the sheep, pigs and goats...and milk....and be out of here by 6:15. I need to get moving, but I can't seem to get the lead out!

 

[justusnak]

When I went to the barn to feed, my sweet Nelly was laying in the pasture....dead. She is a Shetland Sheep. I Was running late already, so I had to drag her into the barn and not let her be in the sun all day while I was gone. While I was working, I had several hours to ponder what might have lead to her death. Oh, it could have been the heat...but the other 2 are not showing signs of distress. Her gums and eyelids are a darker pink, so probably not worms....her fecals looked "normal" Then, it hit me!!!
While I was milking Suzie....she knocked some of her feed to the ground, Nelly was right there gobbling it up. Suzie gets Dairy Goat pellets" Now, I don't think Nelly got more than a 1/2 cup...but would the copper in that feed have killed my Nelly?? I just feel HORRIBLE! She was such a gentle Ewe, my baby girl. RIP sweet Nelly.
Now on to my day.....They had everyone rushing through makeup this morning, when our CO asked for 10 volunteers to run security scenes. I jumped up at the opportunity. Our mission was to walk up on the military compound, and "bug" them, ask questions, beg for water, food and medical supplies. So we head out....as we are walking towards the compound, a military man with a bull horn commanded us to stop, and sit in the grass. Well, we were not that close, so I asked the CO, he said, keep waking up on them until you get to the tape. So, we headed on. We get to the tape, with the GI's yelling at us to stop and comply. HAHAHA! Once we get to the tape, I started yelling to them, "whats going on? Were we bombed? Are there terrorists? Is our president safe? Are WE safe? Most of the others in the group had never done this before...I was trying to get them all to start yelling...only a few would. Once our mission was over..the CO looked towards me and said...You, with the loud mouth, you are the mob leader. I of COURSE looked behind me, there was no one. He pointed right at me and said...I'm talking to you! So I was like...ummm, ok. He said he liked my style, and wanted to use me in another scenario. Sure, I am up for it....so he took me and another gal, and walked us around the other side of the compound, we were told to try to sneak into the compound. HA! Not gonna happen. We got just up on the road, and we were overtaken by the GI's, commanding us to stop. So, our CO said we would try later...from another area.
So, about an hour later. he came and got 3 of us ladies...we walked down the hill along the tree line, and then snuck up the hill. We was able to get passed the road block, and was walking onto the compound, when they noticed us...several GI's from about 400 ft away noticed us and came RUNNING at us commanding us to stop. Our scenario was...we are looking for a family member that was at the river when all this happened....and we need help locating him. However, when I saw all these GI's( about 6 of them) running at us, yelling at us to STOP, GET BACK!!! I was a little nervous. I knew we had been able to infiltrate the compound and wasn't sure how they were going to react. These guys were a lot nicer than some of the others. We ran through the scenario...we are looking for William, he was at the river....when all of a sudden we hear...GAS< GAS< GAS!!! All the military had to stop and put on gas masks. So, I played along...why are you putting those on?? Whats going on? ( at this time I began to get frantic LOL) Dont you have one for us?? What gas is out here? Are we going to die?? Is it nerve gas?? Oh, 3 ladies haveing a meltdown was NOT pretty!!! The GI's were just looking at us and saying...you are going to be OK. LIARS!! LOL THEY had gas masks...we didn't! Oh, we went off on them. Then when the all clear was called, they were on their toes and said.....that was a precautionary procedure, in case us civilians were contaminated. ( what BS LOL)
They called the day at noon today, because of the heat...2 people dropped from dehydration. Tomorrow we have to be at the bus at 5 am...we are going to try to beat the heat. LOL

 

[Denim Deb]

I don't know much about sheep, but I doubt that was the cause. Here's an article I found real quick. It doesn't sound like the symptoms fit.

http://www.sheepandgoat.com/articles/coppertox.html

 

[justusnak]

Thanks for that article Deb. Nope, I don't think it was the copper....I just don't know WHY she passed...dang!!!

 

[lorihadams]

Oh honey, I'm so sorry about Nelly. I'm glad you had all that military stuff to keep your mind off of it for a while.

 

[Henrietta23]

I'm so sorry!!!

 

[Beekissed]

I'm sorry, J! Could be that Nelly was just old and the heat affected her more...maybe her heart just gave out.

 

[savingdogs]

Sorry about Nelly, that doesn't sound like enough copper, don't be so hard on yourself. Animals die for unknown causes sometimes. Maybe heart attack? Heat could make that more likely I'd think. Sorry for your loss.