1 Topic by Marilyn Johnson (edited by Marilyn Johnson 2025-08-24 19:13:15)

Topic: Time Challenged

Hey, my friends,

Some of you already know this story, so I just copied and pasted it so as not to have to type it again. Anyway, here goes: You will NOT believe the circus act my life turned into. Picture this: we adopted a wild mustang and her two-month-old colt—basically two unbroken bundles of “nope” wrapped in horsehair. Neither had ever met a kind human, so I set them up in the “spa suite” (translation: special stall where I try to convince them I am not a mountain lion in yoga pants).

So there I am, bravely stepping inside with their dinner, separated only by a wire wall, thinking: What could possibly go wrong? Famous last words.

The colt suddenly decided he was Spider-Man, tried scaling the wire wall, and promptly got himself tangled like a goat in Christmas lights. Meanwhile, his mother was giving me the glare that says, “Lady, if you take one step closer, you’re about to meet Jesus.”

Naturally, my survival instincts kicked in. I tried to moonwalk backwards out of there, smooth and steady… except I had forgotten about the water bucket I left strategically placed in the “trip zone.” One graceful swan dive later, I’m sprawled out like a sack of potatoes, having landed squarely on my left hand.

Fun fact: I am left-handed. Even funner fact: Once I swam out of the bucket, I realized I had managed to fracture my wristbone (actually thought I had broken it), and that hairline fracture is now encased in a cast so big it could double as a medieval weapon. It locks down my thumb and fingers, leaving just the tips sticking out like sad little Vienna sausages.

Do you know how long it has taken me to type this? Imagine a crab with carpal tunnel syndrome trying to send an email—that’s me. Or the equivalent of the same time it would take to carve this note into stone with a spoon!

The doctor swears I’ll get a sleeker, “typing-friendly” cast...soon. It was supposed to have been Wednesday, but the X-ray told a different tale. Not quite healed enough considering the kind of work I do with the animals. Once again, maybe THIS coming week. Appointment Wednesday. Fingers crossed (literally… well, figuratively, because right now my fingers can’t cross). Once I’m mobile again, I’ll get back to everything—including reciprocating all those reviews you've sent my way. If I haven't answered you, it's because it's too aggravating with this monster cast.

Until then, just picture me, a gallant horse-whisperer turned one-handed typist, bravely battling through life with the speed of an arthritic tortoise. And trust me, John’s having a field day with it! He says this is one for the Bless this Mess book. We shall see.

Happy trails,
MJ

PS:  Oh, Elysse, I managed to get your review done on Amazon. Sorry it took so long. Great book! It should be visible by now.

Quote Post 1

2 Reply by George FLC (edited by George FLC 2025-08-24 19:15:30)

Re: Time Challenged

Hey Marilyn,
Ouch. Sorry to hear it. This definitely is one for your Bless this Mess writings. Infact you could almost cut and paste it into a chapter. Very easy. Get better and don't worry about reciprocation right now.

Keep on healing.

George FLC

Quote Post 2

Re: Time Challenged

What a bummer, MJ. Single-finger gepoking is not fun. Get well soon. I start my drive back down from Idaho on Friday, so I'll be out of touch as well for 4 days.

Bill

Quote Post 3

Re: Time Challenged

Hope you're feeling better soon, MJ!

Quote Post 4

Re: Time Challenged

Sorry to hear that, MJ. I almost joined you with a cast (made in Canada, of course). I was trying out a new ladder at home because the old one was too narrow for me due to balance issues. So I climbed a few steps higher, thinking I could finally reach the ceiling to change light bulbs and smoke alarm batteries, which I now can, but I was a little too close to the ceiling fan, which was running at full speed. Damn did that hurt! Even once it heals, my new cat loves to sit in my lap and get petted and scratched, so I'll be typing one-handed for a while. :-)

Get well soon.
Dirk

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Re: Time Challenged

Dirk, I got your message about your cat swapping the same day I took a swan dive and didn’t answer you. Sorry… hope you’re better..talk soon

Quote Post 6

Re: Time Challenged

Fortunately for all of us, the accident didn't curtail your sense of humor. Wait, maybe it was that fall which knocked on your funny bone and you didn't realize it, so now you just do it naturally. Of course that doesn't take into account your previous funny stories, but we'll let that slide while you recover and can defend yourself against man or beast without having to hen peck around the keyboard. Anyway, wishing you a speedy recovery before this frown freezes on my face. Take care. Vern

Quote Post 7

Re: Time Challenged

“Thanks all,” said one sad little Vienna sausage.
“See ya soon,” another one blabbed.
Bernice the cat walked across the laptopppppppppppppuuutrdcewsw.

mj

Quote Post 8

Re: Time Challenged

Marilyn Johnson wrote:

“Thanks all,” said one sad little Vienna sausage.
“See ya soon,” another one blabbed.
Bernice the cat walked across the laptopppppppppppppuuutrdcewsw.

mj

I LOVE Vienna sausages. I eat a whole can when I allow myself the luxury of all that decadence. Either make a sandwich using all of them with mustard or eat them with crackers straight from the can -- both ways delicious kind of like your phrases. Take care. Vern

Quote Post 9

Re: Time Challenged

Hooray for me! The ginormous, finger-mummifying cast has finally been swapped out for a sleeker, keyboard-friendly model. My fingers no longer resemble Vienna sausages crammed into a Ziploc (Vern’s favorite snack), though this new contraption still isn’t exactly launching me back to my Olympic-level typing speeds (100 words per minute… give or take half of that). Anyway, I can now resume answering the reviews I owe—oh, and prepare some good old-fashioned retaliation… er, I mean, reciprocity. Totally reciprocity.

Happy trails,
MJ

Quote Post 10

11 Reply by Dirk B (edited by Dirk B 2025-08-28 17:07:21)

Re: Time Challenged

May your fingers soar
And your kittens roar.
May your horses neigh
And your donkeys bray.
May your cats use litter
That reeks not bitter.
May your doggies poop
Where you need not stoop.
May your emus race
At your husband's pace.
May your grill find heaven
That is numbered seven.
May your trees stand tall
And then never fall.
May all storms be weak
Seven days a week.
May all hunted game
Outwit those who aim.
May the animals charge
All gun toters at large.
May your days be merry
And all end with sherry.

Quote Post 11

Re: Time Challenged

Your ditty could be considered offensive to animal lovers.
Glass houses, George... ;-)

Quote Post 12

Re: Time Challenged

What a cute poem, Dirk… I didn't know you had it in you! Lol!

Now, to George… you stepped on sacred ground with your response about hunting and killing innocent animals. As you know, I rescue animals… all kinds and sizes. I've been called many things… tree hugger is the most common… but to each their own on this subject. So here is my response to you:

I choose a different kind of strength. Not the strength that pulls a bowstring or fires a rifle into beating hearts, but the strength that lifts up the broken, that shields the vulnerable, that says life itself is sacred, whether human or animal.

The animals on my land are not targets, not meat for a fire, but living souls who trust me to guard them. To kill what cannot defend itself is not power—real power is mercy.

MJ

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14 Reply by George FLC (edited by George FLC 2025-08-28 22:53:50)

Re: Time Challenged

Part of the reason we do these posts is that we learn what is acceptable. Therefore, I will pull my post down. I don't want to cause animal lovers angst over my attempt at a poem.

George FLC

Quote Post 14