March 17th, 5:40pm: Hey, if you haven’t seen snowfall in awhile – click on the Raindance North cam (http://raindance.ww.com). It’s coming down in big white fluffy flakes. The cats have lined the window sill to watch it and bat at it as it falls gently downward, oblivious of the feline mayhem that awaits it on this side of the window if any of it makes a wrong turn and ends up inside the house. Apparently we’re supposed to get a couple of inches.
Merlin kitty watches the snow fall this eveningI’m doing okay guys. I appreciate the concern. It’s taking me a little longer than I thought it would to get back fully on my feet. I don’t really like it, it removes some of my immortality and invulnerability I’m finding. Unfortunately neither life at the farm, nor life at work have slowed down even though I have for the moment and that isn’t helping. I’ve given up even trying to answer emails or work on organizing this site or even blog, just too hard to breathe right now and I figure a couple of days slacking won’t be the end of the world, right? I miss our morning coffee time together though- for that I’m sorry. But…if I can’t have coffee right now neither should you, why should I be the only one suffering at the moment (kidding – keep having coffee, I don’t wish this on anyone and there’s no need for you to face life going unleaded). I will let you in on a little secret for recovering from the flu, a bad cold or walking pneumonia (aside from Patty’s amazing pork chops and gravy that she dropped off out here along with the fixins to make a hot toddy which I hope to try tonight – thank you Patty!) – don’t let this out, I work in healthcare and we don’t want to lose the business but since you’re all friends and you’ve gone out of your way to help me, us and Windchill – I’m going to reveal the secret here, right now – it’s Doritos. Also orange juice but if you don’t have orange juice just ignore that part, the Doritos is the secret. You never saw me sick before this did you? I suppose you’re thinking you had never seen me before this but that’s irrelevant. I suggest Spicy Cheese Doritos but the correct Rx is based on your level of illness. Just email me if you get sick and I can prescribe the right type of Doritos according to your symptoms. Anyway, I stopped on the way home to get some tonight so I’m pretty sure I’ll be cured soon and in my weakened state you managed to get the secret out of me. Anyway, thanks for bearing with me here while I fight this crud, unfortunately it all caught up with me at once and mix that with the feelings – I suppose even the depression – of losing Windchill and I guess it takes a little more time to recover. We haven’t been resting much though – we have the non-profit’s name, articles of incorporation and mission statement done. I guess I just hate not doing anything and that’s stuff that can be done in the house. Anyway, mostly wanted to let you know I’m doing okay, down but definitely not out.

March 15th, 10:00pm: I’m sorry I haven’t had the chance to start working on the videos and other photos on here. This pneumonia crap has really taken it out of me so I’ve been trying to rest a bit. I did get outside today and move some round bales out to the pastures with Excalibur so we should be good out there for awhile. It was a pretty day – Paula from Duluth came over and gave a few of the horses a good brushing. I forgot to warn her how hot the hot cocoa was so I’m hoping she’s not spending the evening in an ER as a result… I’ll try to post more in a day or two. I need to start organizing this as well, I never designed my site to be a blogging site yet I know quite a few of you use this for your news so I’m hesitant to make any dramatic changes but I’ll see what I can do to organize it at least. Sorry for the short report – but I know you’ve been worried so thought I’d better log in and let you know I’m still breathing, albeit a little slower and harsher.

I see Windchill’s Forum is very active – I’m very proud of you guys for helping each other through the grief and pain. You’ve been great support to me as well and we appreciate all the ideas and information you’ve been sharing. The forum will also be your best place for the trial news. I’ve decided I’m not going to blog on the trial for the owners of the farm he was at. Honestly you guys do a better job tracking it all online anyway and I just think it’s better if I’m not the one posting about it.

After goofing around with one of our laptops, Eddie has ended up on our webpage…(move your mouse around, he loves to watch it – remember to turn on your speakers and rub his chest)

Chaos densensitizes himself with a bag

March 13th, 10:16pm: I think this may be the longest period I haven’t posted, a whole day. This stuff sure takes it out of you. Top it off with a day of mud being thrown and it’s a full and complete day. I don’t see it as being productive to dignify some of the stupid things being said or written with an answer, it’d waste my otherwise witty repertoire and drain what little energy I have. By now you’ve all seen the article, you’ve seen the decision and how it was conveyed. We’re disappointed but we’re using this opportunity to continue the formation of Windchill’s non-profit organization with a goal of applying for 501(c)3 status (tax deductible non-profit).  It’s is a fairly lengthy process but we have both attorneys and accountants who are assisting us pro bono (donating their time and expertise) so the donations we have received towards this can be used for the mission. Donors can choose to donate to the new organization or not – either way we intend to carry onward and sincerely appreciate your thoughts and the donations we have received. Your assistance would be very welcome. We have three board members already and have the articles of incorporation almost ready to be filed – woohoo!

As for the mud slinging itself, I guess I’d ask if it’s worth it? It’s unlikely anybody involved in it currently is going to change the other’s opinions. Some things are loudly worth fighting for – I understand that. Letters asking for justice or requesting and supporting change are an example if you ask me. But some of the ugliness I saw posted before I decided it wasn’t worth assimilating anymore, I don’t think that’s worth my time. Some people need to believe the world is a truly jaded, horrible place. They need to fit all circumstances they see, hear or read about into that view – thus to them the only reason people do things is self benefit or personal gain. It’s a sad statement that so many have reached that point in their lives and thus they perpetuate that as  reality, causing the rest of us to  then view the world cynically…until something like Windchill happens and reminds us that there is good in the world, in fact much more good than bad, much more positive than negative. I think the problem is the negative gets better press so it seems like there’s so much more of it. And to those that have chosen to attack me personally, as well as my farm – have you been out here? You’re certainly welcome to. Got lots of chores – you can help shovel things here literally that you’re currently shoveling figuratively. And it just might be good for your soul to be around the gentle spirits of a bunch of horses, an over-zealous dog and a couple of lazy cats. I promise if at the end of your visit it hasn’t been everything I promised, you can go back to cynically hating me with no hard feelings and then add some legitimacy to your statements because you’ll actually have met me and can make it a more personal form of cynical dislike rather than the current distant, armchair variety. A word of warning though – I can’t hug you right now because of the pneumonia so if that part of the visit is important to you (we all know how much cynics like to hug), you’ll want to continue disparaging me from a distance for now and schedule once I’ve gotten better.

We win, they lose.’

- Ronald Reagan

‘The most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’

-Ronald Reagan

‘The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they’re ignorant; it’s just that they know so much that isn’t so.’

-Ronald Reagan

‘Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U.S. was too strong.’- Ronald Reagan

‘I have wondered at times about what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress.’

-Ronald Reagan

‘The taxpayer: That’s someone who works for the federal government but doesn’t have to take the civil service examination.’

- Ronald Reagan

‘Government is like a baby: An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other..’-

Ronald Reagan

‘The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a government program.’ -

Ronald Reagan

‘It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first.’

- Ronald Reagan

‘Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it’

– Ronald Reagan

‘Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed, there are many rewards; if you disgrace yourself, you can always write a book.’

- Ronald Reagan

‘No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is as formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.’-

Ronald Reagan

‘If we ever forget that we’re one nation under GOD, then we will be a nation gone under.’

-Ronald Reagan

I encourage you to go to the link below to see the power of a statewide lobbying organization and its hold over the news – the Wisconsin Farm Bureau continues to spread the completely fabricated, incorrect and false information that The WindChill Legacy, Ltd and its support of the legislation known as Windchill’s Law is part of a coordinated national effort. Unfortunately the newspaper, The Country Today, doesn’t feel the need to verify statements like that with smaller advertisers like ourselves. It could explain why the paper never covered the Windchill story in the first place even though it occurred in their own backyard two hours away from their offices as the event made national news….

The Country Today article

March 11th, 9:16pm: Well at least I know why my body is so heavy lately and I can’t quite breathe…walking pneumonia…groan… I’m wiped so I’m sorry but this will be a short post and I’ll make it up to you guys, okay?

I saw on Windchill’s forum that the owners of the farm Windchill was at have apparently received a threatening letter from someone. I understand your anger and your frustration but threatening people isn’t the way to go about it. Windchill was the sweetest, most innocent being I think I have ever met. He had a gentle, peaceful spirit. If he held no anger and hatred in his soul towards any of us – shouldn’t we honor his spirit by continuing forward with his same quiet resolve? You can write letters but I really think you should rise above those that harm other beings, through abuse or neglect, by channeling that anger – that desire to protect the vulnerable like Windchill – and write letters to those that can cause positive change so this doesn’t happen again. Write your senators, your congressman – tell them Windchill’s story and ask for stronger legislation so that it’s not a mere slap on the wrist. Write your county boards and ask for tougher ordinances. Call your local law enforcement or humane society if you suspect abuse or neglect. You, the world, came together to help show a little colt he could know love – and you won. You showed him. Now show that same faith and action and turn your anger to energy and use that energy to cause change. Keep a button or picture of Windchill with you – look into his eyes, look at his face. You never saw anger – you always, always saw hope and quiet resolve. Every single day from the moment Windchill got here his eyes burned with that hope. You’re reading this because you heard or saw the story of a little colt who believed he could be loved and he in turn loved us. He brought the world together and he made you all a family. Let’s face the world with the same quiet dignity that Windchill showed the world. I think he proved you don’t need violence to cause revolution. Just faith and resolve.

As for the owners of that farm, they are now being held accountable by the justice system. It now falls on the shoulders of the district attorney’s office and the courts to try those individuals. It will probably be a long and frustrating process to many. One of the best ‘weapons’ against resolve is time. We as a society like things done quickly. The longer it takes, the less stamina we have. I just want to bring that to your attention because this is not going to be a battle that goes to the swift, it will go to those that last the longest. Is Windchill worth it to you?

In Wisconsin we will be working towards a Windchill’s Law. You can do the same in your State or county. Over time Windchill’s foundation will have materials to help you in this fight – a summary of what happened here, a request for change you can use for your letters, a network to help people in their fight – as well as  to help those that are helping horses like Windchill all over this country. To do it – we need you. We need that energy you have. Together we can positively cause change.

March 10th, 10:15pm: As I mentioned earlier, I know many of you are still getting your news from me right here and you’re eagerly watching to see if I post about the hearing today. I will-  though there’s not much to tell. The farm owners were scheduled for a 3pm appearance at the Douglas County Courthouse – their attorney entered their plea of ‘not guilty’ and it was off to the next case. Around 10 or so showed up in support of Windchill, we all wore purple ribbons or Windchill buttons.  I don’t know if I’ll post much about the case here or on the forums. I’m just not sure. I’m tied too closely to it. I think it would probably be too easy to stir emotions and public sentiment with my own chaotic emotions on this and I don’t want to abuse the trust you have placed in me by reading my words here and coming back each day. I don’t know. I’m conflicted because then I think I have come this far and told Windchill’s story and isn’t this a part of it? Yet I don’t think this is the most important part. The most important part started February 9th and it grew and grew and grew. Only his body left us February 29th, his spirit is still here. I find it difficult to return to the ways of old. My body is still programmed for the routine we had for those 20 days so a return to eating and sleeping hasn’t occurred yet, not fully. More importantly is the desire to keep things rolling on his non-profit. Every day there’s a new volunteer, a new resource. We’re developing the website for him. We have several folks we’ve asked to consider being on the board. We have an attorney working on the formation of the organization, along with another matter. And we’ve started sketching ideas for the database behind the national resource network. We have a start to being able to help others in their rescues – we have you. You are the most powerful ‘force’ I think I’ve ever experienced. I was once on the end of runway not paying attention when the crew chief marshaled an F-4D fighter out of its position. It turned and there I looked into the turbines as the pilot wound it up to taxi – it inflated my lungs, picked me straight up and I flew – standing perfectly vertical – for quite a ways before landing – again on my feet. That feeling was nothing compared to what  I have seen firsthand with the power of your love and caring – and it is AWESOME. And we have a ton of coffee and cookies to prove it…

I may change my thoughts on this but I think for at least right now I will keep you updated by perhaps posting links to the places on the forum where people are tracking the case and let them be my reports to you. I saw someone had posted the next date is April 7th for a pre-trial hearing and update.

Let’s see – oh yeah, one other thing I forgot to tell you I think – I’ve asked the computer company to finish the work on the webcams we had started for Windchill. The signal booster thing and router are already in there from their previous work, they just need to install the cams they had ordered for Windchill and for his security – so you guys can watch a baby horse be born. You’ll then be able to watch the (Lord willing) healthy foal grow, nurse, feed, play. I think you’re going to really enjoy this and hopefully it will help all of our hearts a little bit to see new life where another was lost to us. And I have no doubt Windchill will be there in spirit with the new baby. I feel him now from time to time. And sometimes when I look in his stall I still see him pushing himself around in circles and I laugh. And I cry. I think becoming so recognized nationally, even internationally, is amazing and an honor and a surprise. But selfishly I would trade the ‘honor’ to see him standing in the stall now next to his half-sisters, and playing with the boys in the North (Skyla) pasture every morning – just another anonymous horse at a little known backwoods farm on a hill overlooking Lake Superior where he played with an unknown blue eyed dog and was fed by an unknown blue eyed cowboy or a trainer who is perhaps a little more well known…and yet somehow the anonymity never bothered him or his brothers or sisters in those pastures because they were loved and they knew it.

March 10th, 9:15pm: Let’s see – first of all, apparently most of you are still looking for your news and things here and haven’t seen the forum so I wanted to share with you that a friend named Betsy, from Duluth took one of the last photos of Windchill on February 29th. This past Saturday she brought out buttons for the Windchill care team made from this picture. FYI, at Walgreens Plaza in Duluth – 218.724.8551 (ask for Lynn in the Camera Department) – Betsy had it turned into a button that she brought for the crew that took care of Windchill.

Betsy graciously offered the negative to us (again, at Walgreens) for others who may want to order the buttons and wear them, particularly to the court house if you’re going but elsewhere as well, in support of Windchill. The intention is to reinforce the support out there for Windchill.

If enough of you would like, we could probably go order a big batch and send them out to people, Betsy said they were around $2.25 I believe, something in that area. I don’t know if Walgreens will ship, or if you can perhaps order from a Walgreens near you since I think they put it in their system but I don’t know for sure. I’ll call to get more details tomorrow, okay?