A seagull in Marinette, WI has developed the habit of stealing Doritos from a neighborhood convenience store.

The seagull waits until the Manager isn't looking, and then walks into the store and grabs a snack-size bag of cheese Doritos.

Once outside, the bag gets ripped open and shared by other birds.

The seagull's shoplifting started early this month when he first swooped into the store in Marinette, WI, and helped himself to a bag of Doritos. Since then, he's become a regular. He always takes the same type of chips.

The Manager thinks it's great because people are coming to watch the feathered thief make the daily grab and run, and that's good for business, and especially since customers have begun paying for the seagull's stolen bags of Doritos because they think it's so funny. However, the Manager did say, "This is Wisconsin, and if that seagull starts to grab a 6-pac to go along with the Doritos, I may have to put a stop to it."

Surprisingly, it has turned out to be a nice day. It must be near 30*! I caught the weather at noon and it is to drop to 20 tomorrow and stay there or go lower with a front coming in over the weekend. I have been really bad and rather than cleaning the kitchen in preparation of a visit from a school my son is interested in (hoses laying on the floor, tools all over, coats and hats and muddy floors, oh my!) I have been pulling fence posts and decided to make a run to the side of the old barn (which we cannot use for animals due to it being not in the greatest condition) which will be closer to the barn well. Hubby's cow fence will have to be moved out and I will have to run a hotwire on my side since he thinks as long as the wire is up the fence is hot (yah...ok) but it just may work better. Then I only have to drop the freaking pump down every time I want to water (What a PITA!!!!). I would KILL for a hand pump. The one originally on there broke. I looked at Lehman's and they don't guarentee against freezing which sucks. Why in hell can't all these brilliant men creat something that won't freeze?

What really amazes me is if I leave the hose in the tank after filling it is just a matter of minutes before the whole tank is sucked back down into the well. Yet if I pull the hose and walk it, draining it, it still freezes. Go figure.

So I have two of five posts in for my "run". I need hubby to move a freaking grain bin he had to have and has never used in the 11 years we have been here. Laying in the tall weeds is what it does. Haul it out of my way and I can run wire and get the critters down there to see that is where their new water tank is. I am sure they will appreciate the stone wall of the barn on sunny mornings too so that makes me happy.

I also hauled my pony out, trimmed his feet and played with him in the yard. See? Told you I was being unproductive.

Thank you Maggie for understanding the nonsense about the water lugging. It seems most people aren't so understanding. I really appreciate it (((hug))).

Colleen, I think I'll go with my maiden name and first two initials for my articles. I think that would be the easiest and it isn't exactly not true. My older friends who knew me before I got married will know who I am. I am really excited about doing the articles. I hope they are accepted well or at least get people thinking.

Well, time to scoot and get some dishes done and make it look like I give a damn what the house looks like.

I found some Animal communication videos and books for sale online so I bought the lot of them. I can always resell them or donate them to the library after I am through with them. One video is by Penelope Smith and the other two are by Carol Gurney. The books are various authors and for .75 cents each I couldn't pass them up.

I have decided to do a series of articles for our state wide horse magazine. They allow farms to send in monthly articles about their farm, kids, horses or whatever to be printed for free. I have decided to do a series on animal communication and my experience with it. The first article I would like in the Jan. issue but I may have missed the deadline on it. I will have to look. Then if it seems there is interest I will do a question and answer to the best of my knowledge. I will be learning too since I certainly do not know it all. I just think it would be fun.

I can't decide what to use for a name though. Living in a super rural area I don't know if I want my real name out there at this time. People do strange things to folks they think are working with the devil and the such. I have already been accused of being a witch and that was a frightening experience. So perhaps a pen name or my maiden name. Only a select few would know who I was then.

Today was to be my first day off in the past 8 working days but I had to go in and case mail for training. That takes 3 hours smack out of the most productive part of my day, the morning and early afternoon. I then lugged the hose outdoors but will not be doing that anymore while it is this cold (12*) as it ran an inch an hour. It is faster to haul buckets out of the bathtub and just enough for the animals to satisfy their thirst. Otherwise the rest of the water freezes and fills the tank. I really do not like winter just because of the water situation. I told my hubby I am getting a frost free put in next year. We get a new well, I am putting that in too. If my piss poor friend can have one so can I. I am sick of this and hubby won't help me because that isn't "his" job. So there went my day.

I won't have to work tomorrow though, they told me not to call until Thursday because I may be doing another ride along on Friday. Get a look at these boxes first hand (K will be driving, I'll be stuffing boxes) and I will be carrying a black Sharpie and a silver Sharpie to address the boxes that don't have them on them. The biggest complainers usually don't have their address visable so this will solve that problem. Then I will be as ready as I will ever be to do the 101 mile route.

My front tire has a slow leak now too. This 8 days of route punched holes in two of my new tires. Sucks, esp. since most my mileage is going into the tank rather than in my fund for repairs.

I got my book club books and am enjoying the Sylvia Brown one immensely. I am also getting a lot out of the three angel books. I made good choices.

Edit: Copy is due the 10th before the next issue so I have until Dec. 10. Sit down and make a 12 month outline...