When does it end? Sleep Deprivation....

As expected, the neighbors with the asses are appealing the decision of the zoning commissioner handed down on 14 May 2013.  The appeal, which is to be heard in front of the County Commissioners, is set for 7 August 2013.  Another 2 months of our neighbors breaking existing laws and continuing to get away with it.

Right now, it's 6:55 a.m. as I type this, the asses are braying.  In fact, they've been braying off & on (mostly on) since around 5:00 a.m.  The other night, in order to get some much needed sleep, I took a Tramadol (pain killer) and drank a glass of wine so it would knock me out.  That is beyond sad...  It can be dangerous to my health but I desperately needed some uninterrupted sleep.  How did I know it was time for desperate measures with regard to my sleep?  The other day, I found myself on the phone with my friend, Laurel, alternating between episodes of uncontrolled giggling and then uncontrolled sobbing.  Not good and I'm mentally sound.  She recommended I take a nap.  I tried, only to have that nap destroyed by donkeys braying 50' from my bedroom window.

It's now 7:05 a.m. and they haven't shut up for the past 10 minutes.

There are numerous studies out there showing strong links between sleep deprivation and mental health issues.  Having worked in the health industry, I've seen what happens when people don't get enough sleep.  Sometimes, those suffering from a severe lack of sleep have to be incarcerated in mental health facilities for their own safety and for the safety of others.  That is a sad but true fact.

Some of the consequences of sleep deprivation include, but are not limited to:

2 of 5 donkeys 50' from bedroom window

Increased risk of stroke - A study of 5,666 people, presented at the SLEEP 2012 conference, shows that middle- to older-aged people who regularly get fewer than six hours of sleep a night have an increased stroke risk, even without a history of stroke, obesity, and obstructive sleep apnea.  "These people sleeping less than six hours had a four times increased risk of experiencing these stroke symptoms..." according to study researcher Megan Ruiter. 

Can lead to obesity - Too little sleep can influence less-than-ideal food choices, including larger portions and cravings for junk food, thanks to hormonal changes that occur when you don't get enough sleep. Six (6) hours of sleep or less increases production of the hunger hormone ghrelin, which decreases insulin sensitivity (a risk factor for diabetes) and it spurs decreases in the hormone leptin (which is key for energy balance and food intake). Leptin helps balance your food intake, according to a 2012 review of 18 studies of sleep and appetite.

Increase the risk of Diabetes - A pair of small studies from 2012 examined the link between poor sleep and insulin resistance, a telltale risk factor for diabetes. One found that among healthy teenagers, the shortest sleepers had the highest insulin resistance, meaning the body is not using insulin effectively, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The second study examined fat cells, in particular, and found that cutting back on sleep increased insulin resistance in these cells, even when diet and calorie intake were restricted, Health.com reported.

Brain degereration and memory loss -  According to a new study by the University of California, Berkely, a connection between poor sleep and memory storage has been found. Sleep deprivation is connected with brain degeneration and memory loss in older adults according to UC Berkeley sleep researcher Matthew Walker. 

Contributes to Osteoporosis 

The time is 7:17 a.m. and they are still braying.

Increase the Risk of Cancer - Research suggests that short and poor sleep can up risk for certain types of cancer. A 2010 study found that among 1,240 people screened for colorectal cancer, the 338 who were diagnosed were more likely to average fewer than six hours of sleep a night. Polyps were more common in people who slept less.

Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Disease & Death

Increased Mental Health Issues & Death -  Among young people who already suffered from anxiety; in this group, lack of sleep triggered more serious mental health problems like full-blown depression and even bipolar disorder, according to the study’s lead author, Professor Nick Glozier. But even among those who began the study in good health, less than five hours of sleep meant tripling their odds of psychological distress. Then, there is the increased risk of death.

"....the days got worse & worse, now you see I've gone completely out of my mind. They're coming to take me away ha haaa...  they're coming to take me away ho ho hee hee ha hah to the funny farm where life is beautiful all the time..."  And where there are no donkeys braying.

Pancho (above video) is what we hear and we hear that noise at all hours of the day & night...  At midnight (12:00 a.m.), 1:00 a.m., 3:00 a.m., etc.

At the tone, the time is 8:01 a.m. and they are still braying. When does this end?

Donkey doo....

For the past many months, we (the neighborhood) have been engaged in a zoning battle with a neighbor. That neighbor has been running a donkey rescue, including taking donations, even though they do not have a business license.  They are not sanctioned by the NM Livestock Board.  They are not a registered charity with the Attorney General's office.

The 1st zoning hearing was on Mar 14, 2013.  AT that time, the commissioner deferred making any decision to May 14, 2013 on the case (ZA-20130025) to allow them time to clean up the property and to "adequately address the concerns raised by the Zoning Administrator and the residents of adjacent properties."

The 2nd hearing on May 14 had more of the neighbors present and objecting to their request to run a donkey rescue on less than 3 acres of land in a mostly residential area.  The Zoning Administrator's decision after the 2nd hearing was to DENY their request for a conditional use variance.

The rescue had until 12:00 p.m. today to file for an appeal, which they did.  Now, according to Zoning, this goes somewhere else and if they are again denied, they can appeal again & again & again.  When does this stop?

When do my rights as a landowner & taxpayer actually be taken into consideration?

Myself and others in the neighborhood are fed up with being awakened at all hours of the day & night by braying.  We are sick & tired of the stench of the urine emanating from the property.  We are sick & tired of these people abusing the system. When is enough enough?

Why hasn't BernCo Environmental Health issued them citations re: noise & land pollution?  Why hasn't BernCo Animal Services issued them citation re: disturbing the peace?  Why are they being allowed to run a business without proper authorization & all required documentation?  Why are they being allowed to operate even after they were denied by zoning?

When I asked the Attorney General's office Charity Division, Elizabeth Korsmo, "So, is it OK for them to solicit and accept donations from the public, even though they are not a sanctioned equine rescue facility as required by the state?", she told me, "It is not prohibited by the Charitable Solicitations Act which is the law we are authorized to enforce."

Gee, does that mean I can put out there that I'm a charity and get people to donate to me and not face prosecution for fraud?

Oh, the reply to my first email to the AG asking if their accepting donations and running a non-sanctioned equine rescue, in violation of existing NM law, was allowed, I received the following from Heather Winkle, "Ms. Summerhill - Edgewood Longears Safehouse (46-0907101) has begun a registration as a charitable organization with our office.  Please continue working with or contacting NMLB regarding registration with that agency."

These donkeys are 50' from my bedroom window.  Some of us work real jobs, unlike those running the rescue.  I'm still trying to figure out how they can afford to feed their 5 personal "pets", when neither of them are employed outside of that rescue.  Hmmm...  funny thing that...

Anyway, when is enough enough?  What steps would you recommend the neighborhood take next?  I'm absolutely disgusted by this entire mess - the donkeys as well as the government's lack of action.

Any answers????

Beef! It's What's For Dinner.... Well.... Sort of...

Living in cattle country, which is one of the major ag crops in New Mexico, we have a lot of beef.  I've never eaten so much beef until moving here.  While I like beef, I could sure eat a lot less of it.

Baltimore Peach Cake

I yearn for a taste of home...  a taste of Maryland.  I'd love to have a piece of a fresh Baltimore Peach Cake...  a buttery, bread type pastry covered in fresh peaches and a raspberry glaze.  I'd love to have a bag of Utz potato chips...  or some Berger's cookies.   A spice cupcake from Herman's Bakery; some chocolate from Rheb's; a bag of Konstant peanuts roasted fresh in front of Lexington Market; steamed crabs, Attman's corned beef, Esskay Silver Label ham....   the list goes on & on & on...  Baltimore is a town made for "foodies" and food is, in fact, what I miss the most about the place.

So, to help satisfy this yearning, I'm making a pot of Maryland Crab Soup for dinner, to be served alongside some Maryland crab cakes.  (Maryland refers more to the style & flavoring of the dishes, not necessarily to where the crab meat or crabs came from.)

Here's my recipe, more or less, for Maryland Style Crab Soup.

4 slices of thick bacon, cut into 1/4" pieces
4 meaty short ribs
1 lb chuck roast, cut into 1/2" cubes
1 medium onion, coarse chop
2 carrots, sliced into 1/8" thick rounds
2 celery ribs, sliced into 1/4" pieces
2 cups of water
1 can of diced tomatoes
1/2 bag of frozen cut green beans
1/2 bag of frozen corn
1/2 bag of frozen baby lima beans
1/2 of a small cabbage, shredded
1/4 cup of washed, pearl barley
3 bay leaves
2-3 tbs of Old Bay seasoning
1-2 tbs of black pepper
1/2  pound of lump crab
6 whole blue crabs, cleaned & cut in half (if you can find them)

To make the soup, fry the bacon bits in the bottom of a heavy soup pot. Remove when browned. In the bacon grease, brown the short ribs & the cubed chuck roast. When well browned, remove from the pot and set aside.  Next, add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery to the pot.  Stir fry in the bacon grease until wilted.  Then add the water and deglaze the pot.  After pot is deglazed, add the remaining ingredients, EXCEPT FOR THE CRAB.  (The crab meat & crabs will be added about 10 minutes or so before serving. Keep the crabs & crab meat refrigerated until just before use.) Cook at a simmer until the meat is tender.

At this point, the soup is pretty much done.  Depending upon how long it is before serving, you can cool the soup to room temp and then refrigerate, heating it to a boil 15 minutes before serving, adding the crabs & crab meat to the pot for the last 10-15 minutes.

Adjust seasonings and serve piping hot with oyster crackers or saltines.

Courtesy of Chesapeake Crab Feast

Crabs....  'Beautiful Swimmers that are Savory"...  Callinectes sapidus (from the Greek calli- = "beautiful", nectes = "swimmer", and Latin sapidus = "savory"), the Chesapeake blue crab.

Catch 'em....  Cook 'em....  Eat 'em....

Enjoy!