4 more weeks to freedom!

I passed the first section of Organic Chemistry. It was a brutal 4 weeks.

I celebrated by going HOME and seeing my bunnies! I was able to sell 3, and get a peek at my 19 babies. I have 3 to cull, and will cull all of the bucks of my 19 babies -- because I am SO buck heavy. I don't even want to be tempted with them.

I have a really nice Broken Junior buck for sale out of Melinda :)

I bred Melinda to Dominic. I really wanted her to be bred to Dream Maker before he leaves, but he just would not breed! Oh well.

I am in the process of deciding on who I want to work with, and figuring out what shows they will be at and what shows I can attend. So far, it looks like I could finish around Feb 2011. It would also only involve going to California 3 times.... lol

I have 4 more weeks of school. I'm already stressed out just 2 days into it, but I hope that it goes well :D

and....

I passed my ARBA judges test :)

The Homestretch Rant / Rave

Just one week of O-Chem 1 left. 3 days of lecture, review & final on Friday morning. I'm doing reasonably well... I'm certainly not going to get an A, but I have met my minimum goal, and with this series, that's all I can hope for!

Tomorrow I am headed to a friends to relax and register some rabbits.

Sunday morning I am headed to a nice breeder's barn to register some more rabbits.

All 19 of my babies are still alive and doing well in the heat. It really makes me happy when I have big thriving litters, but at the same time its stressful worrying about them and always having to worry about cage space and feed bills. There will be lots of culling going on, sad, but it has to happen for the improvement of the herd. Some people do not understand this logic. There is a difference between successful culling & regular culling, and culling successfully takes you a lot farther in the rabbit hobby these days.

My last rave is, if you haven't looked at the May/June issue of Domestic Rabbits yet, DO SO. It's more than excellent & improved.

The above are my raves.

Now for my rants.

For those of you who are wondering, no, I do not know the results of my judges test yet. I do know, from a breeder who called the office, that they did not pass, and that only one of the five applicants passed. That increases my chances to 25%, but I honestly don't think I passed, especially after hearing about the politics of the oral examination. For any of you considering to be registrars or future judges, I warn you... don't do it unless you are 100% dedicated and serious about it.

I have heard a LOT of youth say that they want to get their registrar's license, and I have heard a lot of the reasons being for the title and or to register their own rabbits. That is NOT a reason to become a registrar or judge and you will fail if you have that outlook on it.

It is something you something you earn and achieve because you deserve it.

I have also heard a lot of people say "Oh just re-take it" next time will be a piece of cake.

This is probably my biggest pet-peeve. One, it's expensive to retake it. Sure the re-take fee is only $50. But since our states are so large, arranging an exam and TRAVELING to the exam is expensive. It has been the theme that these are done at state conventions. The next one isn't until next year, and you must wait at least 6 months to retake it. I could see the earlies re-take being at Frozen Friends if they allow it. I spent a lot of money just to take mine at Ellensburg, and I transported to offset the costs of it. Two, it won't be a piece of cake the next time you take it. You get a different exam each time. They are equally as hard. Just because you pass one the first time, doesn't mean you will pass it the next. Who knows, the next time you could fail the oral! and Third, as I found out the hard way, they throw curve-balls at you, and even when you think you can/or have passed, you don't. I don't understand the whole thing still, when I figure it out, I'll let you know.

I do know that, the exams were mailed today. Which means I could hear as early as Wednesday, or as late as next Friday. I am saddened by the delay, and the time it has taken ARBA to get materials mailed back, but I am not going to be a sour member and complain. I can't understand the economy or the lack of hands/people and I respect the organization I belong to. I have heard a lot of members trash the office back in Bloomington because it takes them 4-6 weeks to get a registration back, or 8 weeks to get a membership card. Sorry folks... shit happens. Get used to it.

MY LAST COMMENT:

Voting ballots come out July 15th. Mail them in ASAP. Don't wait until the deadline.

I don't want to stray your decisions, I want you to make an educated vote, read the articles in the DM or see the wonderful website off the ARBA link.

I am voting for Mike Avesing for ARBA President

I am undecided yet on Vice President. I know Joey personally, yet I think Erik is very qualified/has lots of energy & new ideas to fullfill the position.

For District one, undoubtedly I hope that you vote for Roger Hassenpflug. I sure hope I don't have to explain that one.

That's all I have :) Thanks for reading.

300th post!

I just want to brag that it's my 300th post in oh.... in 4 years. Sad? Much so.

I have completely updated the website. I didn't have time to do it, but I did it anyways.

I have the new Checkered Giant page up and a page up for Convention Sales.

Madonna had 9 babies to Dominic. And Brianna (the smallest doe in my barn) had 10 babies. Pretty even distribution of solids & brokens.

I also bred Rylee to Stitch on the 3rd. I am very excited for this, and hope Stitch is not sterile :D

I spent Saturday making a run for the Checkered Giants and making their cages higher. I also went on a feed run, so my one day home was well worth spent.

Waiting to hear back from ARBA. Once I do, I'll know if I'm staying home these next weekends or get to head to Monroe.

That's all. Back to studying!