The Old Folks Home

[superchemicalgirl]

I'm thinking about taking a large dose of benadryl in about an hour and see if I can't sleep in tomorrow morning and try to reset things. Problem is, I have some wicked insomnia, anyway, with a hint of narcolepsy. I'm basically narcoleptic at some point between 10pm and 2am, then wide awake after I've slept for 2-4 hours. This is going to be really fun to add to that shift.

This shift doesn't actually exist at our work. We have construction going on (basically they're going to be jackhammering into concrete) and that can't happen during the day when we're there and trying to work. So they'll be doing it at night when we're normally closed, although one of us has to be there with the construction workers, by law. Unfortunately there's no extra staff to do this, so I get it.

Last week when I agreed to do it it didn't seem so bad. Tonight, staring down the barrel of staying up until 7am... it's Mission Impossible.

 

[Pensmaster]

I'm thinking about taking a large dose of benadryl in about an hour and see if I can't sleep in tomorrow morning and try to reset things. Problem is, I have some wicked insomnia, anyway, with a hint of narcolepsy. I'm basically narcoleptic at some point between 10pm and 2am, then wide awake after I've slept for 2-4 hours. This is going to be really fun to add to that shift.  

This shift doesn't actually exist at our work. We have construction going on (basically they're going to be jackhammering into concrete) and that can't happen during the day when we're there and trying to work. So they'll be doing it at night when we're normally closed, although one of us has to be there with the construction workers, by law. Unfortunately there's no extra staff to do this, so I get it. 

Last week when I agreed to do it it didn't seem so bad. Tonight, staring down the barrel of staying up until 7am... it's Mission Impossible. 

So, noisy dusty and boring. Will you have to be in the same room. I trust they are using proper equipment to keep things dust free. Concrete dust gets into everything. A mask and ear plugs might be in order.

 

[perchie.girl]

OH MY Gawd.......

 

[Pensmaster]

OH MY Gawd.......

This is hilarious I'm going to share it with my friend he used to lay concrete for a living. Lots of stories from him about protecting the finish until it sets but nothing like this.

 

[Latestarter]

Really sorry for your work sched SCG. That's a real hard situation. I have severe obstructive sleep apnea... I can truly identify with not being able to sleep. I generally sleep for an hour or 2 at most then drift on and off the remainder of my time in bed. From my military days and long distance driving, all I could recommend is lots of coffee and a handy bathroom for after you start drinking. I used to buy/use NoDoze (500mg caffeine tablets) but they would wire me so bad I'd get the shakes and coming back down was a severe crash.

 

[Latestarter]

I have fermented feed before. And thought about it with the spent grain as its all ready moist with water it itself hasn't been fermented yet. I really pack it into those 5 gallon buckets so it work take some effort to get it all back out. Perhaps put it in a wheelbarrow then mix in the apple cider vinegar

Main problem I have is that it takes too much time in the morning to drain. I leave early for work and it was too much to prepare

Ummmm there is a much easier, less time consuming, simpler way... Not sure how many birds you have, but I have about 30 and a full 5 gallon bucket of FF lasts me 2 days. Take the 5 gallon bucket and fill ~1/2 full with the dry feed, then add ~1/4 more of the spent grains. Pour in hot water till it just reaches the surface and stir thoroughly. No need for ACV, yogurt, kambucha (SP), or anything else... It should be the consistency of thick oatmeal. Cover loosly with a towel and let it sit in a nice warm spot for ~3 days. You can give it a stir every day if you wish, but not really necessary. If it starts drying out, add more water. The material will absorb most of it, so there'll be no need to drain/strain when you start using it. After 3 days, take a smell... It should be smelling like a nice sourdough bread. The longer you let it set, the more it will ferment. It should be good for 2-3 weeks.

Once you start feeding it out, don't completely empty the bucket... leave a small amount in the bottom after the final feeding from the bucket. Maybe 2" worth... add more feed, more grains, more water, stir well, cover with a towel and let it set in a warm place over night. It will be fully fermented and ready for use the next morning (back slopping). If need be, you could have 2 buckets going and swap back and forth between them for a deeper ferment (this is what I initially did).

When you serve it up, just scoop, splat it into their feed trough, and watch them thrive!

If it's too wet, the birds may not like it as much but just add a little dry feed and mix it in to "thicken" it up. It's really not a lot of work at all, and so much better for your birds. They'll eat less because they'll be able to use more of the nutrients in the feed (10-12% up-take improvement) so that will save you bucks as well. Put down enough for them to finish in 15-20 minutes. If they finish faster, put down more next time. If they don't finish, put down a bit less. I just fill the trough full and leave it for them all day. They eat when they want/need. If there's some left the next morning, I just put a little less in.

When below freezing, I've had to revert to dry feed for my birds and they waste so much... I find I use at least 50% less feed with FF than dry.

 

[Pensmaster]

Ummmm there is a much easier, less time consuming, simpler way... Not sure how many birds you have, but I have about 30 and a full 5 gallon bucket of FF lasts me 2 days. Take the 5 gallon bucket and fill ~1/2 full with the dry feed, then add ~1/4 more of the spent grains. Pour in hot water till it just reaches the surface and stir thoroughly. No need for ACV, yogurt, kambucha (SP), or anything else... It should be the consistency of thick oatmeal. Cover loosly with a towel and let it sit in a nice warm spot for ~3 days. You can give it a stir every day if you wish, but not really necessary. If it starts drying out, add more water. The material will absorb most of it, so there'll be no need to drain/strain when you start using it. After 3 days, take a smell... It should be smelling like a nice sourdough bread. The longer you let it set, the more it will ferment. It should be good for 2-3 weeks.

Once you start feeding it out, don't completely empty the bucket... leave a small amount in the bottom after the final feeding from the bucket. Maybe 2" worth... add more feed, more grains, more water, stir well, cover with a towel and let it set in a warm place over night. It will be fully fermented and ready for use the next morning (back slopping). If need be, you could have 2 buckets going and swap back and forth between them for a deeper ferment (this is what I initially did).

When you serve it up, just scoop, splat it into their feed trough, and watch them thrive! If it's too wet, the birds may not like it as much but just add a little dry feed and mix it in to "thicken" it up. It's really not a lot of work at all, and so much better for your birds. They'll eat less because they'll be able to use more of the nutrients in the feed (10-12% up-take improvement) so that will save you bucks as well. Put down enough for them to finish in 15-20 minutes. If they finish faster, put down more next time. If they don't finish, put down a bit less. I just fill the trough full and leave it for them all day. They eat when they want/need. If there's some left the next morning, I just put a little less in.

When below freezing, I've had to revert to dry feed for my birds and they waste so much... I find I use at least 50% less feed with FF than dry.

I shall try this method.

 

[dsqard]

Finally got back to sewing yesterday. Working the border on this quilt. Still have a ways to go before it is ready to quilt. Unfortunately I won't be able to touch it for about a week. I have to travel today to Huntsville, AL for a week of training. I would love finally seeing our operations down there if it weren't for the fact I basically just got to PA and now I am on the road. I also have to go to AZ for a couple of days in June but luckily traveling is not a large part of the job. I just happened to catch it at the "right" time.

 

[drumstick diva]

Beautiful quilt dsgard - I especially love the border of flowers

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Those little purple flowers make me happy.

Safe travels, again.