Another learning curve

The future Social Worker/ Goat Wrangler Age 6 with J.D. Watson

Well it has been quite a week. The paternal unit came cross-country to get a sense of what was going on and to help with caprine housing and truck stuff. We visited the goats out on Vashon Island - which is the temporary homestead for them at this time. He got to see some retired Rent-A-Ruminant goats as well as both of us meeting my 2 new goats - a girl is added to the mix! Check out pictures of the herd and get updates on all things Amazin' Grazers at www.facebook.com/amazingrazersllc. That took up most of Thursday. Friday we tried to fill up the tires on the truck and had less than optimal success. We then went out to look into a bed mat for the truck to prevent goats from slipping around (no luck on the first try), looked at a potential home base, and managed to pick up some POWER TOOLS! The chainsaw is on hand and the hedgetrimmer is ordered and paid for. Woohoo! Being the dad as well as major financial contributor, he purchased the bright orange protective chaps to be worn when using said power tools. Oh I will be so attractive to the boys now! We also did some tracking down of where to get a mat from and that is now in at one of the stores we were at. Another issue was the tailgate which we couldn't get to come down and that was critical to tomorrows operations. We bounced around to different Chevy dealers looking for a screw that apparently no one carries and it wasn't a sure thing that it would fix the situation. Time constraints prevented us from solving this dilemma today.
Saturday was the BIG DAY! I had persuaded a couple of city boys who work out to help with putting the very heavy enclosure on the truck so that I would be able to transport goats on my own. It was POURING rain here in Seattle and we got up to where the enclosure was being stored and added another helper. The tailgate issue ended up being solved without a lot of to-do, thankfully, although there isn't a permanent fix. After a lot of measuring and huddling and wherefore and whatnot, we came to the conclusion that the enclosure that I had bought prior to the truck was not going to fit on the bed of the truck without some significant reconfiguration with tools and skills none of us possessed. Such as welding. While it was amusing watching 4 adult men debate the possible strategies for dealing with the situation, I very nearly had a melt-down at this news. This was supposed to be DONE. This was a main project that is critical to the operation of the business, without this - no business happens. I really believe the only thing that kept me from losing my shit completely was that dad seemed calm. Seeing as nothing could be done - we loaded the parts into the truck (where they still are) and we went our separate ways. The sun came out later and after getting some food dad & I headed out for more tire dealings. Apparently the local gas stations are less equipped to handle the air pressure needs of large truck tires. Went to one tire & service place and got them filled but were advised to get a new valve for one tire. Went to 2nd tire place and they didn't have the valve either and advised to go down the road to the chain tire store that was the sole retailer for these particular tires and that they would likely fix it for free. Which they did, and it took and hour. Keep in mind, we are solving a problem I didn't know I had previously and this has taken many hours over 2 days. This appears to be the pace of this venture. I had to make a list before the dad left so that I can track the things I am now supposed to follow-up on or track as a result of his visit. Not that it's bad, it's just more.
Sunday (the last day) is spent picking up miscellaneous things that I need like ground rods and a battery etc. Which of course takes us all over town and involves me trying to manage my dad trying to get me to buy things I don't think I need - like a box to keep the battery in out on the job. The damn battery weighs a ton and I am going to put it in a plastic box? Where is all this going? It's a MARINE battery for crying out loud! I thought all i need to know was that I needed a 12v marine battery when I went into the store and then I am asked all these questions about output and stuff I can't remember. This is when I should mention that I keep getting on the phone to Tammy of Rent-A-Ruminant as she is trying to gather her stuff and get to the airport to fly to Australia to see about starting an affiliate there! Thank goodness she only has me right now getting up and going....and as I tell her regularly, it's all her fault that I am doing this. Not really. But she has been very encouraging of all this which is good and muchly needed at times. Like when trying to buy a battery.
And the rack business...both dad and I spent some time looking on the internet for possible rack solutions. Most of the racks are slide in deals that don't seem sufficient to me for 15 goats (another call to Tammy suggests that it might be ok). I find one place that makes an aluminum one that sits up on the rails of the bed and is more enclosed and email away for information. Today I find out that for only $3,065 I too can have this beauteous thing made to fit my truck. Seems a little pricey especially since I am down to under a grand and have insurance, internet, bed mat, and a vet kit to get still - oh and gas for the vehicles I am using. Driving the car as much as I can since gas prices are high. I forwarded the info to the dad for perusal. We'll see what comes of it all. Modifying the existing thing seems much more reasonable now. But where to find the right worker for this job??
So now I hang loose. It is raining like the dickens and I will be out checking in on about 150 goats in 2 locations this weekend and then mucking about at New Moon on Sunday. I need to finish writing up an estimate for one job and have another site visit planned and another in the works. Gotta get the truck signs ordered, an ad placed in an upcoming publication, the vehicle insurance paid, an accountant found, biz insurance dealt with, the bed mat picked up and flyers made.
One of the last things dad said to me as I dropped him off at the airport in the pre-dawn of Monday morning was "I think this is going to work." And that is the best encouragement this city girl can get.