Reviews from

Old Merle

Bullheadedness and (mild)cussing go hand in hand

28 total reviews 
Comment from Spiritual Echo
Excellent
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Great read. Merle sounds like all my ex-husbands. I'm sure there was no pun intended but when you said he sat down on his ass, I howled. What exactly is the differance between a mule and an ass?

Great story and clearly the definitive differance between gow old men interrelate.

Hee Haw! Loved it!

 Comment Written 12-Jan-2011


reply by the author on 13-Jan-2011
    ") Hahahahaa! Bless your heart! I bet you had a rough row to hoe with them. Let's see, what are the differences? I will have to write another story about it! No, an ass is a donkey and a mule is half horse, half donkey. And a lot of men, as you know, are just simply, both. I have enjoyed this review immensely my friend. Keep warm and away from j-------s!! ") Susan
Comment from c_lucas
Excellent
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Mules are smarter than horses and some people. This is very well written with a smooth flow of words, making for a very easy read.

 Comment Written 12-Jan-2011


reply by the author on 13-Jan-2011
    Hi Charlie! Yes, they can be. My dad had one, as a child and he would just laugh every time we would ask him about the one they had. It's name was Jack, and Dad rode it all the time. ") Thanks Charlie. I love hearing from you. Susan
reply by c_lucas on 13-Jan-2011
    You're welcome, Susan. Charlie
Comment from Trybuck
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level


Thanks for the chuckle. I needed it today. You have really got to consider putting something like this in poetic form. It almost was in a few spots, maybe more than I realize.
I was too busy enjoying the story to look for spags... Maybe next time I'll feel like being more critical..
Well done, Buck

 Comment Written 12-Jan-2011


reply by the author on 13-Jan-2011
    Hi there! Well, just knowing this made you laugh is worth a million dollars to me. I was hoping someone would get a "kick" out of it! ") We've had a couple of horses that were stubborn, one used to do just this thing...she would pull back and sit down, or snap the line. I sold her. An appaloosa of course. They are half mule, I swear. But she was pretty. I am just thrilled that you liked this Buck. Thank you with all my heart. Susan
Comment from djcoomes
Excellent
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Susan,
Most enjoyable story line. Words are used quite effectively and efficiently. Course I like anything equine, I guess mules are considered equines? When ever my horses got an attitude like that, we'd have what I called a "Come to Jesus meeting" they'd have to run in the round pen until they were ready to straighten up. It was do what I ask or run. It was their choice.
I think the following sentence is a little awkward. "And still, just his answering machine." Good luck in the contest. Darlene
PS I forgot to say, I liked the way you worked in the phone call. Very clever.

 Comment Written 12-Jan-2011


reply by the author on 12-Jan-2011
    Hi there! Thank you, for a great review!! Wow...Nice to see another horse lover. Yes, I let my horse get it out of his system on a lunge line too. Our riding area isn't fenced off. But he's aging, so doesn't get too bad. Just in the spring. Being penned up too much this time of year and it only takes him a week to get used to being worked again. I hope you will post a pix of your horses? I would love to see them! Happy trails you!! Susan
Comment from Veekz
Excellent
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lol giggled my way right through this - while I've not owned mules I have owned donkeys before and you have described some of them to a T! I love how your characters are so real and seem leap off the page into reality. Seems like I was just reading a diary entry for a typical day in the life of a farmer, not a made up piece of fiction :)

Another fab read, thank you :)

 Comment Written 12-Jan-2011


reply by the author on 12-Jan-2011
    Wow, thank you my friend. IT's neat that you had donkeys! THey are cute, but onery too. I wish you were here to ride with me. What a dream. I would love your company. I would be able to really talk to you!! Thank you again. I love this review! HUG! Susan
reply by Veekz on 12-Jan-2011
    I wish you were HERE to ride with me lol :) Get you out of the cold and into some sun :)
reply by the author on 13-Jan-2011
    Oh yes, that would be even better Jess. SUN and a good friend? Wow, I can't imagine. Ride for me my friend, while I trudge around here on foot, trying to survive. ") HUG! Susan
Comment from Dave M
Excellent
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Susan,

So maybe the mule wasn't the problem. My dogs also understand me perfectly well but have minds of their own.

I enjoyed this read and couldn't find anything to criticize.

Dave

 Comment Written 12-Jan-2011


reply by the author on 12-Jan-2011
    ") GOOD observation! But mules have that tendency, sort of fickle personalities, or so I hear. We have horses. And they can be that way too... ") I am so grateful to hear from you Dave. Thank you. I hope you and your dogs are having fun in the snow? I am off to play with mine a minute. He is a choc. lab, and needs some attention! KEEP WARM!! Susan
Comment from humpwhistle
Excellent
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Susan, you have a knack for rural characters and yarns. And you know your animals, too. I can see these two doing their dance routine everyday. I'm glad Tomlinson was away.
The paragraph at the end beginning with "Back out in the barn..." might need another look. I'm not sure exactly what you meant by "just waiting for his dinner." I get that he snapped the lead, and the quick-crete bag billowed dust, but I don't have a clear picture of what Merle looked like at that moment.

Don't mind me if I'm a little cranky. We got two feet of snow with drifts up to my crotch---And I'm 6'6". I ache all over. And my crotch is cold.

Good work, Susan. Peace and popsicles, Lee

 Comment Written 12-Jan-2011


reply by the author on 12-Jan-2011
    Hey Lee! I understand completely...I get that way every time I have to bundle up like an Eskimo just to go take the dog around and feed the horses. I am frozen to my core, I won't thaw until at least April OR MAY. Wow, if the snow is that deep, OMG. ") I thank you for a great and fun review. It's made my day! I promise to redo the part that a bit unclear! THANK YOU so much for helping! Suse
reply by humpwhistle on 12-Jan-2011
    My pleasure Susan. I'm sitting on a hot water bottle. Don't tell anyone. Lee
reply by the author on 12-Jan-2011
    HAHAHAHAA!!!! Bless your heart, hey, that's a great idea. I have heatpad I could be using. ")
Comment from anne1204
Excellent
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Very nice story about an old mule. Only a horse/mule person would have the insight to write this kind of story. I enjoyed the imagery and the emotion of both the human and the mule. Good writing. Anne

 Comment Written 12-Jan-2011


reply by the author on 12-Jan-2011
    Hi Anne! THank you very much...we have had horses for over 30 years. You are insightful to recognize that! ") HUG! I am thrilled you liked this. I worked so hard on it. Blessings and warmth Anne!! HUGS...susan
Comment from juliaSjames
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I swear you actually morphed into Joe in this write, Susan. The duel between the two legged mule and old Merle was a plain delight to read. And as for the rendition of Joe's speech - awesome!

The thing is, the phone calls faded into the background.

 Comment Written 12-Jan-2011


reply by the author on 12-Jan-2011
    ") Why thank you Julia! I have had horses for over 30 years, so it's an "easy" topic for me. The hard part is the flash requirments...I tried to keep the phone part subtle? I am happy to have your input and wonderful rating Julia. You are a great fanfriend. STAY WARM???? Geez....I'm shivering as I type. Suse
Comment from Jnetgame
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Cute story for the flash fiction contest. I think you encorporated the required phone call theme in a way that didn't seem forced. Good luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 12-Jan-2011


reply by the author on 12-Jan-2011
    Hi Jenny! Thank you! I am glad you liked that the phone calls weren't so pronounced? Thanks, I wanted it to be subtle. I am grateful and honored to have your wonderful review!! I hope you are keeping warm....") Susan