The good news: I can keep goats and hens on the property in Malibu. I spoke with a very polite lady at the Malibu Council code violation department.
I was expecting a very long conversation, instead, it was very short.
“Can I keep three goats on two acres in the Santa Monica Mountains?”
“Yes.” She replied, adding. “You can keep 3 goats on your property as long as they’re 50 feet from anything humanly habitable.”
Silence. She cleared her throat.
“Is that it?” I said, expecting more. “Yes.” she replied, “that’s it.”
“I think I may very well be in love.” I murmured. She giggled like Marge Simpson.
The last vacation tenants just left the property leaving a rather unpleasant egg smell behind them. Perhaps they were vegetarians or something. There was orange peel on the paths and some child had broken a faucet that cost $85 to mend. I shall take it out of their deposit.
This morning, after breakfast with John and the others, I started my list of things to do for the New Year. Suddenly I was thinking about yield per acre, chicken coops and chevre.
Malibu house. The dogs just love it here. Luna spends hours exploring the garden-just like the Big Dog. I missed darling Big Dog so much today. Jerome left pictures of her in the mail box that I could not bear to open. They remained unopened since Christmas in a large pile on my desk marked ‘urgent things to do’. I thought I better look at them.
It made me feel sick with grief when I saw her sweet face.
I wish I felt that way about my grandmother.
Anyway, I spoke to a very eager sounding vegetable garden planner, my architect and a lady who lives near Sacramento about buying goats. Our call was dropped so I’ll call her again tomorrow. She is a ‘grazing service provider’. I met the plumber at the house who mended the faucet and tomorrow, first thing after breakfast I need to make a list-like call Lewis for instance who will reconfigure downstairs so I can start living there in April.
There is just so much to do! I just need to do it.
At breakfast I confided in John that all my life, my real career has been the maintenance of my addiction and anything else I got up to was a hobby. Making films was a hobby, making theatre..a hobby. A distraction from the disease of addiction.
My primary purpose has been the pursuit of selfish pleasure.
Today, I have only good news to report even if Luna trotted out of the long grass covered in ticks. Everything was very dealable with, not nearly as scary as I expected-and I never once had to take a nap.
Duncan Roy's Blog 
Two questions. You have two dogs now…Luna and Little Dog? Is Little Dog, Little Dog’s name or does Little Dog have another name? If I didn’t say it before, I am very sorry for the loss of Big Dog. I have not lost a beloved pet violently but I have had to put one down due to illness and my heart breaks for you.
And now that you are clean and sober and are dealing with your sex addiction will you make your “hobby” of writing and film making your career? Or is there another direction you feel you will go? Thank you. “curtseys”
I’m so jelous, I wish I could have such a great adventure for next year. Will you have herbs in your garden as well? You are so adorable Duncan. Keep smiling.
Goats and chickens! Your very own little paradise in Malibu. Awesome. I understand about feeling a little lost post-addiction, and a little disconnected from what I used to think I loved to do. I agree with Ms. Whitty, I do hope we will get more writing and filming from you! Thank you for openly sharing yourself with us.
And now it begins!A broken faucett is a lil bit of nothing compared to having peace of mind back.Loss of a pet takes time to heal, i still mourn some dogs ive had, a horse, they are part of your family, it wont happen overnight , but some day youll remember them with a smile.
And as far as Luna getting ticks, i hope you have her on advantix or some other tick/flea meds, ticks are some nasty buggers here.
Work forward Duncan, the blessings of a new year are soon.
Dot DeLisle of Islander Ranch sells Nigerian Dwarf Goats in San Diego. NDGs have a calm temperament, very adaptive to non-herd-trained dogs like yours. They are also easier to control than regular or pygmy goats so far as what brush they will eat, and how hard they are to corral. Dot has a good reputation. Cost for kids is $300-350. (I grew up in Iowa around all kinds of livestock.)
I appreciate the lovely photos you spend time including with your entries.
You always sound happier when posting from Malibu.
I think that when we lose an animal suddenly, our grief is mixed in with guilt. We are their caretakers, like parents to children. Your Big Dog knows he was loved. He knows you would never let him be hurt on purpose. It was an accident. It was not your fault. I know that doesn’t help with the missing, but let yourself miss him without blaming yourself for what happened. You honor him by caring for other animals in his memory.
Duncan,
I find your insight to be refreshing and your thoughts to be well-written. Whether I agree with everything you say is irrelevant, I understand your position and respect it.
The loss of Big Dog makes me heartsick. I lost my first dog to vehicular dogslaughter, as well, and it still makes me weepy, 22 years after the fact. I also had to put down a beloved pet due to illness after she spent months on my sick bed with me while I recuperated from surgery and cancer treatments. Dogs are so much easier to love than people…
Keep up with the healing, you are definitely worth the work you are putting into it. I sincerely hope you reach the goal of loving and accepting yourself for who you are. Why is it so hard to convince ourselves that we are worthy of love?
Take care, Duncan. I’m pulling for you.
Duncan
For me seeing pictures of my dog who passed is hard. I miss her, she was the last living connection I had to my mother (It was her dog I took in when my mom was taken by cancer.) It was like the last bit of my mother died then too. I understand the emotional outlet that follows the loss of a loved companion, like your dog. When you mention about looking a pictures of your Big Dog v. your Grandmother and the feelings that each evoke…my opinion is the feelings can be so different because our dogs love us unconditionaly. Good day, Bad day, good deeds bad deeds. they don’t judge just meet their basic needs and they are there for you no matter what. It is easy to love something / someone who loves you that way. It is very difficult to love someone who is not perfect and accepting… that has been my struggle….accepting and loving people that do shitty things because I am far from perfection.
I thought this might make you laugh…(it made me smile)
British man jailed for 7 years escapes prison, updates Facebook status while on the runby Sebastian Anthony (RSS feed) Dec 28th 2009 at 3:11PM
Only in England, I tell you!
An escaped prisoner — jailed for seven years for aggravated burglary — escaped the confines of his jail back in September. He’s been updating his Facebook page on a regular basis since then.
http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/12/28/british-man-jailed-for-7-years-escapes-prison-updates-facebook/
You are working so hard and getting so much accomplished. The loss of Big Dog will be with you forever but your memories, and pictures will help you remember all the good times. I would love to see pics of the goats and chickens once they are home with you. Have a Great New Year.
Your property sounds wonderful. Your blog post today brought me a smile, as it is so thrilling to hear about a self-sufficiency project as you have planned. Yesterday CNN reported on a project in Detroit to turn over abandoned acreage to agriculture. The world needs more verdant projects. Happy New Year to you!
Please do not get goats and chickens if you at all concerned with animals and their safety here in Malibu. How are you planning on keeping them protected from the insane amount of coyotes we have this year?
From,
Your neighbor at the bottom of the hill
Please don’t worry about the goats and the chickens Trevor.
If coyotes are a problem, a guard llama or two might be the answer! Ranchers and farmers find them to be excellent guard animals which are also fairly easy keepers.