Big Hat, No Cattle

When I learned this phrase and its meaning, I was enthralled. I knew it applied somehow and that it had brilliance in its many, many meanings. So, I saved it and tonight it struck me.

It is also known as 'all talk and no action'. But I like the cowpoke imagery better. It's more romantic and seems to imply a slightly more innocent and comedic tone.

I know these people. I am often times frustrated by them. Sometimes they make me cry. Truly, as in tears rolling down the face.

These are the ones that we hang on to and hope will change and give us what we want, but never do. They know the right words to say that make us believe they have the cattle; that their intentions are sound and true. With these words we are lured into trusting them and even count on them to produce those cattle when we show up on auction day at the county fair.


We believe them when they say we can lean on them in times of trouble.
We believe them when they say that they will show up on time.
We believe them when they say they care.
We believe them when they offer to help lift the heavy bales and clean up the barn.

Except when we've borrowed the F150 to get to the fairgrounds and then plodded through the dirt we find that the cattle are nowhere to be found and all that is left is the stench of manure wafting through the air.

I think they are afraid. Afterall, cattle can be scary.
It's a big responsibility to raise a herd and then be able to show them at fair.
An imperfect cow will cost you the blue ribbon.

But that's just it, nothing is perfect, nothing.
And frankly, every cow deserves a fighting chance.

What we're talking about is the integrity of words into action. It's so simple and can be so frightening. There is risk involved when we stop just talking about doing something and instead actually do it.

It's scary to tell someone that you love them. You risk rejection.
It's scary to quit your job and follow a dream. You risk a livelihood.
It's scary to allow others to help you out. It's scary to be the one to help.
Both require commitment. Sometimes physical, sometimes emotional, sometimes both.

But we have to shut up and stop spewing niceties and lies at people.
Stop saying you're fine when you're not. Stop spinning the truth because it makes a better story. Stop telling someone that you'll do something you'll never do. Stop going through the motions.

Take the big hat off of your head, and then even though it might take all night, head out to pasture and round up those cattle and bring 'em down to the 4-H building.



The rest of us are waiting with peach pie and cotton candy.

You don't want to miss that do you?

Enough is Enough

I wish it were still raining here but instead the sun has decided to reappear.
This does not match my mood. If rainy were an emotion that's what I would be.

Luckily, I'm not burning any food this time but my mind is heavy with 'things' and I did cut myself while washing knives. I think they call it the precipice of change.

I'm not against change per se but I am not a fan of the effort it requires. I'm already tired and I want to retreat. What is it with this time of year? I feel alone and melancholy.

I think that's all I have to say.

You Can Make It If You Try

You can't be beaten at anything,
until you quit in your own mind.
There is no failure except in your not trying.
There is no defeat except from within.

You have no really insurmountable barrier except
your own inherent weakness of purpose.
The odds are with you if you keep on trying.

Consider yourself on a very long journey.
Sustain your personal vision of success until you achieve it.
In the end, you can only fail if you don't try.

Winning isn't everything, but wanting to is.
Success is a road that's paved with perseverance.

THE DAILY GURU

Perspective Bites Like a Rabid Monkey

This time a year ago I was sitting in a hospital waiting for news about the outcome of my Dad's emergency surgery. Today I sit at my desk eating tacos, thinking about that week. I find myself asking what has changed since then. Am I where I thought I would be? Am I who I thought I would be?

What's interesting about those questions is that we often ask them but we always know what the answer is. "No, of course not."

I used to hang on to things so tightly; outcomes, emotions, teddy bears, but I've loosened my grip on those things more and more since then. Save the bear, that is. How can you let go of a bear named Howard? You can't, but I digress.

There are few universal truths and most of the time we ignore them. More than anything I think that "life (the universe, god, et al) brings you exactly what you need" is one of the most absolute.

Which can be a hard pill to swallow at times when it seems painful. But rest assured it is better to embrace and live than hide from it.

That's exactly what my Dad did. He didn't give in to the pain or give himself over to emotional misery, even when he wanted to. A lesson he had taught me all my life but it was never more clear until then.

That week I finally understood, loosened my grip on things that don't matter and that's what has changed me. That's how I am different. That's how I am who I am today, not attached to the outcome, not crying as much, eating tacos at my desk, thankful that it is a year later and he is still here.

Flaxey and the Fly Boy

I love flying in airplanes. I really do. I like airports and baggage claim. Ground transportation and that swift train with the voice of Reynelda Muse telling me I've reached Concourse A at DIA.
I love telling my traveling tales too. And guess what? I flew recently and here I am with another story for you.

It's a rather uneventful tale this time. I didn't yell at anyone and there were no altercations with the TSA. I'll also save you my pontificating on the absurdity of being able to put scissors in your carry-on luggage but not a tube of lip gloss that has already been used. I don't want Homeland Security to come after me.

The trip to my home state was pleasant enough once onboard. I can't really complain too much about the flight delay as it's bound to happen when you wait for planes from Las Vegas. But the other main reason I won't harp on this detail is because once all those Vegas passengers de-planed in Sin City the amount of people continuing on to Denver was minimal and I was able to lay down and go to sleep for the two hour flight. This is unprecedented in today's flying climate.
Usually every seat is taken and flying the cattle call airline is an unpleasant chore. But not this time! This could have occurred on the return flight as well had I had the good sense to move to the back of the plane instead of stay at the front.

This boring blog entry is nearly done, friends. I leave you with the following thoughts...

"You cannot see anything that you do not first contemplate as a reality."

-- Ramtha

"Belief has the word ‘lie’ in it... and that pretty much sums up what the world
has us believing about ourselves."

-- Doug Firebaugh

"We are what we believe we are."

-- Benjamin N. Cardozo

Consider Yourself Lucky! You Have Oranges.

Don't be bitter Guest Blogger.

Why I Love John Mayer

1. His first record was Debbie Gibson's Out of the Blue

2. His music rocks

3. He used to tape the radio , as I used to do all the time as a teenager

Why are there only three reasons? You only need three reasons to love someone.

Please people I beg of you, love him too.

Tags:
john mayer
ticketmaster
debbie gibson

Paddle On

We're all in the same boat. We just have different paddles, and perhaps we find ourselves on different rivers. We all live in human bodies. These are the vehicles in which we move through our world. We are all made of flesh, blood, and bone, with brains, hearts, and lungs to power us. Our paddles-the tools we use to move through the world-vary, as do the bodies of water-the environments-in which we find ourselves.

Some of us use our high IQs to get where we want to go. Some of use our smiles; others use kindness, a gift with language, or athletic ability. Some of these qualities we were born with and others are skills we have learned. Considering this metaphor in light of your own life can be very enlightening. What tools are you using to get from point A to point B in your life? Chances are you and the people you know have used many different tools in various combinations throughout your lives to get where you needed to go. Just as with oars or paddles, a balanced approach is best. If you rely too much on one thing, like beauty, to open doors, you fail to be well-rounded and you may eventually lose your equilibrium. And if you lose that one quality, you have no paddle at all. This is inspiration to develop multiple tools to navigate your world.

Some of us may be moving along paths that are like rushing rivers; others may be on a large, still lake. We have all felt, at one time or another, tossed about on a stormy ocean. Through all this, we are never really alone, even though it might seem that way. There is inspiration all around us in the form of other people making their way through the world, in the very same boat. Remember to look around you for role models, companionship, and encouragement.

I've Lost Interest

For those of you waiting, maybe even holding your breath, for the continuation of the Yosemite adventure. You'll have to keep holding it. It's not coming. It's not even in draft.

Granted there are several more days of exciting tales and encounters with blundering idiots, especially the fools on the Ranger walk at the Sequioa grove, but it's going to take some coffee gift cards and maybe a balloon with a smiley face or a rainbow on it to help me finish retyping the handwritten version.

For now you'll have to enjoy the above pithiness (pithy has to be my all time favorite word, well other than penchant and sentient) and keep the home fires burning for yourselves.

-CityGirl

"The Mountains Are Calling and I Must Go"

Citygirl and Mower recently went to Yosemite National Park to make their way to the top of a large slab of granite. Here's what happened.

Day One
Arrived in Yosemite Valley and checked into Curry Village
Ate pizza at very crowded pizza patio
drank beers too
troubles sleeping in tent cabins
dreams about bears

Day Two
Saw Black Bear at 5AM in Curry Camp - strolling past our cabin
attempted to get wilderness permit - denied
ate breakfast after searching unsuccessfully for forgotten items (citygirl's contact lens case)
Hiked to Mirror Lake (5 miles) Mower almost feels the sting of the western rattlesnake when he steps in the wrong direction
swam in Curry pool - fought off annoying children
showered in evil showers
ate picnic dinner
took naps

Day Three
Attempted wilderness permit again - success!
Went to watercolor art class - endured long diatribe on the color wheel and the 'values' depicted in a black and white photocopy - bailed on art class
went to Ansel Adams gallery, bought souveniers
Bear Walk with Ranger Shelton Johnson

shopped for remaining items for big hike
carbo-loaded at Yosemite Lodge food court - pasta dinners all around!
Back to Curry to load those packs!

Day Four
Wildreness Permit in hand, depart for John Muir Trail to Half Dome at 5AM
Hike our asses off - reach Little Yosemite Valley at 10AM
Set up camp - pitch tent, stow items in bear locker
Leave for the Dome at 11ish - only 4 more miles to go!
Reach the base of the steep shoulder at 130ish
Help unprepared dehydrated Houston boy scouts down the steep granite switchbacks of doom, but do not summit
Return to camp - cook dinner (in a bag), filter water from the Merced River for the return trip
Retire to tent with celebratory marshmallows, chocolate and sake in a flask!
Sleep and hope the resident bear doesn't come to sniff our feet and lick our faces!

To Be Continued

Post Bump - Blog Anniversary Redux

I'm bumping this post because, well, I can. And I like it and I think it's pithy. Oh, and the sheep are cute.



I can't sleep. That's why I'm posting. I also have nothing to say. Which will either make this really funny as I ramble on with random thoughts or really dull as I ramble on with random thoughts.

This blog will see its one year anniversary at the end of this month and I'd like to thank or rather blame the guest blogger, whose identity I'll protect (after all what kind of spy would I be?) , for fueling the pressure to post insightful and pithy musings as often as possible.

How did it all start? In a Red Robin over a bad meal. I encourage a re-read of the first entry. You'll laugh and laugh because it's true.


I think the greatest accomplishment of the instigator of the blogging madness, is that the bloggers have multiplied henceforth. Sphere of influence my friends.

It's now one hour later; I have now tired of this and will attempt, futilely I'm sure, to seek restful slumber.
So, until next time....read the archives. (I enjoy the stories about air travel the best)

Tags:
Red Robin
Insomnia
Counting Sheep
Spies
Alias

Flaxey's Flag Day

It's here! June 14th. The BEST holiday of all time, well except for Cow Appreciation day. So, it's the 2nd best holiday of all time.

Wave it loud and wave it proud people, today is Flag Day.

I know everyone says Christmas or Halloween but really Flag Day is better. You know it is. Who cares if you're patriotic or not? You don't have to send cards or get gifts and there aren't large department store displays urging you to depart with your disposable income. So, embrace it. Live it. Love it.



Tags:
Flag Day
United States Flag
Holiday
Cow Appreciation Day

Tales From the Trail or Toxin Man and Fuchsia Lips

I'm hiking like a fiend in preparation for a big hike later this summer. There are a lot of cool trails in the LA area and you'd never even know it. Check out www.localhikes.com for hikes near you.
Here is a brief log of sites and sounds from my time on the trail.

Hike #1: Lizards. Lots of little harmless lizards.

Hike #2:
Man on Bike stops to point out that I am in need of sunscreen because my arms are red. No dude, it's called circulation. Maybe your heart isn't working but mine is. Jeez!

Snake. Rattlesnake. Coiled - strike position snake.

Need I say more?



Hike #3: Snake. Garden Variety but quite large. Slithering away.



Hike #4:
Polite 'Hello' with woman sporting fuchsia lipstick. I guess it's one way to make sure they find you if you get lost.

Bunnies. Multitudes of rabbits.
One lizard. No snakes.

Second polite hello with man who doesn't like the overcast cool weather. I disagree. He rambles on to say that one must sweat as it releases toxins. I acknowledge this ridiculous notion true or not and he continues to pontificate the release of toxins through sweat but I can no longer hear him as I have bounded on up the trail. Maybe he should bust a move on the trail and he'd be sweating because I am.

The bunny sightings continue.

Fuchsia Lips has not made it up the mountain and I meet her again on the way down. Poor Fuchsia lips.

The Cure for New Car Smell is....

It's Over

Mini-D is crashed on the couch. Our RoadTrip has fullfilled its intended purpose. There will be no more entries. Our work here is done.

As you were,
-Dion

Super Dion Gets Lost

The title explains it all. Apperantly, he didn't realize that taking the wrong freeway exit ramp gets you on the wrong street which then puts you on a hour long time waster that makes you want to take a straw to the brain.

-Mini-D

Ode to Traffic

Traffic Blows.
I wish the smog around me would suffocate me
Traffic Blows.

That is all

I Have Awoken

Start Mile Marker- Can't find one

I, mini-Dion have awoken in the desert to once again find our speed down from my 112 (thats when the govern kicks in) to a speed where we are getting passed by everybody even the semi-trucks who have to go 45 mph. And all I can say is, sweet. Our journey is almost at an end in about 70 miles. We will finnally be able to rid ourselves of this car that has been sent from the depths of hades.


End Mile Marker- Stupid California dosn't even have mile markers

-Mini-D

Carry On My Wayward Son

Yes, the blog has been seized. A true blitzkrieg by the Guest Blogger and his progeny.

I am sure there are more stories to be edited for grammar and spelling.

There'll be peace when you are done and thank god you aren't actually going to Kans-ass

-Citygirl

Abandoned by the White Wizard

Start Mile Marker - 19 - I-70 West

It's pitch dark now. The moon, which had guided our journey through the Rocky Mountains has abandoned us like the White Wizard left Frodo with Smeagal.




Mini-D is in command of the Chariot. Fellow RoadSlaves toil through the darkness as the City of Angels draws all closer.

CityGirl yearns for "Her Precious". With 742 miles remaing on the journey, the Shire has long been forgotten.

End Mile Marker - 8 - I-70 West
Remaing Miles: 742

-Dion

The Deep Dark Night

Start- Mile Marker 153 I-70 West

Dion and mini-Dion here to say that night driving down the side of a mountain is not a fun task to complete. But we will continue to soldier on with spirits reaching an all time low only 2 hours into the trip.



End - Mile Marker 146 I-70 West
Remaining miles - 893

-Mini-Dion

Good Times at Silverthorne

Start Mile Marker- 203 I-70 West


Dion and mini-Dion are reporting that spirits have dropped to extreme lows and they might not be able to continue to the city of Angels. The last stop revealed that you can have Good Times in Silverthorne. No, not actual good times but rather the sub-par fast food craphole. Also, we have discoverd a place for the gum we purchased, which was the most exciting thing that happened.
The thunderous bass drops of Rammstein still thunder on.


End Mile Marker - 200 I-70 West
Total Distance left-949

-Mini-Dion

The Last Crusade Begins

Start- Mile Marker 255 I-70 West

Dion and mini-Dion report that spirits are high, but it is to early to tell if they can remain so. We're hoping not to get dynsterney on the 1062 mile road to the city of Angels (LA refrence). The oxen pulled wagon is going under the speed limit of 75 to instill comfort in CityGirl. A dark forboding cloud looms over the majestic Rocky Mountains. You can almost hear John Denver sing "Thank God I'm a country boy". But instead Rammstein drives them on through with thunderous bass drops.

End- Mile marker 246 I-70 West
Distance remaining- 997 May the Gods be with us.

-Mini-Dion

Where's the Guest Blogger When You Need Him?

I can't sleep. That's why I'm posting. I also have nothing to say. Which will either make this really funny as I ramble on with random thoughts or really dull as I ramble on with random thoughts.

This blog will see its one year anniversary at the end of this month and I'd like to thank or rather blame the guest blogger, whose identity I'll protect (after all what kind of spy would I be?) , for fueling the pressure to post insightful and pithy musings as often as possible.

How did it all start? In a Red Robin over a bad meal. I encourage a re-read of the first entry. You'll laugh and laugh because it's true.


I think the greatest accomplishment of the instigator of the blogging madness, is that the bloggers have multiplied henceforth. Sphere of influence my friends.

It's now one hour later; I have now tired of this and will attempt, futilely I'm sure, to seek restful slumber.
So, until next time....read the archives. (I enjoy the stories about air travel the best)

Tags:
Red Robin
Insomnia
Counting Sheep
Spies
Alias

Shiny and New

Flaxey Flies Again

Ah, the stories you can glean from air travel. From start to finish there is opportunity for adventure at every turn. This weekend jaunt was no different.

The story is short but the lesson is long.

Airport bathroom is the mise en scene. We see our heroine exit the stall and walk toward the sinks. (She is dressed sensibly and is listening to music the entire time.) As she passes the handicapped stall she is almost knocked to the floor by a tall twentysomething by the swinging of the stall door. Midge gives her a look that says 'I command this restroom and all who enter it!' and rapidly exits.
Our heroine is annoyed by the continued lack of courtesy in our culture but moves on to the sinks still grooving to the tunes.



Then she is tapped on the shoulder by the janitor who is holding a driver's license and a boarding pass. She shakes her head; no it's not mine and finishes the wash.

Midge comes racing back in to the restroom, frantically searching for her VERY IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS. Our heroine assists her and points to the pleasant janitor lady who is holding the VID's belonging to Midge.
Midge grabs them and exits frantically without so much as a thank you to anyone.

Please note that without these items air travel becomes extremely difficult and something tells us that Midge's people skills need a charm school refresher.

Upon her second rude exit of the day, our heroine even more irritated with Midge's blatant disregard for anyone but herself utters aloud; "Stupid Girl".



We suspect that this muttering was louder than intended due to the headphones in her ears, because the woman at the sink gave her a rather dirty look and what happens next is confirmation of this as well.

Our heroine begins to exit the restroom and is impeded by Midge returning to her Airport Bathroom Kingdom. She says,
"Did you call me a stupid girl?"
Our heroine shrugs her off and keeps walking, saying nothing.

Midge runs off to her gate and our heroine is relieved that they are not on the same flight.


Tags:
Pink
travel
midge
midge fly
shirley manson
airports
charm school

Lessons in Boring Economics

Life's lessons are often learned but rarely remembered.

What's the best way to learn to ride a bike? Training wheels? Nope. Gravity.

Gravity is your reality whether you understand it or not.

You won't escape it and eventually the ground comes up to meet you with one hundred percent accuracy.

Here comes the boring part. Perhaps you've already stopped reading because you're feeling a math exercise approaching?



Everyone is faced with making economic decisions every single day. You are programmed at a young age to incorporate factors such as popularity, cost comparisons, and even irrational emotional reactions when making these decisions. So you struggle through life making the same unconscious economic decisions others make that continue to drain your never adequate income.

And that's the first boring economic lesson:

1. Your income will never be adequate to escape gravity. Never. You can trade your health for wealth but the ground still comes up to meet you.

Here's where we could wax the philosophical hair right off the Neanderthal psyche in bold ripping motions exposing the raw meaning of life. But that would be like petting a burning dog...a painful distraction with no upside.
Try and stay on target here. Economics and Gravity.

The second economic lesson?

2. Consuming your valuable time agonizing over trivial economic decisions actually costs you more than you realize. And trivial is not defined by the size of the purchase. It's defined by gravity again.

What does that mean? Well, quite simply, it means do you value your time in free-fall? Or have you succumbed to filling that time with distractions?



And today's third lesson is a lesson everyone eventually learns...typically too late.

3. Every economic decision is trivial. Every single one. Other decisions are more important and will impact your life with greater magnitude.

It's up to you to figure out what those are. Don't take too long. Gravity taught you how to ride your bike and it's busy making sure you'll eventually learn the meaning of life. And since there's no blog in Heaven and probably not one in Hell either, it's unlikely you'll be sharing that lesson with the people who matter to you.

Big sky above you, a river inside. Much to learn, you still have, Padawons.

Much to learn, Much to remember.

Tags:
gravity
economics
star wars
bike riding
sky diving
Heather Nova
Padawons
the meaning of life
time

Blitzkrieg

Stay tuned for a guest blog and then you will understand today's title.

I'd like to share with you a little snippet of funny courtesy of small town, homegrown radio. It's called the trading post and people call in and try to sell their crap or get some crap. Then the station posts the items online. More than likely to avoid another type of blitzkrieg where people are calling in and asking "What's the number for the cats?"

Here are a two exchanges between me and a friend regarding some of these calls.

> CALLER #9 looking for tote goat or scooter ***-5231
>
> I've never heard of a tote goat? What do you suppose that is?


You know, when you need to take your goat with you. All the serious
goat herders use them now. Once they started wearing business attire, all
the goat herders that were still using leashes were just looked down
upon... especially at Herd-Con conventions. The cow tote hasn't been as
successful.

Read #2 and # 6
> CALLER #2 3 CATS NEED TO FIND HOMES 3**-2442
> CALLER #3 2 COUCHES AND SIDE CHAIR $50 3**-2199
> CALLER #4 4 WHEELER TIRES SOME WITH RIMS $20 FOR ALL AND LOOKING FOR A GAS
> STOVE 3**-8372
> CALLER #5 SEWING MACHINE IN CABINET 3**-1739
> CALLER #6 LOOKING FOR TWO KITTENS 3**-2079



Yes, I agree... Cats do need to find homes. Stupid homeless cats.

Caller number 6 should check in the cabinet, that's where the sewing
machine was!

Why did Caller #6 even call in??? Did they not just hear Caller #2 say,
"hey, I have some cats, you want em?"

The funniest part is the fact that these are still funny. You would think
that eventually the person posting these would just write, "For sale:
three cats." Or, "WTB: two kittens."

For more country mouse fun visit Cow Abduction.

Tags
cow abduction
hometown radio
blitzkrieg
cats
goats
trading post

For My Nifty Boss

I feel the need to explain...This post is to create a link to the above picture for, yep, you guessed it! The one below is for me; aren't I cute?

Title Free

With baited breath I know all are awaiting the next entry.

Sadly, I don't have any subject matter to regale you with these days. Which honestly, is much sadder for me than it is you.

I traveled but it was uneventful in the way of air transportation.

I can say that I picked up the latest Train record. It's not particularly memorable but there are a few decent tracks.

I've been playing the hell out of my Cory Sipper disc. I discovered Cory's song "Mermaid" while working at SDSU a few years ago. Still is the best track on this record. "Ice" is the next favorite. Buy it at CdBaby.

Apparently, in addition to it being Mardi Gras, it's also National Tooth Fairy Day and International Pancake Day.