There Was A Bird In My Room

Crazy thing.

I walked into my room, and saw something kinda fall down the wall

behind the tv.

All of a sudden,

it flies up and crashes in to the window.

It's a real bird!

How in the hell did it get in my room?

How did it survive getting by Verdell and Hoppy?

I always heard that it was a bad omen to have a bird fly in your house.

This bird flew in my house, thru the hallway, around two, maybe three corners,

and into my room.

How weird.

I imagined the small little lice flying off as it soared over my bed.

I imagined the poop it could poop as it kept flying.

How do I catch it?

I holler for Justin to come look at it.

It flew into the window and was very scared.

Justin just walks in and gets right up to the window and grabs the bird.

Just like that.

It is caught.

What a guy.

I want to see the bird so I say, "oh, let me see"

Well, J tries to let me see, and the little turkey gets away and is flying around my room again.

Once again, J just reaches over and gets the little bird out of the window.

He takes is outside and it flies away.

This is not the first bird in the house. A few years ago, I drew a picture of Justin and had it setting out, and a bird flew thru the front door and pooped down the front of it.

For real. 

I couldn't bring myself to clean it off.

The poop just seemed to belong there,

and adds an element no one seems to forget.

As far as the bird being a bad omen,

forecasting death and destruction?

Not too scared today.

ma

Damn Cactus

I saw this beautiful Golden Barrel Cactus at Wal-Mart and I had to have it.

It was in a black plastic container and I wanted to put in in something better.

The pot it ended up in is this clay pot in this picture.

Getting it OUT of the old and into the new pot was difficult.

I get my leather gloves and have the pot and I am ready to give it a move.

Well,

I lean it over to kinda get a grip on it, and the damn thing

rolls out of the black container and rolls onto my right foot.

Oh, my Lord in heaven.

Now, look at all those beautiful golden spears sticking out of this cactus.

As it rolled onto my foot, each and every thorn that could easily penetrate my bare foot ( I had my sandals on) 

DID penetrate my foot.

They are so sharp, they go very deep in to my skin, and as you can see, it is a fairly big Golden Barrel Cactus, so its weight 

HELPED THE PENETRATION OF THORNS INTO MY FOOT!

Very painful bone.

I managed to get the damn thing off my foot and in the pot.

 The pot is really too small for it,

 but

 too bad,

 so sad. 

I'm not messin' with it again.

A week or so later, my big toe started hurting me.

I take a look, and would you believe,

a thorn from that damn cactus had broke off

right in the part of my toe between the nail on the side and the skin.

 Ouch.

 It was a really big broken off thorn.

man o man

it hurt.

I got it out. Its ok now.

It does look nice in my rock garden.

Cow Crippler

These are from Texas! My brother Ben brought then to me!

Thanks Ben!

This picture shows my Black Diamond watermelon vine growing over the Golden Barrel cactus.

I can't wait for a watermelon!

Pretty Clouds

Pretty Verdell

ma

Lots

Lots and lots of love

lots and lots of bones

lots and lots of toys.......

Lots of living and dying has been going on around here.

Last Summer 2011 Sunrise

Summer is gone and with it,

so died my Aunt Tody. (pronounced  toad-ee).

My grandfather named her Tody because she

"hopped like a toad" when she was a kid.

She was my Moms only sister.

Big sister.

Mom has taken her death very hard.

Her dementia keeps her from fully grasping reality,

but she fully understands and knows her sister is dead.

I tried as best I could to help her deal with it,

 but she never really got to say

good-bye.

Its the same when my brother was killed in 1976.

She didn't get to say goodbye to him either.

All of a sudden

they are

gone

and you never get to

see

them

again.

No touch, no look, no nothing to make this real.

All you see is a coffin.

The body of the one you love is in it.

AND

you are supposed to fine with this.

Accept it, take it, let it be.

In the end

you do or don't.

It is the last choice you have.

I went to my friend Brenda's memorial today. She died of cancer at age 54.

We grew up together and she married my brother Ben.

They divorced, but as with alot of divorces, 

family ties are strong. 

She had  3 boys (from a previous marriage) and they still love and adore my brother and still talk to him alot. He has been a positive force in their lives.

Her death comes at the same time as another friend of my mom and I, Clifteen.

She died last week.  Another friend from here died of cancer, Gary. He wasn't even 60.  My friend Kathy lost her daughter at age 16 last week. My heart aches for her.

Circle of life.

There is nothing but life.

With death everywhere

life is everywhere.

Some one told me once that dying is as natural as being born.

well,

its just as ugly and you don't end up with a baby.

Where would we be if we couldn't laugh?

We are all in this together.

God's speed to all on the way out of here.

We will meet again.

Last Summer 2011 sunset

ma

Babysitting Booger

Booger is a miniature horse.

A real horse.

Poco equine.

He weighs 125 lbs.

Booger with his long hair-mane & tail

Booger Bean eye

D  left little Booger here for us to babysit

while she and her family went to the lake.

 She rents our stalls/barn for her other horses 

Dream, Skipper, and Cowboy.

 I have been feeding them and enjoying the time I have spent messin with them.  Booger lives in D's back yard (they live in town)

 and she didn't want to leave him alone, so she fixed the pen so he couldn't get out, and he would be fine.

 Of course he will,

 and he is.

     Booger and I started our relationship with me walking in his pen with food

 (hay and milo).

 I put the food in his barrel and

he started eating right away and I started petting him. 

  I turned my head and looked away at something and 

that little turd

 reached around and got a-hold of my forearm

 and went into clench mode.

 Square-dab in the middle of my arm

 he bit me so hard, 

I thought my arm was broke in-two.

Crap.

Oh man it hurt.

I screamed and reflex and adrenaline injected, I slapped the shit out of him right in his mouth.

Well, he thought that was funny and the fight was on!

He started going after me!

I was dodging his attempts to bite me again .

Fast little Booger.

I barely escaped bite after bite.

He didn't get me again, but it wasn't easy.

I got the lead rope and put in on his halter, and tried to make him settle down.

That was funny too.

Strong little Booger.

He became more interested in his food than in me, so

he settled down.

I took the lead off and left him to his food.

The bite was bad, but it did not break the skin 

so I rubbed on it and

 continued on to feed the other horses.

ow-ee

Skipper, Dream, Cowboy (behind)

Booger

Skipper and Dream 

Things rocked on with no real incidences

except I scolded Wolfy for barking at 

Booger. 

Booger would respond by hitting the fence with his little hoofs

and biting at Wolfy. 

They would ya-ya thru the fence, I would yell,

and then they would stop.

This happened  a couple of times when I was outside.

It is so hot, I usually get outside early

 and don't get back out there until later in the day.

I've noticed the dogs don't do much in the heat either.

Bonnie won't even chase a car in 103 heat.

They ALL have been getting in the swimming pool alot.

Justin put up a cooling vapor mist-strip along the fence so the horses can cool off too.

Justin is a good egg.

The Beauties 

One thing I love about the desert, 

is that is cools off at night.

 It almost can feel cold on a summer nite.

Now, and the next 4 weeks will be the hottest of the year, but our days are getting shorter already.

The mornings are nice and cool, so I open up my bedroom windows and

a couple others in the house.

Just for a little while, I air out the house.

Thank goodness I opened the windows on Monday,

because when I went to shut the front window,

I heard a faint little whinny-kind-of screaming.

I instantly knew something was wrong with little Booger.

I hurried out of the house and noticed right away that Shaggy was out of the fence and running wild. Since the new renters moved in next door,

 this has been a problem.

They don't know how to shut the gate. They sure cant latch it.

IS IT BRAIN SURGERY? IS IT THAT HARD TO DO?

(I swear under my breath at these people)

If Shaggy is out, Verdell can be out too

and sure enough,

as I got closer I could see

Verdell was in Boogers pen fighting with him.

Bonnie, Clydee, Wolfy, Hoppy were all in the pen getting their bites in as well.

It was a free for all.

Booger was on the ground and Verdell kept charging at him.

I started screaming at everyone and they all scattered.

Just like when Verdell killed Jane the chicken, 

he acted as if he knew he had done wrong and started being ashamed.

I shamed and shamed him.

My first concern was to see how badly little Booger was beat up.

His neck on the mane or hair side had deep bites in it. There were at least 4 or more big holes from Verdells big teeth.  It was awful.

Fortunately, there were no bites on his throat or to any vital organs.

His legs had several bites and he had a gash about 7 inches long on his little thigh.

Crap.

I decided he was ok-enough for me to get Verdell put up, so I went in and got his chain and leash,

and chained him up.  I then went and found a guitar strap and whipped him good.  That may sound like abuse to some people that don't understand dogs, but Verdell is a huge animal.  I have to make him understand that what he did is not 

ok.

"Don't be too hard on him", my Dad said. 

 "He's an animal"

He said the same thing when Verdell got Jane. 

Dad agrees that I need to make him understand that 

he can't do what he did,

 but chances are,

 if he had the chance,

 he would do it again,

 he is an animal.

Verdell the animal.

I left Verdell tied up on his leash, which makes me nervous because I have seen dogs accidentally hang themselves when they are tied up.

I put him in a spot where I could keep an eye on him.

I went back to Boogers pen and he was doing ok, but he was in pain.

He wasn't bleeding real  bad, but bad enough.

 I washed the wounds out with peroxide and tried to clean them the best I could. 

 Booger didn't try one time to bite me.

Thank goodness.

Poor little Booger.

He drank a little sip of water.

Now was the time to call Justin.

I knew we had to fix the pen,

 and  determine whether a trip to the vet was in store for us.

Booger was doing fine, but he was in pain

and I was afraid of BAD infection

and I didn't want him going into shock.

Justin came right home 

and we fixed the pen and decided to 

take Booger to the Vet.

We have a nice horse trailer,

but it is not here at our house

(go figure that one)

so Justin and Booger Bean

rode in the back of my truck 

all the way to Andrews.

Its about 40 miles to the vet

and it was at least 101 degrees.

It was so hot.

I was proud of little Booger and Justin,

they did real good on the ride.

Justin told me Booger was so 

calm and happy because he was singing

Merle Haggard and Buck Owens 

to him.

I could see Justin's

Lips-a-flappin

in my rear-view mirror

but his lips are 

always flappin.

He never hushes.

I'm sure Booger was thoroughly entertained.

We got to the vet and they started right in on assessment of little

Booger.

The vet said he would be fine, he needed a tetnus and another shot, and then stitches and antibiotics.

Thank you Lord.

Boogers little hooves needed triming and we all agreed that it would be great if the vet could trim them while they have him sedated.

The only problem was he had no clippers.

We drove down to the store and bought a pair and by the time we got back to the Vets, Booger was all stitched up and looked much better.

The vet started clipping his hoofs.

Justin really tried to help.

Lips-still-a-flappin.

Lordy.

Finially,

with Justins help, we were all done.

We paid out and got Boogers RX's and back in the truck we went.

Booger was still sleepy and laid on a blanket most of the way.

Justin fed him ice and we made the ride fine.

When we got home, getting a sedated mini-horse out of your truck

is kinda tricky.

We did it,

 and he was fine and happy to be back in his little pen.

He looked so cute with his mane cut off.

I know it was a tough way to get your hair and nails cut.

Cute little Booger.

 I had tried to call D and tell her what happened,

but we never talked, so I decided to just wait and tell her 

when she came home.  I feel bad about what happened.

I am sorry it happened.

I am so thankful he was not killed or hurt real bad.

He was hurt bad enough, believe me.

Tough little Booger.

D was a champ when she saw Booger. He looked pretty bad because the puncture wounds on his neck were draining pus

and it was ugly and stinky.

D is in nursing school, so I knew the pus and stink

would be something she could handle just fine.

She did.

I probably won't get the best babysitting award, but

I was sad when they loaded him up and took him home.

I miss the little Booger.

He tried to bite me again before he left.

Fast little Booger.

ma

The Oil Change

     When I drove to Colorado

a few weeks ago,

I knew my truck was due an oil change.

Growing up in the sparsely populated desert

I know how important keeping your vehicle in

PROPER working order

with regular maintenance is.

It can mean

life

 or

death.

Literally.

I could drive a stick shift,

4 on the floor

by the time I was 8,

and living in the country

I drove every chance I got,

so I have learned this lesson

many

many

many

times.

Take care of your vessel!

anyway,

I called down to DJ's to ask if they could

change the oil

 and

get to me today.

"Yes, if you can come on down now,

 he has one up on the rack

 and he is almost done."

I get to town

and park my truck

and go in the front office

of the garage.

There sat Brittany holding her

precious little boy. He is probably a year old.

Just a baby.

Now,

let me set this up .....

Brit has written a history for herself

 here in

E town.

I don't mean to talk

 ugly

 about anyone,

we all  have written our history in

 E town.

Anyway,

she has been one of my

massage clients,

she was BFF to my niece,

 Fave.

She was and still is beautiful.

I have always liked her a lot.

Several years ago

she took a wrong turn in her life

and did some things that had all of

us spinning.

She stepped out with Fave's man.

Now, I could talk all day about

the "man" in this, but we will leave that for later.

Britt also got in trouble with the law,

doing just what, I don't know,

but I know it involved

money,

my money,

 your money,

everyones money

became her money.

I don't think you are supposed to do that.

I think she was working at the bank here in

 E town.

We all learn our lessons,

one way

or

the

other.

So, I know Fave was

deeply hurt and

a life long friendship was

destroyed.

I don't know if B had to go to jail,

but it was a bad deal.

Years have passed,

and now she has a job

as receptionist at DJ's Tires and Oil Change.

As it is in small towns,

I never mentioned her troubles

 when we crossed paths

at the store or post office or wherever

 I would just be polite and say hi.

She knows how close Fave and I are.

She knows Fave

 tells me everything

and

 I know

 just

 what

 she

 did.

Snake in the grass she was.

Ok, so someone disappoints you,

lets you down,

 hurts you.

You forgive them and

you move on.

Being raised a Christian girl,

forgiveness is taught as one of the most

important

things

we

do

or

don't

do

in

thisb

life.

It was always stressed that

forgiveness

doesn't have to mean

forgetfulness.

I forgave B

 along time ago

 for what she did to

Fave and her babies.

I never really forgot about it,

but I don't sit around thinking about it either.

Let it go.

Brittany has worked here for a while.

Joann and DJ are owners of this gas station

and have been for many years.

 They recently sold the cafe

and small grocery/gas part,

 and now just do tires and oil change.

Joann and I have grown up together

 and

 I played drums

 for

 her

sister

in a country band

 years ago.

Anyway,

Once again, small town,

 E town

history.

Joann came in shortly after I arrived

and we started "catching up"

The mainstay topic for everyone anymore

is "How is your Mom and Dad doing?"

The conversation takes its course and she ends up sharing with me

the struggles she and her sisters are having with her parents.

Her parents and mine have been friends for years, and are about the same age as M & D. Maybe not quite as old, but they are getting there.

Joann has several sisters

 and they each take a day

 to take care of their folks.

My thoughts crept into jealousy.    What a bone.

"They pick a day"    wow

"They take turns"    wow

Its always my turn.

I have always wanted a sister.

 Brothers are brothers.

The thought of having someone to share the rollercoaster with thrills me!

Then its gone.

Not going to happen, never has, never will.

Ok, bla bla bla,

B's little boy had been so good, but he was getting

tired and restless so I reached for him and he reached his

precious little arms up to me.

What a thrill,

What a joy,

what perfect love.

perfect

perfect

perfect

boy.

He was so sweet, but tired

so I kinda started giving him a little back rub

and swaying back and forth

and within a minute or so

he was getting heavy and his little eyes

were taking

 L o n g     s l e e p y    b l i n k s.

He laid his little head down,

and BOOM

I'm in love again.

Completely emersed in the joy of this precious child.

All of a sudden 

Brittany looked at me and said,

"Since I have my savior here with me

(referring to Joann)

I feel brave enough to say this to you.

I couldn't do it alone.

I want you to know how sorry I am

for what I did to  Fave .

I wouldn't wish that on anyone,

and I did it to my

 best friend.

You will never know how bad I feel about it.

I wish I could take it back. I was so wrong

and it was so bad, the things I did.

I am so sorry,

 and I hope you can forgive me.

I don't know if I will ever be strong enough to say this to Fave.

I hope I can someday.

Like I said, I don't know if I could have been brave enough without Joann."

Her tears were flowing

 and Joann and I looked at each other and smiled.

"Babe, there is not one of us on this earth

who has not made our mistakes.

  I forgave you along time ago.

The hardest part sometimes is

forgiving yourself."  I said.

"I hope and really do want to say this to

 Fave,

 but I dont know if I will ever be able to.

 Please tell her for me ok?"

"Of course I will." I said.

The baby slept thru the whole thing,

my truck was done,

and the whole thing ended at the same time.

What an oil change.

I fell in love,

I got full on a big bone of jealously & forgiveness,

and my favorite toy is ready to run.

I

have

it

all.

:-)

[Image]Oil and Gas

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