Friday, November 14, 2008


A Joke for my girlfriends just to keep you entertained awhile longer until I return to Mexico:

IMPORTANT HEALTH ADVICE FOR WOMEN
Do you have feelings of inadequacy? Do you suffer from shyness? Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive? If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist about Margaritas.

Margaritas are the safe, natural way to feel better and more confident about yourself and your actions.
Margaritas can help ease you out of your shyness and let you tell the world that you're ready and willing to do just about anything. You will notice the benefits of Margaritas almost immediately and with a regimen of regular doses you can overcome any obstacles that prevent you from living the life you want to live. Shyness and awkwardness will be a thing of the past and you will discover many talents you never knew you had. Stop hiding and start living, with Margaritas.

Margaritas may not be right for everyone. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use Margaritas. However, women who wouldn't mind nursing or becoming pregnant are encouraged to try it.

Side effects may include:
- Dizziness, nausea, vomiting, incarceration - Erotic lustfulness - Loss of motor control - Loss of clothing - Loss of money - Loss of virginity - Attraction to the same sex - Table dancing - Headache - Dehydration - Dry mouth - And a desire to sing Karaoke

WARNING:
The consumption of Margaritas may make you think you are whispering when you are not.
WARNING:
The consumption of Margaritas may cause you to tell your friends over and over again that you love them.
WARNING: The consumption of Margaritas may cause you to think you can sing.
WARNING :
The consumption of Margaritas may make you think you can logically converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting.

Monday, November 03, 2008

The Day A Fascination Became A Passion

This is the exact moment that I was sunk for a lifetime. This old white mare was not the first horse I got to sit on, but she was the first one I got to ride. The first time I had hold of the reins and had the opportunity to turn, stop, go, move. Comet was a wise old mare who knew how to take care of me even when I had no sense of danger or urgency or possibility. I didn't even know how to ask but she understood what her job was.

It was Northern California probably around the fall of 1956. The cattle had to be moved down from the high hills to the low hills before winter rains made it difficult to check on them. It was a different time, a different era. We found the cattle by listening for the cowbells. As naive as I was then the cowgirl bug bit hard and forever after my best fantasies were of moving cattle aboard a reasonable cow horse.

I probably did little more than a fast walk directly behind a real wisened old cowgirl. I don't remember if she had a lead rope on Comet, but I bet she just barked at me to stay behind her. That was how Sally dealt with children. They were to be seen...doing as told, not requesting but helping. I would never dream of asking a favor of Sally. I was there to do her bidding, to learn how to grow up to be just like her so I could go on cattle round-ups several times a year. She rolled her own cigarettes and fried a dozen eggs in a cast iron pan over an open fire without breaking a yolk.

I lived about 200 miles away from Sally and Comet and so did not get to be a cow girl often, but I did get to fall madly in love with horses forever and always.

I've got this one picture to remind me where it all started and how I have always wanted to achieve the common sense, no nonsense, approach to horsemanship.

How about you? Do you have memories of when and where it happened?

Sunday, November 02, 2008

Alternative Energy

I was driving 80 miles per hour down highway 10 when I clicked my cell phone to try and capture a few of our windmills that make up an enormous windmill farm on the west side of Palm Springs.

I've had this on my mind quite a bit with the tide-charts of gas prices. I certainly hope within the next decade we can all be more confident that we aren't ruining the environment while at the same time we can move back and forth across our country affordably.

Just wanted to share with you.