One of the most iconic and brutal scenes in a movie or television show is in Lonesome Dove when an Army Scout is trying to take a horse away from some young cowboys. One of the young men is holding on to the horse and won’t let go, while an old, crusty Army scout is on a horse and whipping him with a quirt. The young man is the bastard son of Captain Call, an old retired Texas Ranger. He see what is taking place, from a distance, mounts and rides his horse into the Scouts horse, knocking him off the horse and proceeds to beat the holy hell out of him using a branding iron and smashing his face into an anvil. 

All of this takes place for several reasons. But the essence of it is summed up when Call is pulled out of the fight by his lifelong friend Captain Gus McRae. Call looks at the crowd and announces, rather sheepishly, “He was acting rude. I won’t tolerate rudeness in a man.”

Wow. 

To us today, in a “civilized society”, it is appalling. We don’t see things like this and most would not do it. I grew up in a time where men, and boys, settled their differences with fists. It was accepted and understood. Usually there were enough people watching to stop it from getting out of hand. Usually, when it was a couple boys, you might get a bloody nose and some hurt feelings, but that was about it. I grew up hearing of fist fights that went on for a long time and even was around at least one where both parties had to go to the doctor to get bandaged up, afterwords. It was ugly. Appalling.

Now we are a “kinder, gentler” society, supposedly. I understand that most of us agree with that and think it is right and good. We were all admonished to not fight when we were younger. It was so ingrained in men and boys not to fight, and I so took it to heart, when I was a child that when the time came and I had to fight as a young man, I remember I couldn’t hit my opponent in the face. Guess who won that time!

I watched some fisticuffs in high school. I never liked it. The worst was when it was two young women. Ugly! Hideous! I was raised to believe that women were of a higher order then men and didn’t do such things. I since have learned that girls fought and still do, but mostly with their words.

And now I see young men raised to be the same as those girls. There are a lot of keyboard warriors out there. They will say terrible things from the back of a keyboard. And no one ever really calls them to taw, for their rudeness. Or shows them the error of their ways, by inflicting some physical pain on them. I don’t think that has served us well.

Some will tell you we are on the brink of the third World War. I am not sure. Maybe we always will be until it actually happens. But few people go to war anymore. Few people see any kind of hurt and carnage caused by actual fighting. With fists or knives or guns. Except in the movies and on TV. And so we become disassociated with it. It becomes common place. Few know what it feels like to wake up the next morning after an actual fight. The disappointment and pain and hollow spot inside your gut. Win or lose.

Violence is ugly. So is rudeness. But maybe it’s time for all good men to no longer tolerate rudeness without an honest answer, in todays world. Perhaps a small bit of ugly and violence could stop others from randomly being rude and not having to answer for it. Perhaps more would be kinder and gentler if they found out what can happen if they are not. Physical pain can be a very good reminder of not letting it happen again, and one will take steps to assure we don’t have it happen again. Peace and love is all well and good as long as everyone does it. But when peace and love are not practiced I think it behooves all of us men, to step up and show them why peace and love is a good policy.

Just my opinion and you sure don’t have to agree with it.

Last night about midnight, or would that be early this morning…, anyway, about midnight, Gus and Sam came roaring in the front door to tell us Chances house was on fire. The boys were sleeping there while Chance and Ada slept up here in our house. Ever since Chance broke his wrists he has been living here. Anyway, we all got up and looked and there was quite a blaze going on. the boys had woke up to smoke and a little fire that quickly turned in to a lot of fire as they ran out the door in their night clothes and their dog.

I have been fighting flu symptoms for most of the day and I wanted to go see if I could get some stuff out but Chance insisted I not, as it was too dangerous. Eventually a couple firetrucks and some neighbors showed up and we all stayed back and watched it burn. He had reloading equipment and and lots of ammo and there is a propane tank real close to the house.

As it stands now, it was a total loss. They lost quite a few guns, and guitars and artwork, all of which can be replaced. Neighbors brought some clothes for the kids over this morning and then their Mother showed up with more clothes.

One neighbor offered an old trailer house, but we are trying to figure out what he can do for housing. He can stay here for the short term and has been trying to figure out how he can afford to build some kind of structure, for several years. This might be Gods way of saying, “Yeah, do it”.

So, life goes on and we are all feeling blessed there was no loss of life. Sam did get a small burn on the top of his foot. Lots of lessons to be learned from this. No way of knowing what started it, but it was an old trailer so there are quite a few ways it could have happened.

Some neighbors started a place for people to donate items for an auction and fund raiser. Many people have sent money and it is all much appreciated. I am sure God will show us the way thru’ this just as He has done all these years. As a wise old Mexican said, “Everything happens for the best”. I am sure there will be good come from this and all the out pouring of messages and offers to help have been wonderful and are only the start.

I just thought you all might like to know.

I have always hated a liar. I am not talking about someone who is good at BS’ing, but a liar. I always said, I hate a liar worse than a thief. At least with a thief you know they are going to try and steal from you. But you never know if a liar is lying until you catch them in one. And I live by that old motto, “fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me”. So when I catch someone in a lie I never trust them again.

I have had several pretty good arguments with people who say that when I have found out someone was lying, that they weren’t really lying. They were just not aware. BS! If they were just not aware they should say so. But they never do until that appendage under their shirt pocket is caught in the wringer.

It irks me when I watch a movie or TV show where they tell obvious lies. I am sure they can rationalize and say that no one will know or that it really doesn’t matter.

I watch most any western movie or TV show and see all the blatant lies they tell. And of course they and we rationalize it by telling ourselves that most really won’t know and it really doesn’t matter. But it can. When they show people riding the same horse from Texas to Montana  while trailing a herd, those of us who live the life know it is bunk. Same as when they show someone loping their horses everywhere they go. Nope, it don’t work that way. Especially when the horses show no sweat.

I used to watch things on the Discovery channel. I even took part in a show they made about the Comancheros, back in 2005. I thought it was pretty cool that they tried to get things as close to history as they could. But in the end, it wasn’t all true. And I have seen other shows they purport as being historically accurate, and I know better. It was on a subject I am well versed in. So now I doubt anything they say. Kind of like the little boy who cried wolf.

Guns and how they use them on TV and movies drive me crazy. They are always showing people shooting pistols and rifles and there is no kick. Sure with a lighter caliber but as someone who has put many rounds thru’ 9 mm, 357 and 45  caliber pistols, both wheel guns and auto, I know different. 

Ever notice how they are always shooting someone in a car or other close space? And they show no effects from the sound. Believe me, if you do such a thing with out protective gear for your ears, it ain’t so. Go ahead, ask me why I now wear hearing aids!

Yup, lies and damned lies. Too many do it and we allow it. 

Maybe that is why so many things in this country are the way they are. Because we allow it.

Sorry for the rant, didn’t mean to be when I started this writing . I guess we need to all remember another old adage, “only believe half of what you see and nothing you hear.”

Of course, by the time you read this, it will be over.

When I was young, the Denver Stockshow was the place to be this time of the year. Dad and I talked of going, so we could see the bull sales and the rodeo. Of course, we never did. But, some friends and I did go one year, right after we graduated hichschool. One buddy had a sister who lived there and she allowed us to stay at their house and sleep on her couches. She and her husband took us around one day and one evening. I remember going up to see the lights of the city, but it was foggy and we just saw a glow. 

We drove my pickup down with a borrowed topper on the back. I guess to put our suitcases in, tho’ being 19 year olds, we sure didn’t pack too much. As we got into the hustle and bustle of the city traffic my friends were a great help. “Turn here!” They would holler, right when I couldn’t because of traffic and then laugh at me, the rube, who had never driven in that kind of traffic. I fell for it several times! But we did eventually navigate the roads and made it. I suppose it was good for me, but at the time I sure hated it.

Not too many years ago two of our sons and Cindy and I drove down past Denver on our way south. I hated it. Even just on the hi way! People drive crazy down there, far as I could see.

A year or so later I rode with a friend to a poetry gig in Durango. His then girlfriend, now wife, flew in from Texas and we had to pick her up at the airport. Man, I was glad to not be driving. And we had pure hell trying to figure out which gate to go to. We’d circle and ask directions and then find out we had gone wrong and circle and go again. Finally my friend pulled in to a place he was sure that would work, all the time talking to the lady on the phone. He left me in the pickup in a marked “no parking spot”, telling me to make sure we weren’t towed! A gentleman of a different heritage than mine came out and started shouting at me. I was pretty sure why, but I played dumb. Not too much of a stretch. Finally my buddy and his future bride showed up and we got out of there, tho’ I was envisioning driving thru’ barricades in a hail of bullets from whom ever was in charge!

I don’t usually get down to see much of our local Stockshow anymore. It used to be fun to walk around and look at all the stuff they had there, but anymore most of it is things I am not at all interested in. And it has gotten to where you need a bus to drive you from where you park to where you need to walk around.

Cindy and I did got to the bronc match at the new part last year. Never again! We were seated so high that it was like watching ants out in the arena. And also I was afraid of getting a nose bleed. And steep? Why those seats are steeper than a cows face! Nope, I guess they are all set up for the younger generation.

I do like to got to Broncs For Breakfast at the Event center. Usually, if I go early enough, I can get a pretty good seat and it’s always good watching. Heck, they even give you biscuits and gravy! And the building is small enough you don’t need a side by side to get around in it. I hope they don’t mess that up!

If you went, I hope you enjoyed it. If I saw you and didn’t wave, it’s because I didn’t see you or recognise you. I am not sure why so many of the people my age and that I know, have turned into old geezers!!!!

Well, as I told you, our son had broken both wrists last week. This is the saga, continued. 

We took him back to the Hills and they did surgery. Wow, to look at the x rays they sure used a lot of screws or nails or what ever!  The one wrist, looks like a board some little kid had and got into his dads nails and went to driving nails in! I’ve seen rafters with less screws in them!

But after the initial pain of the surgery was over he has been much better and even had his first physical therapy session. His daughter, who is a whiz in school, stayed home that week to help and nurse him. He has gotten pretty independent and can about fully dress himself and with hands covered, even gave himself a shower the other day. We had to saran wrap up his hands and arms, but did a good enough job there was no water leakage. And his son shampooed his head for him previous to that.

Some neighbors got together and are advertising a benefit to be done for him and people have been sending money and items to be auctioned off at the benefit. It sure revives your thoughts in mankind!

I decided as a way to help out I would put up a kissing booth and charge 1 dollar for a kiss from me and 5 dollars if you don’t want me to kiss you. That ought to help! Heck, I even plan on spitting out my chew, before the kisses. Cindy said I ought to brush my teeth too. You know what, for a deal like this I decided I would go ahead and do it!

A good neighbor came over the other day and brought him a “feel better soon “ bale of hay. His older brothers was out the other day and seeing as it is a big square bale, I decided I needed to get it fed. I loaded it on the back of my one ton dually with a flat bed and had the older brother drive. This is the brother who is a Catholic priest and most of his driving these days is up and down pretty fair roads. He must be good at it as to get to all his churches on the weekend he makes about a 250 mile round trip. He had helped me as a child, so no big deal, piece of cake.

He drove out to the pasture and I told him to just put it in 4 low and idle along. I guess he misunderstood me as it seemed like he was driving like he was at the Indy 500! I am getting thrown around because of the frozen cow pie and hollering at him to slow it down, slow it down! He hollered back and said he was. So I said, slower, slower! Then I said, “Just at a crawl!” So he slid to a stop, slewing us sideways, cow chips flying and if there had been any dust, it would’ve been rolling! But I ain’t no greenhorn, I rode out the storm. Finally, after much excitement, I got it all flaked off.

I always thought that if a man had a good broke team and a good way to load them big bales, feeding them would probably be lots of fun. I hate to say I was wrong as I am never wrong, but I dang sure was mistaken!

Watch out for ice and don’t fall down!

I have a son who used to do carpentry work. Seeing as there are so few cows around here in the winter, now that the drought forced us to sell most of the cows, he decided to go back to doing carpentry work. Found a job with a good guy and he has been building a house most of the winter and enjoying the work. The other day, while standing on some scaffolding, he had to step on to a ladder. One of the other workers had set it there and he watched as the guy got it stomped into the ground. He stepped out and tested it with his foot a couple times, decided it was set and put his full weight on it and it immediately went down, with him going head first to the ground from about 9 feet in the air.

First we heard of it was when he called and told us to meet him at the emergency room. We headed out and on the way got a call from his boss, and he had sent us to the wrong town. Took a bit longer but we got there. He had had x rays but nothing done. They would only allow one of us to go to the room with him, so seeing as Gramma had two little urchins who stay with us most week days, I went back. Yup, I am a coward. Urchins scare me. Especially little girl urchins!

Doctor came in and told us he had broken both wrists, an elbow and had a crack in his skull. Wow!

Took a bit but a real nice Paramedic trained guy who was working in the ER put splints on and we finally got to head out.

So we moved him in with us as he has no one at his house to help during the week. I get be a nurse and chauffeur for all his appointments. Gramma don’t like to drive and especially my pickup. Her car is in the shop getting fixed after an incident with a deer last summer. And then there are the two previously mentioned urchins. Yeeesh!

He had to go back and see a specialist where it was determined he will need surgery on both wrist, they aren’t worried about the elbow, just a small crack, head injury is no big deal. Thank goodness for hardheaded ancestors!

So I have had to deal with all kinds of people, plus do it in small towns and cities. I love people. But in small quantities!

At first he was pretty grateful he was still alive, but after the past few days with splints on both arms and not being able to do anything for himself, he is seeing the appeal of heaven! I don’t blame him but keep telling him to be thankful for small favors. It can always be worse. Could have broken his back or both legs…etc.

So I am just here to say, appreciate your good health and when you have to deal with people who deal with people all day, every day.. take your patience along. I am sure they are doing the best they can! We ought to try to do our best and be thankful for people who work in doctors offices and hospitals. 

Watch that ice and slippery ladders, folks!

I have been having problems with this blog and think I finally have it figured out. Not sure if anyone even tries to read it anymore, but I am gong to try and post more often. Please leave me a note if you are reading it and also your thoughts. Thanks.

I got to thinking , which is usually not a good thing, but with all the crap I see in the news, especially what is going on in Washington, I decided to climb up on my soapbox.

Integrity. 

I wonder if many know what it means or have any, anymore.

Seems like it’s a word from a bygone era, now. Look to our “leaders”. Few it seems have any. Low moral character. From what I see on the news and what comes out of the political arena . Not in our state houses or Washington DC. 

I was raised in a time where we were held to a higher standard, it seems. Yeah, I am an old fuddy duddy. And when my parents and the schools and churches taught us about high moral character and integrity, it didn’t seem like to big of a deal. Sure you wanted to be liked and trusted, but as I grew I found the people who were liked and trusted had pretty good morals and integrity. If you broke it, you owned up to it and got it fixed or did it yourself. If you borrowed it, you took it back. You had responsibilities and everyone mostly held you to them.

I am not sure where this country went wrong. You could point out many instances that lead to the lack of moral character and integrity in this nation and the world, looking back. There were people who were looked down on and mistrusted because of actions they had taken. And the word spread around so as to save other people the pain and suffering that was caused by their actions. People were held accountable.

Anymore, with out “kinder, gentler” ways, it seems that no one is really held accountable. They always have a good excuse. “It was their parents fault”. “It is societies fault”. “They were hungry, or poor or sick”. And at times, they were valid reasons perhaps. 

But somewhere along the way, it went all wrong. Pretty soon everyone had what was accepted as a valid excuse. From the neighborhood bully to the bullies in our statehouses and Washington!

And now we suffer what it all caused. People stay home from work because they can make as much or more money from the government. Children are raised in single parent households and society tells us that is normal and right. Lawbreakers get off with a slap on the wrist or very little punishment. 

And we always come up with reasons why, that are supposed to be good reasons. It’s always someone else fault. And we are told to live and let live. Not make waves. Don’t be judgmental.

I don’t want to be a preacher, but it seems to me that the 10 Commandments were given us, as good reasons not to do things because that would hurt us and society. 

It’s okay to have sex outside of marriage. It’s okay to live off the government. It’s okay to make as much money as you can and not worry about the other guy. Hey, you have to stand up for yourself. You have to look out for yourself! Nobody else is going to do it for you! It’s not stealing if they are stupid enough to allow it.

As the debate goes on in Washington amongst our “leaders” and “representatives” that can’t seem to accomplish anything, I think we have only ourselves to blame. It’s too much bother to get involved! Hey, you got to make the bucks while you can, not one else is going to look out for you. You don’t have time to really check out the  people up for vote or to actually find good people as candidates.

I am not sure how or when it all changed, but I am afraid, until we start all getting more moral integrity and doing what we ought to, even when it’s painful, it isn’t going to get any better.

Okay, I am off my soapbox now. Good luck in this new year. From what I have seen so far, we are all going to need it!

Sure has been a great spring so far! With little to no old grass, the green is really bright where there has been some rain and/or snowfall. We were lucky enough to get moisture last fall and it has helped get this grass started and the rain we have gotten so far has pushed it along. Seems like it is awful slow coming but I think that every spring. But the wind keeps blowing, stretching that grass out by whipping it back and forth so it is getting longer, at least!

We have an infestation of prairie rats. Seeing as there was little to no feed last year, they must’ve really moved on to new country as we have three small towns and we are doing our best to thin them out. They are cute, but then so are mice and no one wants them around either! I was out checking this late afternoon and found some dumb young ones and evidently the older one had told the younger ones what a poor shot I am as I went thru’ lots of rounds with no hits for sure.They just scurried around and ignored me! If ammo wasn’t so high I wouldn’t think twice about my poor marksmanship. So, in the event of a zombie apocalypse you better not head my way as the way I shoot I am pretty sure they will over run us!

I have one more, possibly two more, branding to go to. Looking forward to it. Years ago, a neighbor who had an old uncle who lived next to him asked me, “What are we supposed to do with these old men at a branding? You can’t give them the vaccinating job as they may stumble and poke someone.  Same with cutting. They are too slow to brand and too old to wrestle.” I didn’t have a good answer.

Then a few years ago I had a guy almost my age who was putting up some hay. He stopped at the house one evening and we visited.. I told him we were getting older and what were his plans when he got old? I mentioned the conversation about the older uncle and what to do with old guys at a branding? He told me, “When I get a little older, I am going to have two real good horses. And I am going to go to every branding in the country and watch the gate while setting on my horse. And every once in a while I am going to let a calf out and holler, Hey, you dang kids, go get that calf! And every once in a while I am going to rope and drag one out just to show them I still can!” 

You know what/? I think he has it figured out! I think I may start this year doing the same!

Heres hoping we get enough moisture people start cussing the mud!

I was watching a video on Tis Tok the other day (yeah, I got hooked.. way to much fun things to see!) and it was a young person, probably 18 to 20. She was telling how we have lost so much knowledge, such as how to plant a garden and things the old timers knew. So the government caused it washer thinking  so she decided that because of that, the government had to take care of all of us…….. because it was THEIR fault.

Yeah, let that sink in… THEIR fault.

Quite a few thoughts went through my mind. Such as… where does it say that the government has to take care of everyone. I don’t remember reading that in the Declaration or Bill of Rights. Maybe they changed it since last I read it. Lord knows my memory is getting bad.

Another was that she evidently know that it says, “we the people”.. in essence, tho’ maybe not so practically as it once was, they work for us. WE . ARE. The government. And evidently WE are not doing a very good job! As evidence of all the stupidity coming out of the Capitols around the country.

So when did we start raising children who were taught this kind of thing? Or did they learn if from TV and movies? I was taught that you wanted something, you needed to figure out away to get it and usually the best hand out you were going to get was at the end of your arm. And I guess she HAD figured out how together it.. whine to the government!

She reminded me of a baby bird with her mouth open waiting for the food to be placed in it. Only problem is, she doesn’t realize when a baby bird gets so big, if it doesn’t jump out of the nest, some bird, a sibling or parent, is going to push it out. I kind of think she needs pushed out. Yeah, I am cruel that way.

I will say that in all of there young people I have been around all my life, I have never seen many like this, some of the grownups, yeah, but most kids around these parts still seem to be taught that if you want something, you need to work for it.

I sure hope she is in the minority. I am sure she is around here. We seem to be blessed with good kids. They are theist things raise. I hope they don’t start thinking like this one does.

Now, go out and get that worm! And don’t wait for someone to hand it to you!

I seem to be going back to my youth in my older age. 

When I was young, when I got home from school, I would usually grab my 22 single shot rifle and he’d out, afoot. Usually up northwest where we have a wooded creek. I very seldom shot anything, but you never know. Might be a bear or a wolf you had to protect yourself from!!

Now I am told I need more exercise and I am assured that walking is a good way to get it. So this late afternoon when the wind died down I grabbed a rifle and headed out. We have a small area with prairie dogs and we work hard at keeping them controlled or run off. So far they have been winning!

As I walked up northwest of the house, I got on a hill where I could use my rifle scope and scout out things. I wasn’t sure if I saw any furry little grass ruining prairie rats but headed that way, kind of sneaking up on them. Never did see one.

Sure were a lot of noisy geese flying around. Filthy birds! My Dad claimed every time a goose put his left foot down he pooped. From the looks of where they hang out, I think he was right!

The creeks got a trickle of water running in it and green grass has started. That is always encouraging. As I made my way back I walked thru a tree patch I had planted some years back. Lots of cedar trees and some olive and elms. They all looked pretty good. I had watered them the first couple years I planted them.

So I guess spring has sprung. From what I see on the internet and from talking to neighbors, people are getting calving going well. We are selling all ours, because of the drought and high feed prices, but the ones still here should be starting one of these days. Hopefully they will get sold before they get started. Chance has a done a good job of advertising and marketing them, so far.

If I don’t see you before, have a Wonderful Easter celebration!