It's Happened Again...

Wind storm last night. Tree fell across my drive. Was almost trapped on the place until I remembered I have two other drives (I know, I know, I'm blond and it was way early morning...) that were gated up to keep escaped livestock in. So I just opened one up and drove out!

What is it with me and falling trees?

2 In One Week!

Yup, I thought I should truly update you all with my life for real and let you see some pictures from the last few months.

Let's answer some true questions from 'The Life of Danielle':

So what major events have been occurring these last few months?

Well, after the pumphouse thawed out and water and septic were back up to par I moved home. I was working on a forest contract marking trees, but since the weather has gotten warmer in the last few weeks, I was shut down so as not to damage forest roads driving in and out. The break is nice, but I actually am looking forward to the roads drying back out so I can start making some extra cash again. As mentioned previously, calving is still at it's height, and we are shipping out the last of last years steers and those cows who have been sickly or too old to have healthy calves. By culling the herd things may start to go a bit easier for me.

Done anything fun that doesn't involve work?

I've done quiet a bit of skiing, but since most all of that has been for school, I'm not sure if it counts! I've helped Shane out a lot burning ditches and helping with his cattle at his grandpa's ranch also. In February we drove up to Gillette, WYO to pick up some bucking stock bred cows that are going to calve here next month, and a few weeks ago we drove to Clayton, NM for his mom's birthday. We also have managed to get out riding and starting to rope for the warmer months to come.

How's firefighting going?

Had my first real house fire! Usually all I deal with are vehicle accidents, but we've had two house fires in the last month. Luckily neither were totaled, and one of the houses was a student's place, so it was really hard on her at first, but her room was at least untouched. We also have had a lot of training lately, and being one of the only girls I always feel like I have to work even harder to prove myself. The guys are great and put absolutely no pressure on me, but I'm proud to say that I have been qualified at a Level 1 for SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus), meaning I can be part of an entry team on fires from here on out for my department. I also am being trained to drive the tender, and impressed the guys with being able to shift it without using a clutch.

Want to be anywhere else than here?

Yup. Can't wait until summer break. Granted I'm working for the Forest Service again, I'm looking forward to the money and having three day weekends during which I plan on traveling to rodeo's with Shane. He's actually in Laughlin, NV announcing one of the largest PRCA rodeo's there is. I wish I could be there to see it. He's also doing a PBR there in a few weeks which I'm also going to miss. Bummer.

Major concerns?

School as usual. Family. I'm finding it harder and harder to live away from family and friends, but wouldn't change living out here for anything. It's nice having a boyfriend again, and that helps, but he's thinking of possibly moving so it's been real tough thinking about that. A year from now moving for me could be a real possibility, but for now I'm committed and have contracts. To me, honoring my word means a lot.

I also love the ranch I live on, but it's becoming harder and harder to deal with the guy who owns it. He's a really great old guy, but his business sense sucks, and it seems he has so much money it seems he doesn't care about much and is pretty cheap. I don't want my name associated with a lot of it anymore. I'll do the grunt work, but forget dealing in horses or livestock.

Also, Shane's grandfather has been real sick and it's hard watching someone else worry about someone they love. My grandmother also hasn't been doing to well it seems, and I think I need to take a trip to Louisiana and visit soon here.

Anything else to add?

Come visit! Weather has been mostly beautiful and am a bit lonely for a good time every now and then!

Other than that, everything is doing great at home! Dogs are happy, cats are happy, horses are shedding off those heavy winter coats, my goose is still terrorizing anything that moves, and my chicken has managed to hide her nest good enough that I can't find it! I need help for a chicken egg hunt!

UPDATE!

It's been forever, and I'm making this fast, but I'll get around to writing worthwhile stuff again soon!

The seasons have definitely changed here! Warmer weather and rainstorms, sunny days and spring blizzards; everything contradicts itself at 8,000 feet! I'm half-way through my calving, and hate to say it, but it hasn't been that great of a year concerning calves. I feel loosing one is one too many, and more than that have been lost. It's a bit depressing. One the other hand, Rumba, my mare, is getting closer to foaling and soon I'll have a little bugger running around with his mummy! I can't wait!

With our warm weather has come a decline in skiing conditions. A-Basin is usually open well through June, but these local places are loosing their base fast. As long as the sun is out and the temps are warm it's still worth it, but when it turns rainy, or those Chinook winds start to blow, well, it's just downright miserable!

Been bringing in hay, still! Driving me crazy! So between work and play (mostly work) I've been busy, hence why this thing hasn't been updated!

Still dating Shane. Still happy. Still haven't posted a picture. Sorry!

Will Wonders Never Cease?

I have been so crazy these last few weeks I'm not sure where my head is! We finally have closed the basketball season losing in the District finals on Friday. I hate to say it, but I'm so happy to have my weekends back! I started calving last week and have been averaging about 1 calf a day. I have two heifers (first year moms) that refuse to come in and have been getting up every few hours to drive out in the field and check on them at night. Two nights ago one snuck off though and had her baby. No problems, thank God, but I can't get her in to check if it's a bull or heifer and need to band if it's a bull (put a rubber band around his nuts to make him a steer). Oh well.

Also - Maverick has figured out how to climb fences. Sunday morning was spent trying to Maverick proof the kennel. So far so good, until he finds another corner to climb. I'm glad he's so smart and such a problem solver, but it's beginning to challenge me! And get expensive! He's such a good boy though and I had to hide in the house to get this picture. He waits until I'm gone, jumps up, grabs hold and climbs! I put some chicken wire across the top and he bounce off it a few times until he figured out he was screwed with that maneuver.

But, the real story for the weekend is how amazing animals really are. As mentioned, I'm at the height of calving and recently was up all night with a heifer who lost her baby. He seems to have been dead before birth and came head first, forcing me to catch her in a chute and try and get a leg to pull the calf. My neighbor finally ended up helping me at 4:30 in the morning (they were up calving too), and between the two of us managed to pull the calf. The heifer seems fine, but was a bit depressed at first and wouldn't leave her dead calf. A few days earlier this heifer's mother had had her third calf and was still in the paddock with all the expecting mothers. When I turned the heifer who had lost her calf out with the others, she immediately went over to her mother and started to nurse her little baby brother! Not only did her mom let her do this, but it seems they have teamed up in taking care of the little guy and are sharing him! Isn't it amazing how animals take care of their kids? Even when they are all grown up? I can think of a few people who could learn a few things from these 'dumb' animals.

I wish I had a better picture of all three of them. But they are really protective and want to eat me. This is the 'big momma"! And her daughter looks just like her with red patches over both eyes. The little guy is just too cute for words!

Also - Skiing is awesome this year with all the snow! Here I am braving some arctic weather for thigh deep powder with a few of my students and me with the other sponsor.

Anyway - thought I'd share!

A Little Info...

Since I haven't updated in awhile and am feeling guilty...tada! Anyway - way cool trip to Gillette this weekend. I will update this thing eventually with my real life adventures soon.


1. What is your occupation? High School English and Science Teacher, Rancher, Firefighter and contract Forester
2. What color are your socks right now? I’m not wearing any!
3. What are you listening to right now? My dog terrorize one of the cats
4. What was the last thing that you ate? A cheeseburger at the basketball game
5. Can you drive a stick shift? It’s all I've ever owned practically!
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? pink
8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Most definitely
9. How old are you today? 28
10. Favorite drink? Alcoholic -Lambrusco, Non-alcoholic - water
11. Favorite thing to watch? The horses run in from pasture
12. Have you ever dyed your hair? yes
13. Pets? Too many too count!
14. What was the last movie you watched? RV
15. Favorite day of the year? Christmas
16. What do you do to vent anger? Go for a horseback ride or long walk with the dogs
17. What was your favorite toy as a child? Grover
18. What is your favorite season? Fall
19. Hugs or kisses? kisses
20. Cherries or Blueberries? Depending on what I feel like
21. Do you want your friends to email you back? YES :)
22. Who is most likely to respond? not sure
23. Who is least likely to respond? Well, since I’m blogging this, probably everybody
24. Living arrangements? House
25. When was the last time you cried? I was a bit frustrated this evening...
26. What is on the floor of your closet? Shoes, a spare sock or two, dust?
27. Who is the friend you have known the longest that you are
sending this to? The gals I’ve known the longest who read my blog are probably Lesley and Erin
28. What did you do last night? Drove in from Gillette, WYO with Shane’s bucking stock and crashed (in bed that is)!
29. What is your birth sign? Gemini
30. What/Who inspires you? Mom, dad and hard work
31. What are you afraid of? Having to depend on someone else
32. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers? Cheesy and spicy!
33. Favorite dog breed? Boxer crosses or any type of working cattle dog
34. Number of keys on your key ring? Lots...house, school, truck, parent’s, Shane’s, etc...
35. How many years at your current job? Almost 3 and a tenure!
36. Favorite day of the week? Thursday ... a whole 3 day weekend ahead of me!
37. How many states have you lived in? 2 - MI and CO
38. Favorite holiday? Christmas
39. Ever driven a motorcycle or heavy machinery? Yuppers! Both!
40. Who is your favorite College team? Depends on the season...
41. Do you have a house phone that is NOT cordless? I don’t even have a house phone!
42. Prefer 10 inches of snow or 100 degree weather? 10 inches of snow (but not 10 degree weather)!
43. If you could have the chance to talk to 3 people who are dead, who would
they be? My grandfathers, grandmother and Aunt Gail

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggady Jig

Yeah! Again! I'm home! So 47 feet of frozen PVC was unfrozen under my driveway the other day and the leaks under the house we temporarily sealed until warmer weather. I REFUSE to turn off the water until the weather becomes more consistently above freezing, and have a hose running to the septic line constantly to keep that open and always crack either a faucet in the house or a spigot in the paddocks. This is becoming insane, but I will definitely have stories to tell about this winter for years to come it seems. I keep waiting for the next event to occur.

Of course all of this had to come at the worst time possible with the height of basketball season in full swing, me coaching, FBLA district conferences and Homecoming this Friday (which of course I sponsor). I also need to move in my cattle for calving here real quick and I'm supposed to road-trip in to Gillette, WYO with Shane next weekend to pick up some bucking stock. That at least is the highlight of my next few weeks since he's only been home for 2 days in the last 17 and leaves again the week after next. He has no idea this thing exists and isn't a big internet bum so I feel free to share! So far I've really enjoyed the time I've spent with him.

Anywho - hopefully I'll get some pictures up here within the next few weeks and everybody can at least see how beautiful it's been out here despite the cold. It is warming up though, and we're hitting double digits at night and getting above freezing during the day more regularly.

Yet Another Chapter in the Life of Danielle's House

Okay, okay...it's not funny anymore. Last night I discovered the pipe to the drain under the house had burst and I now have 'Lake Driveway'. Yeah me. So I've once again moved out, but have a plumber coming to see if it can't be fixed in a few hours. Supposedly this probably had been occuring over a long period of time. Seems the water from the laundry did 'er in last night.

Hopefully it's not so bad the water has soaked into the ground so my house starts to sink come spring...Ha, ha, ha....wouldn't that be the kicker?!

Yeah Me!

Yeah! I'm moved back into my house! I kept a heater going in the pump house since it froze and have been keeping my finger's crossed. Last Sunday afternoon it broke through and I have water!!!! Then a few hours later the septic on the south side of the house unfroze and I moved home Monday after school. I didn't realize how stressed out this all had made me and I'm so thankful to all the good thoughts sent my way and all the help my neighbors gave me in hauling water and whatnot. I still have a problem with some septic pipes on the north side of the house, but that can wait until warmer weather.

We've got another cold snap rolling in as I type this, but no fear! I am not turning the water off until it is consistently above freezing EVER again! Currently I have a stock tank running, and though I have a little river running through my pasture because of it...I don't care. See? Lessons learned.

Now that I am safely tucked away back home I can look back a a few incidents fit for the archives and laugh. The tips I have learned:

1) Try to haul water BEFORE temperatures drop before zero so the spigot doesn't freeze. Then you don't have to half drown yourself sucking water through a hose to try and empty out the portable tank.

2) Let the formentioned tank empty of water by hose and don't try and speed the process up by tipping it over once it has become light enough. This may cause you to slip and fall into the stock tank along with the portable tank and freeze your dripping wet rearend to a post while attempting to load the portable back into the truck in shin deep water.

3) Declaw your barn cat so they don't climb to the top of the electric post and get stuck 16 feet in the air after nightfall so your dripping wet rear doesn't have to problem solve and can go inside instead. If this does happen, grab your handy heading rope, stand on the fence next to her and continually swat away until you knock her loose. She may hate you initially, but it beats spending the night in the open. Then go change out of those wet clothes (of course this all happened in one night! What else would you expect from me?).

4) Don't get crabby about your situation. Somebody probably has it worse.

5) Have faith. Sometimes it works!

Thanks again for all the good thoughts!

What Silver Lining?

I need finger's crossed for me, prayers, voodoo...whatever works to get me out of the situation I'm in. I've been dealing with this for over a week now...

As everyone knows, the weather all over the nation has been crazy in the past few weeks. Southern Colorado is no exception, and even though we haven't received the cow killing snowstorms like the front range has been having, we have had some seriously low temperatures and wicked wind. Just an idea of how bad it's been: we didn't have school yesterday because the pump at the school went out and half the teachers are gone this week because though they survived last week, they're finding their pipes are frozen this week! Maybe if we had some sort of snow cover to help insulate the ground that would be one thing, but there's nothing here!

I discovered last Monday morning my pipes had frozen, but since I had some water I figured it must have frozen at the pump. I turned on the faucets, jacked up the heat, and opened the cupboards. My landlord was notified and I headed to work. Didn't work. It seems the same night we had some -40 some degree weather, the bulb in the pump house had burned out and the pipes had frozen there. To top it off, the pressure valve broke. Once that was all fixed up and thawed out I discovered I STILL didn't have any water, and neither did the livestock at the paddocks. So I took last Wednesday off work to try and assess the situation and come up with some sort of emergency plan. I did manage to get water out of the pumphouse and ran a hose to a portable water tank for the livestock. Since then I have discovered many things:

1) The water is not frozen under the house nor at the hydrants. Thus it is frozen somewhere UNDERGROUND and nothing can be done since the pipe is PVC and has to thaw out on it's own. Yeah for May. April if I'm lucky.

2) Septic can only stay unfrozen for so long when the pipes are out of use. Therefor, as of Saturday, my septic is now frozen also.

3) My house is unlivable.

4) Obviously the idiot who put the lines in did not bury them deep enough because the line from the pump to the pumphouse has frozen as well, and now I have absolutely NO water anywhere on the property. Supposedly this violates code and this guys can get in some serious trouble. But what good is that going to do me right now? Even if they made him dig it all back up and fix it, he's still have to wait until thaw.

5) My neighbor rocks because he is letting me fill portable water tanks at his pump and hauling it over to my house for the livestock.

6) The septic can probably be thawed out so I can haul water into the house also, but it needs to get a little warmer so it doesn't freeze right back up.

7) This needs to be figured out soon because I start calving and need to be home more than once a day, and my dogs are seriously starting to hate me.

8) I've moved in with Shane temporarily, but he's gone announcing anyway for awhile so it's no big deal.

9) I'm going broke with all the extra driving to the ranch everyday and 30 miles to a home I can stay in. I didn't budget for an extra 180 miles a week. This may break me.

To top it all off, all this stress and running around in the cold weather after dark has left me one sick puppy. I'm feeling a lot better today and don't have to blow my nose every two seconds, but am really run down and extremely tired. Shane's a doll for putting up with me when he has been home, but I really hate this situation and want my own place back. It helps he's gone for the next two weeks, then I don't feel underfoot, but still, it's not my place and I'd love to just be able to do chores and then kick back and relax instead of having to drive 30 miles just to get a shower.

Looking at the somewhat bright side: I do have a place to live until this gets worked out.

Another One for the Archives...

Ok people. I've got another 'moment' for y'all. So I stayed over at a friends house the other night due to inconvenient weather conditions and was the last to leave the next morning. After warming up my truck and making sure the house was locked up, I started to scrape the snow and ice off my truck. While standing in the door frame I must have hit the door lock and, you guessed it, locked myself out of my running truck. To top it off my phone was locked in the truck as well. Since a convenient ranch work truck was parked next to me, I started rifling through the bed for wire or tools that might help me break into my truck since I became an expert at it with the Chevy (I am notorious for locking my keys in my trucks....). Needless to say I discovered this is almost impossible to do with a Ford unless one literally 'breaks' in. BUT! Low and Behold! The work truck is unlocked and has keys in the ignition! Normally I would NEVER borrow somebody else's vehicle without asking, especially on icy roads, but I think this consititutes and emergency. So one spin-out (little truck, no traction, icy roads...forgive me) and 2 hours later I return with a spare key. Fun, Fun!

The spare is now wired to the frame of the truck.

So y'all want to know MORE details!?
I said I wasn't jinxing anything and just taking it as it comes, but to satisfy a few bodies...Shane is 33, about 5'10" or so, has dark hair and eyes, announces rodeo, works a ranch, rides, and occasionally reminds me of a few of my obnoxious students (minus the irresponsibility part). He pretty normal looking but has one hell of a personality (I suppose you have to when you work in front of an audience for a living), and really is adorable once you get to know him. He makes me laugh and seems to genuinly want me around...which I think is a good thing because we're both at an age where drawing things out seem really pointless. I figure, 'get to know a person, if they aren't who you want, move on...' No sense in wasting time. Jump in and have fun! If you aren't having fun...well....

Sorry. I'm not posting a pic specifically of him, but maybe he'll pop up on a future slide show or something ;)

Details, Details....

In response to the e-mails and comments...Yes, yes I am dating somebody quite regularly again. I'm not jinxing this because I really am just 'living for the moment' concerning this one, but so far it's been a lot of fun. We have a ton in common and enjoy a lot of the same things, plus he actually thinks it's cool I can help out working on his truck or with livestock and isn't intimidated by my independence. We both do our own thing as well and it's kind of nice to be missed and miss in return when he's away for work! He also actually likes having me around and worries when I'm headed home on icy roads or whatnot and asks me to call when I get back. What a nice change of pace! I quite literally forgot what it was like to have somebody truly interested!

He's a rodeo announcer and works on his grandpa's ranch, plus he's getting into breeding bucking stock, which I always thought would be interesting to do if I ever bought my own place. So fun, fun...I have somebody to ride at the arena, help me improve my roping with, hang out with...blah, blah, blah...

Woohoo!

Happy New Year!

Crazy last few weeks! First off, I have to say I am sooooo sorry I never made it to the GLI Friday night! I did truely miss everyone, but my trip home had been a whirlwind of activity and I had yet to spend one night with my mom. Since my plane left Saturday I decided I needed to stay in. I hope everyone I missed understands and I REALLY appreciated getting phone calls wondering where I was!

As much as I hate to say it: I think this may have been my last winter travel back to Michigan. For starters, it was a LOT of work getting the ranch ready before I left because of the unpredictable weather we've been having, but that wasn't so much the problem. I wanted to stay in Michigan longer but couldn't because of all the work I have left here. Because of this I only spent one night home with my parents, never did get to see some of the people I woud have loved to visit with and pretty much left exhauseted. It also took me a VERY long time to get back into Albuquerque since the airports had been closed, a VERY long time to drive back to Colorado since the highways had been closed, and to top ALL of it off, my New Year's plans were canceled because of the weather and nobody could get to where we were supposed to be! BUT...it gets better, I arrived home to discover my tack shed had been left open and horses had toppled over all the grain, a cow had found a crack in the shed wall and dismanteled it to get through, a water tank had overflowed and one heater isn't working for some reason...after putting things in some sort of order to take care of in the morning I went to bed and brought in the New Year's asleep with Maverick the Best Boyfriend Ever in my bed that still hadn't been made from when I left. So, winter trips call for some serious return work it seems...

On a good note. It was a good trip home. It was good seeing everyone I did get to see and it was a good Christmas. My mom bought me a sewing machine and a cookbook so I'm going to attempt to be domestic from time to time. It's not that I'm not familiar with it...I usually just choose not to do it! I also got a cool pink gameboy. So I'm also going to attempt to discover what is so great about video games and try and relate a little better to my students (though I will admit it definetely came in handy at the airports!).

Also - I have met a boy...*gasp*! That's all I'm saying. So other than the disaster I was met with yesterday and had to fix this morning...the New Year may be coming in alright afterall!

Warning! Please read fine print...

Anybody have some sort of fluorescent lighting in their house? Bathroom, kitchen, etc... Does anybody actually know just how much pressure those bulbs are under? Well, I just found out the hard way. And no, I wasn't actually stupid enough to break one; on purpose.

Know how strange things people only hear about always seem to happen to me? I have a new one, and this may actually beat out the current champ holder...The Beaver Incident.

This I am going to title: The Fluorescent Light Company is Going to be Sued Incident Because There was NO Fine Print. A bit long? I'm tired and will come up with something shorter eventually. First off, I'm just going to suggest that a warning is put on fluorescent lights explaining they are under extreme pressure and are, in short, little bombs. Let me explain:

I'm tired. Was up late last night, was woken up by coyotes, and pretty much was getting no sleep. I actually may have been almost asleep when this most recent event occurred, because I was very confused but remember what I heard in detail. A few months ago my bathroom light began to flicker and I bought a replacement at Walmart. These are those super long, skinny bulbs - not regular bulbs. I couldn't just buy one, two came in the package. Seeing as I am a disaster area, I decided this extra bulb needed to be put someplace safe and out of the way to avoid breakage. I placed it behind my bedroom door against the wall. I figured this was a safe enough place as it is kind of a nook and completely out of the way. And it's been fine there for weeks now.

Last night, about 4:45 am, I hear this 'POP' like a small caliber gun going off, a crunching glass noise, what sounded like a bunch of rocks thrown at my ceiling and then a bunch of tinkling...in that order. My first thought was that somebody just shot through my window and I reached for my phone. But then I realized the dogs weren't doing anything and there wasn't any cold air coming into the room, so I turned on the light...which reflected off millions of pieces of glass covering the room. I got the dogs out and looked closer at the situation.

The bedroom door was part way closed, and somehow the bulb had fallen over and hit a doorstop I have. On impact it had exploded, bouncing pieces of glass off my ceiling where they shattered and spread across my room. If you ask me that's some serious pressure.

It doesn't stop there. Now I have to try and get this picked up, so I pulled out the vacuum and pretty much vacuumed everything in the room. The curtains, the laundry, the bed, inside my shoes, etc...and sucked up a sock. This is so typical isn't it? I fight getting the hose off forever, manage not to break anything too bad, but did bend a butter knife up (don't ask) and retrieved my sock so I could continue vacuuming without starting a fire.

But it still doesn't stop there. Dixie is in the bathroom, Sedona outside, Mav's in the kitchen. I figure it's a safe enough place for him and I've given him a bone to occupy his time as well. Seems that wasn't good enough, and as I am trying to put my vacuum back together I hear a huge crash from the kitchen. Mav is standing ON the counter, a plate of Christmas cookies are gone and he has knocked another onto the floor, sending broken glass and crumbled cookies EVERYWHERE.

My bedroom and kitchen floors are spotless. I think I may be finding microscopic shards of glass for the next few years though.

The Nutcracker

Yeah it's my weekend! Unfortunetly it's a seriously crazy one, but it's all good. A run down of the next three days:

Tonight:
Drive to Alamosa and rehearse for The Nutcracker
Friday:
Be at school to drive up to Monarch at 7:45 am.
Drive home at 2:30pm
Be in Alamosa for opening night of The Nutcracker at 6:00pm

Saturday:
Have a horse saddled and loaded by 8:00am to move cattle
Be in Almosa to perform by 6:00
Try and stop in at the School Christmas Party after the ballet
Sunday:
Be in Alamosa by 1:30pm for the final performance

Drinks at the studio owner's house afterwards
Be in Hooper for a surprise party by 6:00pm

Hello? Is mylife even my own anymore? But just think, in a week I'll be packing to head for Michigan!

I have always loved The Nutcracker and have seen it performed by dozens of different companies, including The Rockette's at The Fox. This is the first time 've ever had the chance to perform in it...so I'm pretty excited, albiet exhausted from the schedule I've kept this week. I'll try and get pictures, but since I don't have anybody to come watch me here I have to put some effort into that. Stay posted!

"I am so smart...SMRT..."

For those of you who don't know...the above is quoted by Homer, Homer Simpson that is...

Anywho - obviously, I figured out how to fix my 'migrating' page info. Found a very helpful blogsite.

Yeah for being proactive!

Crazy...

I seriously am losing my mind. I'm actually so tired I can't sleep. That ever happen to anyone else? Between coaching at 6:30 am, Fire dept. meetings, and performing in The Nutcracker, (never mind chores, hay, grading papers, etc...) I believe I have actually lost track of what day it is. I cannot wait until break! Than I can run around like a crazy person in Michigan instead of Colorado. Fun! Seems I may actually have something to do over New Year's too! Was invited to a roping in Las Vegas, NM with some friend's I haven't seen in forever. Should be way fun!

Excuse my mini-rambling episode. Trying to get sleepy.

Oh yeah - anybody know why all my profile stuff is down at the bottom of the page? It's happened before and usually I just change some settings and I thought stuff was too wide this time, but nothing I do fixes it. Help!

Fun Stuff

I can't believe how motivated I've been this week! I got school Chritmas cards out, my cards to send out almost finished, a scrpbook as a gift done, pictures of Kelly's babies dressed up for Christmas taken and printed out, senior papers graded, a graduate paper I've been trying to start started, and cheer practice for out tourny this weekend every evening! Yeah me!

I thought I'd share some pictures of the foals all dressed up and of me and Dixie trying to have our picture taken for Chritmas cards. A friend came over last night and attempted to help me organize my dogs for a picture. Maverick kept try to eat Sedona's santa hat, Sedona kept attacking Mav's reindeer antlers, and Dixie kept jumping on the both of them...so I gave up. Could have been cute, but no. So we decided to get a picture of me and Dixie for the cards instead. Dixie was a bit uncooperative, as you can see from the following set of 'bloopers'...but we DID get a good pic that will be sent out on the cards I am mailing early next week! Check out Dixie's facial expressions through the whole ordeal...

Ahhhhhh! Ha, ha, ha....

Admit it, you are ALL laughing at this!

Sick, I know. Just thought I'd share a little cowboy humor. I just recently saw 'Brokeback' for the first time...I had to work up to it. I'll never be able to hear one of these phrases without laughing again...

Feel the Burn!

Burning thighs, windchapped skin, dehydration headache, lack of oxygen...not to mention fresh, boot deep powder and backcountry, empty runs...Yup! Couldn't love it more...My ski season has officially started! I know I'm a bit late for Colorado, but seeing as I haven't been home and really busy otherwise, this isn't too bad. Monarch was open less than I week before I managed to get there! It doesn't have snow-machines, so they have to wait until something piles up! The day was perfect, but overcast and snowy, which only called for more powder! It actually was perfect, because where it had been groomed was a hard snowpack, and where it hadn't, deep powder. It was like skiing back at Ripley...good choices and a good challenge! The pictures don't do the hill justice. It is an UNBELIEVABLE view from up there! Seeing as that I have a season pass, I'll be back and get some pics to show you all what I mean! Here is just a preview looking down the hill. I'm about 3/4 of the way down this run. That's the parking lot waaayyyy down at the bottom.

Today was a bit of a chore...literally. I have a ton of Forestry work I'm supposed to be getting done, but decided I really need to move some hay today first, and good thing I did! A storm rolled in about 3:00, just as I was unloading the last bit of hay. Not much snow, but I'm sure the hills got hammered once again! I may say to hell with work tomorrow and go skiing instead! I also had the fun chore of trying to de-freeze the stock tanks. Despite having heaters, one continues to freeze. I put a new heater in it today, so we'll see how it goes. Normally the sun warms things enough during the day to thaw everything out, but we had a REAL cold spell a few nights ago and one pump froze solid. I got it thawed out with a blowtourch, brought the float into the house to thaw, and now have water again. Keep your fingers crossed for me I'm not repeating this procedure everyday.

I am exhausted though. Screw this "I am woman, hear me roar" feminist bullcrap. I have the calluses to prove it, I CAN do it by myself. Do I want to? No way in hell. This sucks. Somebody send me a man with muscles I can appreciate. Please?


Some of you asked how I stay in shape... I loaded that pickup and trailer on my own. Thank you very much! That's a little over three tons there (6000+ lbs) that I loaded and then UNLOADED by myself. That's 12,000+ lbs altogether. Oh, each bale is about 70 lbs each as well. About 30 bales to a ton, well, you do the math. Lots of lifts, squats and swearing....I'd much rather go for a run if somebody would help me! Any takers? *REALLY big sigh* Oh well. Did I mention I hurt? LOL

Check THIS out!

Mt . Bohemia, one of the places I used to patrol at WAY up the Keweenaw from Mont Ripley is rated as one of the top 10, unknown, kick-ass world ski destinations! Yeah! I love this place, but most runs are rated expert, and bring a pair of rock skis in case the snow hasn't been falling like it should! A REAL hill...no snow makers!

Check out the article at MSN.

On another note, Monarch opened last week and it hasn't quit snowing up there in the last few days. To top it off, Colorado is under a snow advisory! We don't have much of anything here, just a dusting, but the hills are getting hammered! I'm taking the kids Friday no matter what! Sick or otherwise....see below:

So my partying has caught up with me...I have walking pneumonia. Fabulous. Seems a bit too much cigarette smoke from the bars and restaurants in Michigan, combined with my asthma caused a lung infection. Again, fabulous. Michigan needs to be a smoke-free state too, before Christmas, then I can party again. I feel fine, but am really tired and am having a hard time breathing. Probably why I'm tired.

God I hate girls...

I AM NOT amused this morning. AT ALL. This is the letter I would LOVE to hand out to my team, but have held myself back and dealt with things more calmly. The consequences do stay the same however...


To my dear, sweet girls who failed to show up at practice this morning,

First I would like to express my concerns pertaining to coaching cheerleaders in the first place. I am not, nor ever will be, a perky cheerleader, but took this job because I have a background both stunting and dancing and felt I would be an asset to your team (plus it pays decent). Because of this, I expect you to be the perky cheerleaders you choose to be at 6:30 am as well as during game times. Why you ask? Because you choose 6:30 am practices every other week, and if I'm here doing my best for you, so I expect you to also be here doing your best for me.

Let me also explain to you what 6:30 am practices entail for me, especially this week while I am playing 'mom' to three children ages 6 through 12...I must get up extra early in order to do chores. When I say early, I mean around 4 am. Then I must get three tired children up, make them breakfast, and get them on their way to get ready for school. Then I must come here and unlock the doors to let you all in. Except there was only two people there this morning, and when I called your homes, you were in bed. Since somebody , somewhere has failed to teach you that there are consequences to your actions, I feel that maybe I DO actually need to teach a few of you a lesson or two.

This does NOT make me happy because I am not your mother, your father, your guardian, etc... In fact, I don't have any children of my own! Go figure. But if I did, I'd be kicking their butts right now for irresponsibility. Plus I'm pretty sure I'm getting sick to top it all off...and I don't have anybody to take care of me like you all do. Actually, you are probably lucky I'm getting sick and have almost no voice, this way I'm too tired to get riled up, and can't yell. On the downside, this also means I have no energy to deal with this, so if it occurs again at our next practice, I am kicking you off the team. Also be warned, when you do show up you will be running your little tail-ends off for me all morning and hopefully we will NEVER have a repeat of this 'little' problem.

I just wanted to make sure that we were on all on the same page as each other so communication problems wouldn't be an issue. If you have any questions you know where to reach me.

Miss. McLeod

P.S. For those of you who had a 'real' problem getting into school this morning: When I ask you if you have my phone number, don't lie and say yes because you are too lazy to get a pen to write it down. See what happens when you can't reach me in the morning? Tough.

WooHoo!

It's a REALLY good day! My new Sketcher's came in! I have been looking for a flat to wear with everything...jeans, dress, etc...something that could look okay with all kinds of colors, but mostly black. I know, I always ask the impossible, but look what I found!

Sweet Home Colorado

Today is going to be a good day despite being a Monday. My Bald Eagle is back for the winter! He always sits on the (one) tree next to the road I take into work. I'll have to remember my camera sometime.

Even though it is extrememly isolated out here and lonely on the best of days, I wouldn't change it for the world. Just driving home through the mountians always gets me. Don't get me wrong. It was wonderful to visit friends and I wish I lived closer to family, but, wow, you have to see it to understand.

Yesterday was crazy once I got home! I visited with Lisa and Dave in Conifer for a few hours. Her girls are beautiful! They are so cute and funny! I picked up Maverick and Dixie at the vets' (who are friend's of mine). Mav just got fixed, poor bugger, and pretty much spent the rest of the afternoon walking sideways due to whatever drugs he was given. He looked like a few people I know on a REALLY good night. I wanted what he was having. Sedona's still at one of my student's but I'm picking her up on my way into Alamosa for dance tonight. Everyone looked good back home, but one of my bossy mares pinned Kelly's little paint filly up against the wall and she cut her heel up while I was doing chores. Luckily I caught it right away and wrapped it up so it won't separate and scar. No rest for the wicked! Here we go again! It's always something...

So other than a long drive and playing vet nothing new except a LOT of sunshine and blue skies!

She's ALIVE!

I've been in a perpetual state of drunkeness or hangover since the day I arrived. So if some of this doesn't make sense bear with me. Cool thing is I'm sitting in the truck writing this as my dad drives me to the airport. I love this broadband stuff. Oh - and I LOVE dunkin' donuts!

Idiot wonder here thought I had a 6am flight this morning. Try 8:10. BIG difference. I'm such a moron. Dad stumbled across that fact last night. I could have stayed out longer;(

Yes, yes, to quell any doubt, I have survived my ten year reunion. It was, to say the least, interesting. Let's begin where it all started shall we?

Reunion

For starters, my brother tentatively made plans to go to the restaurant early with me and his girlfriend to 'scope' out the situation, get a decent meal and get a few cocktails down. Notice I say 'tentatively'. He didn't pick me up until 8:30. Half hour AFTER the reunion had started, so already the scoping out bit is down the drain.

We arrive, they get a few drinks, I wander into the reunion shaking from nerves, sign in, and make a beeline for the bar. A few girls I played ball with walked in right after me, and not only did they not even say hi, they ignored me completely. Great way to start out. Seems some things never change at all.

So, whiskey in hand, I head back to my little bro and check out the people still wandering in until I see a girl who thought she was 'all that and then some'; now was as large as a cow pass by...so my whiskey induced strength kicked in and I felt brave enough to apply myself to the situation...laughing all the way! I think I hurt myself laughing that night at similar situations. My abs still hurt. Either that or the winter insulation is kicking in and I need to do more crunches...

Once inside yet again, I immediately saw an old friend whom was always a good back-up date for the many events I never had a date for. I figured he'd turned into a major hottie, and I was SOOOO right! He seemed alone, we were having a great conversation, I'm thinking, "wow! I should have picked up on this 10 years ago! What a dumbass I was (well, still am but let's not go there)!" and then the pictures of the wife and kid come out. *Sigh* Oh well. He looks great. His wife is beautiful. His kid is adorable. I seriously couldn't be happier for him because he was one of the nicest guys in the school. So we're going to keep in touch and get together at Christmas so I can meet the rest of the family.

Moving on...$60.00 ticket, no food but munchies, no top shelf liquor, and only about 2 hours until we have to start paying...and this place isn't cheap. No reunion stuff either, like pictures, or who's changed, or anything like that...I think strange, but maybe good. There are people I didn't mingle with back then and I don't want to mingle with them now.

Some people didn't change at all. The little whores still looked like little whores. The potheads were still potheads. Some girls who deserved to stay beautiful did, and others didn't. And then there were the people who changed A LOT! Like a girl who I swear only kept me around as a charity friend case...who was HUGE! And the bald, fat guys I didn't recognize until I realized they were some of the most popular guys back in high school! I laughed so hard, and some of the people I was with just didn't get it! I guess we were on different levels back than too. It may be evil, but it makes me feel good. I'm allowed that every now and then.

Surprisingly, a few guys made there way over to me for introductions, only to figure out who I was. I'm thinking I made an impression? Good, that's EXACTLY what I wanted to do! I discovered that guys do maybe like a chick who can take care of herself. Or perhaps they're just tired of the rich, whining attitude of so many girls from Birmingham, and I was a refreshing change? Or maybe my redneck, cowgirl ways are scary so they just decided to be nice so I didn't hurt them?

I did my best to drink $60 worth of liquor. Didn't happen. I have to remember that even though I'm at sea level it doesn't mean I can drink like I used to in college. I ALREADY killed my liver. Of course I arrived home around 2 am starving and my dad was still up, so we ordered a pizza (yeah for city food!) and stayed up talking.

Saturday

I saw Kara! It was so great to finally see my 'kid' again! She looks absolutely beautiful and her daughters are adorable! Motherhood definitely agrees with her. He parents' house is like a mini Scott daycare. The whole family was there for the holiday! I'm so glad things are working out for her and all our prayers concerning her girls have been answered! I cannot wait to see her again over Christmas if we can find the time.

Went to dinner with the folks and my brother and his girlfriend. Supposedly he's going to propose here sometime soon. NOW I feel old. Since when does your younger sibling find happiness first? That's not fair. Anyway, we went to this expensive restaurant called 'The Moose Preserve' and it's all decorated like the UP! And they have hamburgers called 'The Houghton Burger' and 'The Hancock Burger' and a UP Realty sign on the wall...and I'm thinking, "people pay $20 a meal for this, but avoid the UP and it's backwoods ways like the plague?". How can they honestly make money off that? Do the people up there know about this? Do the people that own the restaurant know that a lot raging alcoholics populate the UP? VERY strange. Why should I pay $20 for a Walleye dinner when I could catch one and make the same thing, but only better? But than again, that's me and I'm strange. So if anyone if jonesin' for some UP surroundings, visit 'The Moose Preserve'. Never mind that most of us never caught a glimpse of a Moose up there...and I was a FORESTER for God's sake!

Anywho - went out for a few drinks last night because I forgot I'm a lightweight despite my convictions I can drink more at sea level. Well, that and a boy was buying, which is always a good reason in anybody's book. And I'm not writing anymore about that because I know he's reading this (ha, ha, ha). Remembered another thing. I shouldn't drink caffeine. Oh yeah! I'm scatter-brained and hyper enough without it! How could I forget? So I basically have gotten no sleep because my blood pressure was a bit up there...I could have been bouncing off a wall if I hadn't been trying to get at least a few hours of sleep. Can anyone say DECAFE?!? For crying out loud...

Maybe I should have pulled an all-nighter afterall...but then things REALLY would have sucked today trying to get chores done, dog's picked up, paper's graded, and driving home from Denver...and this week isn't exactly condusive to catching up on sleep. I have dance Monday night, coaching Tueday and Thursday before school at 6:30 am, babysitting my friend's kids Tuesday and Wednesday while she and her husband attend an out of town conference, a basketball tourny Thursday, skiing Friday with the class I sponsor....ahhhhh! Back to the psychotic schedule I keep. Somewhere in there I think I have a firefighting training also...hmmmm....I need to check my planner....

Signing out all you beautiful people. Until the next time I decide to terrorize the Detroit area! Notice I already have a ticker counting down...

OMG

Ok- I'm freaking out about this whole reunion thing. Really freaking out. I have broken out in hives. I have NEVER broken out in hives before. Luckily they seem to be going away already, maybe.

I can't believe I thought this was a good idea. I HATED high school. What was I thinking when I said I would go? Like it would make me a stronger person by surviving this event? I'm strong enough! I have done many more things people will probably consider me redneck for, but that I'm proud of!

I think I need to call in backup. Big Rock between 8 and 11 pm. I'm on the Maple side of the place, but I know the other side of the bar is open. Hopefully my brother follows through and gets together with his girlfriend and meets me over there. Anybody else want to come save me? I suppose I could still back out, but I flew all the way here AND already paid for the night.

Maybe I'm just retarded, but I've really decided I don't want to go anymore.

Happy Thanksgiving Turkeys!

Thanks to all the wonderful ladies who made it out last night to PAAARRRTTTYY with me! I think there may be some Saturday night cocktails going on also...but not for too late 'cause I have a 6am flight! Anyone who wants to rescue me from my reunion tomorrow night may also (Alanna and Jacko have already offered, so it could be an "Alph Gam's crash my reunion" Reunion. How fun!) . I'll be at Big Rock and wouldn't mind to see a few familiar and FRIENDLY faces!

We need to do this again over Christmas! And for everyone at the Lions game, GO LIONS! Thay are winning for a change right now! Yeah!

Thoughts from last night: I really enjoy the 'no smoking in public places' policy Colorado has employed. Michigan needs to do that. It's amazing...no smoking, stinky hair in the morning...no stinky cloths...I didn't realize how much of a difference it made until last night!

The Piston's Jacket! Boys, don't wear 80's style sports jacket and slide the sleeves up to your elbows. It's strange...and sort of scary.

The 'Rug' - If you are balding, bald gracefully! Don't look like somebody killed a furby and put it on your head. I kept expecting it to start talking. Jennie and I kept trying to get a pic, but they kept coming out blurry...maybe because we were laughing to hard. Bald is sexy! Comb overs and rugs ARE NOT!

As Jennie mentioned...big belts look good on models, but not on normal people. There must have been a sale on big, bright, in your face red patent leather belts too...they seemed to have been everywhere! Patent leather should be outlawed for people over 6 years old.

Mr. B's serves Alph Gam shots (aka, Stoplights) in separate glasses! Three separate shots? It's much better all together!

I love Jennie's Honda Civic! I'm having nostalgia for my old civic...

I don't like long lines to get into bars and snotty doormen. Attitude problems are not sexy, and no chick was checking you out because you thought you were hot shit Mr. 'the rock' doorman! We had much more fun at Mr. B's anyway! Ha!

Guys, unless you live back in Colorado where I live...Nascar hats should be left at home when you are out for the evening.

Thanks to Jennie for finding my 'boyfriend' who looks like he followed me from Colorado. I don't really know how to describe him right now...it was interesting.

Jacko is a great bodyguard. Quiet, but watchful!

Good things come to those who wait, and wait, and wait, and wait...

So my week is better than when I last posted. For starters, I'm sitting at HOME for the first time since I've moved to Colorado working on the internet! It's a fairly expensive service, but I get it through Verizon and it beats having to pay for a home line that I would never use. Plus I bring my laptop with me everywhere so it's very convenient. It is a bit slow when my bars are low, but it's not too bad...

Also - I haven't received my new phone yet, which means.......I'm hooked up to the 'damaged' phone which was suddenly reincarnated this afternoon and is back up to par. That also means I get my $250 back that I was spending to replace this one! Yeah me!

So I decided to post some pics finally of the last few months!

I've also decided to make my own Christmas cards this year, so all of you who have my personal e-mail, SEND ME YOUR ADDRESS! If you don't have my e-mail, send a message out through the AGD list...and I'll try to do that too. I've decided I want to grow up some and actually keep an address book.

Fun List

NINE things you last did:
9. last place you were: In my barn doing chores and feeding horses before having to come into school.
8. last cigarette: I don't smoke
7. last beverage: water
6. last movie watched: A Love Song for Bobby Long
5. last phone call: My mom to tell her my phone is working.
4. last song played: Something’s Gotta Give by Leann Rimes
3. last bubble bath: Last month
2. last time you cried: Night before last
1. last alcoholic drink: Greek Wine

EIGHT have you evers:
8. have you ever dated someone twice: Yes – I’ve been on and off with more than one guy in the past
7. have you ever been cheated on: Probably, but I really don’t want to know the details. I’m not with them anymore anyway.
6. have you ever kissed someone: Ever? Of course, but not in a long while. Today? Ha, ha, ha..
5. have you ever kissed someone you regret: I don’t think so…
4. have you ever fallen in love: Absolutely
3. have you ever lost someone: As in death? Yes. As in physically losing someone? Friends at concerts, students at the amusement park, myself in Greece...
2. have you ever been depressed: Sure
1. have you ever been drunk and thrown up: Who hasn't?

SEVEN things you have on:
7. My ring from Delphi
6. blue jeans
5. Cool bling-bling watch I just bought from Sheplers
4. The bracelet my mom bought me in Sante Fe
3. Cropped ¾ sleeve, dark blue sweater I bought at Walmart (but everyone thinks I got it at an expensive store at the mall in the Springs).
2. Silver twisted necklace
1. Fun boy shorts and sports bra (I was tired this morning and it looked comfortable)

SIX things you did in the past three days:
6. Went to Dance Class
5. Went horseback riding
4. Took my dogs for a walk in the pasture
3. Took Maverick for a walk along the Rio Grande between Dance classes
2. Spoke with my friend Erika back in Michigan
1. Cooked myself an Elk steak dinner, baked potatoes and roasted peppers, but put it away in the fridge since it just didn’t seem right cooking a big dinner with nobody to share it with.

FIVE people you can tell pretty much anything to (in no order):
5. Kelly
4. Erika
3. Matt
2. Andrea
1. Virginia

FOUR websites visited today:
4. Amazon.com
3. MSN homepage
2. AGD Blogs (I think I can group these together yes?)
1. Victoria’s Secret

THREE things you hope to accomplish today:
3. The article about Greece for the school newspaper
2. My pictures downloaded
1. Get through an after school meeting calmly…

TWO things you hope to do before you die:
2. Get married and start a family
1. Feel like I have been successful and made a difference

ONE reason you’re happy today:
1. My students love me

The (Mis) Adventures of a Monday

Yeah! I have internet at home, but cannot use it because I’m a dumbass. Let me explain. I am cursed. I have the evil eye. I know I do. Somebody, somewhere is thinking nasty thoughts in my direction. And I swear I know who it is…a former student who was back to visit. My mother always said I was cursed and that she blamed her side of the family for it. I should have heeded her advice when I had the chance while I was in Greece, the country that I swear invented this evil eye crap. Everywhere you turn there’s another talisman against it. I was surrounded by them daily, but did I get myself one for insurance against this type of stuff? No, of course not…and I’ve been paying the price! I mean seriously, how many people do you know who have been trapped by beaver?!

So it all started yesterday evening when I went to dance and was forced into a bad mood by the catty little snots that were present. The studio is way overcrowded on Mondays, but I have a VFD meeting tonight and can’t make it tonight. I survived, felt I accomplished nothing and drove 80 miles round trip for nothing as well, and then stopped for gas on the way home…where the evil eye first kicked in. Somehow the fuel injector bottle that was emptying into my gas tank decided to ‘jump’ free as I was putting my card into the reader. Of course it got all over my new North Face jacket I had saved for all summer. I very rarely buy anything REALLY nice or expensive for myself, so I was pretty bummed, but figured I could find a way to clean it at home. Sure enough it ended up in the washer, and I decided to download some pics and update this blog and do something fun before I started studying for the exam I have on Saturday.

Then I couldn’t find the phone. I looked all over, in the house, the truck, outside in case Maverick carried it off to be buried…nowhere. And then it dawned on me where it was. Yup, I washed my brand new Razor phone. No warranty on water damage. Go figure. Thank God I still have my old phone around with all my contacts and everything….Again, buy myself something nice, and within a few weeks I’ve managed to ruin it. So $250 dollars later, I have a new phone in the mail on it’s way to me. Thank God for credit cards.

But it doesn’t end there! Since I was talking with Verizon on my old phone, I had to step outside because it gets such horrid service I don’t get any signal in my house. I left Maverick in the house. Now he is a wonderful pup, but lately he’s been going through a ‘terrible two’ stage and has decided anything moving, not moving, or smelling like it once could have moved needs to be explored, picked up, put in his mouth, buried or chewed up. So once my business was finished and I was feeling a bit poorer than usual, I walk into the carnage of what was once my garbage, a stuffed animal, a pair of shoes (old ones though that were being replaced) and a few hair clips…nothing all that horrid, but still, not behavior that is acceptable by my animals…and then I noticed my camera case laying on the floor…no camera. Oh boy. Maverick already was hiding under the couch, Sedona was playing warden and had him trapped under there by laying in front of the opening, and Dixie was sleeping on the rug in the family room…like a little kid who’s smart enough not to get involved. I’m ranting around the house looking for the camera and finally found it on my bed along with some new decorative tooth marks on it. Thank God it’s fine, my mother had the insight to by me a camera with a titanium cover since I’m such a mess on a good day.

I hate Mondays.

It's Official!

Once again the computers here are on the 'blink' so I'm going to hurry up and post this before it all shuts back down...

I will be back in good 'ol Birmingham late Tuesday night before Thanksgiving until Sunday morning. I wanted to stay another day but couldn't get the time off work.

So for all you chicka's in town...let's get together!

Should be getting internet at home here REAL soon so I can update this thing a bit more often!

E-mail all your numbers if I don't have them and let's have a few nights out! I'm WAY overdue!