Poopy Pants

Since Stephan's working an extra 4-hours tonight (and the next 3 nights in a row) I had time to organize the branding photos from last weekend. You can see the entire set here. We were back at the MacKay Ranch, the site of my first ever branding last May. I wrote extensively about that experience here, and I can't think of much more to add. The smell definitely isn't duplicated anywhere in the world at any other time of year. And the noise is just incredible. At the end, when all the calves have been reunited with their moms, the silence is amazing. The space around you just grows with the quiet, and the wind blowing fresh air (without burning hair-smell) is SO sweet.

Then, of course, the food is just outstanding. The best food of the year is served at brandings.

Here's Your Sign

This is Stephan's favorite sign, found above one of the bars we like to spend time in. Did you know that people who own guns don't need gun licenses? The only gun license available in Montana is a "Concealed Weapon" something-or-other, that requires a background check and fingerprinting. That's the same process I went through to get an Illinois Massage License.

Next time you come to visit think about all those people with big purses, or sweatshirts on... they could be 'packing heat.'

Throw Your Hands in the Air

Like you Just Don't Care....

(Sorry, something about codeine just makes everything sound like a 90's rap song)

We had a crazy weekend. Literally, crazy. Saturday involved some people taking off their underwear and dancing about, Sunday started WAY too early (8am) for me and continued with a branding (photos to come). Sunday night ended with a sobering but deeply moving tribute to people who've passed away, and Monday... Monday sucked. But it's Tuesday night now, and I've got so much to type that I couldn't do it all justice. I'll try posting photos, stories and information as the words congeal tomorrow.

Until then, get out your SPF50 because the sun, she's a shining out in Big Sky Country.

I just realized that the 10-day forecast calls for rain every single day and night for the next 10 days. So, perhaps just a wide-brimmed hat will do for now.

Overheard: On the Phone

Sometimes it's nice to not live so close to my parents. As I told my dad how Stephan just pours out catnip for the cats by the cup-full (on the kitchen table) for them to roll themselves in (usually at 10:00 at night) my dad responded:

Dad: Have you ever seen my Cat Spa?

Me: Um. No. I don't want to know what a cat spa is.

Dad: That's the name of the product. C-A-T-S-P-A.

Me: Why? And, but, no. I don't want to know. You people are crazy.

Catching up with Photos

Let's go backwards in time:


Last night, while trying to boil water for pasta, the stovetop caught fire. I put it out with flour. This is what's left.


Yesterday afternoon it snowed/slushed. There was about an inch and a half of snow/slush on the ground by the end of the day. Happy May.


Wednesday was the county Health Fair. Stephan was a great role-model as he purchased an entire lemon meringue pie.


There's only two decent photos from the high school rodeo on Saturday, and this is one of them.

Telling the Internet First

or

Finally a good use for all that yoga training.

For a few weeks I've been watching a freckle on the bottom of my foot grow in size, and change color. Stephan demanded that I make a doctor appointment as soon as possible, which turned out to be yesterday. Doc looked at it, and agreed with Stephan that the little black mark needed to come off. About 20 minutes and two small stitches later, it was in a little jar. They told me to stay off of it for a few hours, stay out of the pool, and baby it for about a week.

When I got home I did laundry, dishes, cooked dinner, took the dogs out, and cleaned the kitchen. No pain!

When I woke up this morning the pain was unbearable. It felt like I was walking with a large pointy spike lit on fire growing out of the bottom of my foot. After some tears and a little bit of pain killers Stephan put me back in bed and went to work. Getting about (to the bathroom, the kitchen, etc.) without letting my right foot hit the ground has proved a challenge. Just now I brushed my teeth for two full minutes while standing on one foot.

Some would think this was an inconvenience. I see it as a reason to buy another Gaiam DVD.

Triathlon Training Tip #1

If your training partner ever says something like:

Him: Hey, I know we're only one month into training, but let's try to swim the entire half-mile today!!

Go ahead and let him do it.