Horny

Friday. Now I try and write something for anyone who is lonely on Fridays. Something that I figure may take them away from their loneliness for even a short while. Maybe something they could do to help occupy the time. But... I'm about out of ideas. I was hoping for some help or suggestions in the form of comments. Well, maybe there isn't anyone out here that is as lonely as I've been led to believe or who can help. Ok...

So I kinda thought that maybe I'd use the time here to introduce some of the silly things I've heard around home... Now I do believe that the only dumb question is the question not asked. Heard that from a school teacher years ago and I adopted it. There is never a question you have that shouldn't be asked. Yah some may laugh, but you, you learn.

So on to horns.

Beep, beep? No not those horns. Nope, not the blaring horns of semi's rolling down the highway. Certainly not the blasting scream of a train passing by. Nor that cute, but later annoying, sound from that train under a Christmas tree.

But rather the horns, or lack there of, on cows.

Now being born and for the most part raised on a farm and now being the sixth generation owner, I guess it's one of those things that are second nature. I just never really think about it. First time I heard questions about cows horns I though, huh?

The question was, why don't your cows have horns like the ones on TV?

Actually had one person ask, why aren't those cows horny?

Thanks again Hollywood for leading people astray... Hollywood and the rest of the film industry seem to like to make things look as scary as possible. They have a knack for over exaggeration. Sadly, many people believe everything they see...

OK, I chuckled a bit but...

Cows get big. No, I mean “B I G”! Horns get “big” and “long”. When your with a huge horned animal and doing your best to care for them you sometimes get shoved around by them. Well now, how would you like to have one of those big horns implanted in some part of your body? Not only that but when cows are together in confined areas they shove each other around. Then you could have a cow that is gored by one of those big horns. Some cows, like humans, develop a bad temper and even want to go after others and horns again lead to sometimes, fatal injury... So what do you do? You get rid of the horns.

Now guys and women with cows have an affection for their animals that you would not believe. I've known guys who cared for their livestock more than their own families. Or so it seems. As for me... Well, I tried to teach my kids to stand on their own and take care of their selves. But no matter how hard ya try ya can't teach a cow how to do that. They need a full time babysitter, a care giver. Well that's us. “I tell you this for later.”

We tend to burn or cut the horns off of them.

Now before ya go getting all upset at the sounds of that and get all PETA on me let me say, it doesn't hurt unless you really screw up. It's kinda like cutting fingernails but on a really huge scale. Mater of fact I've had a few cows that didn't even need held when getting horns cut off. A few of them just wanted to move on and go about their cow business. But hey, I get bored when getting a hair cut. (Maybe that's why I do that as little as possible) Then too you have some who are not at all sociable and want left alone...

When you have a young calf the easiest way is it get a dehorning paste which you put on the little tiny horn nubs when they appear and that burns them off. If you did the job right, they seldom ever come back. It's a bit like wart remover only stronger.

(Now for that later I mentioned before...) If your a slob and don't keep that calf still, you can smear that stuff and cause a nasty flesh burn. You have to hurry and clean any smear to keep it from getting bad. The first time that happened with me in charge I about had tears in my eyes. I was really feeling bad for my little baby. Another thing about that stuff is you end up getting some on yourself from time to time and yup, you get a bad burn...

There is a tool for burning horns off. Now that may not hurt the cow but what that does to your smeller is about the worst thing possible. That smell (a lot like a burning forest of hair in a garbage dump) stays with you for three or four days.

When I was a boy we would cut horns off with a saw. That's usually done with an older and much bigger cow. They get real angry about waiting for you to get through. It's no fun... There is also a power tool that can cut them off but I've never used one and don't really know anything about them or using them.

Here's an answer for another question that gives me many a great laugh!

Now for you city type folks, she cows and he cows both have horns. And ya tell the difference by looking on the underside, towards the rear, for a big hydraulic cylinder sort of thing on them he cows, or for some “oh my god” sized boobs on the ladies...

So now two mysteries of farm life have been revealed. Hope it helps even a little to let ya understand. For farmers and ranchers, it's just a part of life. Not much different than getting a hair cut and its just something we do because it's needed, we just never think of it as something everyone doesn't know. So we may smile, chuckle, or even laugh when asked but hey, we'll gladly explain! Heck, we love to talk anyway. Kinda like a mom starved for adult conversation I guess...

Hmm, maybe next week I'll tell ya why something seems to be missing when ya look for that big hydraulic cylinder sort of a thing...

No Tomorrow

Five, that's “5”! Guys five more days to Valentines Day! This is the last warning. If you have not got that valentines day gift for your sweetie... Your pushin your luck. You have only four days to do so or... Your dead meat!

What if?

Hunny, I'm so sorry I treated you the way I did. I'll spend the next year making it all up to you.

I'm sorry I never really tried to get along with your parents. If it's possible I'll try and make amends and get to know them. I'll even go have a dinner with them for the holidays I have left.

Sweet heart, I know I never bought you that diamond I promised you. I'm sorry I always used the excuse that we just didn't have the money, then took my hunting and fishing trips. But dear, I will get it now.

I'm sorry I never really took the time to really listen to you and talk to you.

Kids, I will make every one of your ball games for the next year. I'll even take the time to help you practice. I'll take you on a vacation. I do love you, really I do.

Yes... What if... What? What would you do? What would you do if you found out you had one year left to live?

Would work still be as important? Would the buddies you hang with still have more value to you than your wife and kids? Would you still rather go on a hunting trip than spend time with your family?

Now how about... if you heard you would be gone in the next hour? Or less?

It could happen. There are really bad auto accidents every day during rush hours. Many never make it to work, or back home...

Would your family miss you? Would they cry for more than a day or a week? Are you sure they even know you?

Do you treat them well enough that they would even miss you for more than a pay check?

Have you shown them love?

Why not call your hunny on your next break and tell her how much you really care. Tell her how much you really love her.

When you get off work, go home and really spend time with that wonderful family.

If you haven't done it for a while they may think your crazy. But tell them, tell them that you now realize it could all be gone tomorrow.

Treat your wonderful wife, hunny or girlfriend like there will be no tomorrow.

Treat your children the same way.

We really, never, know...

Women... Just replace this with you. If you need to...

Do you treat others like there is no tomorrow?

Do you love like there is no tomorrow?

You do realize that one day that will be, don't you...

Shut Off Switch

Cold plus windy equals frigid!

Nope, not talkin about some emotionless, blabber mouthed individual. I'm talkin, bone chilling, bring on the ache, motivate the arthritis, add goose bump on goose bump, bring on the frostbite, icicles on the mustache, bring tears to the eyes, need a gallon of coffee, major arctic blast type cold!

I mean, it's as cold as a democrat invited to a republican convention. As cold as a republican to a democrats ideas on health care. It's as... Oh never mind you certainly get the idea!

The wind picked up and blew like crazy. The kind of wind that causes six or more foot snow drifts. Thankfully we had some rain that froze the surface of the snow so it wouldn't get to bad.

But even though the furnace was working overtime and the pipes were to scorching hot to touch, there was a chill in the house. Yup, it got dark and it got bitter cold. The son had an emergency no heat call before dark and when he came in after dark even that polar bear complained. Now he's one of those that at 32 degrees he's still wearing nothing more than a shirt and vest. Arms exposed but still warm. : ) He had on a coat...

The dogs stood at the open door and looked at me like I was nuts. Ya know, that look that says, do you really expect me to go out there to P? So I gave them a shove with my foot. They didn't waste any time at all for a change...

Oh well, it won't last, it never does. So since I got that out and off my chest, I'll move on.

I feel better now anyway. Just had to bi--ch.

Bi--chin isn't always bad. Sometimes it's just a way to vent anger or frustration. Things bother you and you just have to get the feelings out with words. Sometimes, especially when trying to get teenagers to hear, it's useful. Sometimes it's even helpful when trying to get a certain someone to take the garbage out.

But... Do it to long or to often, it backfires. Soon the only one who hears you is you. People, especially teens and men, have this little switch implanted just inside the ear that just shuts off all sound coming their way. Except sports, video games and last call at bars. The call for food sometimes gets through but it's time delayed.

Now I'm not being one sided, even women have a switch. But they control it better. And, I have absolutely no idea how, but even if their switch is thrown to the off position, they can hear if we say something they can use against us men. I guess it's a selective switch. Maybe that's why they can hear a baby cry at night and men can't! When a mans switch is off, it's off. The roof could fall and as long as it doesn't fall directly on him he'll never know.

If you go on day after day, hour after hour. It becomes nagging! Now when you nag it becomes a bother to everyone within earshot. Even farther when the recipient of your nagging carries the daily history of your bi--chin to work... Even your own dear relatives know and probably try and avoid hearing your incessant complaints.

I even had a teller at a bank ask me very nicely to stay at her window. Even though we were finished with our business. She saw curiosity on my face and went on to quickly, but quietly, tell me she couldn't stand to listen to the next person who was there.

Maybe not very nice for the next teller but... I understood, and just smiled. Sure enough when the lady got to the next window everyone could hear her and all eyes were on her.

I left!

So if you bi--ch maybe you should consider what's been said here. If others know you do then you really need to consider it.

If after a few lines of bi--chin you haven't gotten your point across, maybe you should try and find another approach.

Really Bummed

If you have been reading my posts then you can probably see that I like getting information from both sides of any argument before making decisions. I like to see the possible effects of how things will affect all involved and try to imagine a medium that will be suitable to help both sides. That's not saying I won't take a side, but before doing so I like to know both sides and from several sources.

For politics I like to hear what the left and right both have to say. I also like to hear the opinions of the people who have the guts to talk about them. That lets me know how others feel they will be affected instead of only thinking of myself. I don't trust people who are radical or who only see one side of anything, they're only out for their self.

When a politician only sees promises and economic advantage offered by lobbyists, how can he be trusted to make decisions that are good for all... He can't and he won't.

Heck, if someone came here and offered me brand spankin new farm equipment... I'd probably be willing to make a few decisions in their favor. At least for a while... Who can say they won't? Common, be honest...

Now when a news and opinion source is bought up by a huge conglomeration, don't you think the people who will be reporting, writing stories and opinions, will be swayed by the new owners? I sure do...

Sadly I think we are losing a great source for the free thinking view from the political left.

With AOL buying Huffington Post, I will no longer be feeling that is a free thinking and writing source. In no way can I trust that I could be reading anything but the AOL version of anything.

I will miss the opinions and stories I read there but I must now begin my search for a new source of the views from the left.

I see by some of the comments on the site that I'm not alone. There is a good bit of hurt and outrage. Some saying they will take it out of their favorites. Yup... Me to.

On the one hand I can't blame Arianna Huffington. 315 million is a really nice chunk of change! But on the other hand, I'm saddened that because of money we're losing a site for free thinking news and comments. It's depressing to know that freedom has a price at all.

After finding the Huffington Post I didn't look much farther and haven't since. Guess that was dumb... Shoulda known nothing good lasts!

I've been on a quest ever since I read the news and this WWW is huge which makes this one tough hunt for really free thinking.

If anyone has any suggestions for a replacement I'd surely appreciate them.

So what do you think, or feel?

People Who Do Little

Got up and went to the grocery store early Saturday morning. Thinking with that out of the way I'd settle into a relaxing weekend by noon. Yup...

Came home around lunch time and had a message on the answering machine from an old relative.

A relative from 132 miles away was having problems with a furnace. She had it serviced this past summer and had another company come out and look at it but they said too that there didn't seem to be anything wrong.

She asked my son about any tips he could give her about the problems... I knew at that point... He told her it could be next to impossible to say anything helpful without really seeing it. We looked at each other after the phone call and without talking we knew what was next. So we called the neighbors and asked if they could come every two or three hours and let the dogs out. (To darned cold to tie them out.) And if they could keep an eye on things for us while we were gone. We were pretty sure we would not be home until around two or three Sunday morning...

Now those prospects alone are a nightmare for me. I get up around four of five almost every day so not going to bed by midnight just doesn't work. But hey, I'm tough, I can take it... Heck when in my 20's and 30's there were times I wouldn't sleep for a few days and I survived and did my work without missing a beat. But now... The back doesn't like long trips...

So we were off. The weather wasn't to bad so the trip there went really well. Made for a nice ride and we had plenty of time to gab. Don't know how but seems we never run out of things to talk about. For a young guy in his early 20's he's pretty good at talking to us older farts.

We arrived in town and filled the tank so we wouldn't have to stop later on the way back. We got to the house and no sooner pulled in the driveway and the son's cell phone rang. Yah, and emergency call from back home. He explained he would not be able to get there until three or four the next morning because of our family emergency and arrangements were made. That problem handled we went in the house.

The problem was her oil fired furnace was running. Using more fuel than usual but not getting much heat. Now this has been the worst December we've had in years so using more oil is not so unusual. We chatted a few minutes and then he began his inspection...

First cover he pulled off was the new thermostat that was installed this summer. Well these newer controls have switch settings and he found they were never set properly. With that set we went to the basement... He just dug right in. First furnace cover he pulled was for the humidifier. Plugged... Looked like it hadn't been cleaned for years. No big deal though sometimes extremely hard water can do that. Next he pulled the air filter cover... Wow, now that would in no way have been plugged that bad in that basement if it would have been cleaned this past summer. He removed that filter too for cleaning. Then he went to actually looking over the working parts of the furnace. He then found her banging problem. A belt that would not go bad for three or four years had a serious crack in it.

He asked for her technicians number and I rolled my eyes. Now to us we're in a strange town and only know a very few people. I just knew he was going to give this complete stranger a polite , but royal chewing out. I almost begged him not to. But nope. He did it. He called the company, (after hours) and politely reamed the owner out. Well the owner didn't like what he heard so he called his head tech and had him call my son. After my son chewed him a new butt he agreed to replace the belt at no charge. To save the time and get done my son agreed to meet him and get the belt and fix it himself. While talking to the guy he was asked for the entire list of what was found. The guy wrote everything down and I guess it sounded like someone was getting a well deserved butt chewing...

My boy got back, replaced the belt, cleaned the filter and humidifier screen and cleaned a bit more of the furnace. He turned it back on and within about 20 minutes there was plenty of heat.

“If” the technician that was there this summer or the next tech that was called to look at it had done their job, we wouldn't have had to make a 264 mile round trip, the first would have saved himself the humiliation of the inevitable butt reaming and would have saved us the ride home in a snow storm on icy snow covered roads! And today I wouldn't be cursing you for the extreme pain my back is giving me...

Now this isn't the first. The boy has even had the BBB called by angry people when he pointed out problems. One guy ended up with quite a fine for his shoddy work. And now my son is the area representative for the company that makes that furnace. Yah, a few short cuts really cost him...

If you have a job to do why not take pride in what you do and do it right!!! Do you not realize what kind of person that makes you look like when you are found out? Then how does it make the company you work for look? Do you really think your boss is going to want to keep you?

Like the old saying... Anything worth doing is worth doing well.

And folks, please, take the extra time to call and check to see if the guys your getting are really worth the money you may be saving. It may be costing you more later!

Day of Fishing with Max

I introduced you to Max in my last little story. He was a coon hound I had for many years. We had a bunch of fun adventures together before he left me for that great coon filled hunting ground above. Some day I'll join him and others and once again we'll have great times. I do believe that he's causing as much fun, laughter and love now as he did when he was here with me.

Now Max had no fear. He'd do things and confront other animals while I was the one with the fear. Fear I guess that he'd get hurt, or worse...

One spring back in the early 80's I decided to do some turkey hunting. Heck it was the beginning of trout season to. So I didn't schedule any work for two weeks, just so I could hunt in the early morning and fish the rest of the day. Let me tell ya, that is the life!

Well Max was a well behaved guy when he was on his leash and would listen to about anything I'd tell him. So I decided that he would probably enjoy the woods and streams with me. Maybe even more than I would. I was sure that while I was leaning against a tree I'd picked out about two months before and waiting for a Tom I'd had the chance to see many times while scouting, that Max would be still and quiet. He was.

About the third day into our watching and waiting for that big Tom to come by on his regular route, and having no luck again... We left the spot and headed down the hillside towards the truck. We got there and I peeled of the hunting clothes, got Max and I our snack from the truck and we dined as only two guys could do along the side of the road on a big boulder. We finished, I got into my fishing waders and off we went across the road to the stream.

Now at the time I was really into fly fishing. So when we got to the stream I told Max to wait on the bank. He did. I waded into the rushing spring stream and fished a bit at the first hole I wanted to work on that day. One fish and that was it. So I proceeded to wade up stream, fishing along the way to the next hole. Max followed along on the bank.

When I got to the next hole I landed the fly a few times by a rock I was sure a trout would love to use as cover to wait for his next meal to come by. About the third time I placed my fly I saw a really nice flash. Ah ha... There he was. I left him settle a bit and began casting that fly and letting it ride the current past him. Now I could get glimpses of him from time to time, so he was there but just wasn't quite hungry enough. I knew though that if I just had patience and persisted he'd decide to strike.

A few more casts and he moved, but didn't take the fly. I knew that one or two more casts and I'd have him. Or I thought I would... I casted again and he followed the fly. I hauled back and casted again and all of the sudden there was a splash that could be heard around the world... Was it the fish, no it was, Max. I guess he was tired of sitting, laying and just waiting. He decided to join me out in the water. Now I knew he could handle the water and the current so I immediately looked back to where that mighty trout was. I didn't see any sign of him at all. I casted a few more times while scolding that goof ball swimming around me and trying to coax him to get back on the bank. But... In my mind I knew it was to late.

That monster I had been working so hard on was gone. Danged ole fool of a dog. He coulda waited just five or ten more minutes and we could have been eating that fish for dinner. But hey, what can ya do. We went back up on the bank and had a sandwich and shared a drink. I scolded him almost the entire time but Max, yup, he just gave me a look that said, that was fun lets do it again...

We moved on up the stream and did get four more that day, but all I could think about was the one we missed. Had to laugh though. Max made sure I didn't get that fish that day so we'd have the chance to try again another. And I'm sure he knew I would...

We did manage to get that turkey that spring and caught our limit of fish most days too. So it wasn't a total loss and my best buddy and I had a great time!

That day when we stopped at the little out of the way bar we frequented on the way home we even gave everyone a great laugh with the story. And when we got home and fired up the grill we enjoyed our catch and shared it with neighbors who laughed too.

Funny isn't it how a dog can spoil something and still make it the best day possible...

Tales of a lonely ole guy with a sense of humor...

Lonely, Learn

Lonely stinks. Lonely makes us sad. Lonely hurts.

Been dumped? Look at it another way. You've been released! Freed from the eternal damnation of loving and caring about someone who wasn't good enough for you anyway.

See them with someone else. Yup, now that person has a leash around their neck instead of you. They probably look like a dog anyway. Probably smell like one too...

I hate to admit it but for a couple of minutes I felt glad when I'd heard that someone who I once cared for and who dumped me, took up with a guy that many of us knew was an abuser. He did it to his X wife and was also known to have done it to past girl friends...

My gladness didn't last very long at all, only a minute or two. Guess I'm a softie and can't hold a grudge. I then felt pity for her. It's not that I'd let her back in my life.

But, not one person alive deserves to be treated like that. Not even if she did hurt me. Then I felt bad for feeling glad in the first place...

When we're lonely it's so easy to slip into a pity party. Feeling bad for ourselves and even bringing everyone who comes near us down.

Is that the best use of the time? Probably not but... We do it.

Sometimes we may be better off finding something else to do instead of dwelling on relationships that have turned to disaster. And the people who have made us feel so bad.

They are probably having a good time so why should we suffer in silence and wallow in out broken emotions.

Maybe we should take this opportunity to try and learn something. With no one to bother us we could! With no interference we could probably learn things kinda fast.

If you really open you mind and at least consider the possibilities... Couldn't it be possible that something or someone in the universe is trying to say, please, give me a chance?

Learn a little about me and at least try, even for a slight moment of your life, to see if I'm real.

Heck, after many years of working I was laid up really bad. The lack of good health had me parked on my butt and I was lonely and bored to death. I could get around very little and needed a cane to do that. I met someone who was talking to teens about getting help to pay for education. I pondered it for a week or so then called and asked if there was a way he could help me. Well, there was. So here was this older bearded fool of a guy going back to school... That was a really strange feeling being around a bunch of energetic kids that didn't even know how to wear their pants properly! But I (like usual) said what I had to say, they got over it, we got to know each other and had fun! More, I managed to learn something and got a degree.

Quite a while before that I was left alone with two children. After hours socializing become a thing of dreams. If ya think that leaves a lot of spare time to go out and find someone your dead wrong. Then your not only looking for someone to make you feel good, you have to consider what influence they may have on your little ones.

So, I spent many evenings after getting them in bed all by my self. Tried some TV but that wore out real quick. Did plenty of guitar playing but without an audience that was boring. Did some painting and other crafts. That filled a bunch of evenings but yup... That got old too. Broke into a fit of reading. Read about everything in sight. Even pulled out some old dusty encyclopedias and was reading from them...

One evening after working all day, then feeding the kids supper, then going back outside and working here around the farm, then getting the kids bathed and in bed... I had nothing new in the house to read.

It was only about nine thirty or ten and I was in no way ready to fall asleep. I spied it laying on a bookshelf. Covered with dust. A book I hadn't given much thought to in years. That book that just lays in most homes that no one looks at but keeps on hand in case someone comes around. The book that we think will make us look good when people visit. But really isn't fooling anyone because even though it may be ten years old the binding, even though dust covered, looks like new and when you open it it may even still smell like new. Yup, that often overlooked, long forgotten, Bible.

I looked. Man I musta really been bored! I walked over and picked it up. Took of my dirty shirt and wiped away what looked like an eternity of dust. Took that sucker into the bedroom and sat in my comfy old broken down 50 year old chair. Reached up and turned on a lamp and cracked that book open and started to read.

Fast forward to today when I hear of all the problems in the world and it seems like every teenager out there has nothing but sob stories and I've begun to believe that there is absolutely no way there can possibly be any chance for hope for tomorrows society!

I'm surfin around the web and wow. What do I find...

A couple of young girls who even make me feel like there is hope for me! Two girls who are not whining but seem to have found a purpose to life and they sound happy. They are not boo hooing about some guy who dumped them and broke their hearts.

Would you like to see for yourself? OK, check them out.

This one is by a young Canadian lady who impresses me beyond my imagination.

http://yakkinfromthehole.blogspot.com/ She seems to me to be on her way to a very rich and rewarding life.

Another I found is http://maclearnsespanol.blogspot.com/ This young woman has found something in this world that helps others and wow, imagine this... Makes her, wait for it... Happy!

Here's another young lady that instead of whining about guys likes hunting for and trying out new recipes. http://mychocolatetherapy.blogspot.com/ The ones I've tried are fantastic and I enjoy reading her posts.

So there ya go. Three girls, that make me think there is still hope! And I'm willing to bet there are more...