The week has been a blurr, like a dust storm where you can’t see two feet in front of you, and have no idea if you are still on the right road, or any road for that matter. It started last Friday night, David and the girls picked me up in Belen so we could head to a high school graduation in Quemado, NM.

However, before we fled Belen, David noticed the rear end of my suburban was smelling bad, mom saved the day and volunteered her vehicle. The graduation was great, and we left at 9 pm for the three hour journey home. We were originally going to camp out, but had to start our heifer synchronization on Saturday. My friend Lori and her son, needed a lift back to Mountainair. (This would have been fine if we had the suburban, but moms car holds, 5 and if you are following my ramblings closely you will get a tally of six!).

The commute was going well until we saw the flashing lights. Oh yes it was us the state patrol was after. He approached the car after shining the flash light into the back seat, (where the three kids and I were buckled improperly) he asked politely to see David’s license.

“Well you see officer, I don’t have my license”.

The officer asked him to step out of the car, he was able to get his information and pull him up, then he asked about the car.

“Well you see officer we broke down in Belen, and this is my mother in laws car . . . “.

At that point, the officer said you are awfully tight in there, go on your way but slow down. I think it was going to be too much paperwork for him.

Saturday we gathered heifers and implanted them to start the synchronization process. A long day. Sunday we saddled up to drive the heifers to the house. It was another long day horseback. But somehow, we even found time to haul a few loads of dirt for a much needed cattle guard. The girls and I ran the dump truck while David loaded us. Some of the haul roads that lead to the pit were a tad scary like ice road truckers without the ice!

The rest of the week was pretty uneventful, a couple of trips to the mechanic to fix the suburban, last day of third grade, violin and gymnastics. Then, last night I worked at Pet Er. This morning, I stopped at Home Depot to get some garden plants, in hopes that a garden can be planted at some point before another weekend escapes. Arrived home in time to run to Capitan to pick up frozen semen to inseminate heifers Monday. Girls are currently asking questions about what semen is. Hey family how about we check out the Smokey the Bear museum.

Did you know Smokey the bear is buried in Capitan NM. He was found as an orphaned cub there, and lived to be 25 years old. ( he spent most if his life in the National Zoo, in Washington, DC). Finally off to Ruidoso for dinner at the Cattle Baron, a little grocery shopping and home finally. Remember only you can prevent forest fires!

We began to ponder this afternoon whether the correct pluralization of porcupine is porcupines? Porcupines is correct according to The Russian Orthodox Monk whose dogs were attacked by one this afternoon! (Okay maybe it was the other way around, but that is not how it looked)

We were having a routine day, and then It all fell apart. Two porcupine dogs, a dog that was hit by a car, a dog with heartworm disease, a cat with a bladder infection, and of course the regular surgeries are ready to be picked up! Phew! The good news all patients are well, including the nurse who was bit by the porcupine dog in the middle of the frenzy.

After sending all patients home, except for Baby (the dog who was abandoned at our office at the beginning of the week anyone want a female pit bull?), we realized that it was time to skedaddle to the train station for my nurse who rides the Rail Runner, to commute from Albuquerque to Belen. (We made it with at least 1 minute to spare!) David called to let me know he was passing through Belen and so we were able to eat dinner together, before he ran home to gather horses. He will leave our house at 5:30 a.m to go to Surat Ranch to help them brand tomorrow.

I stayed at my moms. Del Rae and Mote kept the girls, how blessed we are to have an extra set of grandparents to love our girls. So, I wen to the office and did paperwork until 8 and then headed to my moms. I am finally kicking back watching an episode of Farm Kings! (I love that show)

An incredible busy week? I am not sure how busy it actually was, or if it just seemed hectic, because David and my mom have abandoned me, and left me to fend for myself? They both have spoiled me, now I am holding down the fort. I guess they just do that everyone once in awhile to make me appreciate them more. Maybe next time they could coordinate their planners and not be gone at the same time? I appreciate you guys come back! Help!

All in all a wonderful day. David advised us last night that, we needed to move cattle today. So, we tried to race to be out of the house before the sun came up. Key word was . . . “tried”! David took the ranger to check out which pasture we were going to put them in. I saddled three horses, and rushed the girls through rodeo practice before we loaded up and headed out.

We found two pair, but the sight of all of us, was too much so they high tailed it through the trees. We were persistent and rounded up the rest. My husband even expressed that “this would have been incredibly hard to do by myself”.
Since I speak cowboy, that is translated to “you are great help, thank you so much!”

There was one moment when MJ’s horse jogged off, and she forgot she knew how to stop her, but she remembered quickly. I don’t know if kids, horses or my husband give me more grey hairs.

The afternoon brought a pleasant surprise when my friend Jill called to ask if Dallli could come for a sleepover. So we headed to town to meet Jill and her daughter Nora. Jill and I went on a walk around the track, (I was so sore from riding, I could hardly move) then Mj and I took the trash and stopped to get milk.

MJ and I baked brownies, took a bath, and did some manicures and pedicures. Lastly, a nice Fancy Nancy bedtime store and sweet dreams of tomorrow rodeo.

Nashville was a very happening town. Hopefully, that degree of economic recover will be coming to New Mexico soon. Even the line to buy boots was too long to stand in, yes, sadly, I had to abandon them in Tennessee. We took Tommy’s Tour of the city which was great. It was neat to see where Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift, and Martina McBride reside. Below is either Taylor or Dolly’s house, I lost track!

We saw the famous Music Row, The Ryman Auditorium, and The Country Music Hall of Fame. Reba’s exhibit and the size of the archives blew me away.

Don’t forget about my name sake!

The pleasure of listening to John Paul Mitchell at the AAHA conference, was another highlight.

As you might be able to tell he wasn’t able to get to my hair!

One night we made it to the famous Tootsie’s Bar. It is amazing how many stages and artists are in this town. All day and night everyday, there was someone with a guitar or a fiddle on a make shift stage strumming away. It also makes me happy that I am no longer frequenting bars on a regular basis.

George Strait was starting his tour last night, and I took a picture of his 3 buses.

Let us not forget about the delectable GooGoo Cluster. Something, that I had never heard of. The southerns have all kinds of good stuff: sweet tea, googoo clusters, Scarlet O’hara, tulip trees, and those neat accents!

Considering how the week started, the ending was amazing. Tennessee is a gem.

What a day! I have spent the day in the city of Nashville, although at this point, I must confess, due to the meetings I have been in, I haven’t seen much of this Honky Tonkin city. Maybe tomorrow! I am attending the American Animal Hospital Association Conference. I arrived a few days early to take part in a business group. (that I thought I was a probationary member of.). Tonight it was made clear by a secret vote that I would not be invited back! Ouch!

It was like a bad episode of Survivor, only I was fully clothed, in a nice hotel, and not incredibly hungry!

Keep reading I am sure there will be some positive in this post at some point in the near future. Just the fact that it inspired a new, much anticipated blog post has to be good, right?

After digesting the information that I was not considered an asset to the group, I called my girl friend Jody and my husband. Their responses, after listening to me wail, were remarkable similar! It was a cross between nervous and uncontrollable laughter! They were quick to point out my lack of failures up to this point in life. Essentially, pointing out the fact that I was in uncharted waters! Then they reminded me that everything happens for a reason. All of this, of course, made me love them both even more! My husband is especially good at taking things in stride, and helping me to try and do so. (And for that and so many other reason, I love him so much)

Which brings me to my point, will this matter in 20 years? I firmly believe it is the little stresses in life that kill us. Maybe we all should be asking ourselves that question more often. Tonight has been rough, but I have taken a stand to remain positive and count all the blessings in my life. We must remember that when God slams a door closed, he opens a window, and if you choose to stare at the door too long you could be missing the beautiful things that await outside that open window! I embrace whatever is next! Lucky for you people grudges are not my strong point!

I am beyond blessed, and will continue to strive daily to be thankful for all the large and tiny blessings in my life!

Ok, I am trying to blog again after the Super Bowl sent me into a little depression and left me with severe writers block! I guess this is what happens when states legalize marijuana. My Denver Broncos played like pot smoking teenagers, oh well maybe next year. The best part of the game was the company of some good friends!

This week, I found a shredded paper disaster in my oldest daughters room.

“What is this, what happened here, where did this mess come from?” I asked while bitting the inside of my lip, as to not yell at our dear child.
“From the paper shredder.” was the reply.
“It’s my finely crafted nest.” she answered indignantly.
I should have taken a before picture of the “finely” crafted thing, but this is what it looked like about 30 minutes into the hour long clean up!

The year was 1987. It was a balmy San Diego day. The excitement was electric. After I jumped out of the shower, I put some gel in my freshly permed hair and headed straight for the computer. There was a lot to accomplish before my ride came to take me to Jack Murphy Stadium. ( the stadium some currently call Qualcomm). Boy this post is full of history.

The computer was a Commodore 64 and I had print shop. I was able to put this technology to work and start printing some banners on my dot matrix printer. I am not sure what took longer printing the banners, or folding and detaching the holy perforated edges!

My ride arrived, and my girlfriend, her dad, and I drove to the stadium. It was the Saturday before the Super Bowl and the festivities were amazing! It was great to envision Elway playing there the next day. It didn’t however turn out that great as Phil Simms and the Giants ruined my day! The score was 39-20, however I think it was actually worse than the score reflected.

I am in Colorado today, and the support and spirit is incredible. There is orange and blue everywhere!

I cannot wait for Sunday!

Not that there is anything wrong with insane people! Really, if you think someone is normal, you probably don’t know them well enough! Just for the record, I do have six sister-in-laws, so this should provide her a tiny bit of anonymity. I do love her very much, and after today my admiration for her is endless. I have always had great respect for her simply because she is able to put up with my brother! (Oops so much for anonymity!).

Well today, after completing the first workout of “Insanity” month two, I am amazed that anyone could stick it out for a 60 minute intense workout like this. Twenty-nine more days, there is no way I will survive this. I am missing My Curves workout immensely. If my brother would complete this program like his wife (my hero) has, there wouldn’t be a calf alive he couldn’t flank! You definitely will not find a video of me working out attached, no one wants to see that.

On another note, my mom bought me a delectable pizza from Peace of Pie in Belen, it was amazing, those girls rock. I was upset that I ate so much, but after that workout, I am sure that I have none of those calories left! My husband even made brownies tonight. Who knew he could bake, 13.5 years and he still amazes me everyday! Unfortunately, I am way too tired from my workout, I don’t even have the energy to chew one! By the looks of the pan, they must be great!

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We didn’t do much today, yeah. I was able to delve into and sort some old pictures. This is something that I have needed to do for some time. I am under some delusion that one day I am going to scrapbook all of those pictures. Usually, however, what happens is I make sure everything is organized prior to starting the project. The effort I put into organizing the project supplies is unmatched. After the project is nestled in the containers, that seems to be where it stays! I guess I like the thought of creating something, more than the actual creation and mess associated with the creative process.

Macklee decided a nap would be easier than picking her toys up, or was it picking the toys up that wore her out?

Then the end of the day brought manicures and pedicures for the Cain girls, a recorded episode of “Rawhide” and my all time favorite . . .”Alaska The Last Frontier”. I am ready to move to Alaska and live off the land, David, not so much!

Mom and Jim came to eat an early dinner, and to watch the Broncos win! Did I mention the Broncos won? We cleaned the spare bedroom, and MJ’s toy box out. It is so nice to donate, to clean and to declutter. My mom has such a gift for decluttering and organizing. We had planned to do more, but with my clinic shift running over, and the end of this cold I have been battling we just didn’t get too much done, but every little bit feels so good!

When the sun went down, it was full of Bronco orange. Well they say God paints the sunsets of the world, apparently he is a Bronco fan!