Aaah, vacation. I deserve it.

As a few of you know, I'm heading to St. George, Utah, a golf mecca, ( was that too many commas?) for a golf weekend. Much deserved from my standpoint.

I haven't played there since the late 80's.  I was going to go to Phoenix but I'll keep this short. A couple of other people became involved and so St. George it is.  One of the guys was a golf superintent there and we supposedly are going to have cheap golf. I say "supposedly" because he bailed. He was our in!  Now he's not coming along? He made all the tee times so I hope he has some pull.  Otherwise, well, I'll be a little bent.

Here's the deal. When I travel, one of the things required is that my hotel has a bar. Of the 32 hotels in St. George, none have a lounge. You read that right. Zero bars in any hotel. I can handle that if the golf is still discounted. If it's not, then Mike will have a lot to answer for. Like and old fashioned St. Mary's "meet you at the flagpole" beating.

It's in the heart of Mormon country I know. But really? Not one lounge in a hotel? I thought we lived in America.

My gear is packed.  My work is done.  Tomorrow will be like a paid day off.  We leave at 4 PM. I've said it before and I'll say it again, everyone should work with my on Friday. I can't be brought down. If you think that is good, work with me on the day before I leave for vacation. I'm happier than an albino in the shade. Or as Jimmy says "happier than a dog with two peters."  Just happy.

Safe journeys to you (and to me) til then.

Chip

Just getting by

Life is pretty good. I had a great talk with my mother. She is happy.

Work is good though there is still a challenge with the transition. Some people are still in the mold of the old company and I hope they get past that.

My sister bought a house and has moved out. I'm ecstatic for her and me. What was supposed to be a few month deal turned into two years. No bad words or ill feelings. I'll never do that. She found a nice deal. I'm happy for her. And me.

Golf season is just around the corner. Leaving Wednesday for St. George, Utah. A golf haven. Haven't swung a club since October but will hit some balls this weekend and be ready.

My youngest brother Pat turned 35 today. Hard to grasp. He has three great kids and my sis-in-law is the bomb. Happy for them.

I want to let you all know that I am ready you weekly. Though I might not comment, don't let that be a reflection. You are all putting out great posts.

Cheers.

The dream sequence.

Buckle in. I think this is going to be a long one.

I don't dream very much. I sleep. When I dream two things happen. It's in color and I can hardly remember them.  It's always been that way. I don't have bad dreams very often. Not even as a kid. When you have the imagination of a fourteen year old boy, your dreams are always fun.

If I ever find him

So evidently, my email address was hacked and a bunch of spam was sent through my address. I've taken the advice of Yahoo! on what to do and hope this doesn't happen anymore.

I would like to find this person. I won't describe what I want to do to him ( I believe it is a him, women aren't evil when it comes to things like this, they are only evil when they want to rip your heart out through your lungcage and put it in a blender on puree, but hey, who am I to judge. Maybe I should have called more. Whatever. ) anyway, what I would do involves slitting a very tender portion of his anatomy. I'll leave you with that. My description for what I would do after that, isn't pleasant. 

Yes, it's kind of late

Played pool league tonight and finally got off the snide.  Had been shooting great all year but the last two weeks had gone 0-6. Went 2 for 3 tonight.

Had a guy pull right out in front of me in the way to town tonight.  Didn't have to lock up the brakes but it was close. It got me to thinking.

I was a young kid, only twelve and working at the ranch. It was my fifth time horseback.  I was riding Bookeeper, a pale buckskin.  All the times I had been riding before that was just checking on cows.  This day we were gathering the Dyer Coulee pasture (from the poem). I didn't know what I was doing. Just trailing some cows and calves into a bunch so Ranch Dad could work them.  This calf broke back and Bookeeper was on him trying to turn him to the herd. The calf dove and Bookeeper made a hard turn to put him back. When Bookeeper turned, so did my saddle.

I wasn't quite upside down but his hooves were inches from my face. Honestly. I blew the stirrups and let go of the saddle horn and just tried to get out of the way. I landed in sagebrush and dirt. No cactus. I wasn't scared (I was more scared shooting a tough eight ball tonight, which I made BOOYAH) and didn't know any better. When brother Leo cinched up my saddle, you could hear the air leave Bookeeper's lungs. It was tight. After that, Leo taught me how to cinch my own saddle. He had always done it before then. I was a small kid, but he showed me a trick to get it tight. Not to tight. But tight enough I never had that happen. I ended up being an OK cowboy.

Here's my point. I've been in three car crashes. None of which were my fault but all were violent.  No one was hurt in any of them which I'm grateful for in all respects. The thing is this, my Guardian Angel works overtime. He is a first ballot Hall-of-Famer. He's kept me out of the ditch as recently as last weekend when EJ and I were on some icy slopes looking at some property. I stopped on a very gently incline. We were looking at the map as to where we wanted to go and I looked up and we were sliding. I hit the brake and it wasn't working. I had just put my truck into four-wheel drive and something made me take my foot of the brake and punch it. The truck wheeled away from the ditch and we were safe. All the me G.A!! When I go, whoever gets him should be as thankful as I am.

I have a great life.

You're State Champs are.............

The Malta Mustangs!!! 67-62.  A great title game.  I honestly feel bad that Manhattan lost because they are a great team.  What sucks for them is that their three losses this season are in the last three tournaments, all in title games.  Gotta hurt. They say that defense wins championships and tonight was the proof.  Malta was down five at half and put the full court press on in the second half.  Manhattan had trouble breaking it all night and couldn't find their half court offense.  Malta created some great turnovers and played their half court offense almost perfect.  If these teams met nine more times I think it would be 5 and 5. 

Next week the girls basketball team goes for the third title in six years.  I know that you are all on the edge of your seat to find out how they do.

Love my Malta teams.

In the Chipper!!

The Mustangs came back from a ten point deficit in the fourth quarter last night and controlled the semi-final game tonight to meet the top ranked Manhattan Tigers in tomorrow's state class B championship.  I don't know if the game is going to be carried live on ESPN but you can always stream it live on KMMR, the voice of the Mustangs.

I'll be honest.  Malta will have a hard time tomorrow.  Manhattan is a great team.  Lots of talent and very well coached.  Their coach, Mike Woodman, led Malta to a state championship in 1985.  He knows basketball. Still, I'll be there out of my seat on every great play and yelling on every bad call. I just won't yell "BULLSHIT!!" like I did tonight once. Not that the call wasn't complete bullshit, I just won't do it. That's my vow to you.

And now, some videos.

HAHAHAHAH, just kidding.