We haven’t gone fishing yet, but we did load up and go see us some major league baseball.  Tammy, Duke and I loaded up and drove like hades to get to St. Louis for Sunday nights game.  I had a bit of an issue getting tickets.  Sure, I knew that I could deal with some scalpers and get some tickets, but I knew that we weren’t going to have time for that crap.  Online tickets were dang near sold out.  Cards vs. Cubs, Sunday evening, Dad’s day, ESPN game of the night, etc.

So, I went with the Champion’s Club tickets.  Not cheap.  But dang glad that I went that route.  Sit outside in the stadium seats or walk a few steps, open the sliding door and the AC felt oh so good.  All inclusive.  I actually ate salad (every now and then I get a hankering for some greens and it was good).  One could have chicken cordon bleu, carved pork loin, paninis, nachos, brats, dogs, etc.  Duke says that the sweet tea was really good.  I was well behaved.  We had a blast.  We will do that again. (well, maybe not the behaved part).

Duke used to be a yankees fan, then we took him to Fenway.  Cured that problem.  Then he liked the Nationals because he went to a game in D.C.  He has been giving Tammy crap about the Cardinals.  Not now.  He had fun.  We just chilled, soaked in the game, ate good food and enjoyed the time together.   It is safe to say that we needed this.

We were seated close to some young kids, one a cards fan, the other a cubbie.  These 4 or 6 year olds enjoyed getting everybody to chant for their team and clap.  “Let’s go Cardinals”.  This was fun to watch as all ages joined in with them.

      And since we were in St. Louis, the Dragon Lady wanted to go look at some cats.  So we drove up to the most famous cat business of which I know.  And guess what?  They also have some goats.  Very good goats.  Enjoyed the stop.  Excellent family trip.

However, we did make some observations while on this excursion.  The multiple interstate transitions, especially when coming from the east, that occur in the middle of St. Louis are enough to make somebody ready to fight.  My pickup GPS, my phone GPS and Tammy’s phone GPS all were barking different orders.

There is some crappy interstate highways in Oklahoma and Missouri.  But the absolute worse stretch that I have driven on are in NE Illinois.  There was some rough, not fun pavement.  Ironically, this stretch of interstate is known as the barack obama presidential highway.  I don’t know if this rough patch lasted 8 miles or 8 years, but either way, it was bad.

We only stayed about a 1/2 mile from Busch Stadium but the Dragon Lady has a bum foot.  So we got us an Uber.  Really nice lady drove us to the park.  She is a marathon runner that runs for charity.  Her goal is to run in all 50 states.  So, I asked the obvious question, “How many states have you ran in?”  48 was her reply. So, I went with the once again obvious,  Hawaii and Alaska.  NO!  WTH?  Guess which ones.  Come on.  Guess.  Arkansas and Louisiana.  What?  The distance from St. Louis to Arkansas or cajun country?  OK.  I guess that goal should be getting close to fulfilled.

Getting reports from several of the bred doe buyers.  I knew it would happen…they are having buck kids.  I have desired that goats are like some species of reptiles—-temperature and environment determines their sex and mentality.  If I would have kept them, it would have been all doe kids.  Hopefully, the new owners raise a buck prospect.

Now that I am back to paradise, I real just how dry it is here.  Those that live east of I 35 just don’t understand what dry actually looks or feels like.  Lots of green from I 35 to NE I 55.  Some of the corn and beans looked a little behind the farther north that we went.  But that country still looked good.  Duke thought that we need to bale the ditches and waterways.  Or at least, cash rent them, run some electric fence and graze these areas.  For once, he ain’t wrong.

Have a good one and a better tomorrow.

I want to go fishing.  But it is too windy.  I need these hay crops to grow, but it is too dry and the wind is making it worse.  I need to have a barn roof repaired, but it is too windy.  I need the grass to grow, but it is too dry and too windy.  I need to see some major league stuff….

It is 9 hours to Denver, about 5-8 hours to DFW (depending on traffic and road construction), 6 hours to KC and 9 hours to St. Louis.  I’ve driven farther to look at livestock.

But, I really just want to go fishing.

       Speaking of crappy traffic….how about the 4 way stop light in Watonga that is just a permanent flashing light with a stop sign on a can in the middle.  How come they can’t get that deal to work properly?  It has been that way for years.  

And if you didn’t know it already, the wind has been blowing here again.  And again.  And….

Had an interesting text that pointed out that The Chive had a post naming 1989 as the best year ever for movies.  This piqued my interest as 1989 is right in my wheelhouse.  That year brought high school graduation and the start of a college career at the great cow college of Oklahoma State University.  That is the year that Garth Brooks blew up on the scene.  Good year.

I immediately set out to prove this post wrong.  1989 was a good movie but the best?  IDK about that.  Let’s take a look at this class as they enter the ring.  Hunh, this class looks good, starting to look real good.  Dang there are some killers in this class.  Let them keep walking, don’t pull any yet, just let these good ones keep coming and see if there is an easy class winner amongst all these good ones.  It is getting hard to argue with 1989.

–Lethal Weapon 2–the best of that franchise.  I loved it.

–When Harry Met Sally–excellent flick that has held up to the test of time.  Carrie Fisher was in it (Star Wars connection)

–Uncle Buck–great flick–John Candy –awesome

–Road House–“Don’t eat the big white mint”–crappy action movie that I will watch every time that I see it on the tube.  Sam Elliott, Patrick Swayze, some hot chicks, easy to follow plot.

–Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure–dumb as hell, but I loved it.  I watched it the other night.  Still dumb and I still love it.

–Dead Poet’s Society–Robin Williams at his best.  Wicked good.

–Turner & Hooch–Can’t have a top movie list without Tom Hanks.

–Indiana Jones and the last crusade–great flick, great plot, great actors–Harrison Ford (Star Wars connection)

–TWO (2) of the best baseball movies of all time–Major League ( I love that one)  & Field of Dreams (Who hasn’t used the “If you build it they will come” line?

We’ve already got 10 bad ass movies which means that some good flicks like Look Who’s Talking, Always and The Abyss aren’t getting a ribbon.

But, we do have three near the top of this class that are all-time greats.

–Batman (Jack Nicholson as the Joker & Kim Basinger)

–The Little Mermaid–one of the best animated movies of all time.  That Ariel was smoking hot.  I can still recall the lyrics to “Under the Sea”.

–And maybe the best movie of 1989–Steel Magnolias.  Star packed chick flick that was good then and has held up to the test of time.  Dang good movie.

–And we have the best Christmas movie of all time–Christmas Vacation.

So, what year could beat it?  My first thought was 1977.  Very heavy on the top end with the original Star Wars & Close Encounters of the Third Kind

–Saturday Night Fever–Travolta’s white suit is in the Smithsonian.

–Smokey and the Bandit–iconic car, mustache and some of the best quotes.  “Junior, there is no way, NO WAY that you came from my loins.  When I get home, I’m going to pop your momma in the mouth.”  The quotes of Sheriff Buford T. Justice are legendary.  That movie was very 70’s but has held up.

–Annie Hall–I’m not a Woody Allen fan but that movie is considered a top 20 all time.

–Slap Shot–best hockey movie ever.  But not enough to beat 1989 in this division.

Check out 1969.  Easy Rider, True Grit, Paint Your Wagon, etc.

1976 is stacked with Rocky, The Shootist, Carrie, Taxi Driver and King Kong

1990 was good.   Tremors, Goodfellas, Home Alone, Pretty Woman, Dances with Wolves, Ghost, Hunt for Red October and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

1995 brought us Se7en, Toy Story, Braveheart, Billy Madison, Friday AND…..AND…..Tommy Boy!

So, I thought of the best movies that I have ever seen.  True heavyweights.  I like a big goat that presents itself well, has maintained structure, balance and eye appeal and you can tell that effort was put into this beast in order to make it look attractive at a heavier weight.  And, my friends, these are some bad ass heavyweights.

What all came out the year of 1994?   OH SNAP!   Depth of top end quality defines this class.

–Lion King–the best animated movie ever and one of the top 10 movies of all time.  Heck, just look at the goats named after this movie–Simba, Rafiki and Mufasa.  Great, Great movie.

–Pulp Fiction–bad ass, wicked movie.  Well written, big names, great story, creative, great acting…just can’t let the children near it.  Samuel L. Jackson is a ……         This movie made stars out of some and resurrected stars like Travolta.

–and here’s our Tom Hanks entry and it is his best and one of the best ever made–Forrest Gump.

–Leon: the Professional.   Well made, well acted movie.  I like this one a lot.  The story is awesome.  And it has a Star Wars connection.

–Legends of the Fall–I still have this flick on VCR tape.  Great story.  The BEST Brad Pitt movie.

–Jim Carrey—this was the year that he BLEW UP!   Ace Venture: Pet Detective,  The Mask and one of the funniest movies of all time–Dumb and Dumber.

–Speed was dang cool.  My favorite Keanu Reeves flick and Sandra Bullock was quite the wildcat.

–Clerks was cool.

–We’ve even got 2 baseball movies–Major League 2 and Angels in the Outfield.

–True Lies–Arnold and Jamie Lee Curtis.

–Here’s the hard part–Wyatt Earp was a dang good movie and I like Kevin Costner but it wasn’t the best Wyatt Earp movie.  Tombstone wins that award.  But, Tombstone was released on Dec. 24, 1993.  Weighed one out.

–Wait a second, we’ve got a showman starting to get their critter to work.  Oh dang.  Send that one to the scales.  When you take the time to study this one, you realize that there is a great one in here.  This one just keeps getting better and better.  Sound, functional, looks the part, lots of content with some humor, drama, a touch of violence and a deep story.  A little work of art called The Shawshank Redemption.

Grand drive time on the best movie year of all time.  Decisions have to be made.  It quickly sorts down to a pair.

1994–Shawshank, Speed, Dumb & Dumber, best Brad Pitt flick, best Tom Hanks movie, best Tarantino film, best animated film

1989–best chick flick, best Christmas movie, best Batman, best Robin Williams, Ariel, two of the best baseball movies ever.

And I quote  from text  “The chive says 1989 is the best movie year ever.  That’s some good blog fodder for you to give your opinion on.  I will say they make a good case.”

Easy Decision—and it wasn’t a big screen movie that wins it for their year.  Just a little mini-series called….

Lonesome Dove….  which was released in 1989.   The chive was right but they didn’t have that one listed.

“The sea was angry that day, my friends–like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli.”

I don’t watch it often, but I still thoroughly enjoy an episode of Seinfeld.  Probably the best written tv show of all time.  Just a mere mention of a line or two will illicit a response from anybody that ever saw a given episode of that tv program.  For instance, “Soup Nazi” took on a life of its own.

“I guess it comes down to a simple choice.  Get busy living or get busy dying.”

The Shawshank Redemption is just chock full of wicked good quotes.  There are lots and lots of movies that were well written but I will gladly put that script up against any of them.

“And the white line’s getting longer and the saddle’s getting cold.  I’m much too young to feel this damn old.  All my cards are on the table with no ace left in the hole.  I’m much too young to feel this damn old.”

No, this wasn’t Garth’s biggest hit, but it probably was his best.  So well written that people use lines from the song….and… the mere mention of Chris Ledoux catapulted that singer into a different plateau.  Yes, I could name other well written songs, but I like that one..ALOT.

Books—no, I mean HELL no.  We will not have any Bill Shakespeare listed here.  I loved to read books and a wide range of literature while growing up.  I read a complete set of World Book of Encyclopedia’s while setting on the throne during the early 80s.  Which explains why I am still good at trivial pursuit.  That Shakespeare crap is like Algebra II.  Very few people actually use it—high school English teachers and a few others.  Likewise, the only people that actually use algebra II are high school math teachers and a few rocket scientists.

If you want to tell me that the opening line– “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” is the best line of a literary work, I will not argue.  Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities” is such a good book that they haven’t even been able to make a huge movie out of it.

But, some well written works translated into perfect movies.  I distinctly remember my mom handing me a book 35 years ago.  The opening lines had me hooked…and then it got better.   ”

“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.”

Decades later, I sat in a movie theater with my daughter.  I watched the first Lord of the Rings movie and remember thinking—“That dang director read the same book that I did.  That was just how I envisioned EVERYTHING!”

Of course, when dealing with written works, it would be hard to not have THE BIBLE as number 1.  No arguments from me.

Over the years, I have found it hard to sit down at a keyboard and hammer out some crap for here.  It is always easy to write when I am pissed, but that is when I should NOT hit the keyboard.  But, those blogs are what people hope to see.  Some of those blogs have caused me problems, but I owned them and dealt with the consequences.  And, it hasn’t all been bad.  Actually, for the most part, it has all been good.

But, what isn’t seen from the readers side of things, are the extremely well-written texts, emails and notes that come to us.  This little place on the world wide web has introduced us to new friends, customers and others that share “some” similarities.  I cringe when people comment about it.  Tammy, well, she shakes her head and says, “No, I don’t read the blog.  I live it.”

Sometimes, I write stuff on here that shouldn’t be here.  But, it kind of preserves some thoughts.  My thoughts.

I find it ironic that on the 13th day of June, I met some new people, loaded out a set of doe goats headed east to West Virginia and then I went and cracked a cold one.  I sat at the picnic table in the front yard with Tammy.  I actually uttered the words, “I kind of hate seeing a bunch of these does leaving.  There are a lot of years, brain cells and effort wrapped up in these rips.”  I am just glad that the majority of these rips are headed to good homes.  Here it is in writing, that I am getting a bit sentimental about doe goats.

I’m over it.  Normally, by the first of July, Duke and I work every goat on the place.

–worm with a mixture of Prohibit and Valbazen.

–give copper bolus

–dose of multi-min

–booster of calvary 9

–trim hooves—ONLY if needed.

Now, as I do chores and walk by a pen of yearling does, I realize that I  have to decide when to breed, when to kid and when to sell.

Basically, my mind has been like an angry sea.  I have simple choices to make.  I am dang sure older and feel it.  There is not a tale of two cities but I am a aware that some would just like me to crawl in a hole…and not a comfortable hole.  I am going to eventually end up in a hole and the good LORD willing, someone will read some words out of the best book.

Oh, I have a STRONG feeling that my pickup insurance will increase AGAIN.  This four letter word known as Duke………I’m at that point where momma taught me a lesson……If you can’t say anything good……..

Here’s to Dee Snider solo projects, helping others, working hard to win, being pissed at the next generation of  judges, good tunes and better tomorrows.

I didn’t have to deliver does to San Angelo but Friday did find me making a mad dash to San Angelo to swap some stuff.  The Friday Night Fever was a bit crowded. HUGE crowd.  And then they started the auction.  Jeeminy–there were a lot of people there to buy a goat, that night, no matter what.  Several breeders had sets of goats that averaged $5-7K and they were well below sale average.  72 lots averaged over $7,700.

I made a dash back home, loaded out a doe, cleaned up and then headed to Beaver America for Tom Lamle’s retirement celebration.  I hadn’t been to the Beaver Sale Barn in a long time.  They have fixed that place up wicked awesome.  Great food, big crowd, fun times.  Although, there were several incidents.

First off, the Dragon Lady is now walking with a limp.  The Governor Jack Staats sat down in a wooden rocking chair at Lamle’s barn.  When he rocked back, the rocker broke and the chair fell over backwards with Staats in it.  The problem was that Tammy was behind the chair and the back of the chair came down across the bridge of her foot.  It isn’t broke but it is swollen and numerous shades of purple, green and yellow.

Years ago (over a decade ago), while looking at pigs at the Lamle’s.  I was sitting on the panels in the chip barn. Luckily for me, Kade Lamle had cleaned chips and put down fresh, deep, fluffy chips as I fell off the panel and landed back first into the chips.  Didn’t hurt but I have caught crap about that for years from Kade.

Although it wasn’t revenge, it was very satisfying to watch as Kade went to sit down on top of an ice chest.  He thought the lid was closed.  Nope, he want ass first and crack deep into the icy abyss of one of those coffin sized ice chests.  Yes, I was literally just feet away, witnessing this.  Satisfying.

Kade and Kela are the same age, so we have got to watch him grow up.  We traveled to Phoenix with them several times when the kids were showing.  Kade, Duke and I had a highly successful trip to Phoenix a couple of years ago with a pig and a goat.  We might just have to take us a show-cation out there again this year.

Some friends from Woodward had left a little bit ahead of us.  They called and needed a ride.  They had plowed a deer.  So, we went and waited on the wrecked to load the pickup and then we hauled them to Woodward.

It is goat buying and selling season in OK and TX.  The rest of this month will be spent at sales and farms.  The market looks like it is unlimited high on the really good ones and really cheap on all the others.  No middle ground.

Have a good one.

I like good music.  Period.  Classical, rock, pop, country, rap, I do not care as long as it is good.  I just saw on facebook that there was some kind of country music award show, so I found it on CMT.

I’m not anti-new country music.  It’s just that most of this crap ain’t country.  Kelly Clarkson is a talented performer.  But country?  She was singing “American Woman” which is a classic kick ass ROCK song and she didn’t rock it.  And it dang sure didn’t sound country.  Who, her, manager, what, why would they allow her to go on a country music show and sing that?  It wasn’t good and she is capable of being great.

Blake Shelton is now talking about being the old generation and how excited he is for the new generation.  What?

I guess that there is a reason that King George, Garth and others still have such a huge following.  I don’t know much but this stuff isn’t good.  I think that I am getting ready to start up a country band.  I’ve got more talent than some of these hacks.

Thank you to all of the buyers and bidders.  We are pleased with the sale.  And I learned several things from this sale.

–If you are going to offer open does, does with kids, bred does and this many lots, then you better clear your calendar on sale day and have help to answer text questions.

–They are going west to California and east to West Viriginia.

–If I wanted to screw people in this business, I could have easily done it.  Lot 24–If I had a dollar for every time I had to answer the question–“Is her buck kid good enough to be a herd buck?”  My reply was constantly “Not good enough for me.”  He’s a nice goat.  If I would have told people that he was damn good, I don’t know what that deal would have brought.

–When people asked questions, I answered honestly.  I hurt the value of a doe as I told anybody that asked that she isn’t milking as good as she used to.  It pays to talk to the seller ahead of time.

–I should get a picture of TCB2 and post a description of this dude.  He is a lined up 900 x No Way on an old school Powell/Holman doe.

–No, I did not bid on any of them nor did I have anybody bid for me.  I was on the road trying to get back home. I made it back about 8:30 pm.  Still had an hour and a half to watch the closing.  There were a few that maybe didn’t bring what I thought they should but they are going to good homes.

–Last night, during the sale, I got numerous texts wanting to know WTH is 8013?  At the time, I did not know.  Today, I do.  I’ve never met the buyer.  But, I have talked to him on the phone several times and I had to email notes about each lot, rank them and discuss any pros and cons.  They did their homework and bought well.

–If any of the new owners raise a buck, I would be happy to market it for them.

Thank you.  Now, it is time to start coordinating pickups and deliveries.  Have a good one.

It doesn’t matter what you are doing in life, it is the little things that add up.

–Tonight, as I strolled through these does, I caught myself having thoughts like:

“If she doesn’t bring much….”

“I should keep her.”

And then, they start acting like female goats.   My attitude went sour in a hurry.

Pick a four letter word.

No, not that one.  A better one.

Speaking of 4 letter words–no, this isn’t the end of the “blog’.  We will still have goats.  The does may not bring much, but it is scary how many people read this dribble that comes out.

As I was pulling a mini hereford calf this afternoon (this doesn’t look anything like the advertisements), I was reminded that it doesn’t matter what you are doing, there are always problems.  However, good help=live calf.  Have I ever mentioned that we have great neighbors?  We do.

It doesn’t matter if you are farming 10 acres, or dealing with 1 horse, or have 3 cows, or 10 goats, or one 17 year old son…..start a day earlier and be prepared to deal with some issues.

Duke, as well as three other great Shattuck FFA members and a couple of bus load of FFA members from OK are attending the Washington Leadership Conference.  I didn’t know about this trip when I was this age.  I was almost 30 before I ever saw our nation’s capitol.  I’m a bit envious of these kids as they make this journey.

True, cool story.   While the kids were loading the bus at Guthrie, OK.   I was standing there talking to several parents including Mike Parrish–better known as Taylor Parrish’s dad.   Yes, we were talking goats and mullets.

Two kids asked for the bus to be unloaded.  And it was.  These two, freshly graduated high school kids, that are now serving as OK state FFA officers, circled a bus load of kids, hand in hand (parents included) and said a prayer.  We might have missed church in order to meet this bus, but we did not miss a chance to feel the power.  Awesome moment.  I may be an old crusty fart with a bad right eye but I know good when I see it.  Even if it was just a little thing.

When I started taking pictures on Thursday, I wasn’t planning on a complete dispersal but we got pretty close.  We photoed 36 lots plus the 2 bonus lots–makes 38 mature females.  The following is a list of does at my place that weren’t photoed.

— 2 does that I am working on to prevent toxemia.

–2 does of Sweet’s

–1 doe that belongs to a student

–1 doe that belongs to Milligan

–1 doe with babies that I just don’t really want to sell.

That makes 45 does.  We normally keep around 50 breeding females.  I had one die in Feb. after SLBK syndrome (single large buck kid).  One that had week old babies on her and she just decided to quit living.  And one that croaked a week before her due date.  I would say that is a typical percentage when dealing with female goats.

I remember when Tammy and I used to stress about a sick one or a dead one.  Now, we just expect it and go with it.  I have had some question my motives and why the quick decision?  Trust me, this has been years in the making.  Milligan has listened to me as I have stood on the ledge for months and months.  But then…..

I’ve got no story for you.  Tammy doesn’t like doing chores with the goats.  Duke hates doing chores involving any type of doe goat.  It is a well documented fact that if I could make wethers and bucks without does, I would.  Tammy loves dealing with her mini herfs.  Duke takes pride in his cow herd.  So, we will be in a better mood with just a few does.

I would rather help other people with their stock.  I enjoy the bucks and the wethers.  I absolutely love marketing goats and talking to people about my goats, their goats and what we all need and want.  I am really proud at the repeat customers that we have had.  We have had some customers for over a decade.  It is amazing how many friends and acquaintances that we have made as a result of this dumb ass blog.  Who’d a thunk it?  Of course, I might have made an enemy or two.  No problem, I was right.  Still am.

There is a couple of pens of yearlings.  Maybe a dozen or so critters combined.  I’m fine with that because some of them are really good and some of them are really stacked with productive genetics.  I can have fun with that.  WTH? That means that I have to kid out a bunch of first-timers.  “I can have fun with that” may have been the dumbest thing that I have ever typed.

Basically, we just want to be in a better mood.  And I’m pretty close to doing just that–gettin’ in a better mood.  Have a good one and a better tomorrow.

I’ve been busy and therefore have not had time to write worthless crap on here.  However, we did get another 1.1″ of rain on Wednesday night.  We dodged the bad winds and hail.  Hail, we are actually wet around here.  Which means that it was a hot, humid, miserable turd around here on Thursday afternoon while photoing female goats.  And this concludes your greater Fargo weather report.       

       I’m still not very good at shuffleboard but I’m better than a bunch of other clowns in NW OK.

We had our NW area Ag Ed teachers meeting on Wednesday in Woodward.  Good to see some of those people.  The WW Fairboard and Farm Credit fed us some dang good steaks.  Best lunch that I’ve ever had at one of those kind of meetings.

Duke and I spent Thursday afternoon photoing doe goats.  Productive day and we didn’t end up trying to stab each other.  In fact, the first 30 does made me re-think selling any of them.  And then we tried to photo 3 with kids and there was a lot of cussing involved.  There are a bunch of really good female goats in this deal but I am not in the right frame of mind to keep this up.  I am coordinating some delivery in order to get these rips dispersed to new buyers.

Have a good one and a better tomorrow.