This Friday means an entry deadline.  It also means there are other deadlines looming and in between we get to have a county stock show.  Yeah!  The wanton waste of money that will be spent on wood chips, wood pellets and animal bedding begins to spike and will continue until OYE is over.  Fine tuning of animals and showmanship continues with an eye towards target shows.

Friday in Oklahoma is supposed to pretty nice as far as the weather is concerned.  However, Saturday is supposed to be a crap day according to the weather sites.  Typical.  Have a good one and a better tomorrow.

In the goat show world, anymore, I’m not sure what would qualify as a world champion.  However, I have recently encountered a world champion.  Not that it was identifying itself with a big belt or trophy.  I have wrestled this champion for almost 35 years (so that rules out the Dragon Lady for you smart asses).  This wrestler almost always wins.

I enjoy a good wrestling match.  Okie State is wicked awesome!  But this one ain’t fun.  This champion is known as a blower hose.  It doesn’t matter if it is a Sullivan’s, Hamm’s, cicuiteer I, II or III,  no matter what the hose is a son-of-a-gun to wrestle.  Put it in a trailer–you have to wrestle the hose to get it right.  Back of a pickup–watch out–the hose will twist around and scratch some paint.  Just carry it from the barn to another barn–the hose is always twisting, lurking, reaching out and getting ready to pin somebody to the mat.  Anybody that has ever moved a blower and its hose understands this wrestling match.  I’ve probably mentioned this before, but…..

Years ago, I heard an old-timer say that he didn’t want a parachute if he ever jumped out of an airplane.  WTH?  Nope.  He just wanted a set of welding leads or an extension cord as those things always get hung up on something.  I’m pretty sure a blower hose would fall into this same category.

This toe deal is not fun.  I did go to the orthopedist on Monday.  He studied X-rays, then looked at my toe and foot.  He allowed that it was healing nicely and we had two options.  1–knock me out, reset the toe, use pins and a plate, several weeks with a boot and crutches, prevent infection and no guarantees that it would be straight.  2–don’t do crap and have a toe that is always signaling a left turn.  Yes, I am fine with a crooked toe.  I think that I will call that toe, Clyde.  Left turn Clyde!  I know, I know, it was always a right turn with the orangutan.

Anybody that has ever had a toe injury has not made fun of me.  But, several have tried to come up with names as I scoot around on a gimped up foot.  My favorite–the Hobbling Hobbit.  Even though my size 10, B width feet look more like Gollum’s.

Time to shuffle off to bed or a couch.  I have had enough for this day.  Time to get ready for tomorrow and a better day.

I wish I had a good story about this, but I don’t.  Simply, I was shutting off lights and locking doors on Thursday night.  I stubbed my toe (not the pinky but the one next to it on my left foot).  Caught it on the corner of the gun safe.  All stubbed toes hurt but I knew that this one wasn’t good.

Friday morning, I went to the Dr.  Hadn’t been to one in decades.  The radiologist winced when I removed my sock.  The Dr. said, “Wasn’t much need to x ray this one.  You knew and we knew it was broke clear in two.”  So, I get to go to the orthopedist today to find out what happens next.

I can walk on flat surfaces but any terrain changes gives me fits.  It hurts.  The kind of hurt that shoots through you, makes you want to piss yourself and cry a little bit.  I haven’t done either but it could still happen.

Saturday, we had Blaine Rue in our part of paradise.  He has been wearing me out wanting some Joe Dirt semen.  I have it and he likes to clip show does.  I think that we can make a trade.  Blaine loves to clip does and he is good at it.  So, he clipped Shattuck show does while Duke, Tyke and I worked on wethers for kids.  Good trade.

Duke and I got some eyes on his wethers, handled, took care of hooves and weighed.  An executive council agreed that he needed to punt on one…for now.  Duke likes it when the # of wethers gets cut.  All of us get married to one or another because of high hops, money spent, etc.  But a lot of times, we are money ahead to punt and make sure the right one or two are getting worked better.  Time utilization can make show animals better.  Which makes me wonder.  How good could some showmen/animals get if the kids spent 3 or 4 hours a day working with their critters as compared to them riding a bus and sitting on a bench during a basketball game, four or five times a week?  Just thoughts.

Have a good one.

Goats should not be called goats.  Albeit though it may, goat is a four letter word. However the word malady is more appropriate.  There is always something wrong with at least one of these things.  Sometimes, I just dread reading a text, email or listening to a phone call.  It doesn’t matter whose farm or how many, there is always some of the following going on.

–My goat(s) has coccidia problems.  Oh really.  Not unusual.

–My buck has the buck crud on his underbelly and crotch.  Hhmm.

–pick at least one but not more than three at a time:  limping, coughing, runny nose, aborted, broke a horn, didn’t settle, toxemia, CL, rough hair, kidney stone, swollen knee, hoof problem, quick pneumonia, pizzle pecker rot and the list goes on.  Oh and sore mouth!

As I sit here during the first of 2018 and review 2017, it becomes apparent…2018 MUST be better or I am done with these animals.  I bet that some of you loyal readers had already figured this out.  2017 was NOT fun.

–Had sold a bad ass wether on Labor Day 2016.  I should have kept him but he brought a bunch and went to a good home.  Kidney stone in January 2017 got him while he was at OSU vet med.  Luckily for me, her other two goats were good enough to win Woodward and make the OYE premium sale…and they were sired by Kelln bred and sold bucks.

–Sent a proven older buck to a neighbor to breed a few does.  While at OYE, I was informed that the buck was dead.  Who knows why?  Well, at least I didn’t have to haul him off.

–Duke and I had hell dealing with wethers for the 2017 show season.  Nothing seemed to work right.  The best one was off-feed for weeks.  Wasn’t sick, no worms, all tests were clear, but he went backwards.  He just liked to eat prairie grass hay.  We got him turned around and he ended up 2nd in class behind the grand at OYE but he wasn’t 100%.  I screwed up a class schedule at OYE with another one.  And we worked our asses off to get the 3rd one good enough to make premium sales at Woodward and OYE.  We limped into show season and felt good to make those premium sales.  It wasn’t fun.

–Sold a $23,000 buck online.  Then decided that I better buy 1/2 interest back into this buck.  I had him for 3 more months, so I decided to self-insure him.  Then he went to the partners AND as livestock tend to do…he died.  Not a partner problem, just typical.  So I paid for that.  I do have semen on him and a few kids out of him.  But, that one hurt–financially, mentally and he was damn good.

–Sold a $3,500 buck online.  Agreed to deliver him in 2 weeks on a trip to TX.  Time for trip came and a quick pneumonia had hit him.  Doctored him, left him at home and headed south.  Dragon Lady called that evening—dead.  Didn’t collect that sale.  Summer before I turned down $2,500 for him as a wether, then fed him for for 9 more months, clipped & photoed–not profitable.

–Sold a $2,100 buck online.  Buyer picked him up.   Everything looked good, he tried to breed does–no go.  She took him to the vet and had “pizzle rot”.  What in the hell?  So, I replaced him with a buck that I had yet to picture and would not have let go for less than $3,500.  She wasn’t happy even though it was a better buck.  She wanted the picture.  Which says a lot about today’s buyers.

–Bought a buck that had the parts and genetics.  Fed him for 4 months, got him looking and handling wicked, turned down a pile for 1/2 interest, let a friend use him who then called 48 hours later and said that he was breathing hard.  Took him to the vet, thought everything was right, brought him home, I paid the vet bill, 2 weeks later…fine that morning, dead that afternoon.  That bargain turned out to be expensive.  There has been a doe kid born out of this buck.  But for some reason, I haven’t been in a hurry to go look at it.  However, I hear she is good.  If it had nuts, yeah…..

–Actually paid a sizable amount for a wether in June 2017.  Kept him at another place for multiple reasons.  First and foremost, because their care is wicked awesome.  July 3 started doctoring for some kind of wicked strawberry-type fungus on one hoof, then all four, then on ears, disbudded horn and mouth.  After talking to numerous vets, breeders, show experts, universities and none of their stuff working, we finally got him cleared up in August.  Still have him, but he hasn’t been right since.  Doubt he sees a showring.  I take that statement back, he might be right by Tulsa.

–Had another buck start shooting blanks while on lease.  Luckily, I had also sent a young keeper buck that was way better than the lease buck.  The young buck got worked harder than expected.  But they will be better off.  And I got a young buck a new moniker that is fitting.  Sometimes, you have to take a Detour.

–Didn’t lose hardly any does!  Which proves that 2017 wasn’t fun.  I would way rather have the bucks then the does.

Reading this shows three things.  1–I didn’t have to haul off very many of these carcasses as these maladies happened at numerous places.  2—I have numerous reasons to not be happy with these beasts.  3—I took care of ALL problems incurred.  I was the only one out much.

On the other hand, we sold bucks from California to Maryland.  Bucks that we have sold in the past sired state fair champions, premium sale goats and banner hangers at majors during 2017.  Our small herd of genetics are at work in all levels of breeding herds across the country.  Duke has had past showring success but watching him learn to work from behind, knowing that he is not going to win, has been good.  Not fun, but good.

And in summary:  Goats aren’t easy to raise. There is a reason that the good ones cost a pile.  Sometimes, buying semen seems cheaper than owning bucks.  I can guarantee you that bigger breeders have more and bigger stories than these.  But, these are real to me.  And like Okie State football, there is always next year….and it is here.

When Tammy and I first got married, she couldn’t cook anything but lasagna.  A whole big dang pan of lasagna.  She would cook it on Sunday.  It was good.  Real good.  I would heat it up again on Monday.  By Tuesday, I needed a break and so I made a sandwich.  Wednesday, I would reheat another chunk of lasagna.  Then I didn’t touch it again.  And by Friday, it had penicillin growing on it. So we would chunk what was left.  Then, on Sunday, she cooked again….guess what….Lasagna.  It was a vicious circle until she tried some other recipes that didn’t work out.  That is another story.  Even though she tried to burn me out on lasagna, I still like the stuff.  Noodle, ricotta, meat, sauce, noodle, ricotta, meat, sauce…..I’m getting hungry thinking about it.

Tonight, (no lasagna for me) as I stroll through Facebook, I see that some dude in perrydise is now promoting his buck….Lasagna.  It kind of pisses me off.  Why?  Let me tell you.

I made a couple of tours through Texas and Oklahoma in the summer of ’15.  I looked at wethers and bucks all across the land.  I went dang neart every week for a couple of months.  I hauled his dumb ass with me on one of these trips.  I drove every mile.  One of the stops was outside of Hico, Tx.  Kevin Mock’s place after dark.  We looked at some bucks that were to later become Blacklist and Hammertime.  During that stop, Milligan ends up buying this Henkhaus doe.  He brings her home and breeds her to Frank the Tank.

To thicken the plot, you need to know that I wanted to buy Frank the Tank.  One eyed, one nutted, wide based, huge backed, assed and big ribbed.  My kind of deal.  NO!  He wouldn’t sell.  Now, he has a kid out of Frank and the doe that I drove him to buy.  I see the kid last year out of this mating.  “Dude, what’s that?”

“Just some deal layered in goodness.”  WTF?!  “You wanna sell him?”

He replies, “He ain’t a wether!”  No $h!t  “I want him with his nuts in him.”  Can’t do it.  Why?

He replies, “I’m not real good at sharing.  I just want him for myself.”  Insert a lot of 4 letter words and there is the basis of the conversation between myself and my “friend” Tommy Milligan about the buck now known as Lasagna.  I wanted to name him something with change because he could change a dairy goat into a wining show wether.  I thought that I had a pretty good track record with buying and selecting bucks.  But, NOOOOO!   Like a bad prom night, that’s all I could get.  NO!

He didn’t keep him hid last summer.  But you had to be in Perry to know about him.  I’ve handled a lot of good ones.  Some of the best ever.  Not all of them.  But a lot of them.  This one is one of the roundest ribbed, squarest racked, widest & flattest loins on a goat that I have ever handled.  Throw in a monster ass with plenty of bone and enough look to make you want to buy more does. (Well, maybe not more than one or two)  And just like a pan of lasagna, you can’t appreciate him until you have your hands on him.   Fork that deal and wait for it to cool down.  NO, he wasn’t for sale.  Then I tried to lease him.  NO!  Stingy bastard!    He was like Gollum with his precious!  MINE!  Now, finally, he is offering semen on him.  My luck has been crap but I have to wrestle with the decision of buying semen or wishing that I would have.  I ain’t buying any of it.  It’s a matter of principle.  But…I would partner with someone.

So, just like the pans of lasagna back in 1992, I really like it, but I can get a bit pissy about it.  But, I still want some of it.   This business.  Have a good day and a better tomorrow.  Guess what’s for lunch tomorrow?

Last Sunday, I clipped a heifer.  I was sore on Monday.  Wednesday night, I clipped another heifer.  Little bit stiff on Thursday.  Friday, I clipped again on two more.  Saturday–not sore.  I guess I am back in cattle clipping shape.  But still fatter than I should be.

Took a couple of first time cow showmen to a jackpot in Laverne, OK on Saturday.  Up early, blow heifers out, load chutes, load tack, load generator, load hay, load feed, it was 18 degrees.  Got to the show, couldn’t get generator started, found electric outlets, unload chute, unload tack, etc.  Rinse heifers, feed calves, tie them down.  Get them back up.  Blow.  Blow.  Blow.  Dang, it’s not warm.  Realize that you need to dress warmer for a cattle show.

These two boys are accomplished sheep and goat showers.   Both have won district shows, made numerous premium sales and have both been in the grand drive at OYE.  First time for a cow show for either one.  They were both wondering what in the hell happened to the inside facilities of a goat or sheep show but they neither one complained.  In fact, I think they liked it.

Duke showed his first heifer.  Snow Bunny won a commercial heifer class.  He was in the hunt for res. champion commercial heifer.  There was an easy champion, then a judges decision between Duke’s white heifer and a red heifer. He chose the red heifer.  And in the overall, the commercial was grand and the res. commercial was 3rd overall.  It was a really good heifer show.  I agreed with the judge and I really liked the champion but I wouldn’t trade for Duke’s heifer.  Snow Bunny has cow written all over her.  I like those kind that look like they can generate.  These sheep and goat showers can show a heifer.  I was pleased watching the Shattuck kids.  Mikayla Hamaker and Hagan Sprouse can roll with anybody on breaking hair and showing.  Better yet, they are really good kids.  Duke and Clayton will never see a valedictorian award but those two can show anything and will outwork most.  I would like to see a line on scholarship/job applications that has a box for stock show kids.  A true stock show kid can outwork just dang near anybody.

Speaking of good looking heifers, I listened to a deal on XM radio this week.  They were asking Gerard Butler about kissing Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie.  Which was the better kisser?

His reply was Jennifer Aniston.  I haven’t had a chance to kiss either one but I agree with him.  It’s kind of like showing heifers/does.  If you like fake tits, lips. etc…..well, then.  Otherwise, that other deal…. just….ages……better than you or I…but still looks…really good…not fake.  Dang.  Just really good.  Arguments?  I doubt it.

Got to see a couple sets of goats on Sunday.  Some showmen have been working and some, not enough.  Duke has been working these common bastards that his ag teacher gathered for him.  They aren’t bad, just not good enough.  He is going to have to really work to make them good.  And as always, he will be better than most but not as good as some.

Saw a deal this weekend that was scary.  Actually, it was barry scary!

This flu deal is wicked.  Heard that a local pharmacy had sold 87 doses of tamiflu..in one day.   Also heard of an area school canceling school for several days to try to break the spread of this crap.  I had a showman get sick Friday night, went to the urgent care and the doc told her to stay home for a week.  He was starting to ground kids from public for a week.  I can tell you for a fact that it is WICKED BAD!  There has been lots of occassions for various reasons that I have missed Sunday AM mass.  But, I do NOT remember a time when I was at mass and my mother was not.  And my dad was absent as well.   These two people don’t get sick.  If they do, they don’t let it show.   And they almost never miss anything.  And if they miss church, dang, they are no doubt sick.

Brother Daniel took advantage of some OSU wrestling tickets and headed to Stillwater with his daughter Kevlee.  I would have loved to and should have made time to travel with them.  It’s been a year or two since I attended an OSU wrestling match.   Instead, I watched as the Dragon Lady learned how to halter break calves.  She showed a sheep or two in high school.  She can coach goat showing as well as anybody I know.  Great with beginners.  And now, she has a heifer and a bull calf with well combed hair and both respond to the halter.

King George is on the iTunes right now.  My favorite XM radio channel is the Garth station.  But even though he has his own station, he still refers to George Strait as King George.  And for good reason.  Is “Amarillo by Morning” the best song ever?  I won’t argue with you if you say yes.

I’m done.  For now.  And you will be in a better mood if you crank up some George…..right now.

What I learned on January, 23, 2018

–Duke and I can catch all the does, sort the right 16, load two bucks, then load those does, move all of these into two different pens, then move 2 other bucks and trailer unhooked–all within 26 minutes, no cussing, no rocks thrown, no physical or verbal abuse of man nor beast.  It’s a miracle.  Then we headed to Shattuck with 2 pickups.  It was at this point that I thought to myself—How in the heck are we going to get back to Fargo?

–I need more pickups.  Normally there is a pile of pickups sitting around here.  But not today.  I left the ag pickup at school.  I had to take the High Country to the shop as there was a check engine light on.  Who knows which electronic deal may be wrong on that deal (too many gadgets)?  And we left Duke’s in Shattuck hooked to a trailer with a calf in it so Dad can deliver the calf to the butcher shop.  Luckily, Tammy left Woodward and came to Shattuck to pick us 2 meatheads up.  

–I think that I want to eat a Kunekune pig.  I have never seen one of these in real life, but they are supposed to have high marbling qualities and they look tasty.  A grazing pig with a name that is fun to say.

–I think that I want a Hattori Hanzo sword.  Kill Bill is on.  If I can’t have an actual light saber, a samurai sword will have to do.

–Yes, Quiet Riot’s “Cum on feel the noise” is still a classic.

–Thank goodness that the Launder 365 will wash goat blankets.  Duke sent me with a bag and they were not clean.

Have a good one.

This isn’t much of a discussion anymore.  Even in a rural place like Shattuck, OK, we have became not-really rural.   I wouldn’t call us urban.  But the majority are removed from the farm.  This is a county of 4,200 people–total.  Three small schools–no stop lights, lots of cows, wheat and hay when it rains and oil related jobs.  First hour of the day, I have 26 eighth graders.  There is only 134 kids in grades 8-12, so I see most of them.  Great group of kids.  But out of that class, only one has show animals.  One other owns livestock.  NONE of them have parents that are directly involved in agriculture as their primary income.  A couple have grandparents that do.  But they are eager and willing to learn.  An ag-ed class may be more important more now, than ever.

And speaking of Urban.  I got an email from a friend about an Urban that “may” move south of Fargo.  Any of you that know or have known any of the Urban’s understands a message like this.  I will try to keep this post short but once the topic of the Urban’s comes up…well, let’s just say that there are stories.  LOTS AND LOTS OF STORIES!

Probably the most infamous Urban was Ritson.  Arguably the best sheep person of all time.  When it comes to the Mount Rushmore of livestock showing–Ritson is the sheep rep.  This guy understood the game and business of showing livestock.  And if he wasn’t having fun, something was wrong and was therefore about to change until it became fun.  Probably at your expense.  I learned more from him about stock shows than any other single person.  It was a science but oh, so simple.  He could make you feel stupid, yet you learned from it.  Livestock legends knew that Ritson was smarter and better than them.  And he may not even be the best sheep person in his own family.  His older brother Kenny is an absolute legend–literally known world-wide in the sheep industry.  There was also an older brother–Fred.  I would like you to notice that Fred is a four letter word.  The Urban family knows livestock.

I had the honor of teaching in Waynoka, OK.  This was the home of the Urban family.  The patriarch had passed when I started teaching there.  However, the matriarch, Katherine was in prime form.  Grandma Katherine as she was known to ALL, made the boys look like amateurs when it came to a quick wit, a sly smile and an absolute love to see those that work hard, do well.  A book and/or movie should be done about Grandma Katherine.  State and National baking contest winner, sheep nutritionist, nurse, vet, pep club, keeper of newspaper clippings, driver to all things and a saint of a lady.  Name a show–any show–her grandkids won it.  Sheep, pigs, etc.  She used to come watch Kela win goat shows.  She didn’t care.  All kids were lovely and special!  And if you didn’t agree, you could kiss her ass because you were wrong!  (Her words as I watched her tell a school administrator, “All kids are special.  They are lovely and if you don’t agree you can kiss my ass!”)  One of the biggest honors in my life was being asked to tell stories at her funeral.  HUGE crowd for a fun lady!  I could go on.

Fred, or Freddy, has routinely called Odessa, TX home.  But he isn’t opposed to bouncing from couch to lazy boy as his travels take him around the country.  I haven’t actually seen him in over 2 years.  But I have received “autographed” menus that were mailed to me from the Big Texan.  Messages sent via courier from a pig sale in Snyder, TX.  Birthday cards of 3 cwt women in thongs.  And the random cryptic message from a friend.  Typical Fred. I’ve got a wicked good story of Fred and I in his ’83 Lincoln with a load of pigs in the trunk at a rest area on I 35.

Ironically, Duke has recently asked questions about the fat guy wearing sweat pants that used to come around.  And don’t twist this story into something sick, it isn’t.   Grandma Katherine and Fred would come get Duke when he was little.  Feed him cinnamon rolls, apple juice, cookies, cake and then bring him home.  Fred would always give the kids M&Ms.  “Here, put these in your pockets and don’t tell your mom.”  The kids always followed instructions.  Then there would be M&Ms in their jeans pockets.  They don’t melt in your hands but they would dang sure melt when they were in the clothes dryer.  DAMN!  Lots of pissed off mommas!

I miss Grandma Katherine calling.  I haven’t seen Kenny in years.  I get to see Michael and Kashen a couple times a year.  I often think of Ritson.  Every time I hear the word “treadmill”, I think of Ritson and that big blue butt hog walking backward on a horse treadmill.  I had asked him if he really could tread a hog backwards.  He replied, “You give me a 12 pack and a hotshot and I can have a hog wearing a pink tutu turning cartwheels down that aisle right there.  It ain’t no thing.”   I don’t know about the hot shot part, but the rest is true.

Any of you that know the Urban family knows what I am talking about.  I hope to see a Toyota pickup with several dings, a bed full of who knows what and over 500,000 miles on it parked in the drive.  I need my stock show batteries recharged.  And nothing does that better than an Urban.  There ain’t nothing more rural than an Urban.

For my current profession, I deal with kids.  I also have a little sideline that deals with goats.  I have dealt with the public in some form or manner since 1993–students, parents, employees, customers, etc.  I have a 17 year old son.  I should be used to stupidity by now.  But no.  Much like the smell of a dog kennel or a hog barn, some things you just don’t get used to.

Tide PODS–RUFSM?!  If people are stupid enough to eat ’em, let em!  The company has done its part to warn of the dangers of ingestion.

Is there ever a time that humans should ingest a Tide PODS?–YES!! If you are part of the United States Congress, then these colorful delights should definitely be on the menu in Washington D.C.  It is not new for me to say that we need a complete change.  We need some drano and a plunger to clean this mess up.  I don’t care if a current senator or rep has done good–get rid of them.  If they truly did a good job, their constituents will give them another chance, at a later date.  But, a message has to be sent.

Sometimes, a turd just won’t flush.  It spins and keeps from going down.  It needs to be broke into smaller pieces.  At present, it seems like the whole world knows that our government is that huge turd that won’t flush.  BUT, our politicians are going to help us.  And they are going to use our very own toothbrush to help break up the turd so that it will flush.  I will gladly donate my toothbrush.  I’ll just go get a new one.  And that is exactly what we need to do with all of our politicians–get a new one.

We do not need career politicians.  We need common sense.  Politics should be a job of servitude–very little pay, same insurance, social security, etc. as the rest of the country.  This should be a job of honor.  The privileges and benefits will come as a result of a job well done.

Do I think that Trump is perfect?  NO!  Is he better than we have had?  YES!  The whole system needs a flushing.  And most of all, our media is a problem.

I do think that our stock show system has problems.  A Tide PODS won’t clean up everything.  I’ll donate a toothbrush to that cause as well.

I think that our government has severe problems.  Mostly because those in office are not in touch with reality.  They either have their own ideals or are ruled by the almighty dollar, yen, ruble or yuan.

But…. but, I obviously still think that this is the greatest country that the planet has ever seen.  The U.S. agriculturist provides the most abundant, safest, cheapest and simply put, the best food supply that the world has ever seen.  As a result of dealing with young people, I have faith in our country.  There are great kids everywhere.  Of course, there are a few that act like their parents, but as a whole, the kids are good.

Our kids can choose to play sports, music, show livestock or eat Tide PODS.  I can write this crap and you can read it.  My wife and I have chose to raise our kids in this country.  We have chose to raise our kids around livestock and the showring.  And we have chose….wisely.  I ain’t perfect, you aren’t and our government dang sure ain’t close to being right.  But together, we can all make it work.

And I have some does that are starting to make a bag.  I have enjoyed not having to deal with does and babies but that vacation is about to end.

Have a good one, a better tomorrow and get a clean toothbrush.  You’re going to need it.  Add this blog to the list of stupidity that you have encountered.

Watch the Facebook video of Tim Tebow and John 3:16.

No, not the quick stops by that name, but we did make a quick trip to Denver and back.  The Dragon Lady and I left Thursday night and headed towards Denver.  No real travel plans other than the mini Herf open show started at 8 am Friday.  It has been a few years since I traveled to the National Western.

On the way up, we stopped at Goodland, KS at the SteakNShake.  People, that was a good stop.  Good food and excellent service.  Yes, I got a sideBYside strawberry and banana shake.  And no, I didn’t have any lactose problems.

The mini Herf show was fun to watch.  The top end heifers are wicked good.  There is a reason that the good ones cost so dang much.  They are that much better than the others.  We also watched the bull show.  Congrats to the Goss clan on their reserve grand bull.  Tammy says he was the best one there.  I won’t argue but I told her that he wouldn’t win.  We were both right.

We then attended the Mini Mafia embryo and semen sale.  This was a class-act event.  The sale lots sold real well.  Of course, this sale is put on by the goat auctioneer, Jason Spence.  He only sold in Spanish once during this sale.  I did bid a few times but didn’t get anything done.  That is two auctions in the same week that I did NOT have to write a check.  I may not be in rehab, but I feel like I am going through several steps.

We were actually on an educational trip. And it was a good trip.  Here’s what I learned.

Kansas has REALLY, really good highways.  Until you get south of Bucklin.  And then it feels like crappy Okie blacktop.

Cimarron, KS was the only place that we saw snow piled up.  Almost no snow from Denver to the east.  Like the rest of us, a lot of area is really dry.

I do not trust the navigation system of that dang chevy High Country.  Lots of cussing while using it.  The iPhone however–I trust.

There are some really good Scottish Highlander heifers.  Not very many, but way better than I thought.  AND before the grand Scottish Highland heifer selection, they have a bagpipe band march through the arena.  AWESOME!!

I only bought/had one but judging from the people carrying around a beer, the National Western makes a pile off the $9.50 beers.   Even at 10 am.  An orange juice cost me $5.13.  And it wasn’t the best orange juice that I have had this week, month, year or ever.  But it was an orange juice.  So, I’m good.

We did not go to a dispensary, although there were lots of them advertising.  I would like to look at their growing operations.

I did get to see one of the top shelf Colorado FFA people–Mr. Don Thorn.  I was sitting outside a bathroom, waiting on the Dragon Lady, talking to some senior citizen who was also waiting on his wife to exit the bathroom.  This dude and I were discussing the pros and cons of owning mini herfs and/or fainting goats while waiting on our wives.   I looked up at some guy walking buy and thought, “I know him.”  Eye contact was made, he looked at me like “I know him?.”  And sure enough, we did know each other.  This guy has some wicked Milligan stories.

Regardless of the state or show, I can still get in and/or drive in to the showgrounds without credentials, passes or pins.  Both days.  We got in the gate on Friday–free.  I like talking to gate workers.  It is a special language.  Sometimes, it is gibberish, sometimes trash talk, sometimes BS and a lot of the times it is parolee.  I should have saved that trick for Saturday as it cost $14 a head on Friday and $20 a head on Saturday.  However, I conned them to let me drive in so that I could load purchases–no livestock.  Just stuff.  I did not buy the skunk fur hat.  I should have.

I left the goats at home in the care of the Kelln Livestock– large cattle division manager–aka, Duke.  He doesn’t like to deal with the does (who does?) but he did put hay out and fill water tanks.  (does it bother anybody else?  The whole does, does–we need Gallagher to do a watermelon smashing episode on this part of the English language.)  Garland or the comedian, either one,  would be entertaining!

This was my slow weekend.  I did have fun watching my wife, watching this breed of cattle that she loves.    I would imagine that by the end of March, I will be in a growly mood wishing that I had this weekend back.   NO!  I bet I will be in a pissy mood no matter what and this was fun.  And I was real well-behaved.

I don’t have netflix, but I may have to look into getting it.  For watching documentary shows about Twisted Sister and other such research.