I had to make a quick dash to Stillwater today. So, I deciced to multi-task and take a load of does to get dropped off at Perry. As I was driving east, my thoughts were mostly of what I need to do for the school and kids to get ready for the next month of shows. I kept the sticky notes close by as the list is growing. I stopped at the Cowboy Travel Center at the I35 and Highway 51 junction to get fuel. As I was pulling out, I made a rare sighting. Jerry and Kelsey Pfeiffer were there. I guess Jerry is there numerous times of day. Of course, that stop has about everything but a church and a barber. Got to BS with them for a bit and then I hit the road. The great thing about talking to Jerry is that you can hit a lot of different topics in a pretty short period of time and we didn’t even talk goats. Got the proficiency apps dropped off at the state office, then hit a Braum’s for a double dip of chocolate chip ice cream. Dumped does south of Perry, looked at buck prospects then headed west.
As I drove west, I mostly thought about goat business and showing. I need to decide what buck prospects to keep and what to sell and where. I need to sort through some flush babies and decide what to band. I also need to start getting half way organized to have goats ready to sell in April. There are already a lot of people calling. Looks like good goats will be in high demand this year.
I also thought about this winter and how I have not seen as many goats as what I normally do. I’m still trying to decide if I like it that way or not. When you work for free, a person has to occasionally stop and question why they do it. I’ve been told by lots of people that I respect that I am a dumb bastard for helping as many as I have over the years. They are right. But, I also kind of like it. Most of the time. I’ve done it, because I would like to think that as I help people, those people would help me in return, if ever need be. Or better yet, they will help my kids. Plus, the more I see and work with, the more I learn.
But, then you hit a learning plateau, and things kind of level off. Then you get to spend time thinking and you realize, that some have just been riding coat-tails. Learning, getting better and gathering wins without ever giving back. I didn’t make money off of them, they used my time and knowledge and there has been no real benefit for my kids. So why mess with it?
I will have to wrestle with this question more over the next month or so. There is a big part of me that thinks that it is time to retire and just fart around with whatever project Duke has going. Then, I think, is it actually retiring if you weren’t getting paid for it? Hhmm. Part of me thinks that maybe, I will just help a select few and there will be terms agreed upon upfront. And then again, I look at a bunch of these dipshits that pay for help and haven’t won much, maybe, just maybe I ought to cash a check.
Basically after spending over 300 miles round trip, here’s what I now think. I think it was fun to see the Pfeiffer boys in their natural habitat. I think that I really like Braum’s chocolate chip ice cream. I think Milligan has a buck prospect that really intrigues me. I think that I might be retarded. I think that I could continue to help people and that I would be pissed more often than happy. I KNOW that I am glad that those does are NOT on my property anymore. I think that there is a lot that I just don’t understand. I think it’s a good time to call it a day. Thank you and catch ya later.
