Internet Glitch

Yeah well last night after a loooong day running cattle and assembling steel cattle panels I wrote about 2 pages of blog here...hit enter..and poof it all vanished in some freakin' error.
I just didn't want folks thinking I never update.. I am however..not going to attempt to regurgitate the mood or words and just say.. Hi..and ermmm go now.. *wanders off*

Back..and just in time too.. Look at this mess ! Sheeeesh....

Well...I have once again been remiss in updating... (hangs head) I know...how slack.
I've been struggling however.. Struggling with wanting to put in this dramatic update about how there was this fire, I put it out single handily, burned my lungs got this infection in them, turned into a roaring bronchitis leaving a bed of inflammation so that simultaneously I caught a delightful upper respiratory bug and have been laid out for like over a week.
But I won't do that. Today is the first day in (I'll quote delightful Australian colloquialism here) Yonks that I've felt I actually might survive this thing. Coughing is down significantly, and the antibiotics have this thing on the run I believe. Most that know me know I'm a 6 hour a night sleeper. Anything more makes me feel almost hung over. Been that way since I was a kid and all, but yesterday was the longest I can recollect in my life. A 2 hour nap in the noonish time, followed by crashing at like7 and waking at about 8 this morning.
None of the whammys that hit me were helped at all by me working out in the blasting cold and rain for 2 days right after the fire.. I know..One would figure I was a bit smarter...heh.. But duties duties everywhere and I hate to let folks down. Guess pushing up daises wouldda let them down a little bit more, but I really didn't think it was all that bad at first (Can we say denial ?)
All in all there was probably a couple grand in loss from the giant shed contents that burned. It was sad mostly cause there were newly hatched chicks in a brooder that went up..and a beautiful old surrey (horse drawn cart) as well as various bits of furniture and lots of canning jars.
However.. I have yet to get all down about it. I have since the first moment reclining in my bedroom slippers and track pants (standard Australian firefighters ensemble) after the fire was extinguished thought, thank God it wasn't in the house.. How much worse could it have been seriously ? It was brought under control within 20 minutes, and aside from the little peepers, the rest of the stuff was just that..stuff.. We own nothing. Everything on this plane is on loan. We can think we do, but when that day comes they toss you into a box, nothing else really fits, and even if it did you wouldn't know it was there nor use it. My proof of that last statement is Tutankhamen's tomb and contents (nods) He never got up and played with any of his stuff.. in thousands of years..so.......
Everyone is safe, albeit a slight bit worse for wear but nothing a tincture of time won't relieve. And...as Pollyanna said... "You can be glad about that."
and I shall.....
So..slight cough still present, tonight will be the inaugural launching of Texas Tea at the local Drakesbrook.. Y'all come down now...ya' hear ?
T.

The Texas Tea Massacre.......Now with improved dates *cough*

Pretty much just pulled the name for this post/entry out of my head cause it sounded cool....... One has to say it with a real Texas southern twang though to make it rhyme...
Oh, there was a point to the name/title on a side bar.. The local publican of the nice/remodeled pub in town asked me if I'd fire up my Texas Tea Karaoke business at her place fortnightly Saturday nights. It will be as usual, a blast.. And the money's good. I get to sing, get paid to do it..geeze what more could I ask for.. Also, the same pub is having it's monthly Jam session on the 29th of this month. I have like a week to practice with Linda, and we've performed together once ? and practiced together for 20 minutes before the performance... Better get in some practice this week...*L* no seriously.. But, we must've done something right, cause the publican saw us, and well....asked me after if I'd do the pub gig, so it must've sounded alright to her...
In a moment I'm headed out bush to cut some firewood for Bo and Linda.. Hope the rain lets up...
Have a great weekend now....
*wanders off*


Jam Session August 29th 8-?

Texas Tea Karaoke Sept. 12th
8-?
then fortnightly thereafter...for a while anyways.... ;)

Captain Slacker Reporting for duty Sir........

It's true....I've finally...finally gotten these (well some) pictures to upload here ready.
Some, I wanted to be more....I don't know, better. Like with me and the tractors ? But I'm out there by myself 99% of the time and I don't have anyone with me to take "action" photos :( So, the "Camera held at an arms length" technique is used here. It's less than satisfactory to Moi.
There's also a couple I need to get from Linda where Bo and I are conducting a "ribbon cutting ceremony" for the parallel bars I built for his rehab post accident. Those look pretty cool where we're shaking hands as he's cutting a string of wool yarn (no ribbon to be found at that exact moment). But the wool was fitting as he's a shearer and all. Anyways. It's been a dang action-packed week these last 7 days. I probably won't recollect all the events to put here. But there was a huge party at the Bo-Lin estate on Sat night. The couple days before I worked myself silly hanging giant tarps to protect partiers from the gale forced winds and HAIL, I kid you not hail. One tarp had some 20 kgs of steel weights holding the center down and was still being tossed about. Another 20 kgs rectified that. And I brought out the stove I built out of a 55 gal giant steel drum and a ute full of old jarrah fence posts to burn in it that kept partiers pretty toasty. Guitarists abounded, and we were serenaded by some pretty darned talented talent-heh. I brought out my new set of drums and tinkered a bit while folks played. I got to sing quite a bit (still recovering as my notes are still strained some still). There was a girl there with her folks though, who was quite-quite good at the drums, and she had a whale of a time jamming for most of the night. I like to play, but love to sing more, so that worked out good for me there. Bo, the next day was really looking the drum set over as he used to play some before the accident. I'mma leaving it there for a while and it'll help develop his hand eye coordination. He's quite excited about playing with them. I set them up so he could slide his chair in easy enough, and a couple sets of sticks, so party on Bo.. I woke the next morning at 7 and the party was still pretty rocking. Wowsers.... The musies went till about 11 and then everyone was asking me to turn on my state of the art karaoke equipment. Which I did. Here's a tip....if everyone is yelling for you to open with Jimmy Barnes Working Class Man...and you're not Jimmy Barnes...don't do ittttt.... noooooooooo.. Anyways.. I pulled it off aside from that end screeching part where he hits notes that require normal men to smash their testes to achieve, and we all sang till past 2 in the morning. Good thing we were way out of town though...Whewww...
On the farming/ranching front, I'm signed up for an extra day this week, as I'll be a tractor driving fool when those hundred round bales show up on Thursday. Mostly the last couple of times out there at the ranch I've been tying up loose ends for them. With the weather being abysmal, there's been horse shelters to repair from wind damage, the last of the cattle for me to treat, and finishing touches on older projects. So nothing too fascinating. One new horse was brought out there yesterday. Shipped from England (that cost either 15 or 30 thousand bucks for shipping, and trucked from the east coast to here for another 5 thou. Wild folks tossing money around like that. Mentioned this one only cause the owner showed up with his ear all bandaged. I don't think he hit it off real well with the horse when he met it, as it tried to bite off his ear...
Anyways.. I'll do the picture thing, and will attempt to clarify what some of them are in captions. Some will relate to earlier posts... Have the best day now...It's pretty much freezing rain here today, but at least I'm not heading out into the paddocks today...woooot.... :D



These are of the foaling yards I made. Where the momma horses go to have their little ones..


Now I know these look like a sandy wasteland, but since finished I filled them up with 3 truckloads of soft nice sand, and then seeded them with a rye/kooch mix, and now they're all downy green and luscious. The sprinkler system I put in hasn't been used much with the frequent rains though.



My rescue horse friend "Phantom" as in phantom of the opera cause of the mask pattern on his face..........



This is one of the two tractors I use out at the ranch. Older, but more powerful, The Harvester can drive in fence posts with it's attachment on the back.

The John Deer
Smaller, but I can land this thing on a ten cent piece and it can haul 2 round bales at a time..

I believe I take the most ghastly pics of myself. Usually I can find a few others have taken that I can live with at least. But I had to get myself into one so's folks wouldn't think I just cut and pasted these of the JD. I look crabby, but I promise I wasn't. Just most of them came out either with me looking like a serial killer/over adamant used car dealer...or like the next one reminiscent of a Jimmy Hendrix moment...

Oooooooooooo Gears and Stuff...........

One of my Best Friends... Zena. aka: Zing, Zing-Zing, Chocolate Drop, Zee, Zee-Zee... and I suspect a couple more aliases. She'll come to any of these if her buddy calls. Twice, I've been on my way home and discovered she'd snuck into the back and hidden. I SWEAR stowed away. She's gotten to come over and stay the night after her anesthetic hip xrays. I guess you could say she's a tad spoiled. Rides on my lap on the tractor and the 4 wheeler...
Oh...and this is my "Tiniest Ute in the world".. Actually I have 2..One's pimped up, and I don't think I'll put pics up as you'll find me absurd *nods*.....perhaps later if I have a couple of drinks, but let me clarify that if and when I do, it ummm.. Came that way. I didn't....nevermind..*cough*
This one's name is Max.. He's a genuine Suzuki MightyBoy... Runs on burning twigs *cough*
These are pics of the "Al Fresco" parallel bars I made for Bo. 2.5 feet into the ground set in concrete, with a jarrah wood plank deck. I thought it looked more cowboy-ie rather than something pretty. All materials recycled from and old deck and a trampoline I round up. The ground near the deck looks rough because, well, we just built the deck and the long ramp a couple weeks ago... I'll get one or two of the mobile one I built after I tack on the horse shoes around the base for decoration..
Well...that's about it. I should get some of the party up here as soon as I get them uploaded. I put this last one of me up here in my brown duster (one of ermmm 4 I like the Black one best). It's the lesser of 3 evils, or umm pictures I had taken on my porch. I should get some better ones of the porch as I'm always writing here. Dang it, I need to write more...stories I mean. Been sliding on that and there's a couple I need to add chapters to or wrap up. But that's an aside, sorry..

*hums* "It's been a while....."

That was from a song I like to sing.....
Anyways......... It has been a while since I U-dated this ol' blog. Can't say it was out and out laziness that kept me away from here. I have, as per usual, been a busy-busy little bee though. But, honestly, I was feeling like I just didn't really want to put much up here, and as time slipped away from me, it seemed like more and more it was easier to do... Funny that is. Like meditation. Skip enough times, and it's easy to forget the crystal clarity one can feel during it, and get all caught up in the day to day trappings of life..
This last week out in the paddocks has been a rough one though. I've put three calves in the sand dune hills with the ol' tractor. Firstly, I don't like it when anything dies, let alone animals I've watched come into this world and tended. I guess eventually other humans would've probably eaten them, but I can't worry about what might be's. I can only concern myself with "what can I do at this moment" things. There wasn't anything. My post mortem diagnosis was that they were heavily loaded with parasites that were brought in by the sheep that the owners dabbled in on the ranch. They should've wormed all the animals including the cattle when they found out the sheep were infected. One of these little calves I'd bottle fed and taken great care with, spent time with. They are so adorable when they're little..
So.. It's a bit sad out there for me right now. Most folks probably have no feelings one way or the other about it. But I do. Most probably have no clue how much it affects me. I try not to show it there, but a clever mind could tell I reccon.
So... I went out there myself and wormed the rest of them. I wasn't waiting for #4 to drop off.
Was funny though, how close they let me get to them. Even the 2000+ pound bull lets me pat his head while I;m sitting on a 4 wheeler.. Couldn't get them all though.. Some are more leery than others *nods*
On a lighter note... I have gotten a couple of giant projects wrapped up in the last week and a half. I got a magnificent set of parallel bars made for my friend who's just learning how to walk again. I set them in the ground 2 feet in cement, but built a nice off the ground plank/boardwalk path going through them out of old jarrah wood. All materials recycled. The bars were from an old trampoline that I cut on half and reworked the angles of the pipe, and the wood was from an old deck I'd helped take down on their property. This set, being outside and all, made me consider what he'd do if it was raining, cold, etc outside. So I made one that could roll and be moved to either the front porch, the back porch, or inside the house. Quite a feat of engineering as it could not be able to be tipped over while using (for obvious reasons), and yet still needed to be light enough to be practically moved (unlike a Trojan Horse).
It all came together great, with it having the desired rustic hue that a man of his status would like. Being a rough and tumble sheep shearer and cowboy sort, I couldn't make it all wimpy looking. Some time this week I'm gonna run old horse shoes around the edges to decorate the podium it rests on. I shall endeavor to get a picture up of both completed projects. (I know I'm remiss in not putting up pics of some of these projects, tractor and horse workings etc. But it's real hard to take snaps when you're neck deep in stuff)
So...yes...there it is. An entry.. Whewwww.. Glad I got that knocked out.
Oh...and I built another chicken yard also... Foxes are a big problem here, so this one I put metal sheeting buried a foot into the ground and wire mesh 12 inches or so out flat on the ground in front of the fencing. That'll out fox those ol'....ermmm foxes....
And what else ???? Oooo did a bit of a singing gig at the local pub sat night. I thought it was less than my best, but no one seemed to think so... Bahhh always my own worst critic I 'spose.
Anywhoooo.. getting on time to hit the paddocks folks, so I'll draw this to a close.
*looks up......* I think there's the slightest hue of Spring in the air.... *smile*
Have a great day now......*wanders off*

Thunder and Lightning.......

And rain...*smile*
That's what's going on in my neck of the woods. It's a bit chilly today on this ol' porch. But I'm in some snuggy clothes, yup. Harder to see that sun when it'll come up, so I'll just have to settle on knowing it's there when I see the glow of light and that ol' clock tells me it's time. I'm not in an uber rush to hit the paddocks today. *eyes the lightning with some suspicion* And that rain is intermittently drumming on this ol' tin roof on my porch with some serious din.
Thought one being in an area void of much things higher than say a prairie dog pokin' it's head out of the ground, I make an excellent lightning rod. And being soaked through makes excellent grounding for electricity.

Thought two being that horses spack out whenever the weather's strange to them, and they will find this strange.
I'll pull out my long brown duster coat for today. Aside from being a little harder to manipulate in, it'll likely keep my inside clothes pretty dry aside from soggy jeans at the bottom. I'm not really looking forward to this day, as it might be becomming apparent....a-heh.

I did get a bit of good karma news this week though :D At the Pinjarra festival I come cross one of those booths where you can meet the little kangaroos...the babies hanging in little man made pouches. They're the wildlife rescue folks ? Anyways, there was this one baby who acted so funny. He was so attracted to me. Kept reaching out and pulling my hand in to get ear and head rubbies. Finally, he grabbed my face and started kissing my nose, and even as I was walking away kept motioning me back. I'm gonna tell you this...if you want to get me to part with my money ? THAT is the most excellent sales technique I have ever-ever seen. Cha-ching I whipped out the wallet and was handing them 20 bucks right there. I mean honestly, how often does a Texan in Oz get that sort of attention from a wild kangaroo ? I was handing the lady my money when she asked how many I wanted. Tickets mind you...for the raffle. I wouldda snatched up the joey right there, but instead, since they were a dollar a piece, I said "errmm 20 ?" Then spent a while filling out initials on each ticket and left her with a contact number. Enough days passed I figured it was a done deal and over, you know ? But sure enough I won a pack for 4 tickets to the Peel Zoo where I get to see the Joey again, and a 50 $ voucher at the gift shop. Score ! Well, I was wanting to go yesterday, but the weather weren't cooperating a'tall. So rather than make it a drizzly day at the zoo, I'm being patient.. Biding my time and all.
Getting lighter here a bit, and a teeny speck of blue in the sky says for me to get my lazy butt out there and sling some hay...
Y'all have a good one...keep warm and your powder dry... *nods*
T.

Here we go again.............

That sounded bleak....
Just meaning that tis Sunday night and the week ahead is on the way...
*whistles innocently* No really...
I don't know..... Life is quite cyclic though isn't it ? *ponders*
Yep, I reccon so..
And complicated.....whewwww.. Yeah, anyways... I'm not coming up with any pearls of wisdom here, and really don't see any immediately on the way, so I'll leave it at this. Hope your weekend was grand, and a bright new week is on the way towards you.. Like a freight train.. Veering wildly out of control on a collision course.. heading ermmm... headlong to you, in a way that could be interpreted as ermmm... wild.. Yeah, that...
*stumbles off muttering*
T.

Remember The Alamo

K'...it's not March 6th I'll grant you....
But I was winging round the youtube day before yesterday and I come across that clip from the movie with Billy Bob Thornton playing the violin atop the palisade, to the Mexican troops.
Since then that version of the "no quarter" song has been loop taping in my mind. I sure don't find it a cause for bother though, cause honestly it beats Gilligan's Island or I dream of Jennie carousing in my brain cells..
I did do something impulsive though. Me, the guy who never rents a video, always gets the ones free from the library or watches them on google videos....rented The Alamo....
Don't hold that agin me now. I felt more like it was a therapeutic thing. See ? I used to go there twice a year on a sort of pilgrimage and well....... I was wondering if some of my "feeling out of sorts as of late" thing might be a sense of disconnecting with my roots. I don't know, but it's worth a shot. I've actually been sort of looking at the cover...didn't watch it last night... just waiting...till the moment seems right. I have seen this one before, and from the perspective I have (my step father was Crockett's great great grandson) knowing the real history and not the hollywood version, I know this one to be the closest to reality. I've spent many an hour in the Alamo. When they were repairing a wall there I even picked up a few scraps of the original mortar that I carry with me everywhere, usually sitting up on my fireplace mantle in an antique milk bottle.
So........ today I'll take a little time to recapture some of the "Where I come froms" and.... we'll see. Anyways.. The sun's up and I reccon I should get some work done on this chicken pen..
Have a good one folks...
"Remember Goliad"
"Remember The Alamo"
and don't forget San Jacinto either.......
T.

Ponder, ponder, ponder....

"They made us many promises, more than I can remember, but they kept only one; they promised to take our land, and they took it."
Red Cloud

So.........sitting here this fine Sat. morning watching the sun come up. And while I can hear the drum of life swinging into action in this small town all about me, I cannot help but feel a bit alone.
Perhaps many could relate to this. Bet it is so. I'm just not feeling the zest for life at this moment I can usually muster. Mostly, folks don't want to hear the downs from others. There's usually enough of that going on in their own heads to fill a bucket. So when it comes to others ? well, they usually only want to hear what will bring them "up". Understandable *nods*. So I usually keep this all to m'self. Problem is that as of late it becomes more prevalent in my day to day thoughts. Can't really chalk it up to a cyclic depression thing. It's a bit different I think. I wouldn't mind though if there was someone I could talk with...... that could talk to about things that understood the same mind set. Just not feeling connected. I can hear myself talk...see myself interacting, yet it feels greatly as though it is all in vain. Just not making a dent and all..
I'll try to get in some drumming today, and perhaps that might help.. I like that quote Tom Hanks made in Castaway about always having hope... "You never know what the tide will bring in."
*Waits for the tide*
T.

Unmoving, he sits astride
His ragged coated pony.
Only telltale frozen breaths,
Separate them from
The still, winter black boles
Of ancient leafless trees.
The pony, blown and lame,
Stands with lowered head,
Ears flattened to the sound
Of a distant wolf pack.
The man on his back,
All weapons lost,
Ignores the trickling blood
From savage wounds,
Mingling his war paint.
Eyes burning fiercely
He strains to find
The sign he seeks:
Behind, the sound of enemy
Draws ever closer.
At last, faith rewarded,
He sees far below
In the deep valley,
Arriving at the edge
Of the fast flowing river,
The great she bear
With two gamboling cubs:
To fish the racing salmon,
Drawn relentlessly toward
Their age-old spawning ground.
Silently, the wounded brave
Offers his final prayer
To the eternal clan bear;
Totem and guardian
Of his battle slain tribe.
The enemy, exultant,
Are almost upon him,
Yet he looks not behind:
He sees only the Great Spirit,
Surrounding him kindly
In loving, firm embrace.
While the enemy closes in,
He straightens himself;
His voice rings loud and clear,
Echoing across the land
To the distant cloudless sky.
One last defiant war cry
As he spurs on his pony,
And leaps...
Into the world of his ancestors.

W.J. Bruce

Bubble, bubble, toil an'......stuff,

Yup...... good ol' Tuesday morning is here. It's not quite half past 6, and the sun is only now beginning to glance a ray or two across the sky. Still, it's impressive though, looking out to the north I can see some amazing colors beginning to tantalize the optical palate.
Nice knowing there's not a days work committed to someone else's end awaiting me.
A quick recap of some happenings.... This weekend past there was a jam session out at Linda's place. In the large full open front garage is where we usually perform. We set up sofas, chairs etc, and make it pretty comfy and all. Musician-wise though, we had 2 guitarists. But there was a set of drums there....*blink-Blink* Anyways, some months ago I was given a drum set. Looked like heck and was barely holding together. But, on a lark I took it, set it up, and started tinkering with it. (Truly amazing what one can find on Youtube, instructional-wise *L*) I toyed with it enough to feel comfortable that I was actually interested in it, and bought a real fine new set. Quite a nice looking set of drums with everything. I worked on those for some 20-40 minutes every other day, and at the jam session walked up there and started playing the set in the garage while the guitar players were going at it. Surprised a few folks and got the "Didn't know you could play drums ?!?! exclamations. I'm not like "wicked good" yet or anything, but I hold my own. Luke asks (in jest mind you) so, could you play those and sing at the same time ? Not knowing, I figured why not ? He set up the mike and then his eyes got buggy when I did. Afterwords he said several times how impressed/surprised/shocked etc. that he was that I could, and how he will come down more often to practice with me (now that we have a drummer) *L*.

More light spreading cross the sky now.... *stares* Really amazing to me thinking that all this is happening and so few are catching it.. Most, if up, are busying themselves around there houses, grabbing coffee, selecting a power tie or doing their hair...not catching the free and unique visual display before me...there for all.
I'm going to Mandurah to purchase a freezer today.. It shall be one of two that I will get within the next year. Then on Thursday, it's off to Perth, "The Big Smoke" as they used to say here, to hit the bulk places with the 25 Kg bags of dry goods.. Beans, lentils, etc... I'mma watching this whole pandemic thing unfold, and I'm thinking that after these two brief outings I'm going to lay low for a while and just keep out here in the boondocks till it blows over. Reccon after Thursday I would have enough food stuffs put up to last me a year or more if needed. Heck I probably have that now already...
I keep this blog pretty light hearted.. Musings mostly and haven't mentioned much on the front that includes world turmoil. But I tell ya' folks.. Do yourselves a favor and put a little away for a needy-day. Be the Ant, not the Grasshopper, cause it wouldn't take much more than this pandemic spreading...or a Truckee's strike, or a financial crunch/upheaval to make food or ability to get it, hard to come by. Store a little water, hit some op shops and buy some candles.. Garage sales are awesome for finding this sort of stuff too. A small camping stove...anything that can continue you and yours creature comforts and keep morale up. We so take for granted a hot meal and clean water that we don't even consider it ever "not" being there for us.
Well, enough about all that.... Hope those folks in Victoria do alright then. Poor state has gotten a whippin' these last months with fires and now this.. God bless 'em.
Welpers....I'm headin' for another cup O' joe. Y'all have a good one, ya' hear ?
T.

Life is full of possibilities...

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
I always liked that one...
Truly, I had no idea what in the heck I was going to experience in this great country before I stepped off that plane 2.5 years ago. Sweet mother of... Has it been that long ? Yep, I reccon so.. Anyways, it was a leap of faith I guess. But then I've always held in my head that anything I've gone through before today, has helped me be the person that I am now. And if I had to go through what I did to get here with my current understandings/empathy/etc.. Then, while I wouldn't want to go through it again... I wouldn't take away any of the experiences regardless of how bad they were.
So far, so good on the "Year of the Tash" deal. Been doing some creative projects, as well as my usual meanderings. Had an excellent time at Darron and Sharron's place on Wed night. Threw an impromptu costume party.. Partied like rock stars till 2 a.m. and had to be up at 6 to work the horses and all. I was a big hit in my Chaps, tight black shirt and black Bonds briefs. I had the stock whip, boots, spurs, etc...But my ass was sore by the end of the night cause those women folks kept smacking me on it with a riding crop that one of the "Biker Chicks" costumed girls had. The cops came by and asked us to keep the party inside...*L* They're pretty alright guys here abouts..
Welpers, I'm off to the paddocks folks... *tips hat*
Have a great weekend..... T.

First Day of The Year of The Tash...*cough*

So there was this discussion I had with Luke. I think it's quite likely I put it somewhere here in this blog. It was all about me telling him that this was to be The Year of The Tash. He scoffed and said it probably wouldn't....couldn't happen unless I had slipped this mortal coil. Died don'tcha know. He said I'd never slow down my daily pace (somewhere between possessed and maniacal). I begin to evolve further by continuing to simplify my needs and consumption level of anything outside of bartering can get me. And I've instituted the three day work week. It begins tomorrow, and I hope it doesn't sound like I'll be lounging about... No-no...it only allows me time to pursue what makes me happy.. The helping out stuff I like to do. So.... I'll ermmm... update this as all of these new protocols work out. I'm expecting good things though..

Take Stock

Every now and then, it's a good thing to take stock.
To be thankful for what we have in our lives as well.....
as for the things we haven't in our lives...........
I'm feeling introspective...
P'raps not always a good thing ?? I don't know. Some profound, some not so profound thoughts grace this mind. I believe in self-fulfilled prophesies as well as creative visualization. I believe that this universe is an endless cornucopia of abundance, and if asked for properly, with the proper motivations behind the request, if it Can, and will be, that your request most certainly can be granted.
Yeah........ That.
*waits for the next lesson* Hope it has something very special in mind for this ol' cowboy.....
Have the best possible weekend now... Ohhhhhh the weekend of the 30/31st is the Pinjarra Festival....Yay.
T.

Back again..........

Hey howdy ether world...
Been a while hasn't it ? Yes-yes.. Last post was the 21st of April. That was 5 days before my birthday. Yes I do have those *shakes head*
Leading up to that point, for at least a few months prior, I was getting pretty down. A culmination of many factors I s'pose. Nothing to do with the B-Day thing. No, it was more a feeling that came creeping in to my life. To a degree, I guess it was a sort of depression. I was working my butt off at the agistment ranch, working at the clinic, and doing my various volunteer projects for the animals and folks who just needed a helping hand. Problem was, I wasn't monitoring the machine (Tash). I piled more and more and more on till I couldn't see the trees let alone the forest. It was overwhelming more than depression truly. I think I was gettin' closer to a snap-point than I'd ever reached before. And...It was solely my fault.
So.......... I've changed gears. Or, I'm trying to. As I've implemented these changes, I'm seeing improvement. Not an overnight switch, and I've no right to expect thus. I spent enough time slowly getting to where I arrived at, so a new destination will take more than a finger-snap *nods* But, more and more I'm seeing the joy return in my thoughts. I smile when I see natural beauty again. I'm not expecting the "other shoe to drop" anymore. I started first by nearly killing my telephone. By nearly I mean that it was a real consideration. Cup of coffee, phone, thoughts whirling around in my muddled mind. Instead, I turned it off. I left it off. I sent a text first to the agistment ranch saying I was ill (not a lie I truly was as ill as a Tash can get without shutting off) and disappeared off the planet for about ten days.
A good call too because my personal life (you know, the one I never talk about here ?) began a steady spiral into the crapper. No, not steady, a violent descent into the depths of...Anyways. I don't mix the two worlds. I'm not a monk albeit I considered that on a few occasions in my life VERY seriously. But I keep the "what's going on in my personal relationship" and this blog worlds apart. Just good for me to have a place like this that I can got to and completely "change hats" so to speak. Just healthy for me *nods*
Anywhoooo... Changes, yes.. I put in notice 2 weeks ago at the clinic where I assist in surgery, that I won't be back. That was met with offers of more money, accolades, homage, and attempts to completely change the method of operation to my liking. I stood firm ground though, and explained my reasons. They were good. I could see in his face, the veterinarian's, (not the happy face of a satisfied human, but the face of one who is caught up in the mangling machine of his own making) a sort of sadness. Like there was something he could sense that I knew and had found that was eluding him. I told him to consider re prioritising his life so he could be happy. There were so many reasons he couldn't. Investment properties, etc...etc.. Dude ? when you're dead that stuff doesn't mean a damn thing...
So, yeah, I'm outta there now. Last gig was day before yesterday, and I'm not going back. I've also limited my accessibility to the ranch folks. I leave my phone off quite a bit, have limited my hours there to 7 a day, and three days a week. I also told them to brace for an impact in that I'm almost doubling my fees. At this point they could say yes or no, and I don't really care. I can work closer to my domicile, make the same roughly doing odd projects for locals, and not ever work a holiday, get a late night call for foaling problems, and not drive there.
All of these changes allows me to do what I really love.. Helping folks.. This last weekend I helped a guy do a makeover on his aging parents front lawn. While they go out of town to visit relatives, he was going to pick ax up the whole front yard of weeds, level it, plant a sprinkler system with automatic timers, and hack back the jungle of shrubs. Luke, Luke....Luke.. He's not what I'd call a Tool Man. I think it would've killed him quite honestly. But, I make a couple calls, show up with a force to be recconed with, and Sunday p.m. as the very last vestiges of light ebbed from the sky, we turned on the new sprinkler system watering the newly planted lawn seeds.
It felt damn good. This weekend ? I'm going back to a project that needs a little tweaking. Finish the deck and railings on that place we put in the handicap ramp, and move/install their therapeutic hot tub. After I'm gathering some musician types, and we'll rock out to the wee hours of the morning.
While I'm still not sure where the rest of my life will go......I can do my best, and try to be the inspirational shinning light that I can be. I'll try hard *crosses heart*
Y'all have the best day now........

no title....

Ever have the feeling that you've accomplished everything you're supposed to have accomplished on this plane ? I have.
T.

The Spirit of Time....

Well good day all...
1stly, my apologies in not getting in here earlier for a U-date. It has been a whirlwind of activity though...yes-yes. Aside from the usual work (Getting smacked by a cow's head 6 feet through the air, and creating yards for newly born foals) I've been wedging in a few extracurricular activities. I've made the trek up the hills three or four times to deliver pasta, rice and veggi garden bounty to ol' Mick. He's a bit of a hippy recluse and has been in a bit of dire financial straights since financing his attorney's work on child visitation rights. Sure enough, when I got there he was cooking up a batch of freshly picked chestnuts for supper. Not a bad one I'll add, but if that's all ya' got... :(
And, have been spending a leeettle bit of time wrangling around for the best deal on decking materials for Linda's sorely needed new deck. Her husband (the one who was in the bad car wreck) is coming home for visits prior to being there permanently, and needs a structural deck and ramp for wheelchair access. Last estimate was 9 thou. I almost spat out my sipping whiskey hearing that. Anyways, that was from a friend who'd said they'd do the labor for free too. Well, costing about, I've located what's needed for 1,200. A significant difference I say. And, seeing as she couldn't manifest the 9 grand, well...what was I to do. So.... I begged off cow and horse wrangling for Friday, and shall begin the great deck project tomorrow. I see it going through Saturday, and probably snagging my half day on Sunday after helping at the dog adoption place in the morning..
But That is not why I'm here today... No-no... If you act now, we'll include this potato mincer free *cough* 'K not really.. I'm here to give a plug to this new..."Thing" I'll call it.. It translates into "The Spirit of Time"-roughly. But it's a conceptualization of..... of...
You know ? I could spend an hour telling y'all about this.... Never really do it service...and probably bore the hell out of folks. So I'll post a link. It's in Google vids. and I watched the "movie", their follow up addendum, and then went to their web page and joined the group. It's international folks, and there's a couple more things on their site of great interest to me. I look forward to investigating all of their ideologies over the next few weeks. So far... I believe their concepts are the hope for our world and species...
That all bein' said, I'll have another cup O' joe, and head out into the paddocks. I gots work to do dontcha know ?....
*Waves*
Tash.

ADDY *points down* Have a look...seriously.....*nods*

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=zeitgeist&emb=0#

*Sings* Won't you be ? Won't you be ? Won't you be...My Neighbor ?

Mr. Rogers......... Wow.. Mr. Rogers theme song strapped to my neurons. Frightening concept isn't it ? Probably the vibrations of a 7.5 hour tour of duty on ol' John Deere....
Usually it's a song that's more "tractor-relevant" that I can't get out of my head.. For a large portion of the day another song traversed my smoldering brain .. It was...*thinks* "You're the reason God made Oklahoma".. There's this part where the guy (there's a guy's and a girl's part) sings "I worked ten hours on a John Deere tractor......jes thinkin' of youuuuuuuuuuu all dayyyyyyyy"
I think.... Holy-Cow...ten hours ? But then, that's probably cutting hay, raking it into windrows, or baling. Not really the same as what I've been up to these last few days. It's been earth-moving, and a clutch working, shift-a-thon that leaves the ol' knees calves and shin splints aching a bit. One does feel like they've actually accomplished a great deal though, after a day like that.
I'm a sun up to sun down sort of guy. Time doesn't really affect me that much. Not so much as the big orb crossing the sky. Which brings me to a thought that at the end of this week the evil Daylight Savings Time of Doom shall end. I shall shed naught a tear I swear. See ? I ne'er understood how that concept got going here. Seems that all the folks in Western Oz voted again' it three times when it was put to a vote before them. Then Poof ! the government thrusts it on them anyways saying, tryyyy it...you'll likeeeee it.. Blah ! Only heard complaints from folks who can't get their kids to sleep in the light, and such. For me though ? I simply refused to participate *grin* True.. I didn't change a clock one from the pocket watch to the wall hangin' one *shakes head* Now...it did make for some lively conversations amongst folks I knew when planning something I'd be involved in. And it's surprising how many folks have caught on to the slang words "real-time" and "fake-time". Meaning of course that daylight savings is ermmm... fake time *cough*. Does leave one a lot of wiggle room for showing up on time for stuff though *whistles innocently*
Anyways...It supposedly shall finish it's round here, never to be seen again... or will it ? *insert dramatic psycho music here*
In the states, it always heralded the end of warmer weather, the approach of fall/winter, and the perishing of all green-life. Here though ? This place is amazing. Land of two springs and no winter. Not exaggerating folks. Ne'er seen a frost here. The garden grows food for me year round. Summer's a bit more watering for it, but small exchange for the lack of frost. Everything considered....? I love this place W.A. Y'all should come and see it *nods* Does remind me of South Texas..... *thinks* But ermmmm...without so many guns *laugh*.
*Watches the sun go down as a cascade of colors unfold, and assorted parrots/birds sing the background music*

Ermmm... might git coffee and git comfortable *L*

*Writers block inserted here*
Well, hell, I've had a couple shots already and I'm wincing staring at this screen wondering what in the heck to write. You see ? there's the problem with being so slack that I haven't updated this in a week. Bad Tash...bad... *scolds self*
I'm dog tired now. But honestly, that's no reason not to get my surly butt in here and scribe a few lines.. Where to start ? There in lies the question..*nods*
Been a banner week it has... *contemplates* There's been weaning of foals, and calves (none of which went according to plan) *shakes head* A phenomenal time spent with my gluteus maximus adhered to the seat of a John Deere tractor
*Side bar inserted here* That whole song ? p'raps you've heard it ? "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy" ? anyways... There's a song out there of that name, and by the end of today I was singing it...but ermmm with some different less than idyllic words..*cough*
Anyways, I don't see how in any stretch of an imagination that I could've been construed as "sexy" after eating ten pounds of dirt and dust all day shifting sand in the paddocks to ward off the areas that turn into quagmires of land-soup after the winter rains hit.
In Fairness I did thank Ol' John for his tenacity and durability for the last few days of relentless shifting, clutching and scooping.
Honestly, my knees ache.. All the way up to my....err...elbows..*heh*
All in all, the separating of the foals from their mothers did go fairly well, albeit the mares still try to bum-rush me through the gate into the south 40 every time I open it. But I haven't had a near-death experience in all of those dealings, so I shan't complain another iota *crosses heart*
The cattle ? hmmm well, that's another story. I wasn't the only one involved, and ummm someone else made a decision *they remain nameless* to put two of the recently deprived momma cows in a small enclosure next to the recently separated calves. Went reallllll well *cough*
One of the cows did that whole "cow jumped over the moon" thing, and well, snapped a wire in a fence that stretched about a kilometer, and it also suspended the "stand offs or outriggers" that supported the electric fence for two of the most important paddocks.
So...by now I'm sure this is all riveting........*rolls eyes* Not. But I didn't want to give the impression that I've been lolling about the beach havin' a grand ol' time lazin' about. I promise I haven't...
Up side ? The vet I usually spend Tuesdays with (tomorrow) is going to be in da big city, as his Mrs. is getting induced to have their baby. A day off.... *begins laughing maniacally*
Okay, well it's more like a day to get all of the things done around the ol' hacienda that I've been neglecting these last two marathon weeks.
I told Luke...you remember Luke ? the friend I do the whole music with and singing with thing ? Yeah, well I told Luke that this was to be the year of "The Tash".......
He thinks I'm insane, and that I won't really get to rest till I'm dead. But I told him, that this was the year I would start taking it a little easier. Not bein' a bum mind you, just being human...
I was up yesterday morning meeting a man who'd agreed to show up in a paddock at 6:30 in the morning to help dig a hole with his giant tractor (for free mind you) for this woman who I've made a bit of a personal guardian angel gig. Folks might remember the "Catching a Tiger Snake" story, it was in this lady's yard...Anyways, this lady and her son have had a bad go of things this year... Seriously.. This falls under the "Thank God You're not this person" list..
Her son and husband were in a horrible accident one or two days after she fractured her collarbone. Man is in rehab for head trauma, son of 8 years old has two abdominal surgeries from the accident, life overwhelms woman, and did I mention that strangely enough I was like one of the first persons on the scene of the accident to render aid before the ambulance folks got there ? And that I'd met the three of them a few months before at a pub, and talked to all of them ?
So.. I set the stage well enough.. This week, couple days ago ? Their pet sheep dies. Now mind you, she's like 11 years old...or more.. The son learned to "rope" on this pet, and it's one of the things that well, frankly, is a memory of their life together before the husband got so seriously injured. So this needs to be handled with tact. No one else for her to call, ergo I am the one called..*nods* I call a man I barely know.. More like a friend of a friend, and spill their story to him, and Wa-Lah ! Instant hole dug with all reverence at 6:30 in the morning.
In the next two weeks there's gonna be a busy-bee at her place. That's where lots of folks get together an' help out when someone needs it and all. They're building ramps, and redoing the porch. Apparently, the husband is coming home... It's not gonna be easy on 'er though.
So...where do you think I'll be that busy-bee ? *wink* Bahh...so what if Luke's right ?
This week ?I swear I'll U-date more often. This catchin' up thing is hell on my brain.... :P
*Sits back and actually watches the sun go down with a trickle of moonshine in hand as I hit enter *grin*

Catching up ? Does anyone really catch up ? Nahhh.....But you can catch a snake *L*

Mornin' one and all.... As the last dregs of coffee from my mug slip on down I'm gradually joining this world's "reality". Not a bad day ahead for Moi today. Tis Tuesday, and that means working at the Clinic-Day. It's an indoors gig, so there won't be any (or not likely any) livestock. I have gone out in the field with Captain Ron a time or two to do a gelding of a stallion, or look at a milk fever cow. That one was exciting. Never seen a cow try to do a high-jump before. Yup indoors today. I can pull that off one day a week max, and that's it. I used to do that 6 days a week not so long ago, and after doing what I do now ? nope...ain't a gonna happen again. Ron has asked me if I'd consider adding a couple more days a week to that schedule, but frankly, I don't even know where I could put them.
So it's been a few days since the last entry, and while I felt some sense of being neglectful about that, I haven't been lazing around I swear *rolls eyes* No really... I actually turned my last bout (which was supposed to be a 12 day in a row work-a-thon) into a 13 day in a row insanity bout. Then for my luxurious day off, I went to K-9 rescue and did my Sunday morning volunteer work. I go there every Sunday for the last 14 months (was doing Sat too but work squelched that one and a brief lapse of connection to reality :P), and help out. Medications, cleaning some 30 plus dog kennels, walking and exercising animals, or some weekends if I can get them off from the ranch-clearing the brush around the place to ward off Tiger Snakes, Which brings me to a story ! yes-yes I forgot to mention. I caught my first live Tiger Snake since arriving here in Oz. I've heard all of these vicious stories about them, really. (You know that almost everything in this country will try an' kill ya' right ?) Between Funnel Web Spiders, Tiger Snakes, Box Jellyfish, some blue ringed octopus thing, crocodiles...The list goes wayyyy past that. But, my captured venomous snake count here was up to this :Dugits-5, Western Browns-1, and now (drum roll please... Tiger Snakes-1.
Now I don't want to underestimate this act. For instance I don't think you'll ever find in the Crocodile Hunter archives, Steve ever catching one by hand, holding it up and sayin' "Ain't she a beauty ?" These are known for actually chasing folks distances, and they will kill ya'. In fairness I always use a short stick I customize at the last moment with a little "Y" at the end to pin the head down, and I always release them a couple kilometers away near an uninhabited water source.
So yeah, there you go...excitement. Oh, also it was at 9:00 at night in almost complete dark in a neighbors chicken pen. I got to poke around under a pile of brush to find it. It'd killed one of her chickens, and she said it looked like a dugite. My blood did go a bit cold when I saw the stripes, but since I didn't have time to get worked up about it before hand, I just did what I do, and it all came out fine.
I don't have anything fascinating to add about last week's paddock-work. Pretty much same ol' thing. Did get to run the ol' John Deer a bit more moving about the order of GIANT square bales of oaten hay. I'll get some picks of these things up here soon iffin' I can remember to bring my camera-heh..
Welpers, got some chores to do around the homestead before I head out to the clinic. It's a real cool morning fort a summer, and I won't be back till well after 8 or 9 tonight (yes also going to the next town to look at a friend's cat and change its' bandage before I even get to rest the weary bones post work) so it's a real long day ahead.
Peace-Out hermanos y hermanas !
T.

I'm not a Workaholic, I can stop when I want to...

Yeahhhh.. *cough*
In contemplating that title thought, I would think most workaholics do so because p'raps they.... like to work ? Or are at least containing some inner drive that is along the lines of a compulsion. Anyways, I have neither to my knowledge, and yet here I am on day *ponders* eleven, yes of my "work every day in a row till you fall over dead or go on a tri-state crime spree from madness" binge. Yesterday was a 10 hour marathon, and no less in the pouring (and cold) rain. Well seeing as it's been a drout for the last few months, I wasn't really prepared and brought none of my assorted drover style coats.. Well, even if it was gonna rain I wasn't expecting it to be cold. We're in summer ? here ?
Hmmm I'm sounding sooo winey aren't I ? *virtual self-slap* Alright, I'm out of the self pity mode, and am greatful there's not some roaring bush fire running through the area. Was strange though yesterday. Every paddock I went to the animals were acting odd. Like if there was a tremendous earthquake somewhere in the world within 24 hours of yesterday at like 9 a.m. I wouldn't be in the least bit suprised. P'raps it was the rain, but even the cattle were odd, and naught but impending disaster usually bothers them. The horses though were flinging about, snorting, twisting in the air while kicking at nothin'. And not one....or two... I mean out of all the paddocks, like...hmmm 30 ??? Very odd indeed. So.... to say the least I was paying very careful attention to EVERYTHING yesterday, just to be sure I didn't cop a fatal blow to the head. A friend of mine did.. Great man. Jeff. He was a vet with tremendous horse sense. He was the sort of man who many would call saintly. Always there for folks..always. I didn't know just how popular he was till the funeral. I showed up, and there was a 2 hour long line to get in ! I'm in this winding line that traversed it'self several times like an amusement park ride line. Many times I'd pass people I knew, and knew well, but never knew there was a correlation between them and Jeff. Everyone had a story about him, and they unloaded in heaps. So many tears, it was a phenominal outpouring. Took me a couple days to recover from the energy applied there. Anyways, I miss him still...his smile. He keeps me focussed when around horses. I can hear him whispering in my ear sometimes "Hey keep your wits about you in here"...or "Turn around !". It's saved my butt a time or two I guess. Never lets me get slack or too comfortable to get complacent. I Knew another vet, Julie K who copped a hoof right in the face. She did alright after the concussion subsided though. Doesn't remember the event. Welpers... enough rambling for now.. Guess what ?? I gotta get to work...*L*

Forgiveness...

Yesterday...high impact day as I call 'em. I felt like a one legged man in a butt kicking contest. Anyways.... It's Sat. morning now. I can tell that cause there's not the usual hum of any activity out in the town as there is on weekdays-yes. I kinda like that, but at the same time I'm aware that while almost all are snuggling down in their beds enjoying a Saturday sleep in, I'm gearing up to go head out into the paddocks. Have two horses coming today from a 10 hour trip, and I bet they're cranky when they arrive.
I was posed this question yesterday in an email, and when I got home, rather than writing here, I spent some time answering it. I felt the inclination to post it here thinking that perhaps it might be of some use to others...

Q- Does forgiveness mean that you just forget what someone has done to you, even if it's something that still makes you angry and sad ? Does it mean that you don't bring it up anymore in conversation with them ?

A= Forgiveness....Good concept there.. It's an often talked about but seldom truly implemented ideology..
I would start by stating a few things about what it means..
Firstly, it's truly not-I repeat not about doing a good turn to someone who's done you a wrong. What it means is giving yourself a gift . It's about releasing a part of yourself that's filled with anger and negativity. Does it mean that person is absolved from guilt or whatever their karmic path could give them for their action ? No. What it means is you, the particular have released the negative experience in that you're not going to re live it over and over again, and will move forward in a positive light and direction, putting it truly past you.Whatever their actions, you can rest assured that karma will dole them out their own form of justice they have coming. Truth is, it's not our call to decide what karma has set for others that have transgressed us, nor is it to well in anger when someone who does wrong to others often- seems to skate through life unscathed. It's about faith and realising there is a grand plan that perhaps we're just not privy to. And it's as it should be. If we knew exactly how everything would turn out and all the possible outcomes, then there wouldn't be a lesson learned, After all, this is one big classroom, this plane.
Does it mean forgetting ? Not in that you shouldn't learn the lesson that the "stove top was hot". Grandma used to say.."Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." It doesn't mean once again, reliving it though.
You asked "Does it mean that you don't bring it up anymore ?" Yes,,,it means that. If you've truly moved past it, you don't bring it up. If you do bring it up then you haven't forgiven, you're just saving it as ammo for the next wound you can inflict to feel justice.
If it still makes you a little mad and hurt, allow those to fade. It depends on how significant the person was to you and how great the transgression, but once again, I'd like to re-state that forgiving is about a gift for yourself....*nods*
I hope that helped a little............ Tash.

Welpers..I'm running behind, so I'll head on out now. Just food for thought there...
Hey, only 7 more days till I get a day off... Weeeeeeee.. *cough*
*pulls on his boots and swigs down the last bolt of coffee*
See ya's..........*waves*

Greetings...........
Well I can tell that I'm in "reclination mode" now... *glances over at the gradually disappearing jug of cold sun tea and bottle of moonshine*
Been a hard paced couple of days since my last posting. I'm noticing my tan has deepened since Monday *L* Just a "farmers tan" though...heh... But it's been quite hot, everything looks like it's melting by three o'clock and I can't start early enough in the day to get done before the wave of thermal extinction hits.
Anywayyyyyssss... Yesterday I pulled a 9.5 hour day. It was full of wild racing horse handling. Those are always..(I won't say exiting, cause that sounds like fun) ermmm adrenaline pumpin' action. But I make it look like it's no big deal, and the owners always look bug eyed and amazed. I do work for peanuts I'll admit, but I couldn't even list all the perks. I mean I learned how to make moonshine for crying out loud. And their thanks are never ending to the point of a triffle embarassing for me now and then...
Today, was day one of their (owners) 2nd vacation this year. They never got to take them before moi entered the equation, and it was a fairly quiet day at the ranch. I did get around to planting their corn seedlings which they'd been letting languish. I hope the come to fruition, they were looking a bit yellowed. If they don't do well, I think I'll plant some for them the old fashioned way by seed...*L* It's the way I grow things. Buying seedlings to me seems silly. It's just not that hard to start from scratch really. With the prices in the shops rising higher and higher, it's almost like planting gold really...
I went on the hunt today for a few hours for the dreaded "Deadly Nightshade" weeds.. They're poisonous to grazing animals. I searched out and snagged 3 feed sacks of it in the paddocks as well as 3 cottonwood plants. These are the bain of horse/cattle folks. You can even be fined if they find the cotton weeds on your property. Anyways, I got to hang out with my little red Kelpie friend Zena all day. She is my bud for sure. I can see a little bit of hurt feelings with the owners when she saddles up to run with me for the day and abandons them. I shall try to get a couple pictures of her posted here. She took a 2 hour nap in the stables today while I made my moonshine and wandered in and out preparing the feeds for the horses and stocked feed bins with oats etc.
Tell the truth now.... I suspect to a myriad of folks this sounds boring as hell...... I'm sure of it. Most would rather be cruising the malls buying vast quantities of plastic crap that won't make it through to the next year.They buy more and more things, each purchase trying in vain to fill that empty hole deep inside themselves. It burns like a never quenchable thirst, alleviated only in the moment of the actual acquisition, only to return in the moment of "buyers remorse" or the next day when they require the next "new and shiny" to fill the void. I haven't spent my whole life doing what I do you know. I've lived in cities. Seen the world and all that. Seen beauty and horror.. Lived in squalor and opulence, and have made the contentious choice to be where I am now.
I like life simple. I like knowing at the end of the day that what I've done work wise means something to myself, as well as knowing it's helped others. Tomorrow morning I'll rise at 5 again, watch the sun rise, spend an hour in meditation (post coffee I assure you *grin*) and ask myself as Ben Franklin used to ask himself "What good shall I do today ?" I hope I can live up to what he'd consider worthy...
*props boots up on the rail of the veranda and watches the sun go down*

Dawn, dentistry and Gurdjieff......*sighhhh*

Wow....whattta day......
Started at the crack of pre-dawn, as any day does..... Listened to my rooster crow at what? like 5:30 a.m. and by 7 was in the paddocks feeding some 30 horses. Yup, this is the good old farmin' slash cowboy mystique here... I'm sucking down a coffee hoping to pull those bedraggled brain cells into a functioning sense of cohesiveness from the pint of moonshine I consumed the night before.. .
But you know what ? As I watch that sun break the horizon, and as the silence envelops me. I know there's no where else I'm supposed to be. Well, silence ? there's a symphony out there if one has the mind to listen to it.. To be aware of it all.. The easterlies, the winds play the background as the birds begin to harmonize.. There's even a song from the miles of wire fencing as the wind caresses it. As the cattle and horses begin to sense my presence, they chime in with their own complimentary melodies. Finally the sun strikes the clouds with colors and rays only heavenly in description, and while out there one gets the feeling that they are completely alone, and yet at the same time one with all things. No one to spoil it with thought or distractions.
Yeah... I spent most of the rest of the day hanging out with Mike. He's this English guy who immigrated to Oz some 2 years back with his Mrs. He's smart... that common sense smart sort that can't be learned, one just either has it or they don't. He does dentistry on equine..horses. So he and I worked on some horses and fixed a bunch of floating problems.. A day well spent I reccon. I mean.. I helped some animals feel better, and one should never underestimate the greatness of a day that doesn't come with some traumatic injury attached to it.. I never do.
So now I'm gonna sit back...listen to some music out here on the veranda on my lonesome... Have some of my home made whiskey, and might do some singing practice for my gig at the pub this friday next. I'll think about tomorrows day long ordeal assiting in surgery...well tomorrow *L*
Tonight though... I just want to "Save a horse, Ride a cowboy".........
Oh...I lucked in on something yesterday.... a friend gave me a video of his he'd never watched... It was called something like "meetings with extraordinary men" and SURPRISE ! it was all about Gurdjieff's younger life. I don't think Luke knows who he is, hell most folks probably don't, but it was a rare treat and I savored it greatly... *nods* I shall thank him when he comes out to back me up with guitar on Friday eve.... Who doesn't like a whirling Dervish ? I mean really ?
*Wanders back to the porch and sips a shot*
'Nite folks........... Tash.

Don't Worry...Be Happy

Victoria is in flames, the economic crisis in the U.S. is looming, worldwide unemployment is rising, and I work too many hours a week..*L*
But at least we've got youtube........
I'll get on to posting something more substantial here in the near future, but I did read once a wise man once said "May you live in interesting times"
Well folks.......... it's about to get real interesting.....
Keep a positive outlook though, and a song in your heart..
*hums Monty Python's Always look on the bright sideeeee of life*