It's Friday afternoon and I'm beat! It's been a long couple of weeks burning away the end of summer. A trip to Vegas over Labor Day weekend for a friends bachelor party seemed to be a great way to send off summer and say hello to football, I mean fall. Plus, coming back with flush pockets from roulette, craps, and the sports books always helps. Thanks UTSA for the win and JFF please cut out the antics!
Summer was a blast, and much like life it had it's ups and downs. I had some great adventures, blew out an ear drum scuba diving, got out my cousin's behemoth of a boat...more like a yacht, and even got my own boat out for some bouts around the lake. We also said goodbye to some great friends, who we will see again some day. Reminding us that life is short, love hard, forgive quickly, and just roll with the waves.
Gaucho, the wonder dog, becomes more fun everyday. He's learned that the truck doesn't head out to the pasture to check on cows without him attached to it somehow. If he has just soaked himself in the stock tank then he jumps the tailgate for a cruise like he's the main celebrity in the hometown parade. If he is not wet, then he finds himself the copilot watching for the chaparrals, hogs, or whatever the next curve in the road brings. Probably the same look I have chasing down the highway searching for something new.
One of those new things is to actually get paid to write. Check that off the bucket list! If you're bored peruse eyeofthewhiteface.org, they let me write a few posts and pay me for it...pretty cool. It's been a lot of fun, and I'm blessed to be the guy I am.
We had health scares with my grandfather and two uncles, but they are all doing good and ornery as ever. I hope I get to live as much life as these guys. One a private pilot, the other a privateer, and one a great hunter, but three of the best guys around.
I even managed a pretty good date with a beautiful girl from Austin, now if I can hit the pause button long enough to see her again I might change my mind about jumping back into the dating game. If you check out my favorite band Reckless Kelly's new album Long Night Moon and listen to track 7 "The Girl I Knew", then you'll understand why I've sat out the game for awhile. Finding out the girl you loved wasn't the girl you knew kinda rocks your world to the core. I forgave her, it just made me take a long pause. In the meantime, my cooking is better and making homemade beer is fun. Still working on the homemade wine though, so maybe next year. I've reined up and taken more second looks at things I would have just glanced at in the past.
In the meantime as we keep spinning around, remember to pray for our soldiers serving (looking forward to seeing you soon cousins), roll on between the ditches, keep her between the greens, whup and ride, and live it up!
LB
Friday, September 6, 2013
Sunday, May 26, 2013
MEMORIAL DAY 2013
Dad,
I wrote the following for you. I'm thankful for your service and the service of all those men and women that stand on a line and say evil shall not pass. I'm proud of you and I love you! I'm sure there is no reminiscing of trespasses and old wounds in Heaven, but down here we will always honor those that make the greatest sacrifice.
" Dad, I won't be there to kiss your marble headstone and honor your day.
I'm away for work, but my pride never sway, it's an honor for me to know you this way.
We never spoke much of the war, even though it loomed ominously with the scars your body bore.
My admiration for you was clumsily had, by snooping and having awe, at the medals I found.
Buried deep in a dresser, not shown in the starkness of light, a war heroes pay for doing it right.
You were young, honorable and brave, so young, so proud, when your country called you away.
In Dominican Republic, again in Vietnam, you proudly said "Here!", where Uncle Sam said stand.
And, on a humid, miserable, June '66 tropical day, you said go, but the helicopter stayed.
Years later when this story was retold, I wept and I cried for the soldier, my father, so brave so bold.
With hell all around that horrid day, you were alone, mortally wounded, when help made its way.
Taking fire and still firing, while grenades rained down, you waved off as two angles came down.
They didn't make it, but a third angel sprang and dashed the battle scarred ground to where you lay.
He hooked you to the life line, and as that Huey roared, the medic gave his life, so easily, for yours.
The deepest scars, I've never known, are what the brother in arms sacrifices, for the brother his own!"
Happy Memorial Day, to all those before and still serving! I couldn't do what I do without you being out there on watch.
Thanks,
LB
I wrote the following for you. I'm thankful for your service and the service of all those men and women that stand on a line and say evil shall not pass. I'm proud of you and I love you! I'm sure there is no reminiscing of trespasses and old wounds in Heaven, but down here we will always honor those that make the greatest sacrifice.
" Dad, I won't be there to kiss your marble headstone and honor your day.
I'm away for work, but my pride never sway, it's an honor for me to know you this way.
We never spoke much of the war, even though it loomed ominously with the scars your body bore.
My admiration for you was clumsily had, by snooping and having awe, at the medals I found.
Buried deep in a dresser, not shown in the starkness of light, a war heroes pay for doing it right.
You were young, honorable and brave, so young, so proud, when your country called you away.
In Dominican Republic, again in Vietnam, you proudly said "Here!", where Uncle Sam said stand.
And, on a humid, miserable, June '66 tropical day, you said go, but the helicopter stayed.
Years later when this story was retold, I wept and I cried for the soldier, my father, so brave so bold.
With hell all around that horrid day, you were alone, mortally wounded, when help made its way.
Taking fire and still firing, while grenades rained down, you waved off as two angles came down.
They didn't make it, but a third angel sprang and dashed the battle scarred ground to where you lay.
He hooked you to the life line, and as that Huey roared, the medic gave his life, so easily, for yours.
The deepest scars, I've never known, are what the brother in arms sacrifices, for the brother his own!"
Happy Memorial Day, to all those before and still serving! I couldn't do what I do without you being out there on watch.
Thanks,
LB
Friday, February 1, 2013
I survived January!!
There's the old Merle Haggard song, "If We Make It Through December." Whew, who knew it should have been January. I mean....If I make it through January I'll be fine!
The highlight of it was of course the wedding of my brother to his beautiful wife Mooch! She was a breathtaking, gorgeous, green eyed bride. It was a phenomenal time celebrating with both sides of the family. They are a truly inspiring union of man and woman. A fine of example of what their parents ideas of love, honor, and marriage are meant to be.
So January has been fun, but gees Louise there's been a ton of expenses out the door!!! New fences to be built, extra winter hay to be used up, front ends on pick-ups, tractor parts, and all with not any rain! (hint hint God, we could use a little) Going over the accounts it's amazing that I didn't have an insurance deductible for a heart attack, but I survived..for now!
I know it's complaining and instead I should be counting my blessings. I mean with the new Obama tax I'm only down $20 bucks a month. Woo Hoo...is that a good thing? Should I be happy about only $20 bucks a month lost? That's like being ecstatic of $3.50 diesel....HELLO it's still $3.50, I remember when it was .65 cents. But, I survived!
I even started finally riding my little orphan gelding Blue. Let me tell you....it was touch and go there on who was riding who. If you know anything about the Blue Valentine blood lines you know they can have a bronc like streak in them. Great horses, once you get past the rare and tear. We did the ground work but he still tried to bunch up a few times. It was great to feel that adrenaline again. I forgot how much I missed that butterfly of excitement when you know one is gathering to blow. We have made a few rides with a whole lot more to go. I survived!
And my love life.....non-existent? There's been some dates. There have been some, "no way in hell am I seeing her again dates", but there has been a few of the, "I'd like to see that one again!" Time will tell. I survived!
It's the first day of February and the sun is shining. All bills are paid and life's good. It's amazing what you can take on and accomplish in the course of living your life. I'm thankful for the days of gravel in my guts and spit in my eyes, because it puts what's important in life into perspective. For me, it's handling the challenges as they come, enjoying the blessing of great family and friends, and always wanting to know what is a little farther up the road. I'm thankful for that!
I'm off to meet a beautiful blonde for Friday afternoon happy hour and big tall Dos-A-Rita's. She's pretty, smart, and laughs at my jokes. Let's hope I survive!
Happy 2013
LB
The highlight of it was of course the wedding of my brother to his beautiful wife Mooch! She was a breathtaking, gorgeous, green eyed bride. It was a phenomenal time celebrating with both sides of the family. They are a truly inspiring union of man and woman. A fine of example of what their parents ideas of love, honor, and marriage are meant to be.
So January has been fun, but gees Louise there's been a ton of expenses out the door!!! New fences to be built, extra winter hay to be used up, front ends on pick-ups, tractor parts, and all with not any rain! (hint hint God, we could use a little) Going over the accounts it's amazing that I didn't have an insurance deductible for a heart attack, but I survived..for now!
I know it's complaining and instead I should be counting my blessings. I mean with the new Obama tax I'm only down $20 bucks a month. Woo Hoo...is that a good thing? Should I be happy about only $20 bucks a month lost? That's like being ecstatic of $3.50 diesel....HELLO it's still $3.50, I remember when it was .65 cents. But, I survived!
I even started finally riding my little orphan gelding Blue. Let me tell you....it was touch and go there on who was riding who. If you know anything about the Blue Valentine blood lines you know they can have a bronc like streak in them. Great horses, once you get past the rare and tear. We did the ground work but he still tried to bunch up a few times. It was great to feel that adrenaline again. I forgot how much I missed that butterfly of excitement when you know one is gathering to blow. We have made a few rides with a whole lot more to go. I survived!
And my love life.....non-existent? There's been some dates. There have been some, "no way in hell am I seeing her again dates", but there has been a few of the, "I'd like to see that one again!" Time will tell. I survived!
It's the first day of February and the sun is shining. All bills are paid and life's good. It's amazing what you can take on and accomplish in the course of living your life. I'm thankful for the days of gravel in my guts and spit in my eyes, because it puts what's important in life into perspective. For me, it's handling the challenges as they come, enjoying the blessing of great family and friends, and always wanting to know what is a little farther up the road. I'm thankful for that!
I'm off to meet a beautiful blonde for Friday afternoon happy hour and big tall Dos-A-Rita's. She's pretty, smart, and laughs at my jokes. Let's hope I survive!
Happy 2013
LB
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Pachanga Time!!
3 more days.....well 2 and 1/2 cause we're kicking this party off Friday afternoon! Looking forward to my little brother marrying the love of his life (after dating her nearly his entire life). We're proud of both of them and what great, decent, good hearted each of them truly is. It's going to be a great time with a plethora of family and friends. I hear my grandfather is even going to be sporting a cowboy hat!!
Happy New Year to each and everyone of Y'all! My resolution is to get back to writing more this year. There have been some great adventures that need to be documented, and maybe some others that need to have alternate endings told.
Other than that, have fun, keep her between the greens, and roll on!
Happy New Year to each and everyone of Y'all! My resolution is to get back to writing more this year. There have been some great adventures that need to be documented, and maybe some others that need to have alternate endings told.
Other than that, have fun, keep her between the greens, and roll on!
Feliz año nuevo
Friday, November 2, 2012
63 DAYS????
It's 63 days until my little brother is officially an old man! We still have a batchelor party in Vegas to attend first but time is flying by!!! Pretty sure it's going to be the "EPIC" party of the century!
Whoop!!
LB
Whoop!!
LB
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Unofficially Not Single Is Officially Single
Unofficially not single is officially single! Sounds like a FB post right? I had a friend make that dreaded change from "relationship" to "single", I never know what to respond to those. I mean if the girl was hot how long do you honor the bro code? Do you have to drop her from your friends list? What are the rules? Later, when the comments started coming in he posted up that is was all good and for the best. Bud, I hope so.
A girl and I, that I had been seeing pretty exclusively just decided to call it as friends. So I was thinking about it and realized that I have never made a FB post from "single" to "relationship"....I think somewhere deep down that I'm reserving that for my last line of defense. The ultimate recognition that this girl might be special. I mean the family might meet her, we might be seen together, there might be some couple's dates but until FB says it then it's not official! We've come along way since check yes or no.
This last one, well she had potential. Smart, beautiful, and fun when we saw each other....But, it just didn't work out. Between her career and my whatever, what had started out pretty good just kinda fizzled like a 4th of July bottle rocket. There were some other differences too, but nothing scandalous, it just simply wasn't meant to be. Of course, I wish her the best and we are on speaking terms. It's all good and for the best. Maybe, I am settling down in my old age!
A girl and I, that I had been seeing pretty exclusively just decided to call it as friends. So I was thinking about it and realized that I have never made a FB post from "single" to "relationship"....I think somewhere deep down that I'm reserving that for my last line of defense. The ultimate recognition that this girl might be special. I mean the family might meet her, we might be seen together, there might be some couple's dates but until FB says it then it's not official! We've come along way since check yes or no.
This last one, well she had potential. Smart, beautiful, and fun when we saw each other....But, it just didn't work out. Between her career and my whatever, what had started out pretty good just kinda fizzled like a 4th of July bottle rocket. There were some other differences too, but nothing scandalous, it just simply wasn't meant to be. Of course, I wish her the best and we are on speaking terms. It's all good and for the best. Maybe, I am settling down in my old age!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Who do you work for?
There is a line in one of my favorite John Wayne movies, McClintock, that pretty much sums up how I feel about my family's part in the beef industry. "Everybody works for somebody, and I work for anybody that steps into a butcher shop and orders up a T-Bone steak", Mr. Wayne in character was talking to his future son in law and explaining the responsibility it takes to do a job right.
We ( my brother, mother, and I) don't run the biggest outfit in terms of numbers of animals, but we do take pride in the product we produce. I know that our efforts of maintaining a cow-calf herd in South Texas through drought, disease, and pestilence make a significant contribution in providing a high quality, nutritious, safe food product. No, our cattle may not ever be served at the table of the fanciest steak house in town, but they will end up as part of the Hamburger Helper or other nutritious value meals that the single mother of three is counting on to fill her kids stomachs and give them the strength they need to grow and thrive. That's who we work for! The hard working American family that relies on U.S. Beef to feed their families and provide a nutritious part of a quality meal.
So I take exception when critics slander the hard work of thousands of people who strive to bring that high quality animal to the dinner table where it will be consumed. This whole "pink slime" eruption by activists has cost a lot of good working people their jobs as plants are being shut down and people laid off. The label was unwarranted, but the media running with it was even worse. There has been no scientific research that shows "pink slime" technically known as, lean finely textured beef, to be harmful. In fact, one company that had to shut down 3 of it's 4 plants, BPI, has an exemplary track record and continuously tests their products above the bar of government standards for pathogens in food supply.
The process of lean finely textured beef increased the amount of lean beef available cheaply to consumers. What will be the result of not having BPI and other companies that produce this product? Beef prices that are pretty high now due to the other costs of inputs will climb even higher. Making it even harder for the family trying to eat healthy and live within their means. Because a few who didn't care about the truth of the system sought to destroy it with rumors, un-true videos, and outright lies.
All I can say is that we Americans have the safest food sources in the world. There is always room for change and growth, but our standards are bar-none compared to any other country in the world. However, when rumors create chaos which leads to havoc we should be ashamed! Google whatever you want about "pink slime" or "lean finely textured beef" and you'll find more truth and science in how this product is not harmful to anyone. Read both sides and decide for yourself, but seriously study the research and I believe you'll find that this product was extremely helpful in making a healthy food source more abundantly available to all. Because, we the American cattle producer, work for anyone that steps into a grocery store and picks up a pound of ground round to feed their family.
Thanks,
LB
We ( my brother, mother, and I) don't run the biggest outfit in terms of numbers of animals, but we do take pride in the product we produce. I know that our efforts of maintaining a cow-calf herd in South Texas through drought, disease, and pestilence make a significant contribution in providing a high quality, nutritious, safe food product. No, our cattle may not ever be served at the table of the fanciest steak house in town, but they will end up as part of the Hamburger Helper or other nutritious value meals that the single mother of three is counting on to fill her kids stomachs and give them the strength they need to grow and thrive. That's who we work for! The hard working American family that relies on U.S. Beef to feed their families and provide a nutritious part of a quality meal.
So I take exception when critics slander the hard work of thousands of people who strive to bring that high quality animal to the dinner table where it will be consumed. This whole "pink slime" eruption by activists has cost a lot of good working people their jobs as plants are being shut down and people laid off. The label was unwarranted, but the media running with it was even worse. There has been no scientific research that shows "pink slime" technically known as, lean finely textured beef, to be harmful. In fact, one company that had to shut down 3 of it's 4 plants, BPI, has an exemplary track record and continuously tests their products above the bar of government standards for pathogens in food supply.
The process of lean finely textured beef increased the amount of lean beef available cheaply to consumers. What will be the result of not having BPI and other companies that produce this product? Beef prices that are pretty high now due to the other costs of inputs will climb even higher. Making it even harder for the family trying to eat healthy and live within their means. Because a few who didn't care about the truth of the system sought to destroy it with rumors, un-true videos, and outright lies.
All I can say is that we Americans have the safest food sources in the world. There is always room for change and growth, but our standards are bar-none compared to any other country in the world. However, when rumors create chaos which leads to havoc we should be ashamed! Google whatever you want about "pink slime" or "lean finely textured beef" and you'll find more truth and science in how this product is not harmful to anyone. Read both sides and decide for yourself, but seriously study the research and I believe you'll find that this product was extremely helpful in making a healthy food source more abundantly available to all. Because, we the American cattle producer, work for anyone that steps into a grocery store and picks up a pound of ground round to feed their family.
Thanks,
LB
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