Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
What's Up With That?
Howdy,
Yeap that's my typical greeting and as the Spring semester of grad school kicked off last night I saw a few of those shirts that say "Howdy". It's funny seeing shirts of your university when you're at another university. For some reason not known to me there are a lot of people attending Texas A&M San Antonio believing they are Texas A&M College Station or Galveston. Going so far as to call themselves "Aggies." Sorry to bust the bubbles but they're not the same. Granted, TAMUSA is part of the A&M system it's not the flag ship. In fact, TAMUSA voted themselves the jaguars.....ugh thats not an Aggie. At Aggieland there is a spirit that can never be told....and as I was reminded in a scathing blog by an ex "from the outside looking in you can't understand it and from the inside looking out you can't explain it."
I bleed maroon, I pound on my horn everytime I cross the Brazos heading into Aggieland, and I could pack up everything I own and move to College Station to live the rest of my life. That's part of being an Aggie to me. From the great lifelong friends made there, to the life lessons learned its an experience unlike any other university can offer. No, I didn't learn to smoke pot or love everybody, but I learned to stand for what I believe in. To respect the things I didn't understand, that I'm not alone in the world and we are tied together in more ways than I ever fathomed. That's what going to college should do. Open your eyes to the world around you. However, don't take from my alma mater! TAMUSA develop your own culture and pride. Invent some crazy cool jaguar traditions. The profs are great the attitudes are positive but branch out and find yourself....do not latch on to something that you don't understand. Anyways enough rambling about that.
Life is going pretty good, but I'm itching for spring time. We've been getting a lot of work done at the ranch although it always seems too slow for my speed, but progress is coming along. Some little projects knocked out and some big ones left to do but then again there's always something.
My friends are amazing! I'm pretty blessed with those I do call friend. I'm not out to collect a million facebook friends and I don't call everybody friend just because I want a vast network. The ones I do call friend are the greatest. The ones I call friend are the ones you can call at anytime or share anything with and that makes me a pretty lucky guy.
Single life....yeah getting back into the swing of things. Hmmm must be the old age thing because I'm setting the bar pretty high on what I want. (That wasn't a slam against Jennifer. I wasn't dating anybody beneath me or above me...in fact its kinda scary how similiar the two of us are. It was that I told myself I wouldn't be in another relationship that involved some of those high stress factors like distance and availability. I spent a long time in a relationship that involved working around a one day a week and every other weekend deal and it wasn't fun. Being at functions where I shouldn't have had to attend alone (watching the other couples have fun) or planning around a schedule that's completely chaotic for both parties. Jennifer walked in to my house one night and that completely left my mind. Here was a wonderfuly sarcastic, vibrant, extremely educated woman and I wanted to know more about her. We dated for awhile and things were pretty good, but the stress built up on both sides until it finally took its toll. When that stress built up we didn't talk to each other about it, we dealt with it in our own ways and from both sides neither of us did the right thing in that respect and we went our seperate ways.) I wanted more (in terms of what I wanted from the relationship not who I was in the relationship with) I didn't do that the last time around and convinced myself that I could settle down and overlook some of the things that are important to me( the distance, availability, not talking about those frustrations). Lesson learned....don't get talked into anything you didn't want to do( that little voice was kicking me that dating a girl living in Lubbock, and both of us having a stressful year, would be difficult to maintain). I honestly love that girl and that makes it the damnable misery of it all, but maybe the timing wasn't right and who knows what the future holds. With that note applications are open but the criteria is demanding (you have a pretty hard woman to replace) the interview process lengthy and fun is a necessity!
Y'all have a great day
LB
Yeap that's my typical greeting and as the Spring semester of grad school kicked off last night I saw a few of those shirts that say "Howdy". It's funny seeing shirts of your university when you're at another university. For some reason not known to me there are a lot of people attending Texas A&M San Antonio believing they are Texas A&M College Station or Galveston. Going so far as to call themselves "Aggies." Sorry to bust the bubbles but they're not the same. Granted, TAMUSA is part of the A&M system it's not the flag ship. In fact, TAMUSA voted themselves the jaguars.....ugh thats not an Aggie. At Aggieland there is a spirit that can never be told....and as I was reminded in a scathing blog by an ex "from the outside looking in you can't understand it and from the inside looking out you can't explain it."
I bleed maroon, I pound on my horn everytime I cross the Brazos heading into Aggieland, and I could pack up everything I own and move to College Station to live the rest of my life. That's part of being an Aggie to me. From the great lifelong friends made there, to the life lessons learned its an experience unlike any other university can offer. No, I didn't learn to smoke pot or love everybody, but I learned to stand for what I believe in. To respect the things I didn't understand, that I'm not alone in the world and we are tied together in more ways than I ever fathomed. That's what going to college should do. Open your eyes to the world around you. However, don't take from my alma mater! TAMUSA develop your own culture and pride. Invent some crazy cool jaguar traditions. The profs are great the attitudes are positive but branch out and find yourself....do not latch on to something that you don't understand. Anyways enough rambling about that.
Life is going pretty good, but I'm itching for spring time. We've been getting a lot of work done at the ranch although it always seems too slow for my speed, but progress is coming along. Some little projects knocked out and some big ones left to do but then again there's always something.
My friends are amazing! I'm pretty blessed with those I do call friend. I'm not out to collect a million facebook friends and I don't call everybody friend just because I want a vast network. The ones I do call friend are the greatest. The ones I call friend are the ones you can call at anytime or share anything with and that makes me a pretty lucky guy.
Single life....yeah getting back into the swing of things. Hmmm must be the old age thing because I'm setting the bar pretty high on what I want. (That wasn't a slam against Jennifer. I wasn't dating anybody beneath me or above me...in fact its kinda scary how similiar the two of us are. It was that I told myself I wouldn't be in another relationship that involved some of those high stress factors like distance and availability. I spent a long time in a relationship that involved working around a one day a week and every other weekend deal and it wasn't fun. Being at functions where I shouldn't have had to attend alone (watching the other couples have fun) or planning around a schedule that's completely chaotic for both parties. Jennifer walked in to my house one night and that completely left my mind. Here was a wonderfuly sarcastic, vibrant, extremely educated woman and I wanted to know more about her. We dated for awhile and things were pretty good, but the stress built up on both sides until it finally took its toll. When that stress built up we didn't talk to each other about it, we dealt with it in our own ways and from both sides neither of us did the right thing in that respect and we went our seperate ways.) I wanted more (in terms of what I wanted from the relationship not who I was in the relationship with) I didn't do that the last time around and convinced myself that I could settle down and overlook some of the things that are important to me( the distance, availability, not talking about those frustrations). Lesson learned....don't get talked into anything you didn't want to do( that little voice was kicking me that dating a girl living in Lubbock, and both of us having a stressful year, would be difficult to maintain). I honestly love that girl and that makes it the damnable misery of it all, but maybe the timing wasn't right and who knows what the future holds. With that note applications are open but the criteria is demanding (you have a pretty hard woman to replace) the interview process lengthy and fun is a necessity!
Y'all have a great day
LB
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Just Another Week
Time is flying by!!! I spent the week working out, riding horses, chasing cattle, working, church, and enjoying life! Friday was such a blast. I was able to hangout with some old friends and enjoy Reckless Kelly at Gruene and we had a great time, and even met some new ones! Pics to come soon. Looking forward to having tomorrow off but I do have request if you're bored and out of things to surf on the net.
I happened to be perusing the cd's at Wal-Mart this week and came across a classic. It's John Wayne's patriot cd and its pretty cool. I don't think most people don't realize what a patriot and supporter of America he was. The cd is a compilation of ballads about what it means to be an American. As we think of Dr. Martin King's impact on civil rights and his leadership I think we should also compare it to one of the Duke's titles called the "Hyphen." I won't go into what it says because I think everyone should come away with their own view but I liked the message I received from it.
Whatever your plans are enjoy the time off rest, relax, rejuvenate, and just keep doing what you do!
Que Sera Sera
LB
I happened to be perusing the cd's at Wal-Mart this week and came across a classic. It's John Wayne's patriot cd and its pretty cool. I don't think most people don't realize what a patriot and supporter of America he was. The cd is a compilation of ballads about what it means to be an American. As we think of Dr. Martin King's impact on civil rights and his leadership I think we should also compare it to one of the Duke's titles called the "Hyphen." I won't go into what it says because I think everyone should come away with their own view but I liked the message I received from it.
Whatever your plans are enjoy the time off rest, relax, rejuvenate, and just keep doing what you do!
Que Sera Sera
LB
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Winter Freeze 2010
Winter Freeze 
2010
2010I'm sure that's what one of the news stations ran....and for the first time in a long time they were right! It was pretty damn cold. In fact, I broke out the insulated walls suit to do chores. The picture is of Andrew holding one of the ice chunks we broke for the horses to have water. I think the last time he wore that ski mask was to Ski Apache a few years ago. Hence, I'm thankful I don't live in Montana or Wyoming during the winter. Although the prospect of being snowed in for a few days and not having to go to work does kind of seem appealing! I'm sure the cabin fever would mess with my adhd and I'd be miserable in no time.
The Cowboys won...and Romo has broken his playoff plague!
Being back in the saddle is feeling great!
It's almost June!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Bring on 2010!!!
Aww I've got a feeling its going to be a great year! Things are looking up and getting better and better everyday!! I hope everyone is doing great and things are going well in your life!
Upcoming 2010
More Ranch Sorting- Rebel is making a great horse and we have a few young prospects that will be for sell soon.
Calf-roping....might be time to start tying calves again. Funny how you get the urge to do something when you're told it can't be done. Maybe that's just me.
Reckless Kelly has a new cd Feb. 9th but maybe I can get a copy at their New Braunfels gig next week.
Finally completing some of those long avoided projects...have to start somewhere right.
January almost means March and that means getting the boat out and getting back to having fun on the water.
Working on my own....I'm enjoying the prospect of not teaching more and more!!! Can't wait till the morning I wake up and say...you know what I'm going for a ride and not to the job!
The gym is paying off big time in short notice....lots of new and cool people there and the results are coming in.
In the mean time y'all have fun. I'm having a blast and trying out some new things. I might even make that 120 degree yoga class.....Might!
Thanks
LB
Upcoming 2010
More Ranch Sorting- Rebel is making a great horse and we have a few young prospects that will be for sell soon.
Calf-roping....might be time to start tying calves again. Funny how you get the urge to do something when you're told it can't be done. Maybe that's just me.
Reckless Kelly has a new cd Feb. 9th but maybe I can get a copy at their New Braunfels gig next week.
Finally completing some of those long avoided projects...have to start somewhere right.
January almost means March and that means getting the boat out and getting back to having fun on the water.
Working on my own....I'm enjoying the prospect of not teaching more and more!!! Can't wait till the morning I wake up and say...you know what I'm going for a ride and not to the job!
The gym is paying off big time in short notice....lots of new and cool people there and the results are coming in.
In the mean time y'all have fun. I'm having a blast and trying out some new things. I might even make that 120 degree yoga class.....Might!
Thanks
LB
Friday, November 6, 2009
You're Gonna Give It Where?
It is an amazing beautiful day!!! I'm sitting in Landa Park waiting on this gorgeous girl that I have plans with tonight. Something about Oktoberfest and copious amounts of cold beer. Who could turn down that invitation. However that's how the evening will finish is definitely... not how my morning started!
I made work this morning but had a half day scheduled to deal with a work related injury. About two weeks ago I was called to the office to help move a student from one wheel chair to another. Somehow during the course of picking the student up and setting him in his new chair I did something.
That something solidifies my earned age of 31. Thirty-one years of dragging feed sacks, bucking hay bales, throwing calves, rough horses, and bad women had finally worn out my lower back. Those experiences and the precise timing (that only I seem to have) culminated in a tearing of muscle. I sure felt it when it happened but, I stood up finished what I was doing and didn't cry about it till the pain never left after a few days.
I'll skip the workers comp spiel, but trust me it is a different process of health care.
Anyways, this morning is my second appointment with the doctor. It's one of those quicky med clinic places and there is nothing quick about the process. Except today the doc says he's not happy with my progress. "Let's give you a shot to speed things up", sounds fine to me doc. (Notice he said one shot) The doc walks out of the room and that's the last I see of him today. Probably collecting my insurance check and hitting the greens, yeah I saw that BMW in the parking lot.
Next walks in this barrel chest of a man nurse to give me the shot. Only there's more than one needle on his tray. As I'm non challantly dropping my pants trying to keep dignity for the situation I'm in, I happen to look back and see the thickest, biggest damn needle. Take a deep breath the nurse says...I'm thinking hell at least get me drunk first...where's the tequila, I'll even take the worm but geez don't stab me with that thing yet. He doesn't...whew maybe I avoided it...maybe it's for some other sap. Haunched over as I feel two little pricks in my lower back...Not bad I'm thinking to myself. Piece of cake...then I hear the nurse speak. "Ok for this next one...stand on your left leg and relax your right cheek." Uh huh....what for you just gave me that shot right? His unequivocal response...."Nope, one more and you know where it's going" Did he laugh? Does the prospect of making this big country boy whelp in pain bring this guy pleasure...It must! Because he's smiling telling me to breathe deep again! Just as I'm actually contemplating where that big needle is going I hear my inner voice state, "You're gonna give it where?" As the cold metallic (must be the size of a turkey baster) needle makes a very deep painful intrusion into the top part of my right cheek. Standing on my left leg, grasping the counter, my right leg spasms like a rabbit, but there's no fun here just a sharp pain, loss of some self respect, and the thought that I have a nicer bedside manner with my cattle and horses. How could you top that off? That's what I'm thinking as feel the slap of a band-aid across the location of the shot, and the nurse says "take that off after while."
Now imagine this....I'm not quite Sasquatch, but parts of me have more hair than others. And unlike a metro sexual...I don't shave my ass! Not for anybody!....so if the shot was painful....what's that band-aid being pulled off of skin and hair going to feel like? I don't know but thank God for the beer tonight and just maybe I can talk my date in to pulling it off fast.
We'll See
LB
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Ride'Em Cowboy
The title pretty much sums up my life right now! Chugging up one side of life to slide right down the other (a great Chris Ledoux song) ....or in my case it's usually stomped on the breaks asking myself why I took this shortcut and why didn't I ever fix those trailer breaks! That's right about the time the pedal goes to the floor and the rear view catches my eye long enough to see the look of desperation in the cattle squashed through the trailer rails. What do you think a cow ruminates about in a situation like that? Think it actually contemplates the missed opportunities of green grass? Maybe it really was greener on the other side? Or maybe, what if she had been nicer to that old bull.....it just could have been true love! Alas the story has a happy ending. The "Ol' Ford" never lets me down and the breaks always manage to stop us...sometimes we're in front of the stop sign....and sometimes we're in the middle of the intersection but we're stopped. My life has seemed to become that scenario lately...too slow up the mountains and too fast to the bottom of the next one. What can you do about it but take it like the picture above "just knuckle down and ride it out."
My brother has coined a phrase "Leave '09 Behind." I'm thinking that should be on a t-shirt with a happy face. It has been a rough year, but with rough times we seem to learn a little more about ourselves. I admit ....I bring on most of my own troubles. I chalk it up to Irish heritage, a stubborn streak 2x the normal size, and the brash devil may care attitude I go through life with.
However, I've cleared some obstacles this year that make me feel like an Olympic hurdler..just not so much of the short shorts or all that damn running. The trials and tribulations have left me a little spent and for the first time in my life I'm actually letting go of things. To tell you the truth I'm in coast mode for the rest of the year. What does coast mode entail? It means I leave for work a little later than usual now days...(not the mandatory out the door by 6:45 am routine I usually have), I leave work a little bit earlier ( earlier than I usually do) when I can, I take mental health sick days and do nothing productive. My horses get rode more just for fun now than opposed to actually accomplish any training. Haven't competed for anything in a couple of months so the saddle's getting cold but right now I'm OK with that.
In the meantime my family is great, Jenn is wonderful, rain is here, and God loves me. So I'll just keep making my mark, keeping rhythm with the bucks, and just enjoying "one hell uv a ride!"
LB
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