natural born cowboys

07/31/2011

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Toe masters the trot on his 'not favorite horse,' Rhythm
After three weeks of horse therapy (Equine Facilitated Learning) at Erik's Ranch, the verdict is definitely in.  Toe and Roo are natrual born cowboys.

Or, at least natural born rodeo clowns.

In typical smarty pants fashion, Toe learned the standard riding commands in the first 30 minutes on horseback, and Roo was master of the corral as soon as he stepped in it. So things started off well. 

Now, 6 sessions in, Toe is riding alone at a swift trot without sidewalkers, mounting the saddle all by himself, clicking commands and tipping his hat in the ring to the ladies with a Diamond Jim smile.  Imagine Robert Redford in his best bib and tuck from The Electric Horseman except 2 or so feet shorter.  Toe's a little bit Hollywood and a little bit spaghetti western all rolled into one.

Roo's the only 4 year old in the program, and the youngest one to have mastered riding alone so quickly.  He is fearless with the animals, and we have begun to refer to him as Gene Autry.  It helps too that Roo sorta views the horses as really tall dogs with enormous teeth who just want a bone and a scratch. Innate ducky charm is also on Roo's side: as soon as he enters the corral the gee gees come swooping in like flies on a shoofly pie. He knows to grease the beasts with chilled apples and a stiff brushing before taking the saddle, guaranteeing himself a grateful and obedient steed.  Even if he's riding a piece of crowbait like old Bailey.

They may both be only knee high to the tall grass, but Toe and Roo have turned out to be some talented little rancheros.  If you don't believe me, just ask Rhythm, Bailey, Litigator, Stephanie and Barnee.  Yeehaw!
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39 clues

07/29/2011

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Hub: 39 years of awesome today
39 clues you have an exceptionally good man:

1. When asked to choose between two of something, he always points to you and says, "whichever one she doesn't want."

2. The kids say, "When's Daddy coming home?" excitedly and  a lot.

3.  His Bible is falling apart.

4.  He teaches the kids you are really a princess, but gave up the throne to be a commoner.

5. He brings you your morning coffee in a Santa/ Snoopy/ Grizzly Bear/ LEGO mug because he knows even though you need a hit of caffeine and have thunder in your eyes, you are really a kid inside.

6. You know he'll open a can of whoopass on anyone who tries to hurt his family, but he never has to because his eyes say, Don't you dare.

7.  He makes up words.

8. He makes up stories.

9.  His made up stories feature talking monkies who are really revolutionary princes with spells on them and old Thai men who smoke opium.

10. He forgave you for calling him "useless" when you were in labor.

11. He held your hand and read poetry to you while the doctors made you endure unspeakably painful and scary tests.

12.  His nose likes to be in a book, not other people's business.

13.  When you ask him if you ever snore, he giggles and says, "No, I'd say it's more like you breathe raspy and beautiful music."

14.  When you ask him if you smell, he says, "Like a meadow!"

15.  Christmas makes his eyes twinkly.

16. Injustice makes him pace the floor.

17. Selfishness makes his stomach sick.

18.  Dogs follow him.

19. Children want to crawl into his lap.

20. He looks as handsome in a threadbare workshort and paint spattered pants as he does in a tuxedo, but he doesn't believe you when you tell him.

21.  When you talk to him, the rest of the world disappears.

22.  He never looks at the clock when he is with loved ones or friends.

23. He'd rather give than get.

24.  When you say, "Sing Twinkle twinkle Little Star in the style of a heavy metal rock ballad!" he instantly does, and it's good.

25. Music moves him.

26. He chats over the fence with the neighbors--and they love him.

27.  He plows everyone on the street out in a snowstorm, as far as the gas in the blower will go, in the cold wee hours of the morning, while the neighbors sleep in their warm beds or drink hot cocoa.  Just because.

28.  He thinks you are a genius, even when you can't remember what day it is.

29.  He never hogs the remote because he always wants to watch the same thing as you.

30.  The dogs follow him like the Pied Piper, and lie at his feet as though he were a king.

31.  When the shit hits the fan, he gets up, cleans the fan, and starts building a shit guard around you.

32.  He says he misses your mom, even though he never met her before she died.

33.  Your father loved him like a son.

34.  Your guy friends love him like a brother.

35.  His shoulder is the most valuable piece of real estate in the whole world, and it is where you get to rest your head.

36.  His voice is like medicine.  They should bottle it as a painkiller.

37.  His plans and dreams are huge, and he never gives them up.

38.  He remembers exactly who you are beneath your terrible illness, and he constantly reminds you so you don't forget either.

39.  The world wouldn't be the same without him--he refuses to let it be.








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