Resistance is Futile...

I joined Facebook. Not sure how I feel about having myself splattered all over the internet, with all sorts of people able to find me. There are a lot of people with whom I'm not in touch for a reason--do I really want them to find me? What do you do when someone you don't want in your life finds you on facebook?

Odette made a little window pop up and it scared me half to death, but we could email instantly. It was pretty cool! I think that's instant messaging, but I'm not sure.

I am sure that I miss stamps. When is the last time you received a hand written letter? Or sent one?

In more interesting news, I rode Ranger again today. I asked him for a nice extended trot and he transitioned to a right-lead canter--and it was one of the nicest transitions I've had in over a year. So, I decided to ask for a left-lead canter. We've had a lot of trouble with that--tail-swishing, ear-pinning, teeth-gritting, some bucking and some bolting. It's been hurting him to go left.

So, I asked, and got the ears, tail and teeth. After a stride or two, his ears came up and he gave a surprised grunt, so I slowed to a trot and asked again...and got the nicest transition! I could hear him yelling "IT DOESN'T HURT, WOW, IT DOESN'T HURT!" in his head! We would have scored HIGH in a dressage test!

I rode Beau, too, and he did a fabulous job. He sure likes to canter and gallop now that he realizes that he can step off from his hind end, and can carry himself correctly. It's taken 6 years to get to this point! He's become an absolute delight to ride. I sure wish that his previous owners had trained him for something--he would have made a terrific jumper--he's got fantastic natural form and scope. He's also VERY fast. His dam, Melody Maker, was a race horse. I wonder if Beau would have been good on a track... We'll never know. However, I think I'm going to take him to another novice show this spring, and see if we can't earn some AQHA points. He deserves to have something in his name that recognizes what a talented, wonderful horse he is.

Went to yoga tonight. I had no idea I was that tight and that stressed. Now I'm really sore from stretching out and loosening up, but it's a "good" sore. Can there really be a "good" sore?

I'm going to be in LA on the 30th, and Melissa, Dean, Greg and Mark WON'T! Now, how's that for luck? Better not go to Vegas this week. I'll be in El Paso for NY's and Martha WON'T! I might want to stay out of the way of meteors and Mack trucks, too!

Yes, Karen, there is a Santa Claus

Merry Christmas!

I don't think that I'm one of those people who asks God or Santa Claus for much. Mostly, I just ask that people I love are taken care of, especially when they are hurting.

As you know, Ranger has been injured for over 4 months. We didn't know--didn't think--he'd ever be rideable again, due to the broken bone in his leg.

We've been religiously following his rehab and physical therapy regime, and Dr. Olds said that if he doesn't show any signs of lameness, I could try riding him again.

So, THANK YOU God and Santa, for hearing my prayers and answering my wishes today. I think he was as excited as I was--he grabbed his bit from my hands, and stood like a rock for me to get on. I think he's missed riding as much as I have. I don't know what the future will hold for Ranger; he could end up lame again, because we don't know whether or not the sound wave therapy is making any difference. Time will answer that question.

But, for today, I got the one Christmas wish I've asked for every single year, since I was a tiny little girl--I got my pony. And tonight, he's OK.

Merry Christmas to you and yours, and to all a good night!

Christmas, Airline Style

Well, this is a pretty good ending to the year...look what arrived yesterday! My armoire! It only took them SEVEN MONTHS (!!!!!) to repair it! But, it's home.Airline people never have holidays on the holiday. We're always flying you to Grandma's house, or home to see your folks. Even better this year, I got to fly a bunch of our military personnel home to see their families. I announced it every flight, and each time the entire airplane erupted in cheers, no matter how delayed we were. Passengers really stepped up to thank our service members for thier commitment and sacrifice.

Trish is going to CA to see her family, so we had Christmas dinner last night. I roasted a duck, made mashed potatoes, greeen beans, foccaccia bread and pumpkin pie. We had a bottle of wine that I got in Montana. Everything was excellent, if I say so myself!

We also exchanged gifts. I got Trish a new helmet, and a pair of slightly fuzzy slippers...Trish got me a globe, Susan Boyle's CD, and stuffed my stocking full of chocolate and other delectable goodies! Kalisha got a couple of balls and a mousie that moves!Trish also got me this hilarious Ranger & Beau ornament-And Santa with an airplane--and the propeller spins!I wanted to share more of my decorations with you. This is my tree. The Angel has topped our tree almost all of my life. I don't remember a Christmas when she wasn't up there.Many of the above ornaments have also been on my tree all my life. The angel in the blue drop is part of a set of musical angels with mostly stringed instruments. The cotton snow is still intact. She is playing a violin, but there is also a harp, cello and flute.

The blown glass ornament in the lower center is from Germany, again, part of a set.

The little triangular manger scene at the top center has been around forever, and is probably my favourite ornament. It's simply Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus, with a star above. Simple, yet everything.

My nativity scene fits beautifully on the new oak table. Do you have plans for Christmas Eve? I'm going to go to a candlelight service, then come home, light candles, put on Christmas music and read the Christmas verses aloud, which I do every year. Tomorrow I'll open the rest of my gifts--Thank you Mary and Margaret!

What are your traditions?

I wish you the merriest of Christmases, surrounded by those you love.

Erick Djerf, 1962-2009

Kristin, Erick's sister, called me this morning to let me know that a skull found a few weeks ago about 4 miles down-river from Erick's campsite was positively identified as Erick's. She & Peggy, their mother, were told last night.

I met Erick in High School. We were both picked-on nerds--he was in band; I was in choir, and neither of us wore the right clothes, nor had the right hair...we wore glasses and we were studious. Thus, we became friends. That friendship continued after graduation--in fact, one of my favourite memories was of Erick stealing street signs with my name on them before I moved to Chicago. I carted those things around for many years.

We lost touch for a long time, then thanks to the Internet, Erick found me a few years ago and contacted me. We resumed our friendship as though no time had gone by.

Erick was an incredibly talented musician and artist. He played the trombone in his jazz band, Disciples of Jazz. After his dystonia made it impossible to continue with the trombone, he switched to drums. He and his band played in many venues, including the Chamizal National Memorial, which is on neutral ground between El Paso and Juarez--they played there for the Independence Day celebration in July.

Erick taught high school art, developing the talents of hundreds of students throughout his career. Although he encouraged their artistic side, he also helped them grow into adults, by demanding respect for themselves and others. Here are his expectations from his Riverside High School page:

Welcome to visual art. Here we will explore through terms, techniques, history, applications and jobs found in art.

As this is a high school level class, students are expected to act in a mature manner.
Students should be:

Respectful (of yourself, teachers and others)

Positive (a good attitude goes far)

Prepared (bring what you are expected to bring for art)

Creative (challenge yourself by doing new things)

Hardworking (constantly strive to better yourself and your work)

Patient (good work takes time)

Kind (be good to everyone)

Erick painted and drew as well. He started an art-based Meet-Up group in El Paso, using a friend's studio to work on his own pieces. He sent me a copy of his favourite pastel--"The Chosen One," the best in his Chili Man series.

Erick was one of those people who took joy in celebrating every little thing with you. I wanted to see "Wicked" in Chicago last winter. He asked if I'd read the book. I hadn't, and two days later a copy was on my doorstep, with a wonderful letter that included a drawing of the airport, with a witch flying on a broomstick overhead. "You're off to see the wizard!" he said...

Erick and I talked a lot about his artwork. I told him about my photography website and my Zazzle cards (with photos from Norway), so he created his own website through which to market his art. He created a wonderful series of cards with line drawings of fantastic brass instruments, and sent me a set, thanking me for planting the seed and showing him how to open that door.

Erick competed in a number of art contests. He showed his work at dozens of festivals, especially chili festivals, because it combined two of the things in which he delighted the most. Erick always made friends and contacts everywhere he went, and would tell me all about them each time we talked.

I am grateful that we have closure. There's nothing worse than wondering...I know that first-hand, as my cousin Stephen has been missing for almost 20 years.

Erick was a very devout Christian. I have no doubt that he is Home. I just wish that he were still here. I really, really miss him.

The Process of Christmas Pics

Ranger, Beau & I had our annual Christmas photos taken a week or so ago. Many of you have already received your cards...but I thought you might like to see some additional photos.

Here we are, preparing for the shoot! Ranger loves to roll snowballs--see the evidence on his lips?Beau loves to snuggle...Ranger won't be outdone in the snuggling department."No, ME--I snuggled FIRST!"Quick, take the photo now!!!!

How can you get a bad Christmas photo when you have these two clowns providing the entertainment? I'm a lucky girl--these two are the best things that have ever happened to me.

Hope you are having as much fun during your Christmas season!

It's a DATE!

One of my most recent trips included a 36-hour layover in Palm Springs. Melissa drove out to join me! I had read about touring date farms in Sunset Magazine, and I've wanted to see the Salton Sea, so we planned our day accordingly.

We headed out to Shields Date Farm, in Indio. Shields has been in business since the early 1900's. Mr. Shields created a very risque film in the 1950's called "The Romance & Sex Life of the Date." It's still showing in the movie room! We tasted dates--every kind of date, from Blonde, to Marjool, to Deglet and Barhi.Melissa found jars of coconut oil, which is good for your skin, hair, nails and to eat on salads! Really! We each bought a jar. Then we tried Shields' legendary date shakes. These ladies are making our shakes--and OMG, were they DELICIOUS! The shakes alone are worth the trip to the Shields Date Farm!

After touring the store, we decided to see the date groves. The ladders are permanently mounted on the trees. Growing dates is a very labour-intensive business--each palm has to be individually watered by flooding a moat around it several times a week. Each frond has to be pruned of its thorns, because people have to climb up into the tree frequently. Every flower has to be hand-pollinated. Each stem of a bunch of dates must be hand-tied to a strong frond to keep the stem from breaking in the wind. Every bunch of dates must be hand-thinned, then covered with water-proof fabric to protect it from rain, then hand-picked as each date ripens.

We found this old truck behind the store, near the groves. It's seen better days, but it once carried the men and water to each tree, every day. Mel is still holding the remains of her date shake. I sucked mine down in minutes, then wanted another one!Then it was off to the Salton Sea, which was created in an old, dry lakebed when the dike at the Colorado River failed in 1905. The dike was restored by 1907, but the sea had been created. It's 7 miles wide by 35 miles long, and saltier than the ocean. There are a lot of birds, including terns, seagulls, crested and common egrets, and huge flocks of pelicans.

There are also fish in the Sea--tilapia, which are really sweet, mild fish. Everything else has died, as far as the park management knows. This man was fishing earnestly. Don't know if he caught anything...We discovered, though, that the tilapia are dying by the millions. There were SWATHS of carcasses on the beach.

There was also the salt-petrified tire, held permanent hostage by the petrified mud, atop the petrified barnacles. It was really pretty wierd.So, the Salton Sea has been crossed off of my to-do list. Even though it's one of the lowest places in the US, and even though it's the place on Earth where the Earth's crust is the thinnest, you probably don't need to go to see it.

Next fun plan on my to-do list--the Olympics! Yes, I've got tickets for short-track and hockey--anyone want to go with me?

Hope you are having fun shopping for Christmas. I'd like a nice chess set if anyone needs an idea! Or a copy of the book Half Broke Horses. What's on your list?