Afternoon Delight

Monday, September 21, 2009

Afternoon Delight Afternoon Delight ~ Seriously.....it might take you all afternoon to get thru this ;) I have no idea where this month has gone! Before I knew it August was over & we are rolling right into my favorite month…September! Yay!.... Let’s skip to Wednesday Sept, 2: The Lovely Miss Melina Melina & Gus Gus came for a visit. We had a delightful night of drinks, movie, girl talk & laughing until we were crying! It was outstanding! ;) Thanks Melina! You are the bestest!.... Filer, ID.... Thursday brought the 1st stop on rodeo tour I was about to begin. Team Sankey was in full force at Filer, Idaho. Some of my favorite people in the world: Bob Marriott, J2 Brown Family, Ryan, Ike, DeeDee, Rowena, Will, Hot Joe & of course Miss Melina Melina! It was a perfect night for rodeo! The light of the Ferris Wheel, smell of carmel apples looming on the breeze, crisp fall air & a County Fair crowd all cheering for a bucking horse riding! Melina & I helped Bob with his pickup horses, best seat in the house! Thanks for letting us help out Bob. It was great to see everyone! .... As I went to leave, Ike was talking with a some of the crew at a trailer. I told him that They’d done a good job tonight. Keep up the good work & I was off to keep the Dillon crew in line J …I think I’m hilarious ;).... Hamer, ID .... The next morning Melina Melina helped me load up a pile of furniture….the big move has began! Wowzer…you just never realize how blessed you are until you go to move all your stuff! ;) Thanks Melina! I couldn’t have done it without you..... That’s right, I’m moving back to Hamer, Idaho! Pretty excited! Thank you to Regg, McKell, Nancy, Mom, Dad, & everyone who has helped with the big project! 2 loads down…unknown left ;) .... ….I had skipped straight to the Dillon stories but then remembered….the hunting expedition. 1st night at the new house, unpacking things. I hear a scrambling sound coming from the master bathroom. Oh no…..a mouse! Aww….where is a Stoecklein book when I need it! (I wish this line had been added for dramatic effect..no, sadly enough that thought crossed my mind!) Hmmm…..I run into the kitchen frantically looking for a weapon! Awha! I grab the garbage can…dumb it out on the floor & capture him underneath it! Yay! Caputre……oh wait…now I have a mouse under a garbage can….hmmm. I go to the kitchen & two other mice show their beety little faces….& I only have 1 garbage can. So…I leave & go stay at my Aunt Nancy’s J .... Regroup the next morning, visiting the hardware store for a Mouse Arsenal! Wish me luck!.... Dillon, MT.... Anyway….let’s get back to fun, friends & rodeo! Dillon, Montana bound….YAY!!!!! I LOVE DILLON! Mr Wade Sankey is awesome & put on a good little rodeo. Matt Twitchell was picking up so Rita, Rugger (Kelly Jennings son), & I helped with his horses. Getting to ride great horses while watching bucking horses in Dillon, MT! Really does it get much better than that! (lol, I laughed as I said that….I don’t think I have any surpressed desires to be a pickup chic…but maybe ;) Mr Kelly Jennings & Mike Anderson were bull fighting. Oh & don’t forget about the amazing Billy Ward family! Even if no one else had been in town the crew alone would have been a blast to hang out with! It was like a Christmas! Not only was there an amazing crew….It was Dillon Labor Day weekend & lots & lots of old friends had came to town to play! Tate Else & Olie Belles, always a delight to see! It was like a UM-Western Rodeo Reunion! Jason Olson, Clay Martin, Cowboy Stovall, Shane Moran, James Irish…..oh I couldn’t even begin to list all the amazing friends that I got to see. It was like a trip up to Olie’s office in college…big hugs being handed out everywhere! For about an hour Sunday night the Metlin even had a brief moment where it felt like the good ol days in the Club with all the old crew!.... No matter how much fun was had, It’s never the same without my girls! Tiffany Marie Wagner, Brittani Brusett, Angie Hucke, Carrie Hayes & Melina Melina….You were all greatly missed!!!.... As much fun as I had, no stories that I can think of that were blog worthy. If I was worried about my upcoming birthday, I’m certainly not now. Pretty sure no one over the age of 22 tried to take me home, always great for the ego…lol. (fyi~ I went home alone ;) .... Thanks again to Wade for letting me hang out & Mr Matt Twitchell for letting us help with his horses. Great rodeo weekend! Also, a good way to be EXHAUSTED for the next two days of rodeo I still had in Idaho.... Monday morning rolled around & after a night of partaking in the sauna of good times to be had on the dance floor I was ready to head south. Oh wait, not quite….Olie calls & I’m silly enough to answer my phone. She needs people to ride the Western Rodeo float in the parade….seriously! Me in my Dirty Rotten Buckers Hoody, unbrushed hair, and no makeup…….doing the princess wave & throwing candy! Lol….OUTSTANDING! I’d forgotten how much fun throwing candy at people is ;) Thanks Olie! Surprisingly enough, I had a great time!.... Idaho Bound.... Idaho Bound, for real this time! I barely get home & Dad is calling to sort horses….ugg….stop bugging me people…I just need a nap after sleepless nights in Dillon! J2 is a horse back & I go out a foot to block a hole or 5 in the fence. Wowzer…J2’s chubby sister had forgotten just what sorting horses in Hamer is like! Drifted sand piles, wind blowing in your face and running in slow motion! Once we finally got in the sorting pen, J2 needed some help so I step in to hold one side of the herd. Wow….I’m a regular cutting horse…maybe an out of shape cutting horse…but I had some moves ;) Sorting for the finals & Dad is ever so helpfully telling the horses I can take the next weekend. (seriously, Dad…I’m tired…I barely remember my own name right now & I dang sure am not going to remember the list you are rattling off to me right now….just sayin ;).... The Eastern Idaho State Fair & ImPRA Finals! Yay! Fair food, yay! Seriously, that is my favorite part of the whole fair. Ummm, Love the Bread barn!!! The rodeo went good. Lots of bosses & not very many workers but what can ya do. Reggarooni is outstanding & 1 of my very favorite people to work with! I love our horses! They had chosen a solid set of bucking horses from us & everything performed well. I love that set of mares! We have been blessed with some amazing horses! .... Boys are silly. I have a kid come ask me if I know Jay’s horses. I tell him I should know the horses that are here. He tells me what he has…I give him a funny look & ask “Are you sure you haven’t had her before?” He assures me he hasn’t so I go to my book to look her up. Hmmm, just as I had suspicioned…He had her over the 4th of July in Hailey & it was 1 of the best bareback rides of the summer….Silly boys! Well, He goes out & the click real well again. Places on her & maybe wins the round…cant remember for sure…but it was good! As he walks back to the chute…He says to me “She bucked better with me this time…more kick” I reply…Oh ya, ….this coming from the guy who didn’t remember her at all 30 minutes ago! ….silly boys! J .... Congratulations to my Aunt Nancy for getting the Timer of the Finals! You rock! Thanks for letting me stay at your room too J Also, congrats to Trevor Fuhriman on being the pickup man of the year! We are all so proud of you both!.... The next couple days were spent making messes & packing more furniture to move. A huge thank you to my Mom for all her time & help. You rock Mom! Love you!.... Eric Hoggan Memorial Rodeo.... Rodeo time again, I can’t believe that it is that time of year already! Dubois, Idaho….fall rodeo! Even more unbelieveable…the 14th annual Eric Hoggan Memoorial Rodeo! Wow, 14 years, how time flies and stands still all at once..... Dad & King’s had 3 other rodeos so I was sent to Dubois & I wouldn’t have it any other way. David & Regg brought a hand full of horses & all the bulls. Thanks for trucking the stock Regg. You are a huge life savor. Little J2 & Richard gathered for me. J2 is a stud & such good help! I couldn’t have done it without him! A huge thank you to each & every person who donated their time to make that day possible! .... My Montana boys came through for me in the bronc riding! Brian Dawson passed a sign up sheet around in Dillon Labor Day weekend and brought me a truck load of bronc riders…even if they did call to enter at 2 in the morning J It was a great rodeo! Dad let me take a jam up set of horses. Bucked off all but 1 bronc rider. As it turns out…the horses the bronc riders didn’t deem good enough to go to the finals..they were pretty jam up! 6 bronc, 13 Stock Saddle and 9 bull riders, we had a good little rodeo! Also, an improvement from the last rodeo I did….I didn’t get knocked out..lol. Thank you to Joe Slagowski for faithfully running neck ropes! ;) .... One of the funniest parts of the day had to be when David turns to me & says… “Who flanked that horse?” Regg & I turn & look at each other….not us….ya, No one! Lol….he still bucked ok….but they had started the Stock Saddle Bronc riding with out us….lol. .... The chutes in Dubois are old school wood on the back side. Well, one of the top planks felt loose. A bronc rider & I leaned on it at the same time & I felt like we might fall in the chute. His buddy was actually hold on to 1 side of it. Well it just so happened that this chute drew a chute fighting & the chute lost. Big Bird is the horse. He is really really tall. You can’t roll him once the saddle is on our he will rip the horn off. Well, they are having trouble getting out on him. I give the guy another horse cuz Big Bird is being a pig…laying down, flipping over & smashing up his saddle. Jaron Downs wants a horse & says he’ll get out on him. I have to give Jaron an atta boy! He got him saddle & got out on him! Big Bird had knocked the top planks off the chute….I thought I might need to sit down to flank him. I was standing right next to the horse….just 1 board left down by my lower shins…It was weird & I’m sure even funnier to watch ;) Jaron cowboyed up & got out on that big clammering pile of horse flesh. I was impressed. .... Again, thank you to each and every contestant that entered, the Dubois Committee & Community, Kings & Hoggan Rodeo & everyone who donated time to make the 2009 Eric Hoggan Memorial Rodeo a success. After the best steak dinner known to man, Regg, J2, Houston & I headed over to load the semi to head for home. J2 rode with me. He is talking NON STOP! (shocking…must run in the family ;) He is telling me wind westy’s with not even an once of truth in them….that is inbetween telling me to turn up the radio so he can sing along to Taylor Swift! He’s such a dork. .... He askes me about what I’m going to use a room for at my house. I tell him it will be a guest room. I’ll decorate it with a cowboy theme & that is where he can stay when he comes over. He gets real excited & says Oh Awesome! I can bring over all my stuffed horses from my bed & keep them at your house! IT WILL BE LIKE HAVING THEM ON PASTURE! Seriously, that kid cracks me up! .... J2 asked a lot of questions about Eric on our drive home. It’s funny how he askes about him…never actually knowing him…only what others have told him…& some of those didn’t even know him. I guess all any of us really have left are our memories and most have selective memories at that ;) After all this time, I still miss him. Pendleton The season winding down, I text Jake to see when they are up in Pendleton? Wednesday, wanna go! The answer to that would be an overwhelming Heck Yes! ;) Jake points out that this is the last trip of the season & I haven’t even went with them once this year! Ridiculous, I know! Jake & Jesse show up Tuesday night with dinner & a movie! What studs! Always a good time! .... 7:30 am on the road & home by 11:30 that night! Quick trip but action packed every step of the way! Pendleton, Pendleton, Pendleton……AWWWW, Bucking Horses on Grass! I LOVE IT!!! The entire rodeo is amazing! Even the team roping is awesome on the grass & the barrel race is 2nd to none! Some of my favorite people in the world are there. Ike Sankey has put together an All-Star crew & it shows! Some of the handiest pickup men in the world! It was fun to get to see crew from different outfits that I hadn’t seen all summer! Hugs, hellos, queen waves & thank you all for coming! Ms Kacie & Ryan Sankey & myself made our way to the stands for a rather grand time. Kacie & I ordered 2 large waters before the rodeo . I gurauntee you …a lot thought it was vodka because the 3 of us girls hooped & hollered the entire rodeo! How could you not….pickup men….pickup men & more pickup men…Jake…..Jesse…..Keith Isley….Jake Wade….Colin McTaggart…..just sayin….there were a lot of things to hoop it up about! ;) .... It was great to see everyone! Thanks again to Kacie & Ryan for letting me hang out with them. Great great great to see everyone! Miss Becci Glover & Ben Londo, also adorable & super fun! What a fun little trip! All time highlight had to be riding in the back seat on the way home. Jke & Jesse are sitting in the front. We’re watching Anchorman ….the song Afternoon Delight comes on…..Jake & Jesse…in unison …..sing along in perfect harmony to the entire thing! Hilarious!!!!! Thanks again for letting me go with ya guys! You are awesome! Love ya!.... Insert Pendleton Pics Wow, I know…it’s a lot to take in J Hope you had fun on the ride. Western’s College Rodeo in Dillon, Montana is the next venue lined up on the agenda! Hope to see ya there! .... Have a great week!.... Love ya, .... Mindy .... p.s. Thoughts to ponder ~ .... How can you talk for hours with someone you have very very little in common with & then after 5 minutes of conversation have nothing to say to someone who you have everything in common with!?! Yes, I know it seems like I talk a lot but there are some people that after I get off the phone with them..I’m quite certain I’m incapable of caring on a conversation & a social misfit!....

They Rodeo'd Off Into the Sunset

They Rodeo’d off Into the Sunset

I’ve completely lost track of the days….if there wasn’t a rodeo…I just don’t know! J ....

Tremonton, UT ~ August 27^th~ Jesse stops by after an all night drive to grab a few hours of sleep. Tyrell arrives a few hours later…maybe on the way from Kennewick (I don’t remember) They are headed to Tremonton, UT & then parting ways. I hop in with Jesse cuz who doesn’t love a fun lil road trip J ! Thank you for letting me tag along Punkin! I had a great time! Quick trip filled with tons of friends: Lovely Miss Melina, Jake Hayworth, the talented Matt Twitchell, Bob Marriott, John Wright, Mindy Clark, & the entire Reeder family! It was a blast! I’m even sharpening my video skills…aka..trying to push record when they go & not get every bronc ride but Jesse’s ;) ....

I was so proud of myself…well…Jesse gets a re-ride. Ya, the pressures on now…I have to not miss his ride twice (this coming from a girl who drove all night to Salinas & missed his bronc ride) Anyway….I’m in position & ready. He’s about to nod…the screen is black…just as the thought crosses my mind the lens cap….a Nice Young Man from BEHIND the Chutes yells…MINDY You have to take the Lens Cap off! Oh, wow! I got the ride but…seriously…how embarrassing! J lol Atleast I got the bronc ride!....

Mr Tyrell Smith was kind enough to let me catch a ride home with him on his way back to …some rodeo that direction ;) Thanks again to Tyrell & Jesse for stopping. Always great to see you! ....

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Salmon, ID....

Friday morning….much later than a person should be getting up for the day, the next adventure is well under way. John is entered in Salmon Coeur d’ Alene (or however you spell that blasted town) We load up in the cute lil Blue Pontiac G6 & head up the road! What a great drive…until you hit Challis & the winding river front road begins! We made it in good time. Perfect actually, because the best hospitality food in the world was hot & coming off the grill! Tri Tip that was to die for! A huge atta boy to the Salmon rodeo committee, OUTSTANDING! ....

(When walking over to the hospitality tent, a guy hollered at John & I to say hello. They were a little ways back & I honestly didn’t recognize them. It was one of my dearest friends from college & an ex-boyfriend. Funny how only a few years ago there voice would have made my heart stop beating & I didn’t even notice them today. Time is a miraculous thing I guess)....

Mom & Jim had a few bucking horses out so instead of just being a trophy girl I threw on some work clothes & pretended I wasn’t helpless & helped behind the chutes. J Rodeo went ok. Got to see Enrique (a stud Dad sold at NFR sale a few years ago) in the broncs. He was ok but still prefer him in the bares! Lots of Montana guys entered up there. Always fun to see the old college crew! ....

We are behind the chutes & John is waiting for his horse to roll in. This kid has John cornered and is talking his leg off. There is a clown act with a rodeo queen (queen is between 18-23 probably) & a dating contest. She askes the 5 contestants questions to choose who will be her date for the night. At the end she chooses the youngest guy, maybe 10 or 11. He has the choice to go on the date or get a free t-shirt & water bottle….He chooses the later…hahaha….funny funny…Moving on with the rodeo. Well, John & this kid are standing behind me. My back is towards them. This kid says to John…Oh Boy! I’d would have choosen the girl! By Golly! I’m probably too old for her though….I just turned 18 last week! I almost peed my pants laughing…still turned away from them (I could have been laughing at the clown act…John wanting to kick me as he choked back the laughter J Hilarious! I’m probably to old…just turned 18....

Hamilton, MT....

Careful not to let any grass grow under our feet, the rodeo trail was calling our name. Headed back down the road. We made camp in Hamilton, Mt for the night. Much to our dismay…No 4B’s Tomato Soup in Hamilton anymore L We were up in enough time to do a little shopping that morning! Love that cute little town! ....

Coeur d eAlene, ID ....

The road to Coeurd’alene was construction filled..which is better than the other Montana season alternative which is…winter ;) We still made great time. He could have been entered in the bareback riding if he wanted we were there so early! Hanging out at another delightful hospitality tent. The theme was gambling & there was big dice out on the tables…that kept us entertained for quite some time….funny…everytime I rolled 6’s the stakes were always a lot higher J Chase was entered there too & came over to visit for a bit. The Amazing Mr Keith Isley even graced us with his presence for awhile. So lucky to be surrounded by so many amazing people! ....

Rodeo time~ oh, wow….sometimes I forget what the rodeo spectator experience is like. It was jam packed! You had to sit sideways on the bench just to be able to breathe. A big guy almost sat on me…my life kinda flashed before my eyes J It was an awesome crowd, full of Enthusiasm! Jill Frazen Schrock was doing the music. Along with Mr Keith Isley, they were rockin the crowd, on fire! John rode a bucker & most everything out in that perf was nice. Great rodeo, even if we did leave after the 1^st section of Broncs ;) Our next engagement was quite a few miles down the road. Lol…livin the dream ;)

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Dillon, MT....

If you roll up to Dillon, MT at 2 in the morning, It’s hard not to stop into the Long Horn Saloon for a bite to eat J Oh wow, it did not disappoint! The 1^st Saturday night out on the town since the college had been back in session & the town was bustling. I even ran into some rodeo guys getting some after bar breakfast. ....

John & I are sitting at a table for 2. Across the walk way from us way a group that had been partaking in all that the night had to offer & possibly over served ;) There is a girl that is fairly vocal & quite an interesting array of topics were spewing from her mouth. She is talking to John from across the isle. (while she was talking to her sister at the same table, pretty sure she said something about his girlfriend being hotter) Well, I go to the powder room & the 1^st thing I hear when I come back was “ You’re girlfriend has NICE EVERYTHING”….Wow, I’m not sure what I just walked into! LOL Upon hearing more of the story…it got even funnier! While I was gone she had apparently forgotten that John was dining with someone. She says she needs to get out more & they should meet up there every Thurs, Fri, Saturday. Then I returned & she continued with….But you’re girlfriend is prettier than me….with the up & down look…She has Nice Everything! :0 Hilarious! Pretty sure she would have taken us both home! (FYI: we went home alone ;)....

Hamer, Idaho bound the next morning. We stopped for a few hours, picked up Dad & J2 to head Pocatello. Running to grab a bite to eat before our meeting. Lil J2 & I are fighting about what restaurant to eat at. We pull up to the exit & he leans forward & says “How’s this gonna work if you don’t do what I tell you to! (SERIOUSLY!) That kid! I reply with a “You just sit back & watch! The bad thing was that my restaurant was closed so we went to his anyway! Dad thinks it’s great cuz he says J2 is the only one that keeps me in line. In fact when we left, Dad told John “Good Luck…You’re gonna need it!” ....

We were in Pocatello for the ImPRA finals stock selection meeting. (I know sounds like code word for big huge fight) It actually went pretty well. Ok atleast, they took a nice solid set of mares. I’m looking forward to the finals & even more excited for the Eric Hoggan Memorial Rodeo because I get to take anything they didn’t deem worthy to go to the finals!....

After the meeting, I loaded the crew up for icecream. We tried Cold Stone but it was closed so we hit up Wal Mart’s freezer section & ate icecream out bags of salt stacked on the sidewalk. J We’re those people ;) (I told John that & He replied ..he’d never seen anyone buy icecream & eat it on the side walk out side Wal Mart ;)....

On the road again, a vehicle swap in the mix, pick up with horse trailer in tow. Cruising down the road, low & behold a fabulous Idaho sunset! Thank you to John for letting me tag along for a great rodeo weekend!....

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Down in Flames

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Down in Flames! Wowzer, the whirlwind we call fall! Going down in flames with the fleeting summer fun! .... I've taken to long of a writing vacation so my return to the keyboard is bound to be bumpy...bare with me.....prepare to be exhausted by the end of the trail :) I do have to warn you that these stories will be more human than most of my stories. They lack the regular filters that I usually apply to keep a slight glimpse of normality. They are a lot more exposed with all the glory human insecurities entail J Here are just some brief stops from my travels: Company ~ Thanks Wy.... Thanks to cute Wyatt Smith for laying over for a few days in Gooding. It was great to have company! Wy was at the house in between Caldwell & Goodings rodeo perfs. (He got to witness how bad I can drag my feet if the trip isn't my idea :)....yes, I am a BRAT...with a Capitol B) Which leads us to our next adventure........ Chicago.... ...........C~H~I~C~A~G~O!!!!! That's right in the midst of summer fun I packed up my bags & flew to Chicago for a wedding. ( I know I should never admit this in public....but the thought ran thru my mind ....That's fine if you want to get married during Rodeo Season....but I don't want to come!....horrible I know) Don't worry, I decided to put on my big girl panties & deal with it! .... Thursday night found I could be found having a dress up party with the lovely Miss Melina Melina! Thank you for being moral support & helping me pick out clothes for my big city trip! (FYI ~ Melina made the the best sack lunch for our flight...best sandwich I've ever had! OUTSTANDING!!! Thanks to Melina & Barbara Zamora for letting us stay & the ride to the airport. You are the bestest ;) It was a whirlwind trip. Fly in,….traffic…. retal car, …..traffic….hotel,…..traffic….. rehearsal, rehearsal dinner…..traffic, back to hotel for night. Afternoon wedding, get there early for pics & to make sure we make it thru….oh wait….traffic. The windy city sure has a lot of people in it! It was just like on tv…the buildings stacked on top of each other. There were some amazing architectural sites. The church the service was held at was amazing! insert pics of Chicago.... Painting on the celing of coridoor of church Wedding Isle After the ceremony, Mike, Gracian (the dad), John & I loaded back up into the rental car & headed towards the reception. (you guessed it ;) more traffic) At least once on the way…we called to make sure we weren’t lost because it seemed like we were headed into the “bad part of town” We made it safe & sound! Halleluiah (Side Note ~ I’m crazy….crazy for sayin this once & just plain slow for telling it to you now…..Here goes~ the 4 of us are riding in the car. Mike is driving & Gracian (John’s Dad) is sitting in the front passenger seat. I’m sitting behind him. While stopped at a stop light, a man in a pickup truck beside us waves….ok….thats nice. Friendly welcoming people…probably was at the wedding….Ya…well he keeps looking at Gracian….staring….for a looooonnnnggg time! The light is about ready to change…as we go thru the intersection & the truck turns the other way….these words leave my mouth…. “Gracian, If that guy isn’t part of the wedding party…I think he might have a crush on you!” ..(yes, I know…..who in there right mind says that to someone….let alone your dates DAD! Wow, if nothing else I’m making life a lot easier for the next girl ;) .... Moving on…. J The reception was a good time. Fabulous food, good music & danced the night away! As a lot of you have seen all to well….That oh so loveable Mindy at the party that is sober but everyone assumes is drinking …or atleast wishes she was so that she had an excuse ;) Even though I’d drug my feet about going I had a GREAT time! What a fun family! .... The bet~ This brings us to a wager that was placed that night. Chris bets John that he won’t do the “Wedding Dance” off of the 8 seconds movie. After a few drinks & a mounting pile of persuarion…the pot is at $300! Pretty easy money…the song is requested & the boys head out on the dance floor for a foot stompin good time! Well….that’s awesome….except…John’s girlfriend is evil…..his wallet was in her purse…& there was a little over 300 in cash in it…..ya…she totally conspired with the brothers & cousins….for the “bet pot” & he won his own money J H~I~L~A~R~I~O~U~S~!!!! …..It’s a good thing he thinks she ‘s hot or that little stunt might have got her in trouble ;).... A huge thank you to Mike for driving thru the crazy traffic, Gracian for always being a gentleman & opening the door & John for putting up with me. John’s cousin, Alaney, is an absolute hoot! Had a blast with her! Last but certainly not least, Thank you to Tim & Caroline for letting me be a part of their big day! Congratulations & Best Wishes! Back in the West by Sunday, thank you Barbara for the ride from the airport. We are a sweetheart. The weekend winding down, John & I packed up & headed towards our home. Before we split ways we stopped for a little stop for dinner. I swear that boy & I could talk for years! Light showers coming down & the smell of rain in the air as we headed back out to our cars, I even talked him into dancing in the rain ;) Twirling around the parking lot getting soaked! What a fairy tale ending! If you’re gonna go down, you might as well go down in flames!....

Our Ride 2009

Our 2009 Ride



Can you believe it is that time of year again already! Scheduling around bar exam's, master's degrees, and rodeo schedules...Miss Melina, Beautiful Brit, & myself finally found a date that would work to go on the annual ride. The plan was get the the ranch Monday, spend night & ride on Tuesday. Well, after talking to an exhausted group of girls Monday morning we decided to bump it back a day. After a fun filled Saturday at the Mud Lake Rodeo....that was A-OK with me also!

J2 was rather relieved also I think. He's such a stinker. I had told him when we were going so that he could come. The next thing I know he's hopped a ride to his cousins house in Richfield for the week. I was trying to track down a trailer when I made this discovery. Anyway the little con-artist called his Mom & Dad bawling in the middle of the night because he really wanted to come. Who am I to turn down a crying kid, the con worked! The day was already looking full with preperation for the ride, saddles, horses, food, ect. A huge Thank you to my Aunt Crystal who drove to Richfield & pick J2 up & I just had to get him from Arco. It was a huge help & saved me alot of driving! Don't worry, it was still 2 hours round trip. I asked the little hooligan why he didn't come back with Nathan (that's who he road over there with)???? This was his reply "I had to wait to get my Orange Crush rope"....seriously! Karen made him a deal that if he would help her, he could get a new rope. I've got to give the kid kuddos for knowing how to work the system! Truth be told, it was well worth every mile, J2 is hilarious & kept us entertained the entire time!

Melina arrived in Hamer before I got back from picking up J2 so she got in the pickup & headed to get horses. (ya, she's awesome!) A huge thank you to Richard & Chris Nelson for letting us borrow horses. I got to ride Chris's big white horse. He is big, solid, smooth, gentle, and was a pleasure to ride. Also, thank you to Wade & Nancy for helping me get ready & letting us borrow their pickup & horse trailer. Last but certainly not least, thank you to Reggarooni for always checking on me no matter what the task at hand is! Our ride wouldn't have been possible without you all, thanks again!

Loaded up & on the road, a few hours behind schedule....shocking for me, I know ;) Brit knew how we roll so she made sure she didn't arrive too early. :) By the time we arrived at Uncle Lynn's, he probably thought we were trying to starve him down! :) Melina & I got to work on putting up the horses, setting up camp & most importantly...dinner! It was all of 10 o'clock before any food was dished up but I'm pretty sure my cooking tastes better in the dark :) Kinda like the mood lighting in fancy restaurants...except ours was the head lights of Uncle Lynn's 4-wheeler ;) We even had the pleasure of having company at our humble meal. Uncle Lynn had a semi load of hay arrive just before dark, Colton Hansen was driving the big rig. Not gonna lie….he almost ran over the tipi trying to get back into the stack! We cordially moved it before he had to drive back out. Poor guy, pretty sure he had already eaten dinner but was just too nice to shoot a camp full of cute girls down. He said it was good food.

It was a glorious night up the Lodge that night. Brittani saw so many shooting stars I think she ran out of wishes! The moonlight lit up the canyon wall just along the sky line….almost just like it was cued up perfectly for us. The 1st day of Fall isn't until September 22 but someone forgot to tell Mother Nature because as huddled around the dwindling charcoals from dinner there was definitely a chill in the air. Tipi bound, bedrolls & the warmth of tipi walls were calling our names. I would like to say it was a rest full night but anyone who has ever spent the night with J2 ….knows that would be a lie! That kid works harder all night than most people even dream about in the day ;) He yells orders, sits up, kicks, tosses, turns & pretty much carries out a full day’s activities every night. At one point in the night I remember putting my hand on his head & telling him to STOP!

Aww, morning, glorious morning when you are so tired that you are sound asleep!Love that!.....until you hear….not to alarm you but the gate is down & I only see 1 of the 3 horses….AAAAAWWWW! In true rodeo form, Melina & I head out with sweat pants shot gunned in cowboy boots to see if we can find the horses. I say in true rodeo form because it reminded me of being at slack & rolling out in my pj’s….mainly because there was a hunter in the yard I didn’t know as I strolled through the yard in my pj’s…awesome ;)

Not to worry, the Uncle Lynn had seen the horses in for water that morning & closed the gate on them for us. Breakfast of Champions, Brit & Melina provided a smorgasbord of dining options & all were delicious! Thank you! Clean up camp, repack trailer, saddle horses & load up for trail head….or a few tourist pics on the way to trail head ;) We stopped at the doctor’s place to take the traditional Medicine Lodge Sign pic. (fyi: Don’t park in the middle of the road, even when you think no one is around….you will inevitably attract traffic, just sayin ;)

The ride was awesome! It was a beautiful day. We went at our own speed & soaked in the day. All the moisture this year made for a green & glorious ride! The meadows are lush and wild flowers are abundant. The sound of the creek rushing down the mountain & your horses hitting the ground is the only thing that can be heard for miles…well that is until I get a huge bug on me…then you have to throw a little screaming into the mix ;) It was a great day!

We are riding along & J2 says Stop! Stop! There is a huge bug on you. I had just brushed something biting me off my neck…a horse fly I’m pretty sure. Well, J2 starts yelling…I take off my hat & am yelling!!! have my camera in my hand & am hitting my hat on my horses neck to try to get this mammoth beast off my hat!!! FYI….my horse didn’t really appreciate that …anyway, I give Brit the camera & try to wipe it off on her…she didn’t think that was a good idea…..aww, what I wouldn’t give for a good Stoecklein book right now! Finally I shook him loose but the gross little bugger was persistant!

Other excitement on the trip consisted of a treasure hunt! 1/3 of the way back to the truck Melina looks down & her brand new camera is missing!!! Aww….the hunt begins….riding back & forth…looking, looking, looking…..walking, walking, walking….riding, riding, riding, ……looking, looking, looking. At that speed & you become painfully aware of the number of snakes that are slithering by you unnoticed. Well, I told Melina,If we can find Kacie’s diamond in spilled popcorn at the DCNFR, I’m sure her camera will be a piece of cake! Well with a little prayer & a whole lot of faith….there the camera was!!!! Aww, what a relief & blessing…I’d hate to lose all those great pictures ;)

Thank you again to everyone who made our ride possible. Nancy & Wade Durham, Uncle Lynn Hoggan, Richard Nelson family & Kevin Carpenter family. Most importantly, thank you to Beautiful Brittani Brusett & Melina Melina, & J2 for taking the time to come!

Love ya,
Mindy

p.s. I was going to have a J2 quote section but that kid is so funny I just couldn’t narrow it down. He is hilarious…you might need a translator…but if you get one he is a funny bugger ;)

10% off Lil' Red Roan orders for the month of August!

(Martiny Saddle Co. products not included)

A picture is worth a 1,000 words so I will let them tell our story much better than I ever could.




View Heading up Medicine Lodge



The old red barn



Camp



J2 Striking a Pose



Me and J2 at Lunch









Brit, Me and Melina






So much fun it should be illegal!