Gun Shows, Horse Shows

There was a gun show at the fairgrounds this weekend, which, of course, I went to. I just like hanging out at them. Looking at stuff. Talking to people. Maybe buying a thing or two. Oven frog. Forceps. Camp chair. Ammo. Sometimes even a gun.

It also seems like a lot of times when they're having a gun show, they're having a horse show at the same time, be it at Midway or the Fairgrounds. And there's one thing I've noticed over and over again.

Horse chicks are hot.

Unselfconscious, doing what they love. Which involves a bit of heavy lifting, getting dirty, cleaning out horse-hockey. Down to earth. Unassuming. Feminine, but strong. It's not for prissy girls. Just watch one packing a saddle over to her mount. Little bit of a swagger. But not a guy swagger. Definitely a girl swagger. So I never mind running across a horse show when I'm headed in to a gun show. Or just at the county or state fair. (note, this picture is not from today. I didn't have my camera with me. This is my friend Sarah, who is a horse chick as well. She sent me this picture recently, and I think it illustrates my point well. Hope she doesn't mind.)

Ran in to several people at the show ... a few I was surprised to see there, including my insurance agent and a coworker. The place was packed. For my part, I picked up some 9mm ammo which has been hard to find since the election. And I got Vicki a hand-held stun-gun. 850,000 volts of "get the f*ck away from me" that fits in her purse and has a wrist lanyard. (I know. This is a family blog. But I'm sorry, that's just the best way to describe it.) Designed to fit in a lady's hand. So any of you bleepholes lurking in a dark alley or parking garage or hiding behind a bush had just better steer clear.

And maybe I should be on my best behavior as well :-) Who wants to piss off a woman with that kind of power?



I also got some ammo for the Mosin-Nagant rifle ... a Russian WWII rifle I have. Made in 1943. Accurate little buggers, these are. And bolt-action, so all the powder pushes one way -- forward. It's old. It's simple. It works well. Ergo, I like it.

We're sans grandson for a week. Kristin went down to Texas with her parents and grandmother to visit her aunt, Trenton in tow. His birthday is coming up this week. Hard to believe it's been a year. He's ALMOST walking. So close. My bet was he'd be walking by his first birthday. He'd better be working hard down there in Texas.

Brother Tom gave me his bicycle this winter. A nice "Specialized" 21 speed with front shocks, fenders, and accurate "click" shifters. The bicycle I'd had before he also gave to me. It was probably 10 years old when he got it, and I've had it for 20. And he had it for 10 or so. It worked. But just.

But Tom's got this funky cardiovascular condition now that means basically he can't exercise without getting terrible headaches and passing out. Anyway ... how I (try) to keep in shape is by riding a bike to work 3 days a week outside of winter. And I started again a week ago friday. But it's still spring and the weather didn't cooperate much last week. Between the weather and my Thursday guitar lesson, we're talking two days last week. But I'll pedal in tomorrow, in the cold. I hate myself by the time I get to the top of Providence Hill, but I feel better later for having done it both physically and mentally. I'd like to try another 14er this summer. Even if I don't get to, Colorado is calling my name. I need a mountain fix.

Vicki & Trenton

Just so you don't get the impression I hog the baby all the time...

It's Night

I remember when we were kids... when Daylight Saving Time would start, we would get up in the morning for school that next monday and say, "what are you doing up?? See? Look! " [opens window shade to reveal darkness outside] "It's night! Go back to bed!!!

Well, I had that experience this past Monday Morning again, and I had to joke with Vicki about it

But seriously, it hasn't seemed to affect me that much this year.

We've done quite a bit of Trenton sitting. Otherwise, not too much. Went to dinner last night with Sam & Deb and Sam's mom "Honey" out at Huer's. Fried chicken. Mmmmmm.

I occasionally go to Trenton's Mommy & Me classes, taught by his own Mommy. I have a lot of fun with him. I'm pretty hooked. I know, he's just about to add "annoying" to his reporitoire... but I think I can handle it. The good will outweigh the bad.

Trenton is standing up on his own now and he's so proud when he takes his hands off of any supports. Then he flops back down on the floor. Apparently over at their house he tries bouncing up and down a bit and falls down doing that. He loves my guitar and tries to go get it when he sees it on his stand... but we won't let him grab it because if it falls on him ... well... ow! But tonight he started something new. When he sees me trying to get to the guitar before he does, he speeds up -- crawls in double-time. Hilarious!

I had bought a cheap ukelele when Cassie & Q were little so they'd have something I didn't care about to play with that was like a guitar and more their size. He's taking to that, but he likes to strum mine, too. And pluck strings.

Of course, my very favorite thing is to have him fall asleep on my lap. So sweet. We are so lucky to live so close.

Tonight we are having what will probably be the last fireplace fire of the season. He hasn't seen one since January, I don't think, and it was kinda cold and we had him for the evening. So I built one. He practically tried to crawl in to it.

He's going to be a pyromaniac. Or a great camper!!!

Playing to a captive audience

Yeah, so this is how I spend a lot of my time now. Hanging out with this little fellow, babysitting to make life easier on his mommy, and to make life a lot more fun for me, his grandpa, or "Papa Phil", as I've been dubbed.

Today when I was alone with him for a while while everyone else went out to look at houses, I'd sit and play the guitar on the floor. He isn't interrupting me as much anymore. He likes to strum and pluck while I hold the guitar. And he likes to pull himself up on it. But more and more he likes to listen. I even caught him clapping along today (he just recently learned to clap. He seems to like music, and he likes bouncing to lively music.)

He'll watch for a while and then trundle off to get into some michief ... destroy the train set, or head for something dangerous like the stairs. Which reminds me. We need to re-babyproof the house. Haven't had to since Cassie and Nathanial were little.

Anyway, the second I stop playing the guitar as he's shuffling off to Buffalo, he stops in his tracks and turns around and looks at me like, "what the hell do you think you're doing??? Keep playing!!!!"

I was singing him "Monkey and the Engineer", "There She Goes", and "Knotty Pine". I gave up and just put some Jimmy Buffett on later while I played baby monitor. I like to let him explore as much as he can unfettered. But when I did have to pick him up to, ahem, remove him from a situation he shouldn't remain in ... I'd distract him from being upset about it by singing whatever Buffett song happened to be playing at the time.

"... then they're off to catch a stripper with their eyes glued to her 'g' ... oh, but I don't think I would ever let 'em cut on me"

Oops.

Oh well. He's 11 months old.