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We're putting this blog to rest and starting a new one with a broader perspective.
Check us out at Dan & Betty's Place.
We've Moved----->
14 years ago
Monday, September 1, 2008
Sunday, August 31, 2008
A Time for All Seasons - NOT
Ok, ok. You win. We'll keep a blog going - at least for a little while longer - but we're also going to take the advice that we will do it on a random basis - when we actually have something to say.
However, we want to start fresh so we're going to move our thoughts to Dan and Betty's Place. This fits more with the fact that our horses are only a part of our lives. This gives us the opportunity to wander off into other areas which may or may not be interesting to anyone.
If you're really interested you can follow us there. Here's the link to our new blog...
http://danandbettysplace.blogspot.com/
Seriously, thanks for the encouragement.
Dan and Betty
Ecclesiastes 3, verses 1 and 7 say there is a time for all things...
We started this blog to share our life with horses. Our inspiration was the blog of our good friends Max and Michelle Wade at Galloping Grace Youth Ranch. Their blog is a delight to read and the pictures are wonderful.
From the many comments to their blog we have learned to follow the adventures of Laughing Orca Ranch and 7MSN Ranch - both New Mexico neighbors. We have become good friends with Mark and TJ at The Ranch on Salmon Creek. And, we've enjoyed the adventures of Trailboss and her granddaughter, Papa Joe, and her great dogs and horses.
Life has interfered in many ways both good and bad with keeping our blog going in the way we would like.
On the good side our granddaughter Juliet was born and we have wanted to spend as much time as possible with her and her parents in Fort Collins, Colorado. Also, our church has been blessed with significant growth, going from about 400 on a weekend to almost 1,000 in less than a year after our move to a new facility. This has been wonderful, but it has more than doubled our work as volunteer associate pastors who do pastoral counseling. There are a lot of hurting people out there, but we are blessed to do what we can to help.
On the bad side, 2008 has been a not-so-great year for Betty as she has dealt with recovering from an accident, an emergency appendectomy, and a bacterial infection from the appendectomy.
Our blog has been a good outlet for us at times, but it has been harder and harder to find the time to write and worthy subjects to write about.
We feel this season of our lives as bloggers has come to a close. We have enjoyed it, but we want our time to be used as well as possible - and that includes having more time to read the great blogs mentioned above. At our age, making good use of our time is a high priority.
So, this will be our last post and we will delete this blog in a day or so.
To those of you who have faithfully read our ramblings we appreciate your time and especially the comments you have shared. Who knows? Maybe we'll start another blog in the future on the joys and challenges of getting older.
God's blessings to you all.
Dan & Betty
However, we want to start fresh so we're going to move our thoughts to Dan and Betty's Place. This fits more with the fact that our horses are only a part of our lives. This gives us the opportunity to wander off into other areas which may or may not be interesting to anyone.
If you're really interested you can follow us there. Here's the link to our new blog...
http://danandbettysplace.blogspot.com/
Seriously, thanks for the encouragement.
Dan and Betty
Ecclesiastes 3, verses 1 and 7 say there is a time for all things...
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven.
and a season for every activity under heaven.
A time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak.
We started this blog to share our life with horses. Our inspiration was the blog of our good friends Max and Michelle Wade at Galloping Grace Youth Ranch. Their blog is a delight to read and the pictures are wonderful.
From the many comments to their blog we have learned to follow the adventures of Laughing Orca Ranch and 7MSN Ranch - both New Mexico neighbors. We have become good friends with Mark and TJ at The Ranch on Salmon Creek. And, we've enjoyed the adventures of Trailboss and her granddaughter, Papa Joe, and her great dogs and horses.
Life has interfered in many ways both good and bad with keeping our blog going in the way we would like.
On the good side our granddaughter Juliet was born and we have wanted to spend as much time as possible with her and her parents in Fort Collins, Colorado. Also, our church has been blessed with significant growth, going from about 400 on a weekend to almost 1,000 in less than a year after our move to a new facility. This has been wonderful, but it has more than doubled our work as volunteer associate pastors who do pastoral counseling. There are a lot of hurting people out there, but we are blessed to do what we can to help.
On the bad side, 2008 has been a not-so-great year for Betty as she has dealt with recovering from an accident, an emergency appendectomy, and a bacterial infection from the appendectomy.
Our blog has been a good outlet for us at times, but it has been harder and harder to find the time to write and worthy subjects to write about.
We feel this season of our lives as bloggers has come to a close. We have enjoyed it, but we want our time to be used as well as possible - and that includes having more time to read the great blogs mentioned above. At our age, making good use of our time is a high priority.
So, this will be our last post and we will delete this blog in a day or so.
To those of you who have faithfully read our ramblings we appreciate your time and especially the comments you have shared. Who knows? Maybe we'll start another blog in the future on the joys and challenges of getting older.
God's blessings to you all.
Dan & Betty
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Lessons from a Cartoon
One of my dreams as a younger man was to be a cartoonist. I was the editorial cartoonist for several years for my college paper - The UT Beacon (that's University of Tennessee) - back in the 1960's. However, I knew that cartoonists had a hard time making a living so I gave that up for more practical means of making a living for me and my family.
I continue to love reading cartoons. I save the cartoon section of our paper and read it last each day as it is the favorite part for me.
My all-time favorite cartoon was Calvin and Hobbes. I was so sorry to see that one come to an end, but fortunately they are rerunning all of his strips so I can still read it every day.
My second all-time favorite is For Better Or For Worse. It's a family cartoon drawn by Lynn Johnston, a Canadian artist. Over the years we've been able to watch the adventures of the Patterson family and watched as kids were born, grown up and married in their own right.
Today's strip is right after the marriage of the daughter, Elizabeth. She and her new husband Anthony have gone to visit her grandfather right after their wedding. He is in the hospital and not doing well. The older woman is his second wife as Elizabeth's birth grandmother died several years ago.
I know the words are hard to read so I'll give you the gist of what is said.
Elizabeth in the second panel is saying that looking after him day after day can't be easy. Her step-grandmother responds...
"It's not easy. But we made a commitment, just as you did today - and although it's not easy, this is all part of loving someone with all your heart - and with all you have to give! It's a promise that should last a lifetime. It defines you as a person and describes your soul. It's a promise to be there, one for the other, no matter what happens, no matter who falls. For better or worse, my dears - for better or for worse."
I love the thought that our promises 'define us as a person and describe our soul.' I grew up believing that a man's word should always be good and his handshake was as good as gold.
Betty and I believe that, after our personal commitments to God, our marriage commitments to each other are the most important words we will ever say in our lives. And, Lynn's comic strip today perfectly illustrates how we feel. We want our promises to each other to define us as people and describe our souls.
You never know what you'll find in the comics.
Today is August 30 and if today is your Birthday then you share your day with: Andy Roddick (pro tennis player), Cameron Diaz (actress - "Shrek" and "Charlies Angels"), Peggy Lipton (actress - "The Mod Squad"), Frank "Tug" McGraw (professional baseball player and father of singer Tim McGraw), Jean-Claude Killy (French Olympic gold medal skier), Warren Buffett (incredibly rich man), Ted Williams (one of the best ever baseball players), Fred MacMurray (actor - "Flubber" and "My Three Sons"), and Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (author - "Frankenstein").
On this day in 1862 the Union was defeated by the Confederates at Bull Run. In 1967 the Senate confirmed Thurgood Marshall as the first Black Supreme Court Justice. And, in 1993 the "Late Show with David Letterman" premiered on CBS.
I continue to love reading cartoons. I save the cartoon section of our paper and read it last each day as it is the favorite part for me.
My all-time favorite cartoon was Calvin and Hobbes. I was so sorry to see that one come to an end, but fortunately they are rerunning all of his strips so I can still read it every day.
My second all-time favorite is For Better Or For Worse. It's a family cartoon drawn by Lynn Johnston, a Canadian artist. Over the years we've been able to watch the adventures of the Patterson family and watched as kids were born, grown up and married in their own right.
Today's strip is right after the marriage of the daughter, Elizabeth. She and her new husband Anthony have gone to visit her grandfather right after their wedding. He is in the hospital and not doing well. The older woman is his second wife as Elizabeth's birth grandmother died several years ago.
I know the words are hard to read so I'll give you the gist of what is said.Elizabeth in the second panel is saying that looking after him day after day can't be easy. Her step-grandmother responds...
"It's not easy. But we made a commitment, just as you did today - and although it's not easy, this is all part of loving someone with all your heart - and with all you have to give! It's a promise that should last a lifetime. It defines you as a person and describes your soul. It's a promise to be there, one for the other, no matter what happens, no matter who falls. For better or worse, my dears - for better or for worse."
I love the thought that our promises 'define us as a person and describe our soul.' I grew up believing that a man's word should always be good and his handshake was as good as gold.
Betty and I believe that, after our personal commitments to God, our marriage commitments to each other are the most important words we will ever say in our lives. And, Lynn's comic strip today perfectly illustrates how we feel. We want our promises to each other to define us as people and describe our souls.
You never know what you'll find in the comics.
Today is August 30 and if today is your Birthday then you share your day with: Andy Roddick (pro tennis player), Cameron Diaz (actress - "Shrek" and "Charlies Angels"), Peggy Lipton (actress - "The Mod Squad"), Frank "Tug" McGraw (professional baseball player and father of singer Tim McGraw), Jean-Claude Killy (French Olympic gold medal skier), Warren Buffett (incredibly rich man), Ted Williams (one of the best ever baseball players), Fred MacMurray (actor - "Flubber" and "My Three Sons"), and Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (author - "Frankenstein").
On this day in 1862 the Union was defeated by the Confederates at Bull Run. In 1967 the Senate confirmed Thurgood Marshall as the first Black Supreme Court Justice. And, in 1993 the "Late Show with David Letterman" premiered on CBS.
Friday, August 29, 2008
A Good Day at the Ranch
I won't steal Michelle Wade's thunder as she'll probably write about the day at Galloping Grace Youth Ranch today. I got to go out after a long absence because of us being gone and Betty's bacterial infection battle (which hopefully should be over soon). We're believing in God's healing power over these little @$&!##*.
It was a good day and truly illustrated the purpose of the ranch - to bring joy to children through horses - and that happened today.
Plus I got to work with kids and horses and that adds up to a good day in my book.
Today is August 29 and if today is your Birthday then you share your day with: John McCain (presidential candidate and authentic war hero), Robin Leach (host of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous"), William Friedkin (director - "The Exorcist"), Elliott Gould (actor - "M.A.S.H."), Richard Attenborough (director - "Ghandi"), Isabel Sanford (actress - "The Jeffersons"), Ingrid Bergman (actress - "Casablanca") and John Locke (English philosopher).
On this day in 1966 the Beatles played their last concert in Candlestick Park in San Francisco. In 2005 hurricane Katrina made landfall in New Orleans, Louisiana.
It was a good day and truly illustrated the purpose of the ranch - to bring joy to children through horses - and that happened today.
Plus I got to work with kids and horses and that adds up to a good day in my book.
Today is August 29 and if today is your Birthday then you share your day with: John McCain (presidential candidate and authentic war hero), Robin Leach (host of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous"), William Friedkin (director - "The Exorcist"), Elliott Gould (actor - "M.A.S.H."), Richard Attenborough (director - "Ghandi"), Isabel Sanford (actress - "The Jeffersons"), Ingrid Bergman (actress - "Casablanca") and John Locke (English philosopher).
On this day in 1966 the Beatles played their last concert in Candlestick Park in San Francisco. In 2005 hurricane Katrina made landfall in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Anger, Fear and Impatience
I ran across the following quote from "Horse Smarts for the Busy Rider" by Rick Lamb and realized that it not only applies to our relationship with horses, but also to our friends and family.
There are three human emotions most of us feel every day that will sabotage communication with a horse.
It's normal to feel angry when a horse misbehaves, afraid when you think you're in danger, or impatient when training takes longer than expected. But in every case, responding emotionally makes the situation worse. Since we can't simply turn off our emotions, Dr. Robert M. Miller offers this suggestion.
That's not a bad rule for our interactions with other folks.
Today is August 28 and if today is your Birthday then you share your day with: LeAnn Rimes (country singer), Jack Black (actor - "School of Rock" and "King Kong"), Jason Priestly (actor - "Beverly Hills 90210), Shania Twain (country singer), Billy Boyd (actor - "Lord of the Rings"), Scott Hamilton (Olympic gold medal ice skater), Daniel Stern (actor - "City Slickers"), David Soul (actor - "Starsky and Hutch"), Donald O'Connor (singer/dancer), Charles Boyer (French actor), Leo Tolstoy (author - "War and Peace"), and Elizabeth Ann Seaton (first American Catholic saint).
On this day in 1922 the first radio commerical aired on WEAF in New York City. It was a 10-minute ad for Queensboro Realty Co. who paid $100 for the ad time. In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King made his famous "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. And, in 1996 Britain's Prince Charles and Princess Diana were divorced after 15 years of marriage.
Anger, Fear, Impatience
There are three human emotions most of us feel every day that will sabotage communication with a horse.
It's normal to feel angry when a horse misbehaves, afraid when you think you're in danger, or impatient when training takes longer than expected. But in every case, responding emotionally makes the situation worse. Since we can't simply turn off our emotions, Dr. Robert M. Miller offers this suggestion.
"We have to discipline ourselves that when that occurs - not if, because it will occur - we're human beings, we're going to get angry sometimes, we're going to be afraid sometimes, and we're going to be impatient sometimes. And what you do is stop right there and walk away from that horse, because you have lost the ability to communicate with a horse when you are impatient or angry or afraid."
Walking away may require swallowing your pride. But that's one more emotion you can't allow to rule you.
That's not a bad rule for our interactions with other folks.
Today is August 28 and if today is your Birthday then you share your day with: LeAnn Rimes (country singer), Jack Black (actor - "School of Rock" and "King Kong"), Jason Priestly (actor - "Beverly Hills 90210), Shania Twain (country singer), Billy Boyd (actor - "Lord of the Rings"), Scott Hamilton (Olympic gold medal ice skater), Daniel Stern (actor - "City Slickers"), David Soul (actor - "Starsky and Hutch"), Donald O'Connor (singer/dancer), Charles Boyer (French actor), Leo Tolstoy (author - "War and Peace"), and Elizabeth Ann Seaton (first American Catholic saint).
On this day in 1922 the first radio commerical aired on WEAF in New York City. It was a 10-minute ad for Queensboro Realty Co. who paid $100 for the ad time. In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King made his famous "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. And, in 1996 Britain's Prince Charles and Princess Diana were divorced after 15 years of marriage.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Nothing Much Today
Today was one of those days where I did things, but didn't really get anything accomplished or do anything special or fun.
Originally, Betty and I hoped that we could take the horses out for a walk to give us and them a little exercise, but Betty's battle with the bacterial infection kept her from doing what she wanted. My number one priority is her so I don't want to do anything with the horses - ride or take a walk - when she's not feeling well.
I did go out and get some groceries and messed with a computer problem, but, other than taking care of the horses that was it.
Today is August 27 and if today is your Birthday then you share your day with: Alexa Vega (actress - big sister in "Spy Kids"), Alex Lifeson (lead guitarist for "Rush"), Paul 'Pee Wee' Herman (not sure what he is), Barbara Bach (actress - married Ringo Starr), Drayl Dragon (Captain in "Captain and Tennille"), Martha Raye (comedian), and Lyndon Johnson (36th US President).
On this day in 1859 Edwin Drake drilled the first successful oil well in Titusville, PA; in 1883 the volcano on the island of Krakatoa erupted, and in 1962 the US launched the Mariner Space Probe that flew past Venus.
Originally, Betty and I hoped that we could take the horses out for a walk to give us and them a little exercise, but Betty's battle with the bacterial infection kept her from doing what she wanted. My number one priority is her so I don't want to do anything with the horses - ride or take a walk - when she's not feeling well.
I did go out and get some groceries and messed with a computer problem, but, other than taking care of the horses that was it.
Today is August 27 and if today is your Birthday then you share your day with: Alexa Vega (actress - big sister in "Spy Kids"), Alex Lifeson (lead guitarist for "Rush"), Paul 'Pee Wee' Herman (not sure what he is), Barbara Bach (actress - married Ringo Starr), Drayl Dragon (Captain in "Captain and Tennille"), Martha Raye (comedian), and Lyndon Johnson (36th US President).
On this day in 1859 Edwin Drake drilled the first successful oil well in Titusville, PA; in 1883 the volcano on the island of Krakatoa erupted, and in 1962 the US launched the Mariner Space Probe that flew past Venus.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Tuesday - Trip to the MVD
Today was an errand day.
It started off with me going to exercise first thing this morning. Normally, Betty would go too, but she's still working to get rid of this bacterial infection. As soon as it's gone, she'll get back into the exercise habit.
Then I went to the place that I hate almost as going to the dentist - the Motor Vehicles Department. My driver's license expires on September 16 so I figured I better get it done now. New Mexico has gone to a new 'secure' driver's license. It supposedly has a slew of security features. Initially, they give you a temporary license then you receive your permanent license in the mail.
I showed up at the entrance to the MVD about 9:30 AM and it surprised me to see no one at the check in desk. Usually there's a line. I got my number - 59 - and waited first to get my picture made - you know - the one you hate most of all - the one that makes you always look like a dork. Then I took my seat among the masses and waited for my number to be called. They were calling number 40 when I sat down so only 19 people ahead of me.
Fortunately I remembered to bring a book with me and I got several chapters read before I heard them call for number 57. Good, I'm getting close.
I heard them call for number 58 to go to desk number 5. In a few minutes they called my number, 59, to go to desk number 5. Oh, I figured whomever had number 58 either left of went to the bathroom - their bad luck.
As I walked toward desk 5 a little old lady walked in front of me to desk 5 - she was number 58. She had gone to the wrong desk and was confused about where to go. The MVD lady asked me to take a seat and she would get to me next.
The little old lady had a hard time with the instructions she was given - how to use the eye test machine, what forms to fill out, was she taking any diabetes medicine, etc., - so it was taking a little time. Naturally, I heard number 60, 61, 62, and 63 called for other desks as I sat there waiting.
Finally, she got everything finished and I went up to get my license renewal. The young lady who worked there apologized and, you know what, it was OK. It was no big deal.
God has always been working on me to learn how to be content in all circumstances and this was just another object lesson for me to learn, I guess.
Finally, I went to Comcast to turn in some equipment that I no longer needed and that went smoothly. The rest of the day was regular chores around the place. Hopefully, we'll get some rain tonight.
Today is August 26 and if today is your Birthday then you share your day with: Keke Palmer (actress - "Akeelah and the Bee" - great movie by the way), Cassie Ventura (R&B singer), Macauley Caulkin (actor - "Home Alone"), Brandford Marsalis (jazz saxophonist), Geraldine Ferraro (VP candidate), Mother Teresa (Catholic nun), Chris Burke (actor - "Life Goes On"), and Albert Sabin (developer of the polio vaccine).
On this day in 1920 the Constitutional Amendment to allow women to vote went into effect and in 1939 the first Major League baseball game, between the Cincinnati Reds and the Brooklyn Dodgers played at Ebbetts Field, was broadcast by the experimental station W2XBS.
It started off with me going to exercise first thing this morning. Normally, Betty would go too, but she's still working to get rid of this bacterial infection. As soon as it's gone, she'll get back into the exercise habit.
Then I went to the place that I hate almost as going to the dentist - the Motor Vehicles Department. My driver's license expires on September 16 so I figured I better get it done now. New Mexico has gone to a new 'secure' driver's license. It supposedly has a slew of security features. Initially, they give you a temporary license then you receive your permanent license in the mail.
I showed up at the entrance to the MVD about 9:30 AM and it surprised me to see no one at the check in desk. Usually there's a line. I got my number - 59 - and waited first to get my picture made - you know - the one you hate most of all - the one that makes you always look like a dork. Then I took my seat among the masses and waited for my number to be called. They were calling number 40 when I sat down so only 19 people ahead of me.Fortunately I remembered to bring a book with me and I got several chapters read before I heard them call for number 57. Good, I'm getting close.
I heard them call for number 58 to go to desk number 5. In a few minutes they called my number, 59, to go to desk number 5. Oh, I figured whomever had number 58 either left of went to the bathroom - their bad luck.
As I walked toward desk 5 a little old lady walked in front of me to desk 5 - she was number 58. She had gone to the wrong desk and was confused about where to go. The MVD lady asked me to take a seat and she would get to me next.
The little old lady had a hard time with the instructions she was given - how to use the eye test machine, what forms to fill out, was she taking any diabetes medicine, etc., - so it was taking a little time. Naturally, I heard number 60, 61, 62, and 63 called for other desks as I sat there waiting.
Finally, she got everything finished and I went up to get my license renewal. The young lady who worked there apologized and, you know what, it was OK. It was no big deal.
God has always been working on me to learn how to be content in all circumstances and this was just another object lesson for me to learn, I guess.
Finally, I went to Comcast to turn in some equipment that I no longer needed and that went smoothly. The rest of the day was regular chores around the place. Hopefully, we'll get some rain tonight.
Today is August 26 and if today is your Birthday then you share your day with: Keke Palmer (actress - "Akeelah and the Bee" - great movie by the way), Cassie Ventura (R&B singer), Macauley Caulkin (actor - "Home Alone"), Brandford Marsalis (jazz saxophonist), Geraldine Ferraro (VP candidate), Mother Teresa (Catholic nun), Chris Burke (actor - "Life Goes On"), and Albert Sabin (developer of the polio vaccine).
On this day in 1920 the Constitutional Amendment to allow women to vote went into effect and in 1939 the first Major League baseball game, between the Cincinnati Reds and the Brooklyn Dodgers played at Ebbetts Field, was broadcast by the experimental station W2XBS.
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