madranchwife

I just realized the picture at the top of the page was the one from the middle of winter.  Which it most definitely is not at the moment.  But which it is most definitely heading that way shortly it seems.

So I figured I better stop being a dufus like good ol’ Governor Perry.  (I’m sorry, did I just write that?  Surely that’s not a kind thing to say about a sitting Governor, the leader of the free world down there Texas way.  But then, in my humble defense, this is the same man who, just a few short years ago, had a wee bit of trouble remembering a few things and then just a few short weeks ago made a comment about our citizens being under attack, or assault, or something asinine like that as he was referring to busloads of children coming up from our neighboring countries to the south.  And in response to that, he sent a whole passel of National Guardsmen/women to do something down there at the border.  A real show of force.  A true leader that dude down there Texas way,  in the photo with all the black accoutrements like my Starbucks dude-in-black.  Yeah, you show ’em Guvner.  You’re the man.  Getting all duded up and holding big ol’ guns and stuff.  Got to keep our country safe from all those gol-durned, gosh-danged kids.)  Wow-eeee, did I digress or what?

Let’s see if I can get back to where I started.  Or wanted to start.

See what happens when I don’t write very often?  The images and the words just sort of sit up there in the cranium, swirling and coalescing and congealing and pretty soon they just sort of spew out, onto the page (so to speak) and before I know it, there they are in black and white and ain’t much I can do about it.  Well, I suppose I could hit the delete button, but what fun is there in that?

Anyhoo.  I realized the picture of the snow might seem out of place for August.  So I decided I should change it, if even for just a few weeks.  Because, you see, summer here is pretty much almost over.  Yep.  Over.  Kaput.  Finished.  Done.

What on earth makes me say this you ask?

A multitude of reasons my dear friends, a multitude of reasons.

1.  The mountain chickadees are showing up.  They live in the trees outside Gracelyn’s room all winter and eat birdseed from my hand in the mornings.  They head up the mountain during the summer.  Now they’re back.

2.  The ground cover has turned up with red, orange and yellow leaves.  The foliage…it is a changin’.

3.  The wind has changed.  Happens every year after the 4th of July.  The wind changes, a harbinger of things to come.  In this case, fall in all of its autumnal glory.

4.  The mosquitoes are gone, their population decimated by the frost earlier this month.

5.  The chipmunks and golden mantled ground squirrels are going bananas out there, eating everything in sight.  INCLUDING my flowers.  Little s-h-I-t-esses (as Gracelyn likes to say–which I know I should not laugh when she does that, but there is something truly comical about my dear, darling seven year old spelling out that word as she’s yelling at those pesky little rodents after they’ve decapitated yet one more of our beautiful flowers).

6.  The man of the house mentioned he noticed some leaves changing on the trees.  A very disturbing sign.  It’s only August 15th.

7.  The hummingbirds have now eaten 90 lbs of sugar this season.  Surely that means the end is nigh, because how on god’s green earth could those tiny little things eat more than 90 lbs of sugar?  Surely they’ll be heading south shortly?

(Note to self:  buy stock in sugar cane companies.)

8.  I had to fight the urge to turn on the heaters this morning, and instead broke out the wool socks and the sweater.

9.  Due to #8 above, a day at the pool just doesn’t sound very appealing anymore.

There you have it.  Almost a Top Ten list of the reasons summer is fast approaching overness (yes, my made up word for the day).

And in other news…………..HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  He turns 1 year old today, August 15.

BANG-A-RANG Robin Williams!

I wish you peace and calm on your journey…maybe to Never Never Land after all, eh?

The world has lost another incredible voice.  You were the voices of my generation…from a lovable alien that befuddled the Fonz to the crazy DJ in a far off land.  There were so many.  You were simply a fixture in our world.  Always there.  Always with a smile. Always making us laugh.

My heart is heavy these last few days, and I know I am not alone.  The sadness and despair that must have been in your heart is hard to imagine knowing how much joy you spread to those around the world.

You are my happy thought Robin Williams.

BANG-A-RANG!

Aye.  You guessed it.  June 24 in the year 1314 the esteemed Robert the Bruce defeated Edward II of England in the Scottish War of Independence.

And thank goodness he did.

Those bloody bastards had done enough damage and needed to be put in their places.

And, eventually, Sir Robert the Bruce became King and later gave a castle to my Burnett ancestors.

And everyone should have a castle in the family.  You know?  So thank the Universe for today, 700 years ago.

Cheers.

Hot off the wire:

The Texas GOP Chairman is asking all delegates not to “make faces” at other delegates or to shout at them.  (Tweet posted at Juanita Jean’s blog:  http://www.juanitajean.com)

One wonders if the next order of business would be to discuss the rules of the day including never leaving the room without your buddy holding your hand, raising said hand if you need to use the bathroom and finally, no spitballs.

One also has to wonder what goes on down yonder way that would necessitate the “no faces” rule.  Things to ponder.

Well, the Texas GOP has adopted into their 2014 platform wording stating they support the use of reparative therapy for homosexuality.  That’s where somehow psychological ‘treatment’ is administered that causes homosexual people to renounce their homosexuality and thus be repaired.  Some ridiculous nonsense like that.  Perhaps that’s what prompted some to “make faces.”  I know I’m making faces right now.

Who knows?  All I know is that I’m with Wendy Davis.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.  I almost (ALMOST) wish I was back down south so I could mosey on into a polling place and vote for Wendy Davis for Governor!!!  Calling any and all Texans to throw your support her way.

This just in.  One of my favorite dudes ever (Pope Francis, not Patrick Stewart) is praying with Palestinian and Israeli leaders at the Vatican today.  Each will say a prayer–Christian, Muslim and Jewish.  Then all will plant an olive tree together.  You go Francis.  (No disrespect intended.  Perhaps should have written “You go Pope Francis.”)

And, in a follow-up to the last post, now the FBI is investigating death threats leveled at Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl AND his family.  His family.  The long-bearded dude that is his dad.  Get a grip America.  Get a flipping grip.  Leave the man and his grateful, loving family ALONE.  For gods sake.  Get over yourselves.  Let the military do what it needs to do as far as judging this man.  Death threats?  Are we no better than that?

The insanity burns.

And for more insanity.  In the bookstore yesterday (we found the BEST little independent bookstore here in Casper, Wyoming…Wind City Books…must visit if you can), I saw a book about Edward Snowden, decreeing him as some sort of hero.

Snort.

(Yes, I realize that’s not a very lady-like sound, but desperate times call for desperate measures.)

IMHO, the man is NOT a hero.  He is a traitor.  He needs to be treated as such.  Dealt with as a traitor should be dealt with.  He needs to be brought back to the United States and dealt with in the justice system, and given his due.  Not have books written about him lauding him as some sort of hero.

See?  Same thing.  Bring them back.  Take care of it here.

I really wish I could write about rainbows and flowers and whatnot.  But sadly, we’re in a hotel room far from home with rain and clouds outside and nary a hummingbird or moose in sight.  Just a lot of cigarette smoke.  Ewwwww…

Not to worry.  We’re going home tomorrow night.  Though the week has been interesting for sure.  Snake bitten dogs, obese sick cats, the usual fare for a day at the veterinary clinic!  It’s just fun to be wearing that hat again.  I miss it.

Enjoy your Sunday.  Stay clear of the Texas GOP–they’re a mite bit odd down there.  And watch out for gun-totin’ maniacs at the Home Depot in your town.  (Not going to get started on that one, but I’m sure you can guess what side I’m on there.  Maybe the next post will elucidate.  Google ‘Moms Demand Action’ for the 411.)

Hasta la vista baby!

Though I don’t really know quite where to start.  There’s so much zinging around up there.  I guess I’ll just start shooting from the hip.

First, what in the name of all that is goll-durned holy SHOULD the President have done about an American citizen being held captive in a country in which we have been at war with but which we are planning on not being at war with in the near future?  Leave him to rot in a prison somewhere as an ex-prisoner-of-war????????????????????

Who the BLEEP cares if he, and this is conjecture, not proven, nothing determined yet, INNOCENT TIL PROVEN GUILTY kind of stuff, even if he is/was a deserter.  ?!@?$!?@

Then bring the dadgummed dude home and hang him high in a military trial, a court martial.

But what in the sam hell does it say about this country for all of these nutjobs who are spouting all of this baloney intimating that this soldier should have been left to rot as a captive of a country we’ve been at war with?

What happened to “leave no man behind?”

I realize this is not a cogent piece.  My thoughts are fairly scattered.  I’m feeling a lot of outrage right now at the things I’ve been hearing and the things I’ve been reading.

No way am I defending what this soldier did, if he did it.  If he deserted his post, then he should answer for that.  But all of these politicians taking umbrage at this soldier’s release make me want to lose my lunch.  Sorry, no other way to say it.  Well, there is, but I was trying not to be graphic.

And then, and then…to go after the man’s family?  Seriously?  Have you people no shame?  This mother and father have had to live for the last five years….5 YEARS!!!…not knowing where their son is, whether or not he is alive, if he is alive whether or not he’ll ever come home, not knowing the full story.  Did their son desert his post and get captured and is now left to his fate?  Was he captured just because he was where he shouldn’t have been?  What’s the full story?   Can you imagine living with that?  I’m sure a whole flipping lot of people can relate.  All of the families of the POW’s from the myriad wars of the last century.  Never knowing whether or not they’d see their precious family member again.  A certain senator from Arizona was a POW.  He should know how it feels.  But for all of these people to attack this man’s mother and father.  Have you no shame?  Because the father has a long beard?  Because he may have sent out a few tweets trying to maybe, just maybe, appease the people holding his dear son hostage?  How on earth do you think you might act if you were in that father’s shoes?  Something about stones and glass houses comes to mind.

I’m just sayin.

The celebration for the homecoming for this soldier, the same one who has been held captive for five years (5 YEARS), has been cancelled due to all of the hateful and violent blowback the town has received.

How shameful is that?  I had thought America was better than this.  So many times have I heard people in this country mocking other countries who are filled with sectarian violence, tribal and ethnic cleansings, civil war and bloodshed.  Mocking these other countries as if to say they’re a bunch of uncivilized nincompoops, and America, that’s the country that is better than any other on the planet.

Pot, meet kettle.

And yet.  And yet.  What has happened in this country in the last several days regarding the release of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl is simply shameful.

Don’t give me the baloney about negotiating with terrorists.  And the baloney about how now we’ve put a price on every American’s head.

Cause I’ll come back with this:

Retired General Stanley McCrystal:  “We don’t leave Americans behind. That’s unequivocal,” he said when asked if he would have authorized the prisoner swap.

John Bellinger, a national-security lawyer in George W. Bush’s administration: “We don’t leave soldiers on the battlefield under any circumstance unless they have actually joined the enemy army.  He was a young 20-year-old. Young 20-year-olds make stupid decisions. I don’t think we’ll say if you make a stupid decision we’ll leave you in the hands of the Taliban.”

And finally, a word from the adult in the room:

President Obama:  “The United States has always had a pretty sacred rule, and that is: we don’t leave our men or women in uniform behind.  Regardless of the circumstances, we still get an American soldier back if he’s held in captivity. Period. Full stop.”

Period.  Full stop.

For an even more thoughtful, cogent piece of writing on this issue, please, please, please take a look at http://www.stonekettlestation.com, in his post titled “Negotiating with Terrorists.” http://www.stonekettle.com/2014/06/negotiating-with-terrorists.html

What he said.  Period.  Full stop.

I was going to leave this alone.

Because what more can I add?  The crazy just keeps getting crazier.   The good ol’ N. R. of A. just keeps on pushing.  And people just keep on dying.

And then I read this and I thought….”what he said.”

What he said.

So, without further ado, I give you Michael Moore.

I think it is well worth sharing. With due respect to those who are asking me to comment on last night’s tragic mass shooting at UCSB in Isla Vista, CA — I no longer have anything to say about what is now part of normal American life. Everything I have to say about this, I said it 12 years ago: We are a people easily manipulated by fear which causes us to arm ourselves with a quarter BILLION guns in our homes that are often easily accessible to young people, burglars, the mentally ill and anyone who momentarily snaps. We are a nation founded in violence, grew our borders through violence, and allow men in power to use violence around the world to further our so-called American (corporate) “interests.” The gun, not the eagle, is our true national symbol. While other countries have more violent pasts (Germany, Japan), more guns per capita in their homes (Canada [mostly hunting guns]), and the kids in most other countries watch the same violent movies and play the same violent video games that our kids play, no one even comes close to killing as many of its own citizens on a daily basis as we do — and yet we don’t seem to want to ask ourselves this simple question: “Why us? What is it about US?” Nearly all of our mass shootings are by angry or disturbed white males. None of them are committed by the majority gender, women. Hmmm, why is that? Even when 90% of the American public calls for stronger gun laws, Congress refuses — and then we the people refuse to remove them from office. So the onus is on us, all of us. We won’t pass the necessary laws, but more importantly we won’t consider why this happens here all the time. When the NRA says, “Guns don’t kill people — people kill people,” they’ve got it half-right. Except I would amend it to this: “Guns don’t kill people — Americans kill people.” Enjoy the rest of your day, and rest assured this will all happen again very soon.

This was posted on Mr. Moore’s Facebook page on May 24, 2014.  (www.facebook.com/mmflint)

A truly sad commentary on our times.

And, just to add insult to injury, hot off the wire tonight is a story of a 3 year old who found a gun and killed his 18 month old sibling.  I don’t have the link.  I’m not going to go look for it.  If you don’t believe me, google it.

When will it stop?

Courtesy of TPM: ( http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/joe-the-plumber-wurzelbacher-ucsb-shooting-dead-kids)

Samuel Wurzelbacher gave his condolences this week to the families of the victims of the mass shooting near the University of California, Santa Barbara. But no tragedy is going to stop “Joe The Plumber” from defending the Second Amendment. 

In an open letter published Tuesday on the website Barbwire, Wurzelbacher went out of his way to explain to the victims’ parents that the deaths won’t undermine his “Constitutional rights.” 

“I am sorry you lost your child. I myself have a son and daughter and the one thing I never want to go through, is what you are going through now,” wrote Wurzelbacher, who became something of a mascot for John McCain’s failed 2008 presidential campaign. “But: As harsh as this sounds – your dead kids don’t trump my Constitutional rights.”

That’s right folks.  He really said that.  “Your dead kids don’t trump my Constitutional rights.”

I don’t even think I can come up with anything witty in response to that.  I think I’m going to just let his asinine comments stand out there alone, blowing in the breeze, for all the people to see.  And hopefully, hopefully, all the people will breathe a collective sigh of relief that the nincompoop who found this guy and brought him to fame (for a clue, think 2008 presidential campaign, think Republican ticket, think clueless excuse for a candidate) didn’t get anywhere close to the White House.  Well, actually both nincompoops on that ticket.

Joe the Plumber.  Jesus, Mary and Joseph.  To think this man is allowed to speak in any public forum.

I better stop before I get myself into trouble and create more vitriol.

Moving right along to Exhibit #2.

A real money quote from Sharron Angle, the Nevada politician who ran (and lost handily) for Senate in 2010:

“One out of every six bundlers on the Democratic side is homosexual,” she told the 150 or so people at the Wasilla Sports Complex on Saturday. “Are you starting to see the trend? If we want to stop their agenda we have to stop their money,” she said.    

(The above quote found in a story about a Republican Convention held in Wasilla, Alaska last week.  The link can be found on one of my favorite sites http://www.theimmoralminority.blogspot.com)

Not sure where she gets her 411 regarding the sexual orientation of Democratic bundlers, but then from what I’ve heard a lot of these people just aren’t the sharpest tools in the shed, if you know what I mean.  Climate change denial.  The age of the earth controversy.  Yelling and screaming and stomping their feet about some humongous, ginormous conspiracy regarding the birth certificate of the President that was put into motion approximately 50 some years ago in the anticipation that he would one day be king.  I’m just sayin’.  Makes you wonder how many neurons are actually firing at any given time.

Exhibit #3 (I apologize for being late to the party on this one.  I tried to stay away from it, I really did.  I tried to let the stupid go.  I really did.  But it’s been circulating in the ol’ noggin and in order to get some peace, I need to spit it out onto the page, so to speak.)

Cliven Bundy.

Now there’s an extraordinarily fine example of a human being, eh?

Owes the gubmint a cool $1 million (give or take a few bucks) for grazing rights for the cattle he’s let graze on land that is NOT owned by him, for approximately 20 years.

And here’s what he had to say:

“I want to tell you one more thing I know about the Negro,” he said. Mr. Bundy recalled driving past a public-housing project in North Las Vegas, “and in front of that government house the door was usually open and the older people and the kids — and there is always at least a half a dozen people sitting on the porch — they didn’t have nothing to do. They didn’t have nothing for their kids to do. They didn’t have nothing for their young girls to do.  “And because they were basically on government subsidy, so now what do they do?” he asked. “They abort their young children, they put their young men in jail, because they never learned how to pick cotton. And I’ve often wondered, are they better off as slaves, picking cotton and having a family life and doing things, or are they better off under government subsidy? They didn’t get no more freedom. They got less freedom.” 

(The above quote taken from a story on my favorite, once again, site:  http://www.theimmoralminority.blogspot.com which referenced a story in the New York Times at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/24/us/politics/rancher-proudly-breaks-the-law-becoming-a-hero-in-the-west.)

Not sure if the phrase “pot, meet kettle” is apropos here, but I’m thinking yes, possibly, maybe, kinda, sort of.  You know?

In my little ol’ mind, I tried to figure out just what his above screed was attempting to say and all I could come up with was that he is accusing “Negroes” of being lowlifes, taking government subsidies and living off of the government and all, yada, yada, yada.

So then I thought about it a little bit more, cogitating and ruminating and such, and began to wonder about a man that makes money off of selling cattle that he lets graze for free on land that doesn’t belong to him that “belongs” to the government but which actually, in reality, belongs to the public (because that’s what BLM land is…public, not private).  So then I asked myself “who is living off the government and being a lowlife?”  And that’s when I thought I’d be oh so clever and throw in the ol’ ‘pot meet kettle’ meme.

Though no matter how much time I’ve spent cogitating and ruminating (I just love those words), I cannot come up with a story as to how Negroes are related to Mr. Bundy’s refusal to pay his bill.  I am mystified.

There were more floating around up there in my brain, but it is very late, this has taken a bit of time to put together, I am tired, and honestly, fed up with the nincompoops in this country.  Just reading what they have to say is making me crazy.  As in nutso, off-my-rocker insane.

So, I’m done for now giving these asinine nincompoops (LOVE those words) the time of day.  I’m sure I’ll revisit this topic, as I have many times before.

Sleep tight.  Don’t let the bedbugs bite.  (Which, sorry to say, have been diagnosed in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  I know, right?)

The world lost the most beloved of voices today, May 28, 2014.   If you were ever fortunate enough to hear Maya Angelou speak, then you know of what I write.

A famed poet, an enthralling orator.  A spectacularly loud voice spoken in hushed tones.  A truly great woman.

Rest in peace Ms. Angelou.  You, and your words, will be missed.

The following are some of her “tweets,” the most recent of which was posted just a few days ago:

“Listen to yourself and in that quietude you might hear the voice of God.”

Also, these gems:

“This a a wonderful day. I’ve never seen this one before.”  (My personal favorite I think.)

“We must be warriors in the struggle against ignorance.”   (SO TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

“I have a certain way of being in this world, and I shall not, I shall not be moved.”

“I agreed a long time ago, I would not live at any cost. If I am moved or forced away from what I think is the right thing, I will not do it.”  (Amen sister.  Amen.)

There are so many other words that she has written and spoken through the years.  This is just the tip of the iceberg of the volume of her work.  She was truly a remarkable woman with an absolutely gorgeous voice.  Captivating.  Mesmerizing.

The world is a little bit quieter today for this loss.

Thank you Ms. Angelou for lighting our way.

Matilda is a moose.

At times, she doesn’t look like a moose.  But then she’ll turn and by golly, then she’s a moose.

But that whole eating on her knees thing had me, to quote one of my all-time, most-disliked-persons-ever, gobsmacked.

(No, I’m not going to mention the person’s name.  She shall remain nameless.  If you know me, then you know who gets under my skin the most.)

Anyhoo.  Matilda.

She was coming every night to munch on the yummy green grass out in the front.  Even when we would drive in, she wasn’t deterred.  She’d get up, mosey on over by the barn and stand there, waiting.  Sort of just waiting for the rubberneckers to scoot on by so she could get on with it.  And then she did.

Several nights she’d bed down there out in the middle of that green grass.

Then the snow started falling.  Over two feet of it here.  And then the bear arrived.  And Matilda has moved on to greener pastures I suppose.

Though, to be sure, it’s awfully green out there right now.  And the aspen trees that didn’t succumb to the middle-of-May snowstorm have got buds on them now that are starting to look like leaves.  Oh my.  Green grass, leaf buds and bears…oh my!

Yes, the bear is back.  Well, we’re not entirely sure it’s the same bear.  But he (or she) was in the yard the night the snow started.  Pacing the fence trying to find a way out, as he/she seemingly forgot the way he/she walked in (through the open gate).

So.  Spring has finally sprung.  Just in time for summer it looks like!  As is usual here.  We’ve got green grass, zipping, juking and jiving hummingbirds (they didn’t all get obliterated by the snowstorm thank goodness), budding aspen trees, columbines trying to peep through the piles of matted leaves (oy vey…yes I’m going to go pick up the dreaded pronged implement that cleans up the detritus of last year), GOPHERS in the yard (don’t EVEN get me started), and not a speck of white stuff in sight.  Well, off in the distant yonder one can ponder the peaks of the Snowy Range, or the Zirkels or the Rawahs for that matter.  But that’s ok.  It’s not in the front yard!  And the pond is visible from the front porch.  This is unusual.  It has substantially overflowed its banks and has become quite the haven for the waterfowl.  Unfortunately for you I am not up in the waterfowl identification world, so we’ll suffice it to say that a lot of pretty duck-type-birds are hanging out there!

And that is the news from the ranch.  Our little ranch-type part of the world anyway.  It’s gorgeous and warm and green with a perfect blue sky overhead and the hungry little hummingbirds zinging around like tie-fighters out there is music to my ears.    All in all, it’s shaping up to be a perfect day.

Blessings be on you and yours.

Pretty amazing, eh?  May 11 no less.

We’ve already lost one bird.  A little pine siskin.  He hit the window and I found him on the snow under the finch feeder out front. Still breathing, bleeding eye.  I brought him in and tried to warm him up, but it was too late.  Heartbreaking.  Nature, I know.  But no less sad when it happens.

We’ve had several birds of various species (white crowned sparrow, gray-headed junco, mountain chickadee) hit the windows all morning.  Going after bugs?  Not sure what bugs are flying right now as it is STILL snowing.  There must be at least two feet on the ground right now and more falling as I write.   See the birdbath in the front yard!

I dug out the snow pants and coat that I had erringly packed away already, and braved the two feet to feed our winged friends out front.  I think they’re grateful, though that might be a mite bit anthropomorphic I suspect.  Continuing on with that theme, I suspect the poor robins are a bit desperate.  At least there is a patch of grass near the house that I’m seeing them scrabble around in.  Not sure how many hummingbirds will survive this.  They showed up about a week early this year.  Usually they arrive this weekend.  But this year they were zipping and diving on us as we left for dance class last Monday.  I guess they shouldn’t have arrived early, eh?  Man I bet they’re bummed.  I just hope they make it.  I’ve already had to unfreeze the feeders once this morning.  I’ll go check them again shortly.  I just don’t think they’re little bodies are meant for two feet of snow.  I’m not seeing the numbers I saw earlier this week.

So that’s it from the land of ice, wind and unending snow….where the men are hardy, the women are drinking triple shot 1/2 caffe dark chocolate mochas with whip by the gallon and the children and dogs are going bananas stuck in the house again.  (I’ve relented and let them play soccer in the living room.  Dangerous?  You have no idea.)