Author Archives: ramblingsofaperforatedmind

Tired!

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Do you ever get to the point where you are tired of everything? I am there now. I’m thinking of possible solutions as I go. I am tired of eating the same food. I’ve got my eye on a couple of new recipes we might try soon. That will add some variety.

I’m tired of working all the time. That one is a bit trickier to fix. I love my jobs, though. The main problem is I’m tired of being tired when I go to work. To fix that, I need to put myself on a strict schedule. I know I’ll have to force myself to go to bed early enough! I’m not up all night, but it’s so easy to get distracted and stay up later than planned.

OK, done with whining…maybe I’ll take a nap!?

GRRRRR!

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A Facebook friend posted something about not running over turtles in the road. It’s a sad commentary about society that posts like that are actually needed. I always try to avoid hitting anything when driving, and I can’t believe anyone would willingly hurt another creature. I shouldn’t be surprised, though. I watch the news, and I have been involved in animal rescue, so I have seen some ugly things. Those things make me sick.

Scientific studies have shown that animal cruelty is linked to violence against people. If someone abuses a defenseless animal, odds are good that a helpless human could be next, especially if the perpetrator gets away with it the first time.

I always tell my students, “Anyone who hurts an animal is no friend of mine.” I mean that, and I don’t care who it is. I will not tolerate animal cruelty. I will stand up for the weak, animal or human.

http://aldf.org/resources/when-your-companion-animal-has-been-harmed/no-boundaries-for-abusers-the-link-between-cruelty-to-animals-and-violence-toward-humans/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cathy-kangas/animal-cruelty-and-human-_b_2507551.html

Waiting for the Storm

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Nebraska has been experiencing some wild weather today. The weather channel had my attention for quite a while.

My friend called me before the storm hit our town. She was getting ready as we chatted. I didn’t do much in the way of preparation. I managed to fill the bathtub with a bit of water, but that was all. I couldn’t help watching the sky. I thought about going out storm chasing, but once the rain hit, I decided to stay in with my pets.

The first “wave” of thunderstorms has come and gone. We had thunder, lightning, hard rain, high winds and some hail. Tornadoes have hit in some places. There may be more severe storms tonight. I’ll be watching the skies….

Groceries

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I learned long ago never to apologize for spending money for groceries, even if I had to spend some of the bill money to do it. After all, we have to eat, don’t we? Checking prices in the store today made me feel like someone should be apologizing to shoppers! A large pack of shredded cheese was $19! Did I buy it? That would be a HECK NO! Meat prices were also outrageous.

In spite of the crazy prices, I ended up getting some supplies—it looked like more household things than human food, though. I had coupons in my pocket, but I forgot to use them. I discovered it after I got to the car and loaded my groceries. I trudged back in on aching feet to find a manager. I wondered if it was worth it. (I had worked all morning.) With my $6.50 securely clutched in my hand, I decided it had been worth the effort. That money was spent at the discount bakery a few blocks away. 🙂

The bottom line is that I will be doing more cooking. I didn’t buy much junk food either. Now if I can just start planning meals!

Rodeo Day!

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For some reason, I woke up before the 6:30 alarm went off. I spent a few minutes taking dogs out, feeding cats and reading a chapter over a cup of coffee. I had been anticipating rodeo day, so maybe that’s why I was earlier than the clock.

Since I was at the fair grounds by 7:40, I had time to observe some of the preparations. There were a lot of riders in the arenas warming up. One big space had been divided in half to be able to have two events going on at once. Goats, horses and steers were unloaded and penned for the events. I had time to roam around and snap some pictures. There were plenty of beautiful horses on the premises, that’s for sure.

Sometime after 8, someone in the crow’s nest started the country music blaring. I could almost feel a subtle change in the atmosphere as the riders (and horses) made the mental shift from warming up to competing. The power of music is amazing.

Crow's nest

Crow’s nest

I was all set to work one of the gates for goat tying. Things started close to on time at 8:30. Girls were making good time on their runs—some of them at least. If I tried to dismount while the horse was still running, I’d end up flat on my face. Kudos to these talented, determined kids!

Storm brewing!

Storm brewing!

Rain was starting to fall, but the show went on for a bit. As soon as the lightning started getting serious, the announcer told us all to take cover. I didn’t need to hear it twice; people scattered and put their horses in the trailers to wait out the storm. Many were ready for rain—yellow-clad people were all over the place! Even saddled horses had rain slickers on because, as my friend Laura said, “Nobody wants a wet bum!” After about an hour, the rodeo events started again. The goat tying event had 37 girls lined up to compete, but it went by quickly. My gate time was up before I knew it.

Rain slickers were everywhere!

Rain slickers were everywhere!

The Chicken Chick

Now What?

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I am already thinking about what I’ll do after this last grad class ends in June. The degree will certainly open more doors professionally like teaching dual credit classes, but my real question is: what will I study next?

I get bored quickly, and I’m not afraid to try new things, so I’ve been taking a mental inventory of my interests other than Spanish. Fortunately, I love to read, so that will serve me well in any endeavor. I spent some time browsing the MOOC database, and I found all kinds of options. The courses are free. The down side is that no credit is given. That really isn’t my major concern. I want to learn new things about a variety of topics, and I want to learn from experts. So far, I haven’t zeroed in on a class, but I’m sure I’ll find something to hold my interest. History? Forensics? Arabic? French?

Life after grad school can feel like a bit of a let down. The last two years have been filled with homework, reading and pressure. I imagine I will breathe a sigh of relief at the end of the course, but I’m not sure I’ll know what to do without a text book in my hands. I’m on my way to figuring it out! Life is a journey!

https://www.class-central.com/

Small Town

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There’s a saying in Mexico: pueblo pequeno, infierno grande. That means small town, big Hell. Based on my observations both in Mexico and the U. S., I would say it’s quite accurate. The rumor mill cranks up at the slightest hint of “news.” The rumors themselves spread at the speed of light, each version getting more outrageous. I think people make up things to fill in the blanks.

Shortly after moving to Mexico, two ladies with a Chihuahua showed up at my gate. She wanted me to take a look at her dog. There was a spot on his back that looked like maybe an insect bite or something. I was understandably puzzled by her request. I looked, told her I had no idea and sent her to the local animal supply store for a better answer. Turns out, she had “heard” I was a vet. It made sense to her, I figure, because I did move there with some pets.

The gossip changed periodically, but I was a hot topic for quite a while. My neighbor and friend, Marta, kept me updated. It’s a good thing I was paying attention because they knew things about me that I didn’t even know! I went from a veterinarian to a drug dealer overnight! I just laughed it all off. When someone finally asked me, I was happy to tell the truth: I am a teacher. I must not have had any street cred as a “narcotraficante” (drug dealer) because I was teaching English classes soon after.

The thing about a small town is that threads of kinship, friendship or work connect everyone. I just like to listen; it’s amazing what can be learned by being silent. At least that way I don’t stick my foot in my mouth!

our humble Mexican abode

our humble Mexican abode