It is such a set up for instilling feelings of personal failure.  It is a terrible thing all around.

If you love someone – tell them often how much you love them.  Show them your love by doing things that your beloved likes.  Show your love that you respect them and like them, as well as – love them.

For those of us who do not currently have a mate – try not to fall into the pathway of pity.  This holiday is a big plot against human beings.  If they manipulate us enough – we will spend money of trifles that are actually pretty meaningless.

Sometimes when I feel shy or nervous around a person I hold in high esteem, I will say something negative about myself. It is a nervous habit and it is wrong. We should not tell people we are bad. Most of us are not ax-murders, and therefore do not qualify for such condemnation. I think it is much like a way of showing the other person that we are submissive, we are not a threat, and we can be friends. Sort of like dogs do.

You are a person of value, worth the life you were given and no better or worse than others. Remember that you have to love yourself before you can love others…and you should always come from a place of love.

See! – Even old ladies can learn new tricks!  This is something I always wanted to do as a little girl.  It can be kinda scary and sometimes dangerous, but mostly – it is plain old fun.  I can tell a thousand pound animal what to do – and it does it!  Awesome.  Riding in the arena, learning the different gaits; gaining balance, coordination and stronger core muscles are also part of the benefit of riding.  I also feel like I have more self confidence.

If you want – you can compete with others…show off your skills and earn ribbons for your hard work.  This pic to the right is a gal at a Rail Show I attended last year.  She is very young – and the horse is very old…and they took home alot of blue ribbons!

There are two styles of riding – English style and Western style.  I like to ride Western style.  Yee Haw…!!  My friend Cindy likes to ride English style.  She says she feels closer to the horse.  I will try that someday – but for now, I’m a cowgirl!

All the other girls in young Momma’s class in grade school got Barbie Dolls and Go-Go boots and record albums by groups like ‘The Monkees’.  But Momma was kinda off-the-grid.  Actually, in restrospect, my parents were just way too cool for the average bear.

But then, one year, young Momma received a doll.  I actually do not remember who gave it to me.  (Sorry ’bout that)  I tried to play nice.  Young Momma and her baby sisters just didn’t know what to do with a regular type doll.  A pretty, skinny lady with short curly dark hair (like mine) in a red one piece bathing suit.  Her name was Midge.  She was Barbie’s best friend – back in the day.  I took Midge to play with the other girls on the block – but Midge was always playing the side-kick or the scape-goat or the bad guy.  Poor Midge.  Stupid Midge.  I decided I did not like Midge.  I did not want her poisoning me and my baby sisters any longer.  How dare she be a second rate doll, assuming the Patsy position in playtime!  I was going to put a stop to this.

I put on my Sheriff outfit, tucked Midge into my vest and mounted Blaze.  We rode like the wind to a secluded hide-out, behind the swing-set, under the apricot tree.

I took Midge out of my vest and told her how disappointed I was in her.  I told her that she was a bad influence on all of the females in our household.  She said she would never change.  So I ripped her head off and tossed it to the dog.

Dog chomped on Midge a bit and then buried her head beneath the apricot tree.

Nobody ever knew what happened to Midge.  Her body was found, but never her head.  Eventually, after lying at the bottom of the toy-box for a couple of years, Midge’s body found its way to a trash can , and eventually a garbage heap somewhere in Northern California.

Guess which young lady is John Malcovich in drag?!

Year of the Dragon

Beginning in late January,

 2012 officially becomes the Year of the Dragon.

Sometimes we need a brave hero to save the day. It can be epic!

Dragons sound scary – and they can be; heroes have to have a special knack for dragon slaying I think.

Harry Potter could do it!

And Prince Charming could do it too!

But, dragons can often be wonderful friends too…

Remember all the trouble this big guy got into?  But he was a true friend and loved his Pete very much.

and who can forget donkey and his lovely dragon wife?

This last year was Year of the Rabbit.  Rabbits are cute and benign little varmints – that wrought destruction upon the world’s economy.

Dragons are scary mythological creatures that breath fire and  fly.  I think I  choose to believe that this year’s Dragon  will be  powerful and maybe scary – but she will not destroy me!  Perhaps we can learn to love her … like donkey did.  He ended up with a batch of donkey-dragon babies.

And in the morning – I’ll make waffles!