Betty and Sugar's First Trail Ride

Finally, our health (bad colds) and the weather have both improved to the point where we could get out this morning and take Morgunn and Sugar out for a ride..

It was the first time that Betty and Sugar have been out on our trails. We rode South through the open sage and back for a ride of about 35 - 40 minutes.

Sugar did great. She was calm and relaxed and walked quietly throughout the whole ride. She and Morgunn have a similar speed of walking gait so it was nice to be able to ride together the whole time.

It's nice to see Betty's smile again after a horseback ride.

After the ride, Sugar got a good roll in. I tried to get a picture of Betty doing her roll, but I wasn't quick enough. (Just kidding of course).




Today is January 8 and if today is your Birthday then you share your day with: David Bowie (singer), Robby Krieger (guitarist for The Doors), Stephen Hawking (physicist), Yvette Mimieux (actress, "Where the Boys Are"), Shirley Bassey (singer, "Goldfinger"), Elvis Presley (singer, The King), Charles Osgood (CBS commentator), Soupy Sales (comedian), Ron Moody (actor, Fagin in "Oliver Twist"), Larry Storch (actor, "F Troop"), Jose Ferrer (actor, "Cyrano de Bergerac"), Butterfly McQueen (actress, Prissy in "Gone with the Wind"), and James Longstreet (Confederate General).

On this day in 1598 Don Juan de Onate left Mexico for New Mexico with 500 colonists. In 1675 the first corporation, the New York Fishing Company, was charted in the United States. In 1815 US forces led by General Andrew Jackson defeated the British in the Battle of New Orleans -- the closing engagement of the War of 1812. In 1958 Bobby Fisher, then age 14, won the United States Chess Championship for the first time. And in 1964 President Johnson declared a "War on Poverty."

Christmas Books

Betty's younger brother, Jim, is an e-Bay wizard. He finds some of the most amazing things on e-Bay for Christmas gifts.

Last year he gave us a 1,000 year old Viking horse shoe. Icelandic Horses are descendants of the Viking horse.

This year Jim gave me two interesting publications.

The first is a pamphlet called "How to Handle Horses" by 'Prof. O. R. Gleason, King of the Horse Tamers.' Based on the introduction, it was probably given to people who came to his horse training exhibitions where they would 'witness a genuine exhibition of handling wild, vicious and nervous horses that are owned by horsemen and farmers of this part of the state.'

According to the introduction, 'Prof O. R. Gleason has tamed and driven... more horses to a four wheeled wagon than any other living man in the world. His record... as of Jan. 1, 1909 amounts to over 26,000 head; 156 man-eating stallions, 2 vicious zebras and 1 wild elk.'

Also 'for $1.00 you can buy, by mail, his 600-page book "Gleason's Famous Horse Book" beautifully bound in cloth.' You can also 'buy his "Gleason's Celebrated Driving Bit," beautifully finished in Nickle, Steel Bars and fully guaranteed for $2.00.'

The other book is a hardbound edition of "Youatts History, Treatment and Diseases of the Horse" copyrighted 1883. There are chapters on structure of the horse, diseases and various treatments. What makes the book really unique is an inscription, written in pencil, in the front of the book:

George P. Shriven
1st Lt. Bat. F 3rd Artillery
San Antonio, Texas
1885 (or 1888)

It would be interesting to know who Lt. Shriven was. Perhaps he was in charge of the horses that hauled the artillery pieces?

They will make for interesting reading.


Today is January 7 and if today is your Birthday then you share your day with: David Yost (one of TV's original Power Rangers), Nicolas Cage (actor, "Leaving Las Vegas"), Katie Couric (CBS host), David Caruso (actor, "CSI Miami"), Kenny Loggins (singer/songwriter), Paul Revere (singer, Paul Revere and the Raiders), William P. Blatty (author, "The Exorcist"), Charles Addams (cartoonist, "The Addams Family"), and Millard Fillmore (13th US President).

On this day in 1610 Galileo, using his primitive telescope, discovered the four major moons of Jupiter: Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. In 1785 the first balloon flight across the English Channel was completed. The flight was by balloonist Jean-Pierre Blanchard. Mr. Blanchard and his passenger had to shed all of their clothes as the wind died and the balloon's airbag cooled too quickly over the sea. In 1789 the first nationwide U.S. presidential election was held. The electors chosen by the voters unanimously picked George Washington as president and John Adams as vice president. In 1894 one of the earliest motion picture experiments took place at the Thomas Edison studio in West Orange, New Jersey, as comedian Fred Ott was filmed sneezing. In 1929 "Tarzan," one of the first adventure comic strips appears. In 1934 6,000 pastors in Berlin defy the Nazis insisting that they will not be muzzled. In 1963 First Class postage was raised from 4 cents to 5 cents. And, in 1968 First Class postage was raised from 5 cents to 6 cents.

Tuesday Thoughts

Here are some random thoughts for today.

Middle East - I don't understand all those folks are who so willing to jump on Israel for protecting their people while totally ignoring Hamas dumping missiles daily into Israel. I don't wish anyone harm, but I wonder what it would be like if the folks in Arizona were lobbing 100 missiles into New Mexico each month, indiscriminately killing men, women and children. I think the Israelis have shown remarkable restraint. And, the Jews are still God's people and I pray for the safety and security of Israel.

The Senate - The US Senate is an incredible show and it's only going to get better. The founding fathers knew we needed a deliberative body that would slow down the workings of government. I don't think they had in mind the leadership (or lack thereof) of Harry Reid. And, even though I don't know if he's qualified, it appears the appointed Senator from Illinois, Roland Burris, should be seated. There doesn't appear to be any legal/constitutional reason not to seat him. Finally, how in the world can a man like Al Franken be elected to the "greatest deliberative body" in the world? He is one of the sleaziest men I have ever seen. The only hope we have is it will be fun to watch him put his foot in his mouth.

Our Soon To Be New President - I didn't vote for him and I still have grave reservations about his ability to lead our country. However, as we approach the time of his taking office I wish him well and pray for God's wisdom for him. At the same time, I will follow the old advice to "keep your powder dry."

Our Come and Go Governor - New Mexico has the 'honor' of having Bill Richardson as our governor. I don't agree with a lot of his policies, spending proposals, and political maneuverings, but he seems like a decent man. During the time we've lived here, it seems he's been gone more than he's been here - especially when he ran for president. Most recently he was nominated as the new Commerce Secretary until he had to withdraw. It appears his political maneuvering may have gotten him into trouble. If he broke the law I hope they throw the book at him.

Horses - I don't believe in reincarnation, but if I did I would want to come back as a horse or a cat. Both know how to conserve energy by doing as little as possible and sleeping whenever they can.

Riding - Between our colds and the weather, Betty and I haven't been able to ride since before Christmas. We hope to do some ground work with Morgunn and Sugar tomorrow and, God willing, ride on Thursday and Friday.

I'll finish with a quote from one of my favorite people, Will Rogers - "Do the best you can and don't take life too serious."

Today is January 6 and if today is your Birthday then you share your day with: Jane McCauley (my sister and all-around neat person), Nancy Lopez (pro golfer), Rowan Atkinson (comedian, Mr. Bean), Syd Barrett (founder of Pink Floyd), Bonnie Franklin (actress, "One Day at a Time"), Sun Myung Moon (founder of The Moonies religious sect), Loretta Young (actress), Danny Thomas (actor and founder of St. Jude Hospital for Children), Kahlil Gibran (author, "The Prophet"), Tom Mix (early cowboy actor), Carl Sandburg (poet and author), and Joan of Arc (French saint).

On this day in 1540 England's King Henry the Eighth married his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. (The marriage lasted about six months.) In 1759 George Washington married widow Martha Dandridge Custis. In 1838 in Morristown, N.J., Samuel F.B. Morse and his partner, Alfred Vail, publicly demonstrated their new invention, the telegraph, for the first time. In 1912 New Mexico becomes the 47th U.S. state. In 1930 the first, diesel engine automobile trip was completed. It ran 792 miles -- from Indianapolis, IN to New York City. In 1942 the Pan American Airways "Pacific Clipper" arrived in New York after making the first round-the-world trip by a commercial airplane. In 1945 George Herbert Walker Bush married Barbara Pierce in Rye, New York. In 1952 a regular feature of Sunday funny papers debuted, as "Peanuts." And in 1994 figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was clubbed on the right leg by an assailant at Cobo Arena in Detroit; four men, including Jeff Gillooly, the ex-husband of Kerrigan's rival, Tonya Harding, were later sentenced to prison for their roles in the attack.

Monday Video - Dolphins and More Dolphins

When I was in the Navy I used to stand the 4:00 to 8:00 AM watch every day as Officer of the Deck. This was because I was the Navigator and I had to get a celestial fix every morning so I was already up. This was the old days before satellite and global positioning systems.

One morning as the sun had just come up over the horizon we saw dolphins racing along with our bow wake. This was not unusual as we would often see several - 6 to 8 - do this. However, this morning it seemed like there were hundreds spread out in a line on each side of the bow. It appeared that the line went on for a couple of hundred yards or more on each side. It was an awesome display like no other that we ever saw.

I ran across this video that gives a sense of the fun and awe of seeing loads of dolphins having a good time.

Enjoy.




Today is January 5 and if today is your Birthday then you share your day with: Marilyn Manson (shock rocker), Pamela Sue Martin (actress, "Dallas"), Diane Keaton (actress, "Annie Hall"), Juan Carlos I (King of Spain), Robert Duvall (actor, "Open Range" and one of the best actor horseback riders), Walter Mondale (politician), George Reeves (TV Superman - died when shot with a Kryptonite bullet), and Konrad Adenauer (Chancellor of Germany).

On this day in 1889 the hamburger first appears on a restaurant menu in Walla Walla, Washington. In 1919 the National Socialist (Nazi) Party was formed in Germany. In 1920 George Herman "Babe'' Ruth is traded to the New York Yankees by the Boston Red Sox for a record $125,000. In 1925 Nellie T. Ross succeeded her late husband as governor of Wyoming, becoming the first female governor in U-S history. And in 1933 in San Francisco, construction begins on the Golden Gate Bridge.

Sunday Reflections - New Year's Resolutions

This is the time of year when there is a lot of talk about resolutions - what we want to do or to be different in the new year.

Betty and I go to a local gym twice a week to keep our old bodies going for one more year. The next two months will be the busiest of the year. There will be more people on the treadmills, stair climbers and weight machines - sweating and huffing and puffing - with a look of real determination on their faces.

In early March, most of those folks will not be seen again and the gym will be left to the regulars who populate it all year.

I used to make New Year's resolutions - eat less chocolate (terrible idea), lose weight (even though I'm thin - actually skinny by nature - whenever I gain weight it always goes right to my waistline), read more scripture (always a good idea), or get back into painting (oil, not walls).

Like those folks in the gym, I couldn't keep my resolutions any better than they could.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not against resolutions. They're actually a good idea. But, like the walls of a house, without a good foundation there's very little chance they will last very long.

I've learned over the years that there is only one resolution I make each year and do my best to live up to it - never perfectly - but at least it's a resolution I keep in front of me all year.

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"

Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' (Matt 22:34-39)

If I can keep the first, loving God with all that I am and all that I have, then I am able to keep the second because I'm empty enough for Him to fill me with His love for myself and that love can overflow to others.

With this foundation in my life, everything else tends to fall in place in God's way and in God's timing.

Happy New Year!

Today is January 4 and if today is your Birthday then you share your day with: Isaac Newton (physicist and fan of apples), Michael Stipe (lead singer for R.E.M.), Matt Frewer (actor, "Max Headroom"), Dyan Cannon (actress), Floyd Patterson (two-time heavyweight champion), Jesse White (Maytag repairman), Jane Wyman (actress, first wife of Ronald Reagan), Sterling Holloway (actor, first voice for Winnie the Pooh), and Louis Braille (inventor of Braille system).

On this day in 536 two monks return from China to Constantinople with the secret of making silk. In 1493 Christopher Columbus returned to Europe from the New World with six Native Americans he believed were from India, hence he called them "Indians." In 1863 four-wheeled roller skates were patented by James Plimpton of New York which made me a happy kid. In 1885 Dr. William W. Grant of Davenport, Iowa, performed what's believed to have been the first appendectomy. The patient was 22-year-old Mary Gartside. In 1896 Utah became the 45th U.S. state. And in 1965 President Johnson outlined the goals of his ''Great Society'' in his State of the Union Address - and it turned out not to be so 'great.'

Continuing Saga of Herd Dynamics

If you recall, we've shared that Sugar has established herself as the lead mare of our 3-horse herd. Usually, whenever Gletta and/or Morgunn are in a stall and Sugar wants to come in, she'll pin her ears back and they'll leave.

This morning while we were eating our breakfast at our kitchen table, we suddenly heard some squealing and kicking sounds coming from the far stall. Morgunn was outside so we knew it was Sugar and Gletta. Gletta was still eating and Sugar went in and, I guess, expected Gletta to leave as she normally does. Not this time.

The kicking and squealing went on for several seconds and all of a sudden Sugar comes out - with a surprised look on her face. I wish I had my camera.

After a few moments Sugar went back toward the stall, but didn't go in. She just looked in with her head lowered, but her ears were not pinned back. She was taking a more submissive posture.

I went to get my camera, but by the time I got it Sugar was walking away from Gletta's stall.

After a few minutes she decided that spending time with Morgunn getting a drink was probably a better thing to do.

We're not sure if this really means any change in the herd dynamics, but it made for interesting watching while we ate our toasted Chili Cheese Bagels. (Neither horse seemed to be any worse for all the kicking.)

Today is January 3 and if today is your Birthday then you share your day with: Nancy Jo Davis (our daughter-in-law Marie's mother), Eli Manning (NY Giants quarterback), Danica McKellar (actress, Winnie on "Wonder Years"), Mel Gibson (actor/director, "Braveheart"), Victoria Principal (actress, "Dallas"), John Paul Jones (singer, co-founder of Led Zeppelin), Stephen Sills (singer, Crosby, Stills and Nash), Bobby Hull (hockey champion), Dabney Coleman (actor, "War Games"), and J.R.R. Tolkien (author, "Lord of the Rings").

On this day in 1521 Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church. In 1777 the Continental Army commanded by Gen. George Washington defeated the British at Princeton, N.J. In 1959 President Eisenhower signed a proclamation admitting Alaska to the Union as the 49th state. And in 1961 the United States severed diplomatic relations with Cuba after Fidel Castro announced he was a communist.

Friday Rest

Betty and I are still getting over our colds so we're only doing what we have to throughout the day so we can rest as much as possible. It's a shame because the weather has been good for this time of year and we would much rather be out riding Morgunn and Sugar.

So, here are a few random pictures for today's post.

With the cold, cold nights the horses take advantage of the sunny days by resting in the sun. They usually do this later in the morning when the sand has warmed up.

Sugar has an interesting habit. Sometimes, when she's resting standing up (horses can sleep standing), she will do it by the garbage cans and rest her head on one of the cans. Maybe it helps her relax her neck muscles as she doesn't have to hold up her head.

Sugar likes to come up to our kitchen window. This time she and Betty decided to give each other a 'kiss' through the window.

Have a great weekend.

Today is January 2 and if today is your Birthday then you share your day with: Kate Bosworth (actress), Christy Turlington (model), Cuba Gooding, Jr. (actor, "Jerry MacGuire"), Tia Carrere (actress, "Wayne's World"), Dennis Hastert (House Speaker), Jim Bakker (televangelist), Roger Miller (contry singer, "King of the Road"), Isaac Asimov (science fiction author, "I, Robot"), and Sally Rand (exotic dancer).

On this day in 1788 Georgia ratified the Constitution, the fourth of the original 13 colonies to do so, and was admitted to the union. In 1893 the first commemorative postage stamps were issued. In 1903 President Theodore Roosevelt closes a post office in Indianola, Mississippi for refusing to hire a black postmistress. In 1921 the first religious broadcast on radio was heard today, as Dr. E.J. Van Etten of Calvary Episcopal Church preached on KDKA Radio in Pittsburgh. In 1959 the Soviet Union launched Lunik-1, the first unmanned spacecraft to travel to the moon. And in 1974 President Nixon signed legislation requiring states to limit highway speeds to 55 miles-an-hour.