Canus v. Felid

Welcome back. I know it's been a while and a long time to say the least. To get the ball rolling, we'll brief the subject of the Cowgirls and Sagebrush. To stoke the fire, we'll introduce you to the woman who introduced us to the dog and how the cat played a roll in all of our evolution.

First of all, the Sage and CG's are still at odds and the outlook still looks bleak. Neither one want to commit on any concessions toward bettering their current situation without the other one giving up more than they are comfortable to give. A familiar song I've heard since I knew what the word 'politics' has meant. As a mediator I've never been comfortable with 'one having too much' so I feel caught in the middle of their whoas. For now I'll let them be and see if war is imminent or if there is satisfaction at hand. If you want to get yourself between a rock and a hard place, step between these two. Sagebrush and Cowgirls are two of the orneriest critters you'll ever face. Great spirit be with ya! Good luck to both of ya and call me back when you feel like negotiating. Peacefully.

Now to begin our story of the month, quite possibly the year. The story of how I met the lady who introduced us to what we know as the common dog and how the common housecat played a role in how we all evolved.

This all began back on a dock in Whimbrel, Maine. A port city of not much prowess but it holds down the local economy. Whimbrel is mostly a lobster and haddock town as I made my visit. When I left, I knew Whimbrel as the town the dog first came to visit.

As the story goes, from old timers on the dock, as told to me: A wolf had been hanging around the midden pile and the discarded rubbish, the dump, that the citizens of the settlement had been using for nearly a year in the newly established compound. As the compound began to grow and as they discarded more and more edible waste, this wolf became more and more persistent. One woman noticed this wolfs persistence to gather as many scraps as it possibly could and then bolt back into the woods to presumably consume her bounty. The woman, Ab Initio, (only known by her name as handed down by her tribe) observed this wolf for nearly a year before she gave it the name of  'Caniday'. Caniday in her tongue meant "woman who gathers scraps."
The wolf, obviously female to Ab Initio, earned her name form her work. As Ab Initio watched Caniday, she learned that the wolf was becoming more assertive and less timid to her surroundings in the midden. Caniday became almost a part of the 'dump' and was now becoming a part of the town. As people would go to disregard their weeks garbage, they would see Caniday sitting on the hill above the dump and baying when they would arrive. She would welcome their arrival with a chipper 'bawr-bawr-bar-barkkkk' song and then take a position high above the midden awaiting her chance to come running down the hill to capture her treasures after the humans had left. This may sound like it happened yesterday, but it began centuries ago. Ab Initio was born in a time where man knew nothing about the dog, let alone knowing anything about the wild or the wolf. Her knowledge of Caniday was like yours and mine of dust-mites. We know they're here, but what do they do??  It was Ab Initio's job to find out and possibly befriend this critter that seems so unafraid of mans garbage, something man himself seems so afraid of.

Ab took it upon herself to find out why this beast was a threat to her own existence, and what it was all about? As Ab began to study this beast she realized that the beast was not a beast at all, but a loving mother. Trying to protect her young, that were secured in a nearby den. The dump was nothing but an easy food lot and gathering spot to help Caniday acquire essentials for her young. Ab soon realized that if she and her tribe left Whimbrel for any extended amount of time it would mean doom for Caniday. She knew Caniday had become dependent upon the refuse of the village.
Being the first human to take notice of the wolf, Ab was also the first human to take care of the wolf. Ab began to bring her own scraps to Caniday. First she would drop them off in a pile and then return to her  home. As it became known Caniday was not going to harm Ab, she began to try and hand feed this wolf. Things were going well until it became apparent that Caniday valued food more than human spirit. She bit Abs finger nearly off. As Caniday saw Abs' finger part hanging, she instinctively began to lick the finger that appeared to be torn.... Caniday had bitten the hand that had fed her. She immediately began to try & right her wrongs. So she thought. Ab wasn't so happy with Caniday and slapped her on the honches. Caniday hunched up and bolted away from Ab.

Part II coming soon...See what happened: was the fence was mended?...and ...why did the cat have anything to do with it?

Spoiler Alert:
Cani turned to look at Ab, but Ab fired back a glare of "why did you?, what did you?, you ungrateful......"

Tune in next week to find out if the wolf ever reconciles with the lady or if the lady ever tames the wolf and what the hell does a cat have to do with it? You'll see. It's cool, you just have to stay tuned and let me know you're here! Creativity is spawned from need to hear something new and untold........Let me know you listen.

Let the ones you love know it! and Love
Carmen OOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooot

No Dogs or Cats were harmed in this presentation
Only the human writing was severely....errrmpaired....."oh we'll figure it out, he ain't that bad"

Is being obtuse better than being acute?

Obtuse: Fully believing in the fact that I must follow the direction I have been sent

Acute: Fully believing in the fact that life is dynamic and ever changing and no one gave ME a map. It's all about the journey and the encounters along the way


You can all be both but what prevails? Do you think someone has more integrity because they believe 'tooth and nail' that "That's how it is, that's how it should be" or do you make decisions to fit the situation that make more common sense? Some rely on a library of past knowledge to guide their ship through the straights of indecision and others look at the truth at hand and focus their guidance from there to get the ship to port. I was brought up to believe that there was ONE way and that was the RIGHT way. After my fair share of years discovering that the stone left unturned is the stone with the answers, I tend to lean toward common sense. The whole staunch, stick to your ethics/values/culture, gig has run its course, in my opinion. I think an open eye and awareness is worth more than an established set of guidelines represent. Play the game, don't let the game play you. Acute.
Gotta put the fork in it right there, my ship is heading for the rox. Oh, yea, We've got an update with our combatants. The CowGirls (GC's) and the Artemesia family (the Sagebrush [SB]) have come to a collective bargaining agreement.deal  This is a ONE year deal and left to be reckoned with. The bottom line was that if the cowgirls kept their herds out of the .........Ah crap....how can you really come to odds with cowgirls and sagebrush? They HAD a bargain, now they've turned the channel and are back at odds again.... As I like to think, every time I write this, the CG's and the SB's will eventually get along. I guess the point of this post is just to let you know when to hold 'em and to know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away & know when to run. Don't get stuck in a rut, keep your mind ALIVE, and never second guess what you know is RIGHT, even if it is left. Let the one's you love know it and keep you eyes on the prize, a fulfilling life.  Carmen, OOOOOOOOOOOOOOT.

A long long time ago.....

A long time ago, I started this little foray into the blogosphere and have gotten a long way away since. Nevertheless this is about the Cowgirls and Sagebrush. The idea of "you leave me alone, I'll leave you alone" is still on the table but yet to be rectified. Neither side can come to an agreement on what that general statement means. So negotiations remain stalled for over a year now and no real progress has been made. I'll let you know if anything happens but for now they are still horn-locked and continuing their daily activities with the similar conflicts they've had for years. Neither are winning or losing. It's hard to say where this might go....

  I learned two cool phrases from the same man tonight that I thought I might share. If you check my sources, you'll find this info came from an apparently slightly [or more so] dosed fellow who actually had some words of wisdom Watch this @ the 6:00 minute mark. As simple as they were, I felt the need to share. The first one is just an interpretation of the Golden Rule but sounded more digestible: Treat EVERYTHING as you feel you SHOULD be treated. & the one that may need some interpretation: Unity Beyond Division. It says it all on it's own but to me it says, "just because we draw lines and borders doesn't mean we need to change things on the other side."

In an attempt to help the CG and the SG  find unity and possibly all of us politically jaded individuals who have seen too much crap and not enough fix. Just another reason to listen to Mother Nature and not hot air-bags.

Let the ones you love know it, and "fair you be well now, let you life proceed by it's own design" just be a good designer. Carmen, oooooooooooooooooooooooot. Like I'm in C-eh-N-eh-D-eh

[Canada for you slow folks]

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE JOURNEY

Just a view into realm of this writer's perspective.

Not last night but the night before, 99 rebels came knockin' @ my door....

Rebel, Yankee...Demo, Rep, Indy.......it dont mean nothing to me. I was born an American (poor white trash child) into a middle/lower class family. I have taken on the advantages of education, common sense, and good moral standing. All benefit the less privileged and I suggest a course in all of them for those of you who need a tune up. Being less privileged I've learned to find my way. What a wonderful way it has been. It's really not about the destination, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE JOURNEY. Taking to heart every step you take and every step you make opens the heart and soul to fulfillment. Really notice what is around you and what you are around. Why is it there? What is it doing? How long has it been there? Where did it come from? Just some questions you might ask yourself when wandering down the river trail or out in the badlands or even in Riverbend park or your driveway. Just think. Let the doors of your mind open up to you to see the glory Mother Nature has presented to us.

Fact is folks, we talk politics all the time but no one is TRULY concerned with the politics of our nature. I'm not going all greeny on y'all but in truth we need to listen to nature before we listen to ourselves. I'm only asking you open your eyes and see what is going on around you. See what the trees look like, see the bald spot on your lawn and wonder 'why', see if your trees have lichen or not, see if you have a new species of spider running around your house.

SEE. LOOK. OBSERVE.  Don't take life for granted, It's going on all around us all of the time. Take a breath and examine some life you dont usually live. Love to all and may the Cowgirls and the Sagebrush finally come to an agreement.

Sagebrush vs. Cowgirl

200 & Two days of closed negotiations have brought us 1 step closer to a full agreement. The CG's have given in on the running over SB while SB has not backed off growing over 6 feet tall.The CG's are miffed by offer and are threatening to pull the "running over SB" off the table. However all are inclined to buy the deal of : "You leave me alone and I'll leave you alone"

Unfortunately this agreement is still in the balance and yet to be solved. We (I) will give you updates as soon as anything happens.

As it stands, the Cowgirls and the Sagebrush are still working out a collective bargaining agreement. Hopefully they'll be done b4 the NBA, I need my cows moved by Sunday. BTW, If you're a CG named Sunday, you're welcome to move my cows, by Sunday.

Love is good, love is great, love is what they told me it was.

Take care & peace to all, and make sure the one's you love know it!

Carmen OOOOOOOOOOOOOt

 Man I'm dressed heavy for summer.....Wayout Productions, Cry For No Sympathy, VI Dogs run a Boat & of course 3 Tards Moving. Be good and keep thinking. I'm naked now, you just can't see it! CG oot

Twisted Seasons with no Rhyme or Reasons

Good to see you made it back. It seems winter has gone on forever. I started winter term in October, I believe, and had spring break a couple of weeks ago, and now it STILL feels like winter. It's friggin April 6th. OK, something is going on here. I'm not a big fan of the global warming theory however I have noticed a shift in the general climate. Where my perspective lives, it looks like winters are lasting longer, spring is becoming virtually 'non-existent', summer has become a fickle visitor, and autumn is only around as long as it takes for the leaves to turn from green to red/yellow/orange & fall off the tree. Sometimes winter wont even let that cycle complete itself before it sets forth it's blanket of frosty soldiers to chill the air and the earth. Anyway, something is up.
..
So for the winter term update. I didn't make the Dean's list this time around, missed it by one 'A'. I wound up with a 3.46 (A,A,B,A,B.) They're working some kind of funky voodoo on grades now where the +'s and the -'s actually count. So if I were to do the avg. it would be a 3.6 but one A was a minus and one B was a minus. So hence the paltry 3.46 and no trip to the Smart Guy Sheet. The term was a challenge in general. Unfortunately I learned that about the time I finally found my rhythm & the term was coming to an end. It's good to be back and re-establishing my rhythm for the spring term. Spring, I use that word so loosely right now. It's just Winter Jr. as far as I'm concerned. I'm glad to see buds on the trees but I'm fearful that they will not make it through this Winter Jr.
Sagebrush is still in the latter stages of hibernation and the cowgirls are dealing with cutting and branding right now, so negotiations are still on hold but we hope to get something going as soon as this snow finally decides to depart.
Thanks again for the visit and stay tuned. As the weather gets better, so does my "HandTongue". If you can't be with the one you love, BE CAREFUL. The one you're with might want to love you. Only use that old adage if it's a last resort and you can handle pulling the pin on that grenade. Take care everyone and make sure the ones you love know it! Night all.

Carmen oooooooooooooot!

Livin', Lovin', she's just a ... Cowgirl

Only in the CO

 Winter in the CO (Cent. OR) is in full swing as is my academic career. I know the term "academic career" is usually reserved for scholars and folks with the higher knowledge but I'm going to coin it for myself tonight. It is DEAD week at school and why the hell am I writing a blog instead of studying? Because I'm a procrastinator, damn it! I've always believed that fun makes for good work ethic. If it ain't fun (or, you can't make it fun) then it isn't worth while. So I'm having a lil fun before I begin my work. It puts you in a good head space if you go into something after having a good time or doing something you like to do. So I'm tuning up, if I had to answer my own question. 

So what's new? Anyone do anything cool this winter? I sure didn't, unless you count learning. Man, 17 credits keep a brother on lock down. All I've done this winter is study, then I'd come home and study, eat and study, wake up and study. You get the picture I'm sure. Speaking of pictures.......the following pictures are going to help clear up some confusion I've noticed going on around here.....Apparently, not too many of you know what a cowgirl is...

This is NOT a cowgirl

Judging from the caption, I'm sure you learned something here. At one point in time, this would have been my perfect cowgirl and by god she surely is a fine looking "cow-girl". However, like all things that age well, they become wiser and I learned what a real cowgirl is. This picture should put things into perspective:

These are COWGIRLS

This is the REAL thing baby! These are the girls I speak so highly of and admire like any artist appreciating another artists ability to do good work. Like all, there are good CG's and bad CG's but in general they all have a heart of gold, a work ethic unrivaled, and usually look pretty damn good in a pair of Wranglers. These are the ladies that are having the "row", "dust-up", "feud", "impasse" with our resident sagebrush. This guy right here:

This my friends is Mr. & Mrs. Artemesia tridentata, otherwise known as Big Sagebrush. As you can see they are wearing their winter coats at this time and look like they are in no mood for negotiations.That's where our battle lies right now folks. The cowgirls are busy, and the sage are hibernating. Hopefully by spring we'll reconvene and get these negotiations  back on track. Until then I have no new updates to bring to the surface, other than I did hear through the grapevine that sage may decide to grow shorter if the CG's ride lighter horses.....only a rumor but we'll see. I'll be back with a Winter term grade update and all of the happening in the in-be-tween with our Sage & CG's and all the other cool stuff that happens from now til then. Now it's off to study again....where have I heard that before?.....man, thank goodness it's almost done. Love ya all. Take care and be good to yourselves. Tickle the ones who tickle you and kisses are recyclable, you can give them away forever and still have more than you can give away (my momma told me that when I was 3.) Peace

Carmen oooooooooooot...!

Twenty-Ten Year in Review in a nutshell

Yahoo,

We made it to the end of Twenty-Ten. Or two thousand ten, however you prefer. It was an adequate year with its opportunities and availabilities, I suppose. Getting as long in tooth as I am now it doesn't take alot to satisfy me anymore. This year has brought more satisfaction than many years prior have accumulated. Once again, my standards have lowered on some accounts and have improved and become more accurate on others. So this year, as all, has had its ups and downs but in the whole scheme of things this one has actually been somewhat progressive. Let me elaborate.

The year began with a horrid wet and cold day. The kind of day that could make the rest of the year appear to be as foreboding as walking into the the Blair Witch Project naked. Well, it was a valid indicator of what was to come because January brought me the most trials and tribulations I have experienced in years. Luckily It didn't kill me but it came close. I started the year off behind the 8 ball without much promise for a prosperous future. I had a little run-in with the law that had me up against the wall til May, when everything was settled and I was absolved and able to put that hokie-pokie BS behind me. It was a minor offense with major implications. No I didn't kill anything I wasn't supposed to but I probably shouldn't have been where I was when I was there. Wrong place Wrong time Wrong result. Don't let me scare, I'm not a criminal in the definition of the word, but according to the Forest Service cop, I brought the wrong kind of hay onto Federal lands. I'll leave it at that.

Spring brought other challenges. One of them being winter-like weather thru April. I mean I have been a Bend resident as well as native for over 30 years and spring keeps coming later and later every year. That can make it a challenge when you have been clouded in for 4 going on 5 months and just hoping for a ray of sunshine. Well, the sunshine never came. Well, it did, just not as soon as I thought it should have. One of the other challenges was going back to school to get my degree(s). I haven't seen a classroom for over 20 years......Both challenges presented themselves the first day of Spring term. We received more snow in one day than we had had all winter long. Kind of a rude induction to spring, but I took the challenge. I was wait-listed for most of my classes and managed to only get into one of them. That was cool tho. I had realistic expectations and didn't want to conquer the world in one term alone. I got my one class, Timber Carnival sports......OK, the class is Timber Sports but you get to learn how to ROCK a Timber Carnival. I was throwing axes, climbing 30 foot poles, setting chokers, and overhand chopping my way to an "A". I was an great intro to the career I hope to be a part of.

Summer worked its way into the picture with alot of smoke and mirrors. The season itself came in like a lamb with a broken leg. It didn't reach 70 degrees but for the three days in May, until damn near June 20th. When it came it came in force. It got hot and so did my second term at COCC. This time I was able to pick-up some more valuable classes in my pursuit of the goal. These were cool classes. Learning what actually goes on in the forestry business. I had Perspectives and Map &Compass. Both of which were succumbed to my innate ability to learn what I already know. Yea, I "A"d them both. The weather did get better and the learning became easier when all you had to wear to school was a compass and a pair of shorts. Summer was cool as short as it was.

Autumn. The real challenge. I finally got into the rotation and was able to register as a returning student and have a better menu of classes to choose from. I filled my schedule with 15 credit hours and charged the castle. After being re-introduced to the scholastic ways I was ready to take on the world. So BAM, I was off and running. I have never been a scientist, but I play one at the bar all the time, and never taken any "ology" classes other than geology and I dont even remember when that class was. I had 2 "ology" classes this term and was as intimidated as Pee Wee Herman standing in front of DOG the bounty hunter after playing around in a Miami movie theater. It was scary. You all saw the posts on Dendrology. It's a weird little science but if you're a nerd like me, you'd love it! Then there was Ecology. The "GREEN" science. Personally I feel this is the science that must be taught to the world. We need to know our role in the ecological kingdom and be able to educate all up and comers to the errors of the past and the ways that can resolve those errors. People need to know their "cause & effect" on our planet and know how to manage it to a more prosperous angle and I think this planet will be around til the sun goes out. What a fun class. The ology's were fun and rather enlightening . Then there was MATH. I HATE math. "I severely dislike math" would probably be a better way of putting it but I still hate it. Needless to say, I gave that the 'ol college try' too and ramshackled the castle with the best of the Barbarians. Oh yea, computer class. The class that turned me onto this whole blogosphere we are in now. I didn't learn much there other than how to ...... uh...............let's see..............hmmm......oh yea,.......what did I learn here? The last class was an introduction into how to be a college student in the program that I am currently enrolled in. It was a P/F class so it didn't seem like a big deal. When all the classes totaled up it put forth an adventure I was bound to conquer. In hindsight, it wasn't as bad as it looked. I managed 3 A's, 1 B, and one P. All in all, a 3.71 gpa and a trip to the Dean's List. I haven't been to the Dean's list since I got caught on a ladder peeping into sorority girls windows back in '79. Oh wait, that was John Belushi....my bad. I guess I've never made the Dean's List, til now.

Winter is back as are the challenges the new winter brings. Another season of variable weather, unsettled economy, and nothing to do but think positive about the new year to come. I don't necessarily celebrate calendar holidays. I follow the sun, moon, earth, and stars. So the Solstice was my official New Year but all in all we all tend to be close in what's relative. Hope for the best, achieve more than you thought you could, and go beyond anyone's expectations. Most of all be true to thy own self, bring good karma, and climb the ladder being weary not to step on the fingers of those who got you there....

Love you all and thanks for reading once again. The Sage and Cowgirls are still arguing a collective bargaining agreement and the commissioner is still in Hawaii. So I will bring you up to date with their story as soon as negotiations begin again......Take care, be safe, be good to yourself, and love the ones who make you feel good.

Carmen, ooooooooooot!