I like living in a small town, I think I really do...really

So a couple of days ago I was DYING to get to Billings and do some shopping, and it didn't happen. I got depressed for a while feeling trapped in such a small town, without any opportunities for entertainment, that I made a list of things I DO like about living here. It gets hard sometimes. I feel so isolated, ingrown. I know I'm meant to be here, but that doesn't make it any easier when I'm feeling trapped. So before I get depressed again, here's the list:

1. If there's any kind of contest with prizes going on I enter up because I always win something! (Usually for lack of participation) So far: 1 hour massage, mousse cake, 15$ at local restaurant, 15$ at local chocolate shop, free latte at the coffee shop (yes we do have coffee. I try to time it when the wife is making the coffee because it tastes better when she does it. Although I know it would never fly with Uncle Chunkle)

2. When I go to the highschool volleyball game I simply pass Caleb on to the person next to me. I get to watch the game unhindered while he works his way around the bleachers. It's awesome!
I never used to go to the games, but we have a high school senior girl living with us that plays so she got me hooked.

3. I can ride ride ride. My entire life I have wanted a horse (Trixie Belden started me on it) and finally I can ride as much as my butt can stand. That is a life saver for me. Also a cheap form of therapy.

4. The waitress at Lucille's cafe knows how I like my coffee, what dressing I take on my salad, and how done to cook my meat. She also knows when my parents are gone, Caleb's birthday,
and Ron and my anniversary.

5. Caleb will grow up with everyone knowing him, watching out for him, and relating to him. This is a good thing, because it's not just adults, it's high school students, senior citizens , all layers of life here. They will include him in their life as the normal way of living. He is already more accepted and know than Ron or I am! People see him as belonging to them, to their community. And in a healthy, not scary way.

Well, that's it so far. I felt better after these five.

The Crow

I got to thinking about Native Americans on my last post- when I was in Indiana I had this idea about Native outreaches and being a part of Indian culture. I was so virtuous it was almost laughable. The thing is, most people feel that way, fed on a steady diet of movies about the wild, free, noble, nature loving Indians. The truth is somewhat different.

Native Americans live in a Soverign Nation in the midst of our Soverign nation. So they have their own laws and rules. If the Us were to chase a criminal and he went to a reservation we would have to ask permission to catch him within res borders. The indians could say no and it would have to go to the supreme court to overrule their wishes. And if it were an indian who was the criminal the gov. would have to release him to the tribal council to be judged and convicted if that's what the indians wanted.

They truly are a different culture. Everything about the Indians is circular, whereas I would say Americans are totally linear.

There are a jillion dogs on the res. They raom around in packs and occasionally attack people. The indians don't care.

Kids are well loved but raised void of any discipline. I'm serious. None. They are like wild animals and eat junk food and pop. This is not just a blanket statement. You would think they would all grow up rebellious and they do, but they are so family adn relationally oriented that they don't rebel against their family. They stay connected.

Because of that, even though any indian who wants to go to school can have a totally free ride to any school of his/her choice, they rarely go to college or finish a semester. They also rarely leave the reservation.

The res has no hunting season or guidlines, so their are no longer any wild animals on the res. Except for dogs.

There is a stronghold of poverty, alcohol and drugs on the reservation that is unrivalled even in many third world nations. It's incredible. If the indians ever were loosened from that bondage- watch out! There is such power within that culture- a drive, competitiveness, a willing to risk anything to win or accomplish a goal. There is just such a feeling of hopelessness and apathy- they are truly a conquered people.

I believe we suffer as a nation and as a body without thier voices.

Get some coffee and settle in, this is going to be long!

So here's what I was doing last weekend- that's right, The Curly Poodle had an entry in the Meeteetse Labor Day parade. Possibly the only parade in America to hand out free alcohol at 10:00 in the morning-Mimosa anyone?? Ritz is on the left and Tia on the right in the pic. Ritz is in a modified T clip and Tia is in a Bikini clip. They both did great and I had fun. The phone calls have already been pouring in so that's good for business!

The latest on Little Buckaroo- 2 new teeth! Yowza! Both are in front on the bottem. The little champ hasn't been that fussy, thank you Jesus. He is growing so big. Still not real chunky but there's enough to squeeze his thighs. He is such a cool baby. Loves other people and doesn't cry that often. Except when I'm on the computer. What's up with that???

New Saddle- The cowboy has done it again. Always when I'm least expecting it, he pulls out an incredible surprize. We were headed to Billings with some friends and had to stop to feed Caleb. We were going a different way so we just happened to be close to a saddle shop. We stopped, they went in to look around and I stayed outside in the car to feed Caleb. When I came in they had a barrel saddle on a rack and Ron asked me what I thought. I sat in it ( it's a 14 inch, perfect) really liked how it felt, we looked it over; it was really used but in great shape and really well made (except for one fender, update to follow.) I turned to tell Ron how much I LOVED this saddle and found that he was already at the counter making it happen!

***Update- when looking over the saddle we found a weak spot on one of the fenders. I tried to baby it along for awhile, but sure enough it ripped through when I made a hard turn and the whole stirrup fell off. So the saddle is in the shop, hopefully out soon.