Cowboy @ MindSay

An old cowboy sat down at the Starbucks and ordered a cup of coffee. As he sat sipping his coffee, a young woman sat down next to him.

She turned to the cowboy and asked, "Are you a real cowboy?"

He replied, "Well, ma'am, I've spent my whole life breaking colts, working cows, going to rodeos, fixing fences, pulling calves, bailing hay, doctoring calves, cleaning my barn, fixing flats, working on tractors, and feeding my dogs"

"So I guess I am a cowboy."

She said, "Well, I'm a lesbian. I spend my whole day thinking about women. As soon as I get up in the morning, I think about women. When I shower, I think about women. When I watch TV, I think about women. I even think about women when I eat."

"It seems that everything makes me think of women."

"Hmm," the cowboy replied.

The two sat sipping in silence.

A little while later, a little boy cat on the other side of the old cowboy and asked, "Gee! Are you a real cowboy?"

He replied, "I always thought I was - but I just found out that I'm a lesbian."

"Sit and have a cup if you don't have to go anywhere . . .Gonna rain anyway." Ron had been loafing, just as I blew in from outside.

"I will"

"Can't ride in the rain. Too early to go home."

"No. Good excuse for being a bum 'round here."

"Hell . . . you don't need no excuse . . . now do ya?" 

 

I didn't feel that cold . . .  until I got inside where it was toasty warm and that coffee-smell hit me. I picked out a chair against the same wall the door was on, so if anyone else came in the wind wouldn't hit me and ruin being cozy . . . I scooted a box over where I could put my feet up . . . I slouched just a bit, unzipped my jacket down between the first and second shirt button, and let out a breath. In the air was the aroma of the coffee, fresh leather of the saddles and tack, and the feed sacks from the next room. I was grateful that the radio was off, quiet enough to hear the rain outside and the wind gusts.

 

"Here, just made it."  Ron laughed at me getting situated, handed me a comfortable mug . . . thick and heavy, with a handle that fit two fingers and my thumb, just right. The thick mug warms your hands as you surround it with your palms . . . helping to shake off the cold as sips of the H-O-T coffee soaks through you. 

 

This was the third rainy, and cold, day in a row. I had two jobsites that would have to wait until the rain left . . . I couldn't ride so I got caught up on cleaning and caring for the tack, checking the horses and spending some time with my clients answering questions and talking shop. It's good to have a day or an afternoon where you sit, put things on paper and see how they look. The "horse business" was growing and I had been trying to figure out how to organize all I had to do. There were a total of five horses with that many more planned on in the next few weeks. I looked at my list . . . repairs and changes to be made in a couple of the stables, accompanying clients to look at new horses and helping them pick out tack . . . six or seven items. I wrote things down as I thought about them and then broke that down into steps and priorities . . . ideas and questions.

 

I looked at the couple of pages of notes I had and there was a lot there to do, but it didn't feel like work and I was inwardly very happy with myself, thankful, that I had been able to remember what I'd been taught and think my way through the responsibilities I'd been given. I was enjoying myself, not only with the riding which was the big pay off, but I was learning something, reacquiring a skill  . . . as well as recalling the memories of my dad that I hadn't thought about in so long. It was so much more than what I started out to do, and it surprised me how much more fun riding was since I was more involved. The coffee was warming me up and I unzipped my jacket and slid my cap back and held the mug with both hands feeling the heat making it almost too hot to hold as Ron refilled it and I got more settled in . . . cozy.  

 

"I hear things are working out for you."

"They are. Thank you. I was just thinking it through, all there is to do."
"You're welcome. There's always a little something to do for someone who don't mind the effort. I have people coming in now actually enjoying themselves. Before they were unhappy."

"That's nice to hear."

"I was going to ask you the next time I saw you. I started to put you down on the account list. What do you call your business? Are you going to call this a business? That's quite a list you have there, and, I know a couple of more that are going to give you a call."

 

It was a good question and I didn't have a clue. I'd been putting the money I made in my pocket, but I needed to get liability insurance, Michelle and Evan had made a position for me that I was going to have to call it a business.

 

"How bout 'Horse Business Inc.'?  I don't know, really."  Ron looked at me and shook his head.

"Your clients are upscale. You need an upscale name, nothing too cowboy"
"Horse . . .  horse . . . horse what?"  I held up my coffee mug and got a refill and resumed my comfy slouch. The door opened up and there went my theory that I was in the best place to stay out of the draft. The wind went to right where I was all nice and warm . . . I quickly set the coffee down and zipped my jacket. Why is it that when you're all toasty that the least bit of cool air disrupts all that warm? It's like being cozy in bed . . . just right . . . and having the covers lifted . . . it's just short of painful. I looked up to frown at whoever let the cold air in . . . but thought twice when I looked up and met a bigger frown.

 

"I should have known!  I'M out working . . . I'M frozen . . . I'M hungry . . . I'M soaked . . . I'M froze . . ."

"You said that twice"

"YOU'RE sittin' there sippin' HOT coffee and I said WHAT twice? Why don't YOU try and . . . "

 

Ron reached for another mug the instant Rita's truck pulled up, filled it with hot water and instant hot chocolate . . . and didn't say a word to me!  Comfy no more . . . I was up and offering my warm seat. I glanced at Ron and he was enjoying not being the target and letting me know correcting a twice frozen, soaked-through-to-the-skin-woman was probably the dumbest thing I could do . . . and make him take back calling me smart and competent from while ago.

 

"I don't want you're ol'seat!  Thank you  . . . R-o-n . . . "  She pulled a chair at an angle to mine, put her feet up where I just had mine and gave her sweetest smile to "R-O-N" for the hot chocolate. I got "the look".

"I've been working!"  I said. She looked me over to see if I was soaked . . . or muddy . . . or had goose bumps from being out in the weather since early that morning.

 

"But not nearly as hard as you . . . " I reached for a nearby saddle blanket and put it over her shoulders.

"That's better!"  She slid the blanket down off her shoulders and took off the wet denim jacket and put it on the back of my chair and wrapped up in the saddle blanket again. She shivered and I could see water dripping off her braid and goosebumps as she held the heavy mug with both hands . . . letting the heat warm her fingers and hands. She'd been out since about 7:00 a.m. hoping to keep her schedule and figured it was going to be muddy, and a mess, either way.

 

"I got the Equestrian center done first. It didn't let up, so I did two that I couldn't get done inside. Then I quit for today. I would have bet you were here or somewhere . . . nice-and-dry . . ."  As she warmed up I wasn't getting as hard of looks, but Ron was getting all the ladylike behavior as he refilled the instant hot chocolate. We tried to explain to her our ideas, or lack there of, for naming the business. That actually broke the cold spell in her . . . she laughed and rolled her eyes.

 

"Equine . . . instead of horse."

"Equine Business Inc.?"

"NO! . . . Ron's right. Our clients are upscale and they like cowboys, but they are "Equestrians".

"O-u-r clients?"

"Yes!  I have the same ones, thank-you-very-much . . . and a couple of others, and they're "Equestrians" not cowboy. Ron's right."

"Equine . . . something. How about Equine  . . . Management?" I got two nods of almost-approval . . .

"How about a warm up . . . p-l-e-a-s-e . . . and t-h-a-n-k y-o-u?"  Lovely Rita was starting to thaw . . . a bit and Ron had the hot chocolate ready. I held up my mug for some attention too and got a "look" . . . but more coffee and I started getting comfy again and slouching. Rita made room for my feet on the box.

 

"Advanced  . . . Equine Management?"  Rita and Ron looked at each other . . . and then raised their mugs.

"To Advanced Equine Management!"  We toasted.

 

"Ahhh, there's that look!"   I smiled from behind my cup looking at Rita.

"SO? I'm hungry. . .  I don't want to get up . . . or go out . . . I'm tired . . . hungry and tired . . . hungry . . . tired . . ."

 

Ron produced several menus from behind the counter and she brightened up immediately. I could-not-believe what I was seeing. Ron looked at me and rolled his eyes. He'd been through this once or twice apparently.

 

"Okay, let's call here. They'll deliver . . . unless, YOU . . . want to go and get it?"  She looked at me.

"No. But I'll buy . . . it'll be my first "business lunch" . . ." Rita had a big smile at that and I'm pretty sure she mentally added extras to the order.

 

I was out at my western barn yesterday.  A fellow had his son with him.  Boys name is Jacob - age 4.  Is he not a handsome fellow.  I had to take a few photos.  He was so proud of himself with his cowboy hat, boots, gloves and fancy jacket. 

 

What a priceless adorable little fellow.  In about 15 years --- watch out for your little girls --- Jacob is out there.

 

Yoya know, I remember when I was little and got a cowgirl outfit. I thought there was nothing like it.  I remember the western movies and horsey movies.  Those times felt so so good.   

 

Remember?

 

 

 

It's like magic. People's socks are mysteriously turning into cowboy boots. What used to be your usual baseball hat has stretched into wide brimmed hats of a more western flavour. It must be Stampede!!!

 

Today is the first of ten days of cowboy partying here in Calgary. The Stampede kicks off with the annual downtown parade. I would be there right now but to get a seat on the bleachers would cost $25 and they were sold out a week ago. To attempt to find any other standing room would be like getting comfy with some sardines. So I'm watching on tv.

 

It's kind of funny because my office at work would overlook the parade with a sweet 3rd fl. view, but we have the day off and I told my boss it would kind of defeat the purpose of getting the day off if I went to work to watch the parade. :) Ah well. I'm going to the big event tonight. Yup, I'm getting me a cowboy hat and donning my jeans and Carter will be my western hero and take me through the opening night at the Stampede grounds. I'm kind of pumped.

 

Defined for its Rodeo, Chuckwagon races, Bull riding and other traditional western events, the Calgary Stampede also offers musical shows including big names like Our Lady Peace, Nelly Fertdao....you get the idea. Food everywhere, games, barn exhibitions, and even better : a huge selection of big fair rides to get that adrenaline pumpin! Sweeet. Aaaaand fireworks everynight. Can it get better?

   

I hear about a million Americans come up for the Stampede, and even more visitors from the UK come over. Apparently the Stampede is a HUGE attraction for our English friends across the ocean. It's a pretty good show; the Rodeo is giving out $100 000 to winners and only the best riders are invited/allowed to compete.