A Record High

This morning when I clicked on my blog, I noticed that 45,000 page views had been reached. I do not know if this is good or bad but every time I check I am surprised that someone is looking at my blogs. It may not really be that many readers, though I do know I have about ten loyal readers!

"In a sense, who you are

has always been a story that

you told yourself.

Now, your self is a story

that you tell to others."

Geoff  Ryman

The Entertaining Bull

The scene in the arena of the Mexican Rodeo at the Western Stock show was two bullfighters and one bull.

The bullfighters were dressed in the form fitting matador outfits. One bull fighter was in yellow with black embroidered top while the other was in gold. They both had pink knee high socks and black slipper-like shoes. The bull was black! Both fighters carried magenta capes that they used to tease the bull. The outfit worn by the bull fighters is called Traje de Luces. (Outfit of lights.)

From what I have read, the bull picked to be in the arena has never faced a human being and he needs to be aggressive, energetic, strong, with stamina and intelligence. The bull did everything I have seen them do; lowered head, pawed at the ground, stared at the bull fighter, and charged at the cape. Pass after pass made everyone yell "Ole" every time the bull missed the bull fighter. Since this was not a regular bloody bull fight but a teaching fight, explanations were given as to what the bull and bull fighter were doing. When the show was over the bull fighters went to the edge of the arena and waited for the bull to go into the chute.

That is when the show began! The bull refused to enter the chute. One cowboy waved his hat in front of the bull and the bull snared the hat and threw it on the ground. Another cowboy kept moving a long rag to get the bull's attention but the bull turned around and eyed the bull fighters leaning against the wall. I noticed they did not make a move but stood quietly and I suppose their wish was that the bull would turn and run into the chute. If the bull charged, they did not have any place to hide.  A lot of snorting from the bull as he went after some of the cowboys standing near the gates. This sent the men scrambling up the side of the fence. Finally, the bull was enticed to enter the chute and right before the gate swung shut, the bull reared back and he was back in the arena. He pawed at the hat and rag while looking around. One cowboy was trying to lasso the bull but the bull shook the rope off. It became a comical scene and everyone was laughing and cheering for the bull! Twice it would enter the chute and then come backing out again. The clowns were no help other than standing around watching to see what the bull would do next. When the bull was partially in the chute, three men slammed the gate on the bull's haunches and somehow got the gate locked. I could see the gate shaking as it was hit from the inside, but it held. The bull continued banging against the sides of the chute until there was silence and the show continued!

That bull loved to entertain and I kept thinking, what a ham!

A Cross

On my living room wall, I have a collection of crosses I have picked up on my travels. Some crosses speak to me and I just have to have it, or I have been given crosses as gifts. Since I am trying to down size I made up my mind to not add anymore crosses to my collection.

Yesterday my decision wavered when I saw beautiful crosses at the Western Stock Show. Unusual and unique crosses drew me closer to the display. I debated with myself on whether I needed another cross. I walked away. I returned to the crosses. I watched other people buying crosses. I decided to move away and look at other displays. Yet, the turquoise cross was in my mind. It was small and it was only ten dollars. One more cross would look great on the wall of crosses. I returned to the booth and purchased the cross!

Not only did I get the leather looking cross which to me represents my faith, but I also received a card letting me know that I should always look ahead, stay open and welcome whatever lies around the bend!  

I love my new addition to the wall. Though seeing the many crosses for sale, I would have liked a few more!

A cross reminds me of a few things. Christ's ultimate gift to me, memories of my travels, and there is a warm feeling as if the two arms of the cross are reaching to hug me.

"Only in the Cross of Christ

will we receive power when

we are powerless. We will

find strength when we are weak. 

We will experience hope when 

our situation is hopeless. Only in

the cross is there peace for 

our troubled hearts."

Michael Youssef

A Different Kind of Rodeo

The title of this blog was going to be Mexican Rodeo but on September 28, 2012, I blogged about a  rodeo I attended in Mexico with that same title. A Different Kind of Rodeo fit perfectly for my adventure yesterday at the Western Stock Show.

Parking free in Lot D, next to lots charging $20 and $30, an RTD shuttle picked me up along with about nine other persons. What a cheerful group as strangers laughed and talked to each other. I wondered if all cowboys were so happy. A young woman sitting next to me told me how she used to show horses but hasn't done it for a while. She explained that she worked with cutters, horses that  work with cattle. It would have been nice to continue talking and learning more from the woman but our bus arrived at the Exhibition Hall where we all got out.

Before going to the Coliseum where the rodeo would take place, I joined hundreds of other people and looked at cowboy hats, boots, farm equipment, food courts, jewelry, leather goods, hot tubs, sauna rooms, massage chairs, rugs, pictures, and western wear. Anything imaginable had its own area and I spent over an hour looking at things!

I walked across a large food court with smoke and roasting smells wafting all around the area. Barbequing pork, beef, chicken and turkey smells competed with each other. Prices seemed extremely high, like $5 for a medium bag of popcorn. At the far end of the eating area, I reached the doors that got me to where the rodeo would be held. My ticket was for Section 109, five rows down and the fifth seat. Perfect seats to watch the Extravaganza but I opted to not go down the stairs and to sit in the handicapped section on cushioned chairs and no steps. The usher checked to make sure a seat was available and I enjoyed the rodeo without fear of falling! I sat next to a lady in a wheel chair. She was from Guadalajara and spoke no English and she was surprised that I spoke Spanish. We had a lively conversation about Mexico before the loud show began.

The mariachi band, the colorful dancers, the beautiful horses and riders, the bull riding and bucking horses were exciting to see. Some of the differences were: 1. Cowboys hold on to a bucking horse with both hands. 2. The Paso de Muerte where a wild horse is surrounded by four riders except one rider is riding bareback. They race around the arena while the bareback rider attempts to mount the wild horse and when he does the horse begins to buck while the cowboy tries to stay on. 3. A sort of bull fight with no blood shed was interesting as the announcer explained the different moves. 4. The young girls riding side saddle were very much like our Westernaires with their maneuvers. 5. A horse pivots around keeping one leg in place as it spins first to the right and then to the left.

"You've got to do your own roping,

no matter how good your Daddy was."

Unknown

Seeing eight tiny tots ride a sheep was fun to watch because no matter how hard they tried to stay on the fat sheep, the helmeted kids slid off. At the end, all the children received a tall trophy for Mutton Bustin'.

What an exciting afternoon watching the Mexican Rodeo and seeing the Charros with their expensive sombreros, their beautiful horses, the talented riders and the folkloric dancers dancing to the Mariachi music.

"A cowboy is not a cowboy

with out a rodeo.

A rodeo is not a rodeo

with out a cowboy."

Unknown

Christmas in January

Spirit of Christ Catholic Community had a choir director with the most beautiful voice. How I loved  to listen to him sing. When I die, I want him to sing at my funeral, I thought. Then, he was gone and there went my thought! Last evening I went up to him and told him how I wanted him to sing at my funeral and he said, "I would be glad to sing for your funeral, and what date will it be?"

Not too long ago, another choir director came on board and he also had a voice that made me think he could have been an opera singer. He seemed to sing with his whole heart and once again I fell in love with the music at mass. His children seem to be following in his footsteps because they all seem to enjoy singing. His brother, who also has a beautiful voice sang Oh Holy Night. When it was announced he is in the military he got a standing ovation!

I had read in the church bulletin to bring our own dinner/drink for the performance and last evening, after mass of the Epiphany, the two musicians performed in the Spirit Center. McDonald's, Arby's, Kentucky Fried Chicken and some homemade sandwiches were being eaten before the "show" was to begin.  I saw some tables with bottles of wine.  Dessert was a small dish of M&Ms placed at all the tables. And then the show began. I kind of wished the program could have been presented before Christmas because singing Christmas Carols in January just seemed a bit off kilter. No one seemed to mind as they all joined in with the sing-a-longs.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Up On the Housetop

Silver Bells

Winter Wonderland

Jingle Bell Rock

Jingle Bells

I'll be Home For Christmas

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, 

had young people adding their own words to the song.

There were many more old favorites like Deck The Halls, Let It Snow, O Christmas Tree, Rockin' Round the Christmas Tree, Frosty the Snow Man, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Silent Night and ending with Auld Lang Syne.

The sweater contest was fun as all those decked out in their fancy sweaters paraded around the Spirit Center. There were many clever sweaters and the winner was a Young At Heart member dressed from head to toe in her neat outfit!

What a joyous occasion to be with a large group of happy people enjoying an evening of fun! It was great meeting up with friends and singing Christmas Carols on Epiphany! This is the date when in many countries gifts are given to the children and usually when Christmas decorations come down.

"Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind?"

Gone Away

"I don't mind dying, I just don't want to be there when it happens," is what the tall, handsome man, married to a friend of mine, would say. Today. at eleven in the morning, a beautiful memorial took place for him at Spirit of Christ Catholic Community. Close to two hundred people attended the lovely memorial.

A white and gold urn holding his remains was next to the Nativity scene of baby Jesus. A thought ran through my mind, a birth and a death, is that what life is all about? We enter the world as babies and when our chosen task is completed, we leave our loved ones on earth and go to eternal happiness.

The ceremony began with You Are My Sunshine sung by the strong voice of our choir director and followed by readings from Ecclesiastes and Corinthians. The Deacon read the Gospel and gave a wonderful homily.

John 14:1-6 ¹"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. ²My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ⁴You know the way to the place where I am going." ⁵Thomas said to him, "LORD, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" ⁶Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

After the memorial in the chapel everyone was invited to lunch. A long table with his art, pictures, photo book, Air Force uniform, flowers and urn had people lined up looking at his life. He led a busy life and it looked to me that he was a man who enjoyed life. I met him a few times and once he surprised me by showing me his paintings. Beautiful art work in his home. He collected lights from telephone poles and had a room with his ham operator equipment. He and his wife made a beautiful couple and I admired how well they got along with each other. Not only were they a married couple but they were good friends.

I am glad I got to know, although briefly, the man who made my friend happy. May he rest in peace  in the hearts of his family and friend's.

Green Bananas

Wandering through Costco, I happened to see green bananas for $1.39 a bunch. Ten bananas on a stem for a dollar and thirty-nine cents was a bargain.  I purchased the clump of ten bananas, with the thought that as soon as they ripened I would eat them. A banana with a green tinge is better for my health while a soft ripe, brown banana has more sugar. Even though a ripe banana tastes sweeter than a slightly green banana I prefer to use those soft bananas to make banana bread. The bananas I purchased are a deep green color and I keep waiting for them to ripen. So far, nothing is happening. They continue to be the same color as when I bought them. It's been fourteen days since I bought them and they are still green.

I got on the Internet and on the information line I put in "green bananas." Interesting because what I found out is that green bananas can be boiled, baked or fried. The warning is that the green banana will taste bitter eaten raw but when cooked it is like a starchy vegetables, like a potato, and can be used as a side dish. I am going to give the green bananas a few more days and if nothing happens I will try the boiling method because that recipe looked easier than the baked or fried bananas.

Plantains are the cooking bananas and my bananas look very much like the cooking ones so I will try to cook my green bananas if they don't hurry up and turn yellow!

Recipe for Green Bananas

Cut edges; slice a couple of length wise slits

Place in cold water; bring to a boil in covered pan for about 20 minutes.

Lower heat and simmer for 10 more minutes uncovered

Bananas will turn a grey color and skin will split

Remove from pan until cool; peel the skin,

banana can now be a side dish

How in the world did we function before the Internet came into existence?

"When you get to my age,

you don't buy green bananas

because you may not be

around to eat them."

Don Meyer

Green Banana Saga continues: I took one green banana and cut a piece to see if maybe the inside was ripe enough to eat. It wasn't. It was hard and tasteless, like eating cardboard. I spit the disgusting taste out and today I returned the bunch of green bananas to Costco. I got my $1.43 change and went to see if there were any yellow bananas or at least if they were sort of a lighter green than the ones I had returned. The $1.39 sign was still above the green bananas.

A young man picked up two bunches and said, "That's a really good price." I told him about the bananas I had just returned and said, "Good luck and I hope those bananas you are buying turn faster than mine because nineteen days had not ripened my bananas."  He put one bunch back and said, "I'll just take one bunch and see what happens!"

And that is the end of the story of my green bananas.