With a Whisper

Brenn Hill has quickly become one of my favorite artists.  I first heard his music while listening to a random playlist on Slacker and I've been hooked ever since.  In fact I moved from Pendleton the last time just before he had a show at Hamley's.  I was very disappointed!  I love his voice, and unlike so many mainstream artist's these days his songs actually tell a story.  I also enjoy that they're cowboy songs.  If you have Spotify here's a link that will allow you to listen to it.  Here's one of my favorites, With a Whisper. 

With A Whisper
Brenn Hill/Red Cliffs Press Music (BMI)
Verse 1:
Show me the ways of horsemen
Rope halter, snaffle, and bosal
Screw me down tight on the buckers
I wanna ride this colt through hell
Tell me the Roughrider's secrets
How to 9-1-1 your latigo
To cross her feet in a tussle
When to hang on when to let go
Chorus:
You are a modern contradiction
You hold to the ways of yesterday
You wooly buckaroo
I wish I was you
You say all there is to say
With a whisper
Verse 2:
Soft-mouthed and always lookin' for you
I see obedience in her eye
Her ears are ever-leanin' forward
Between the desert and the sky
With a fancy wild-rag 'round your neck
Jingle-bobs are singin' outta tune
Just you and her until the sun sets
Here upon the far Owyhee moon
Repeat Chorus
Verse 3:
Show me the ways of horsemen
Rope halter,snaffle, and bosal
Teach me the Roughrider's secrets
I wanna ride this colt through hell

Wild Animals

Have you ever stopped and truly thought about how hard wild animals work to survive?  They endure extreme heat, extreme cold, droughts, floods, monsoons, fires and other assorted natural disasters.  They're hunted, exploited, chased, harassed and relocated.  The overpopulation of humans has had a drastic affect on wildlife worldwide.

Every creature, big or small, cute or scary has a purpose and a story.  We may not always like or appreciate their lot in life, but they're here and we need to live with them.  Sometimes I think even through all their hardships, they really are better off.  Animal life is simple.  A hierarchy exists among every species that dwells together.  There's no lying, no deception amongst the ranks.  You're put in your place by your superior and that's that.  There's a constant battle for supremacy, but it's expected and the alpha always knows it's coming.  One day they will no longer be able to protect what is theirs.  When that day comes they leave, dead or alive.

The life of a wild animal is hard.  Whether it's an endangered black rhino in Africa being hunted for it's horn, a mama cheetah doing her best to defy cub survival rates, elk herds fighting off wolves or fish searching for colder waters.  Every day is uncertain, a constant risk, a battle for life.  Most people only see wild animals once their captured, or through the lens of someone else' experience.  We make jokes about observing some creature "in it's natural habitat".  Those of us who are lucky enough to see wildlife I think most often take it for granted.

Two falls ago I saw a timber rattlesnake for the first time, one of a pair.  The next day I saw a king snake, he proved too quick for my camera skills and I never did get a good shot of it.  Last fall I saw what was either a marten or a fisher.  Neither my dad or I had ever seen one before.  I gawk in amazement when I see big bucks.  I wonder at the athleticism and grace of elk.  I'm unusually afraid of  mountain lions (I used to have nightmares about them jumping through my window and eating me as a child), but their the ultimate predator.  Lithe, graceful, quick, strong and effective.

People who have grown up in the country learn from a young age to respect all animals.  When I was little I was always told that animals came first, and they always ate before I did. The true stewards of the land learn to live and make peace with all animals.  I had a great-uncle of sorts that spent most of the year in a camper in the mountains.  He was so unbelievably a part of the landscape.  He just sat in his little lawn chair quietly reading for hours and hours.  He made pets of deer and squirrels and chipmunks.  He was so accepted by his surroundings that one night he was awoken by a bull elk rubbing on the side of his camper!  He didn't have much and he was far from a materialistic man.  Sometimes I think he had the right idea. 

Anyway, this is no way is an ode to environmentalism.  Nor is it an attack on human kind.  I was just doing some research for a class and came across some fantastic photos shot for National Geographic.  Thought I'd share some with you.  They actually came from the Photo of the Day and I encourage you to check them out, the photo's are outstanding!  Here's the link.

XO Loves,


Me

Bang a Drum

How many of you have heard Chris LeDoux's song Bang a Drum?  It's a beautiful song and is actually a duet with Jon Bon Jovi.  Do you ever have reminiscent memories of what you were doing the first time you heard a certain song?  I do, a lot.  For me most of the time I was reading a book.  I can remember listening to this album and song while reading a book from the Sackett series by Louis L'Amour.  Love those Sackett men.  You should check out those books too by the way.  So here's Bang a Drum by Chris LeDoux and Bon Jovi.  Watch the video HERE


I went to see the preacher
To teach me how to pray
He looked at me and smiled
Then that preacher turned away

Said, "If you want to tell him something
You ain't gotta fold your hands
Say it with your heart, your soul and believe it
And I'll say, Amen"

Bang a drum for the sinners
Bang a drum for your sins
Bang a drum for the losers
And those who win

Bang a drum, bang it loudly
Or as soft as you need
Bang a drum for yourself, son
And a drum for me

Well, I called upon my brother
Just the other day
He said, "Jon, I'm gonna die
If I don't start to live again"

"I work each day and night like clockwork
Just tryin' to make ends meet
Well, I could kick this bad world's ass
If I could just get on my feet"

Bang a drum for the dyin'
Bang a drum for the truth
Bang a drum for the innocence
Lost in our youth

Bang a drum, bang it loudly
Or as soft as you need
Bang a drum for your brother
And a drum for me

I don't know where
All the rivers run
I don't know how far
I don't know how come

But I'm gonna die believin'
With each step that I take
Ain't worth the ground that I walk
If we don't walk it our own way

I don't claim to be a wise man
A poet or a saint
Just another man who's searchin'
For a better way

But, my heart beats loud as thunder
For the things that I believe
Sometimes, I want to run for cover
Sometimes, I want to scream

Bang a drum for the tomorrow
Bang a drum for the past
Bang a drum for the heroes
Who won't come back

Bang a drum for the promise
Bang a drum for the lies
Bang a drum for the lovers
And the tears they cry

Bang a drum, bang it loudly
Or as soft as you need
But as long as my heart
Keeps on banging, I've got a reason to believe


XO Loves,


Me

Holding Back

Due to recent events in my life, I felt like finally expressing these thoughts was about time.  Have you ever not done something because you were afraid?  Unsure of yourself?  Embarrassed?  I have, a lot.  For as long as I can remember I've held back, not in fear of the action itself, but in fear of being judged, ridiculed, laughed at or looking stupid.  Those who are confident in who they are and their place in the world will never understand that feeling until they've experienced it.  It's not a good feeling, for me it gives me major anxiety.  Sometimes I'll allow the confident around me to force me into doing something I'm uncomfortable with only to end up not being able to handle it and wanting desperately to run away and hide. 

I don't ask questions in big classes for fear of someone thinking "geez that's a stupid question, quit wasting my time".

I sit in the back of the class, not because I want to goof off, but because I have an irrational fear of people staring at me from behind.

When I was young I thought it was bad to sway your hips when you walked.  The result is that now I have a very stiff, straight gait.

When I started running barrels I didn't like holding onto the horn because I thought people would think it was because I couldn't ride.

I got super nervous about running barrels in the first place for fear of people thinking I was too big.

I've wanted to team rope since highschool, but I've always been too afraid to take advantage of the opportunities I've had throughout the years.

I don't dance unless I've had plenty of liquid courage, because I don't feel like I have rhythm. 

I don't ask gear questions around those who are most knowledgeable because I'm embarrassed that I don't already know.

I don't flirt, because I'm just positive no one's interested in me that way.

I've always loved the gym, but I used to get super self-conscious in them because I wasn't fit, I felt constantly judged.

These are all totally ridiculous fears, and I fully recognize that.  Some of them I've overcome, the dancing one I might not ever get over...  The point here though, is that we should never not achieve our goals, or quit working towards our dreams just because we're worried about other people.   It's our life, not there's so who cares!

XO Loves,

Me

The Cowboy In The Continental Suit

Along with Johnny Horton, Marty Robbins ranks right up there at the top of my list.  He was pretty much a badass.  I mean besides having an amazing 40 year career, he was also a NASCAR driver!  Growing up I remember listening to mostly his gunfighter ballads.  My first pickup only had a tape deck and I totally rocked his music.  I'll be sharing more of his music since this song isn't really what he was known for.  I just think it's a pretty wicked song, I mean can you actually picture this taking place?  Talk about awesome.  I hope you enjoy.  Listen to the song HERE.

Well, he walks out in the arena
All dressed up to the brim
Said he'd just came down from a place
Called 'Highland Rim'

Well, he said he came to ride the horse
The one they call 'The Brute'
But he didn't look like a cowboy
In his Continental Suit

We snickered at the way he dressed
But he never said a word
He walks on by the rest of us
As if he hadn't heard

A thousand bucks went to the man
Who could ride this wild cayuse
A meaner horse was never born
Than the one they called 'The Brute'

The horse that he was looking for
Was in chute number eight
He walked up very slowly
Put his hand upon the gate

We knew he was a thoroughbred
When he pulled his sack of 'Dukes'
From the inside pocket
Of his Continental Suit

Well, he rolled hisself a 'Corley'
And he lit it standing there
Blew himself a smoke ring
And he watched it disappear

We thought he must be crazy
When he opened up the gate
Standing just inside was
Fifteen hundred pounds of hate

The Buckskin tried to run him down
But the stranger was too quick
He stepped aside and threw his arms
Around the horse's neck

And pulled himself up on the back
Of the horse they called 'The Brute'
Sit like he was born there
In his Continental Suit

'The Brute's' hind-end was in the air
His front end on the ground
Kickin' and a-squealin', tryin' to
Shake this stranger down

But the stranger didn't give an inch
He came to ride 'The Brute'
And he came to ride the Buckskin
In a Continental Suit

Well, I turned around to look at Jim
And he was watchin' me
He said, "I don't believe
The crazy things I think I see"

"But I think I see the outlaw
The one they call 'The Brute'
Ridden by a cowboy
In a Continental Suit"

'The Brute' came to a stand-still
Ashamed that he'd been rode
By a city cowboy in
Some Continental clothes

The stranger took his money
And we don't know where he went
We don't know where he came from
And we haven't seen him since

The moral of this story
Never judge by what they wear
Underneath some ragged clothes
Could be a millionaire

Everybody listen
Don't be fooled by this galoot
This sure 'nough bronc buster
In a Continental Suit

XO Loves,

Me

Strange Moment of the Day

Drifters, transients, hippies, free spirits, call them what you will.  We've all seen them.  The aimless wanderers that you just aren't sure whether or not their homeless. 

Today was Super Bowl Sunday.  I don't really like football and I didn't particularly care about either team (although it's totally awesome the Seahawks won their first Super Bowl) so rather than settling in to watch the game I went to the grocery store.  I wandered about, stocking up on my non-perishables and buying the fresh food I need for the beginning of the week.  I rolled my cart out to my pickup and started unloading my groceries when I heard music playing.  It was pretty loud and I just assumed it was a stereo.  It's cold and snowing.  As I finished up and put my cart away I saw 3 people sitting in front of the store, with a dog.  I don't know where they came from, they weren't there when I walked out.  One of the guys and the girl were playing guitars and were really good.  Every once in a awhile you'd hear some lyrics of some sort, but they were just sitting there in the light snow jammin' away without a care in the world.  The other guy soon sat down and began to pat his knees as if he were playing bongos.  It seemed odd, since that sort of thing doesn't often happen in this little town and even odder because the weather was kind of crappy. 

Whether they were homeless and playing for money or just hippies feeling their music it was a nice break from my boring day and I appreciated their commitment.  I wish I could have hung around longer, I do so enjoy listening to people play guitars.  So here's to those 3 people, may you play your little hearts out no matter where your road leads!

XO Loves,

Me