Wow! What a Sunrise.

Normally my commute to work is rather mundane, but this morning had one of the best sunrises I've seen. There was a huge, crisp and bright sun pillar shining up from the horizon. These aren't horribly uncommon, but this one was a doozy. See, we live in an area that is ripe for meteorological anomalies.

(WARNING! Weather Geek-Speek to follow): With that big body of water to our east and that nasty wind from Canada to the northwest, we can see some exciting occurrences. All that cold air arrives via the jet stream, which, for the most part goes west to east. But often it slides north into Canada before making a hard right and heading down into Wisconsin. When that cold air hits the warm air that hovers over Lake Michigan, those two air masses of different temperatures get mad at each other and snow is created. Ok - that's not entirely accurate, but you get the jist. Anyway, while we're not in the snow belt that is created by these battling air masses, we are allowed a peek at the beginnings of the fight. And that's what created this morning's awesome sunrise. Accompanying the cold Canadian air from the northwest was a band of high cirrocumulus clouds, yet the eastern horizon was clear. (Something that we see often enough is the stacking of cloud banks over Lake Michigan - they come in on the prevailing west winds, hit the warmer, moist air above the lake, and want to hang out for a while. It's like they're afraid to go to Michigan. I can understand.) Conditions were just right where the ice crystals formed by the freezing of the warm water vapor above the lake came falling back down. As the sun was peeking up from the east, the light bounced off of these ice crystals and created a big pillar of light. In addition, the bottom side of the cloud bank was illuminated in a brilliant mix of purples and pinks. It sure was a nice start to another cold winter morning.

I really need to carry a camera with me.

Winter Sucks!

I awoke today just like any other day. Put my long underwear on one leg at a time. Or tried. It always seems that one leg is turned inside out, making reinsertion in the dark difficult if not impossible. Grabbed my sweatshirt, put in on backwards. Tried again, got it right. Slippers went on the wrong feet.

Just a normal morning.

Started the coffee and glanced at the trusty indoor/outdoor digital thermometer. It read -0.0. That's Minus Zero Point Zero. Just how unapologetically unoptimistic could that thermometer be? Minus Zero? Minus? Talk about starting the day on a negative.

So I added another layer of clothes before heading out to feed the boys. I know, I know, there are two mares out there, but I call the outside critters The Boys. I have a need to keep things simple in my advancing age. The snow was squeaky cold. Twelve nostrils were blowing steam, waiting for breakfast. Two nostrils were frozen shut. Those were mine. Checked over the boys as I fed, looking for ice cuts on their legs, feeling for warm armpits, looking for any signs of cold. Heck, they can handle this weather, why can't I?

I think the answer is simple: they have no concept of time. Us humans know that winter is just starting, and there are at least 75 more days of this crap. Many of which promise to be worse, much worse. Those days will be followed by 75 more of cold, wet, slop and mud. Then we get what seems to be a flash of warmth and green, and the whole process starts over again.

How's that for optimism?

Remember This Little Guy?

It's been almost three years since we picked up this little feller from way over in the far western part of the state. We bought him without ever meeting him. We saw pictures and had some low-quality video from Sara's dad. He graciously took time to go see him for us while visiting Erin, Sara's younger sister who lives in Minneapolis. I remember all of the time Sara spent looking for a new show prospect. The hours surfing the net, the close scrutinizing of photos and videos. How Sara kept coming back to this little guy. I remember how we took the videos and pictures to our friend Dale, a local trainer, to ask his opinion on which horse he felt would be a good prospect. And this little yellow horse kept surfacing near the top of the list.

We hooked up the steel dinosaur and headed west to pick up that little horse. He was everything we expected. Calm, mild mannered, nice conformation. Granted, he was at that awkward and lanky late yearling stage, but you could tell he was going to come together well. We tossed an old blanket on him and he loaded right up. Stood like a champ for the four hour ride home. Unloaded in the dark like he'd done it many times, but this was only his second trailer ride in his life. Settled into his stall amongst all the seasoned Paints and Quarter Horses like he knew it was his new home, and he approved.

Watching him grow into those knobby knees and those long legs was fun. He took everything in stride and never got wound up about anything Sara threw at him. He did anything asked of him, and did it willingly. That first summer was spent showing him at the local level in classes like halter, showmanship, in-hand trail & lunge line. It was then that he learned he liked those classes - he could sleep during the lineup. He loves to sleep. It's one of his favorite things. When not showing, the rest of his time was spent learning new things in the arena and going on longs walks. Walks down the road and walks in the field, getting him accustomed to cars and trucks and tractors and semi's.

Late in his second year Sara started him under saddle. Again, he took it in stride like he knew this was his job. His training proceeded slowly with lots of walking and bending and softening. He picked it all up like a champ, and continued to learn into his third year. That next summer was spent at the local open shows in an array of walk/trot classes in addition to the showmanship and halter classes. He did well, holding his own against much more experienced horses. He became one of the horses to beat in the showmanship classes. His placings thru the year qualified him to go to the Wisconsin State Horse Council's Challenge of Champions which was held in late September. They walked away earning 5th in Western Pleasure. Not bad for his first year of riding.

That winter they focused on getting his lope and canter down. He learned and worked hard and tried harder and got it down just right. They had to get it right, because his fourth year was going to be a big one. They went on to show at the breed shows this past summer on the Wisconsin Paint Horse Club circuit, and they ended the show season with a winning record.

I'm a very proud husband when I can say that Sara is the Wisconsin Paint Horse Club's Amateur Rookie of the Year.

The also earned the title of the Reserve Champion Novice Amateur All-Around, just being out of first place by two points.

But one of Sara's proudest title is that of Grand Champion Novice Amateur Showmanship.

In addition, she was awarded with the following titles from the WPHC:
Reserve Champion Amateur Geldings at Halter

Reserve Champion Novice Amateur Western Pleasure

Reserve Champion Novice Amateur Hunter Under Saddle

Reserve Champion Novice Amateur Huntseat Equitation

Reserve Champion Novice Amateur Western Horsemanship

All of this from that knobby-kneed little blue eyed yellow horse. And from all of their hard work and dedication. And for never giving up.

I am so proud of the two of them.

The Little Things

A good thing happened to me today, and it made me think about all the little things in life that make me smirk. I'm not talking about puppy dogs and butterflies, but I'm talking about those things that are unexpected and funny. Maybe even those things that make you say "yes!" and do that nifty gesture that pro bowlers do after getting a strike - you know the move.


Here's my short list. Feel free to share your own:


Extra change from the soda machine.
- What joy an extra 10 cents will bring!!!


The aggressive minivan driver getting cut off by the old lady in the Lincoln.
- Minivans, especially the ones with soccer ball decals on them, are inherently evil and a danger to the common man.


Everytime a coworker trips up the stairs by my office. Double the fun when accompanied with a spilled coffee.
- It's stairs, people! It's simple: Foot up, foot forward. Other side. Repeat.


Dogs pooping in the font yard.
- Don't know why, but I'm greatly amused when I drive past someone's house while Fido is laying a steamer on the lawn.


Expiration stickers on licence plates placed in a random collage.
- These people are glue-eaters. The sticker even comes with instructions for speshull people like them.

Is There a Doctor in the House?

Enjoyed the 4H horse show at the county fairgrounds this weekend. One of the classes was a fun one called costume class, where you dress up anyway you want and hope you catch the judge's eye.

One of our horseless-horse 4H'ers took Hank into this class. She dressed up as a nurse, he was her sick patient. The pics tell it all.

Hooray!