Back on the Ranch!

I made it back!

So...clearly I'm not very good at keeping promises! I said that I would keep on blogging at random times during the school year, but it didn't happen much. Let's put it this way- when you do schoolwork until 2am there isn't a whole lot of want inside of you to follow it up by writing about how you did schoolwork until 2am! haha But, I made it through. I took 42 credits total (21 per semester) which is wayy too many- but I survived it just fine! My friends Jennifer and Rachel came down to the ranch with me over spring break in March- it actually snowed during that time and was super nasty but we still pulled a couple calves and and had a reall goodtime:) Since that time, Rachel and I had planned on coming back for branding but the date got moved- then we planned to come for Delbert's branding but it rained that weekend too! Needless to say that was a little dissapointing:( But, it was probably a good thing because I ended up studying basically that entire weekend! Since then it's just been school and finals basically. It's nice to be done at this point! I said goodbye to my friends last week as they all moved out after finals were over- put in some work hours last Saturday and since have been packing up and trying to get things done at home. One of the most annoying tasks- mowing, hasn't been done to date because it won't stop raining! Then I come out here and it rains here too! But, I got everything squared away, visited a lot of folks that i don't get to see very often, and headed out. On the way here I was sure to prepare myself for my inadequate "cooking" (I don't cook- in fact when I went home to grab a few things I found a bag of unoped sugar from last summer!), rough rodes, reservation radio, and lots of fun!

My car was a full as it could possibly be...I'm serious- I had to check tires because I thought it was weighted down so much! I stuffed my suffed horse and raccoon in the back and had my fish, Bart up front. He was in charge of watching the guns when I got gas! Needless to say, it was an interesting road trip. I didn't have any trouble driving out here, despite my nighmare about blowing a tire will all of my crap piled on top of the spare in the trunk! This is the second summer out here for me and Bart and we're pretty exicited! When I arrived I let myself in the door and started unpacking. For anyone who visited me last summer...I'm now in the other house- where Merle used to live. It's really nice and I certainly don't mind having the whole house to myself! I left at about 10:45 central time and got here at about 2:45 mountain time so it was about 5 hours exactly- just as I remember it. Like I said, when I arrived I just let myself in the door and started unloading boxes. By 9:00 I had everything unloaded and cleaned up pretty well. There always seems to be an extra amount of cleaning in a house that no one lives in for a couple months but I got it pretty well done.

O! Something very vital that I forgot to mention....I buried my cds in the backseat along with my ipod shuffle so the only thing I had to listen to for about 4 hours of my drive was the Rez station- KINI! And o what a station it is! I thought that this house would have better radio reception because it's up on the hill but it only gets KINI as well...guess I'll be listening to alot of cds! hahaha So, I've now listened to about enough KINI for a lifetime and done my fair share of cleaning over the last week (I had to clean our apt before I left as well).

At about 9pm last night I realized that I didn't really have anything to eat. I brought some food along but everything I have requires some type of milk or butter...you get the picture. So I ate some dry frosted flakes and went to bed.

This morning I got up and headed down to the corral for 7:00 chores. I got to see everybody and memorize the new grain ratios for the fats, bulls, and calves (pretty sure I've already forgotten!). Then, we got out the electric irons and branded the 9 bucket calves. Dean, Merle's other newer hired hand and I wresteled the little farts and Adrienne and Merle gave shots and branded. I decided that was a nice, easy little precurser to the weeks ahead. Afterward, we washed everything out and decided it would be a day off because its doing nothing other than raining outside. It's also graduation day so Ross was headed back to town to go to that and I think Merle and Adrienne are as well. I'm gunna continue to try and situate myself, go to the grocery store and post office, and attempt to shower and get ready for tonight....

I have made some stellare plans to meet up with some friends who live down by Valentine and hang out for the afternoon followed by attending a Nordon, NE barn dance. I'm pretty pumped! We planned this a week or two back so that I could go visit them before I really got to doing much work around here. Therefore, I may not write tonight- but don't panic! I'll return. I was going to write last night but the dumb internet wouldn't work- hopefully that won't be a continuous problem!

After the dance tonight I'm going to stay over at a friends place down there and then come back up here in the morning- pack a different bad and hop in the pickup with Mom and John in Interieor and head out to Mysitc for a three day trail ride. I think it'll be fun- a nice change of pace. It will be on the Mickleson trail if the weather cooperates and we can get a permit to ride. It's like 17 miles or so spread over a couple of days, that sounds pretty laid back after riding about 20 a day up here:) So, I'm definitly looking forward to a short vacation type of thing before jumping into work. I'm excited to be here- maybe a little apprehensive as the situtuation is slightly different from last summer and I will probably be doing a few more things than before- but I know I'll be fine if I just keep my chin up and at least pretend that I know what I'm doing!

Yee Haw for another fun day- I think I'm headed to the grocery store, I can't make my mac and cheese until I get some milk!

TTYL
Sara