I have had this cow skull for a lot of years. Actually, found it while on a trip in Baja Sur. It was just laying out there in the desert. I was with a couple of friends and we had all decided we were going to get us some skulls and so we were all scanning the sides of the hi-way as we cruised along. Each time someone saw a glint of white bones, we stopped the car and checked them out. Back then, there was hardly anyone on that Baja hi-way so just stopping anywhere was no problem, as you could see for-ever in either direction.
We ended up finding several cow, goat and horse skulls, but my 'hugh heifer' was perfection in every detail. Although, it was a little stinky, and really, really dirty.
So, when we got back to the cheap hotel we were staying in, I decided I needed to clean up this thing before taking it on the plane with me . Yes, I fully intended to 'carry-on' as there was no way I was going to check Hugh as 'baggage' and risk losing him. So, we showered together and that was even stinkier, if you can imagine. But, there was improvement. He still smelled, a little, even after a few more days....but what the hey?
I wrapped him in a beach towel and a few days later-- off to the the airport we went. Seriously, we only got amused snickers from the Mexican airport staff when he went through the x-ray machine. There were no restrictions on size or dimensions of carry-on stuff at that time (way before all that nonsense) so, if you could carry it, you could bring it. I settled into my seat with Hugh on my lap still wrapped in his beach towel. We took off and no one was the wiser until Hugh started smelling. You see, he was still a bit damp. Rumblings from the other passengers like, 'what is that smell?' were ignored by me, for the next few hours. Well, we made it safely home and Hugh has been part of my home decor (!) for all these many years. Not the end of the story though.
Here you see his latest incarnation. He is now a light fixture! Yup. I made him into my kitchen light! I am so excited and pleased and every time I turn him on I remember that whole, long story of how Hugh Heifer came to be. I know, I know....long. story.
In case you were wondering, we made it down south & back with only one minor incident. We managed to get rear-ended (the Xterra that is) while stopped at a red light in Bend, Oregon. Great guy who does classic car restoration for a living, so who better to run into us? It was an easy fix on the way back north.
Always great to see close friends and relatives, but honestly, do not miss So-Cali in any way, shape or form. It seems so intense with the sport of 'shopping' remaining the sport of the masses....me included. I get just as caught up as anyone but my shopping muscles are so non-existent. I am totally out of shape for 'power- shopping'. I try, but without the daily shopping workouts of the past I quickly lose stamina. I can only get through two maybe three stores with their e n d l e s s choices and fab-ulously low prices, before I zone out. Its depressing. But then I find my rational mind again and with a little self-talk I get myself back to the 'real' world as in....what do I really need as opposed to...what do I want???? Crisis averted.
Oh, oh, oh...must talk about the 'foot massage' that my dear K-grrl treated me to. This is the one indulgence that cannot be denied when down Sacramento way. An option that simply does not exist in my neck of the woods. The spa is aptly named 'Happy Day' and after the treatment which starts at your head and eventually gets to your feet, with all in-between body parts attended to first, leaves you feeling (no words to describe)...HAPPY, maybe?
So, anyway, back home again with a few choice items picked up during my frenzy...I mean, come on, I am not a total lightweight and a good deal sometimes is just that, a good deal. I didn't even sprain an ankle or bust a hip or even pull a muscle. So, I guess I'm not that out of shopping shape.
SO MUCH FUN
It seemed like it came out of the blue but apparently not. I have recently been told that I have a few (well, many) shortcomings which are making it impossible for someone to remain in my life. This person is considering removing themselves from my realm. This is very, very disturbing to me and I am puzzled by this turn of events. But, I have been given some very specific examples of where and when I have messed up and yes, I guess, guilty, to a certain degree. But if 'intent' is considered even in a court of law, than all I can say is my 'intentions' were never evil or designed to hurt....I was unaware, actually, of the seriousness of the incidents and was truly oblivious. I have a tendency to underestimate my own importance to some people...just a little self-esteem issue that is, there, at the very core of me. Yes, me, self-doubting and unsure, at times, more often than one might imagine. Anyway, this is a rather personal post for me and a direction that I usually don't go in, but this situation is very troubling to me and I need some input from my e-friends.
