Friends

Some Hometown Pride!

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That’s me and my lovely coworkers with friend and Humboldt hometown hero B Bugenig last spring. We were in Texas for the SXSW Festival, which just happened to overlap with the Austin Rodeo. The gals had never been to such an event, so we took a very expensive (and slightly sketchy) cab ride out to the fairgrounds to watch B—who is ranked among the top 30 steer wrestlers in the world—compete. And it was totally worth it! Not only was it thrilling to see someone I know on the big screen above the arena, but when we returned to the city limits, we were the envy of many a conference attendee. They all wanted to know how they could get to the rodeo!

So, in the spirit of the 26th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering happening this week, I’d like to share one of B’s poems, which he emailed to me earlier today. So proud of that guy!

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When we entered this world on a hospital bed our mothers and fathers said,
I wonder what our baby boys will turn out to be.

Well they watched us grow tall and when we were small we did play some ball,
But it wasn’t long before we started taking our horses up the steep slopes and swinging ropes.

And before long it became hard to hide that the tradition of cowboys had never died,
And anyone could see that the life for you and me was exactly what we wanted it to be.

Our mothers would often say that we might want to think about our future some day,
Because the life of a cowboy doesn’t always pay.

But the older we got, we decided that it would probably not,
Be a good idea to get a job behind a desk sitting in a chair, watching the grey take over our hair.

So we’ve headed outside, looking for rodeos in which to ride,
And when our pockets contain no more than change, we find some cattle to drive through the range.

And now that we’ve grown tall, I guess what we turned out to be isn’t a question at all,
And the reason that we are what we are is understood only by the few,
But I would bet that the others point of view would change,
If they became us for just one day, the first question they would say,
Would be cowboy friend, do you mind if I stay you for just one more day?

Posted by Kristin on 01/24/10 at 03:42 PM
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My Elko To-Do List

Don’t get me wrong—I love New York—but I’ve spent most of this trip daydreaming about the spectacular adventures that await me next week in Elko. Here’s what I’m looking forward to…

How about you?

Posted by Kristin on 01/21/10 at 08:36 PM
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Done, by the Skin of My Teeth!

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Over the weekend, I shipped off my film for this year’s National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada. I guess it’s slightly ironic that I did this from New York City using an FTP server, but such is the life of a nerdy cowgirl. One day I’m in Blocksburg trying to shove the last cow into a stocktrailer, and the next I’m in Manhattan attempting to squeeze myself into a crowded subway car. It can be surreal at times, but I’ve learned over the years that I’m most comfortable at the opposite ends of the spectrum—it’s those parts in between that can make me anxious. (And lucky for me, cowboy boots are back in style for city girls this season. Makes me a little tougher to spot.)

I’m pretty excited about this year’s effort, which is called “Hello, Goodbye! A guide to waving in the country.” I am particularly grateful for all the help I received from my marvelous momma (Bev) and friends Luke Knowland and Tim Ziegler. There were countless other good-natured friends and neighbors who (somewhat surprisingly) went along with all sorts of my shenanigans this year. There is no way I could have ever finished without their help.  And when you see it, I think you’ll be forced to admit that I know some darned good-looking people! I wish they could all be in Elko with me!

The film will show as part of a larger program of shorts for the Deep West Video Program on Thursday, Jan. 28, and Friday, Jan. 29, at 11 am at the Elko Convention Center. I will also post it here after the Thursday program.

Posted by Kristin on 01/20/10 at 06:09 PM
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After a Long Night Out

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It just kills me how they have the same look on their face. Caroline was out late the night before, but I have no idea what Sweet Pea had been up to. Those cows look like they might know.

Posted by Kristin on 10/24/09 at 05:01 PM
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Some Notes from Wednesday

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The following is a list of events that occurred yesterday during my trip to town to have a mechanic fix the short in the headlights switch on my pickup.

1. Tried out new French press travel mug. Makes good, strong coffee and the cap stays on when the mug itself is violently jostled from the holder as I drive the obstacle course known as the Alderpoint Road. The cup holder in mid-1990s Dodge pickups is located at the top of the dashboard, which gives beverages a poor center of gravity.  I have noticed in the newer models that Dodge moved the holder to the floor, which is apparently where my drinks want to be anyway. Until now, my efforts to hydrate myself while driving have almost always ended in soaked clothing and cuss words.

2. Dropped off pickup. Waited for friend to pick me up.

3. From the back seat, I silently questioned the wisdom of pulling a pickup and stock trailer across two lanes of traffic so a guy could tow a hay clipper across Fernbridge. As the sole occupant of this parked vehicle, I felt slightly panicked when things started to go awry (looks of indignant disbelief from other drivers), and then relief when my traveling companions returned and it all worked out OK.

4. Enjoyed a very fine cheeseburger at the sale yard cafe.

5. Made my way through most of this week’s New Yorker while waiting for the cowboys to return with herds of various animals throughout the day. I didn’t enjoy this issue as much as last week’s.

6. It was a spectacular day at the ocean and yet I did not take any photos.

7. Pondered and then argued about whether water accumulating under the trees was due to “fog drip” or a leak in the water line. No resolution.

8. Fretted over a crippled calf.

9. Moments later watched a sick coyote pup make its way through the tall grass.

10. Began to worry that a very cute dog and I might be thrown from an open window of the pickup as the driver tried to make his way up a hill covered in dry, slick grass while pulling a stock trailer with a horse in it. After four-wheel drive failed and we started sliding, and especially after the other passenger cautioned the driver, “What you don’t want is to get over on this side hill and flip this sonuvabitch, “ I began to wonder about the origins of the many dents already in the body of this pickup. Leaping out the window seemed like it might be a better option than patiently awaiting the inevitable.  And then a small miracle happened. The driver’s face suddenly became red with anger and he let loose with a fierce string of expletives (much the same as those I reserve for my goddamn drink holder). He shoved the accelerator to the floor, and somehow, he managed to power us and the horse up the hill with sheer willpower. I like that driver. He’s alright.

11. Exhausted and thirsty from a day of watching other people work, returned to my pickup. Drove home with lights. Yay!

Posted by Kristin on 08/07/08 at 07:27 AM
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Big Doin's in Blocksburg

A lot of exciting things have happened since we last chatted. Over the weekend, Frew and my new fast friend Tim drove up to attend the Fortuna Rodeo with me. Besides baking in the grandstands, we ate an inordinate amount of meat, drank beer, and bullshitted with a bunch of smelly cowboys (yay!). Tim also brought his photography equipment and snapped some great portraits of my friends and neighbors.

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In other news, the concrete trucks came streaming in yesterday and dumped more than 40 yards of the stuff within the forms Brandon, Josh, and Cliff built last week. Brandon tells me they’ll start in with the hammers and nails next week. So exciting!

Posted by Kristin on 07/25/07 at 09:03 AM
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