Category: Life

Stock Show

January 17, 2007 – Click on image for higher resolution version.

I saw this magnificent Texas Longhorn steer at the National Western Stock Show in Denver yesterday. Few of my photos turned out, due to my reluctance to use flash photography without warning, so go see Connections and look at her photographs in her blog posts Reminiscing!, Cattle Judging, and Hats, Hardware and Humor. She used to exhibit livestock herself, and writes about her memories.

I had been avoiding Stock Show and similar events for several years, since I didn’t know how strenuous I would find it considering my heel problems. However, although I was exhausted when I got home last night, I rated my pain as a two this morning. Since most mornings these days I rate the pain as two to four (on a scale of one to ten) I was quite pleased.

Aftermath

Fran mentioned missing my daily photo of snow yesterday. No, the snow has not gone away. However, most of the snow within easy reach has achieved the gritty, icy stage and is laying about in not particularly attractive drifts, with lots of large bare places scoured by the wind.

Yesterday, I needed some chili, so I braved the roads to go grocery shopping. Our road, though it was well-plowed when the last snow storm stopped, has been subject to continuous drifting. One particularly bad area is at the end of our driveway, which sits inside a banked curve. Saturday night, I left for a party, and barely clawed my way back into the driveway afterward while driving the Subaru. Sunday morning, the trip out was only interesting for the first tenth mile after I left the driveway. Coming home, I was chanting I think I can, I think I can, as I drove that last tenth mile before I got stuck as I turned into the driveway. This was not unexpected, but embarrassing because a truck was coming down the opposite way. I called Jack to come out, and jumped out and started digging with my trusty snow shovel. I was able to free the wheels sufficiently that I lurched into the driveway as Jack opened the garage door.

My homemade chili was excellent.

Late that evening, I was startled to look out and see the flashing lights of an emergency vehicle, and what was apparently a pile-up of vehicles at the entrance of our driveway. Since I was already in my jammies, I sent Jack out to investigate. There were no injuries, evidently, but one massively stuck vehicle, along with a truck which had burned out its clutch trying to free the massively stuck vehicle. Later, a bob cat came by and did some serious snow moving, and I noted this morning that the only vehicle there is a truck, presumably the clutch-less one. I can’t tell whether the road has been plowed, but did note that a massive 4WD truck was able to get by, so perhaps we can get out.

6:40 am I just noticed a light truck, going north, that turned around when it reached the stuck truck, so it must still be pretty treacherous. I’ve noticed another vehicle made it by going south, but it was apparently an SUV. South is easier than north, because north goes up a significant hill. School bus due at 6:45, so that will be more data.

7:00 am School bus is apparently parked at the bottom of the hill, awaiting developments. I just shoveled our driveway entrance enough to get the Subaru free, and will have to do it again if developments include a snow plow. Two passenger cars made it out going south: I think the Subaru Forrester in the lead was acting as escort for the other, since it waited while the other negotiated the drifted area.

Just think what you people who live in Southern California are missing.

Four Wheeling

I view 4WD rather like having seat belts in the car: something I like having, but would much rather never use. Today, since I had ordered a much needed 30 bales of hay from our supplier, I decided I should drive the Subaru Forrester out to the barn under the theory that if the Subaru could get there, a ton truck with 4WD should have no trouble. With a little digging I got the Subaru there and back again several times. (I wonder if any of the neighbors noticed me driving back and forth to the barn.) I even enjoyed skidding through some of the drifts. An hour later, the hay supplier showed up and delivered the hay without difficulty.

I had errands in town, and arranged to have lunch with a friend. As I drove south on I-25, the steering wheel started to vibrate. Even though I hadn’t hit anything during my “off-road” experience, I thought maybe I had knocked a wheel off balance. Fortunately, my friend was able to pick me up at Tire World, which was apparently doing a land rush business. They were so busy that I was astonished to get a call a little past 5, saying that my car was ready. Evidently some snow had stuck inside to the wheels, causing them to seem off-balance. Oh well, the car needed an oil change anyway.

I am thrilled to have it back because there is a forecast of another significant winter storm for Colorado. I really feel sorry for those people who may catch it coming and going on their holiday travel plans.