Holidays, Where Memories are Made…

What an eventful weekend Thanksgiving turned into. I had to work Friday so the family made the trip to Carrollton for the big day. I found it funny that within five minutes of each other both my mom and brother called to see if I had coffee. Not being a coffee drinker I don't keep the stuff on hand, but apparently it's visit or no visit to them.
Another call from David a few days before Thanksgiving. He wanted to make sure I had taken the turkey out of the freezer to thaw…… ha ha funny joke big brother. But on the other hand, I'm pretty sure it was a serious question on his part.
He knows I don't cook, at least not very often. What he fails to acknowledge is not that I can't cook, but the fact I choose not to. For one reason, this time of year when you get home it's already dark and I don't want to mess with it. The biggest reason is that the dishwasher and garbage disposal quit last year around the same time the washing machine went kaput. I don't like doing dishes so willingly making a stack of dirty dishes is just crazy talk.
So why have the family over for a big holiday feast when dishes will be everywhere? That's an easy answer, mom. She loves it. Why else would she have cleaned up after us all those year? She must enjoy it, she's a mom and besides that she does a spectacular job!
Well, that's not really true but I know she would expect me to say it so why let her down. The fact is I had an electrician out for an outlet problem recently. While he was there I asked him about the dishwasher.
Now I consider myself kind of handy. I can usually fix things, or at least rig'em up to work for the time being. In this instance however, maybe I'm not so handy. Apparently there's a trip switch located near the dishwasher that I missed, completely! I didn't even notice the button was there… above the counter… at eye level. All the electrician did was push the reset button… then holy cow, I have a dishwasher!!! Agghhh, It's been a year without one and that's all I had to do!!!!
Despite feeling like a fool, turns out having a dishwasher (that operates) is a bonus for Thanksgiving. Turkey, spiral honey ham, roasted vegetables, potato casserole, rolls and mom's pecan pie with chocolate chips… mmmmm…delicious, now toss the dishes in the washer.. and take a turkey induced nap, yeah!!!

It's Meeting Season...

So the mouse issue has not been the only thing going on. In late November we had our annual National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention in Kansas City. For the broadcasters I've had the chance to work with over the years, it's a great chance to catch up, visit and see what's taking place in farm shops around the country. This year I got the chance to take a more active step in the NAFB organization. For the next year I'll be serving as the Southern Region Vice President. Who knows what I may have just gotten myself into, but I'm looking forward to it.
Another part of the annual event is Trade Talk. It's a trade show with a mass confusion of company reps and broadcasters doing a million product interviews in a matter of 4 hours. I got several of those edited last night, then found another dozen to tackle tomorrow. I'm working with Scott to get those posted online so listeners can check out some of the new farm equipment and products available for the 2009 growing season.
The NAFB conference was in November. Since then we've already attended the Livestock Marketing Associations Regional Auctioneer Championship at the Kingsville Livestock Auction, the Missouri Farm Bureau Convention at Lake of the Ozarks and Missouri Cattlemen's Convention in Springfield. I love Meeting Season!!












As for other excitement, I guess I can share pictures of the Jeep, my poor, poor Jeep. Here's a shot of the damage from when we met a dark steer on a dark night in the middle of the road!

Grocery List..... get peanut butter...

The next morning wasn't like a Christmas but it was like a homeowner, frustrated with the small rodent intrusion and looking for answers. I check the trap and … success!!!!! I've finally caught the tricky little rascal who's been invading my home, startling my peaceful world and leaving footprints across the top of my feet (see the post from Nov 11). For those of you pulling for the mouse, don't worry, your entertainment could continue. I hear they travel together, pairs, packs, gaggles…who the heck knows but let's hope that it's only pairs. I don't have enough traps or peanut butter to feed herds.

The Hunt Goes On...

When I returned home that afternoon, the first stop was the curtain. Hopefully the mouse hunting persistence has paid off… after pulling the drape out of the way; I notice the trap was still sprung. The rascal must be full from the last smorgasbord I set out. Before heading off to another task, I decided to get a closer look, just in case! I pick up the trap and there is nothing, absolutely nothing! The contraption is completely empty. No mouse and even worse, no peanut butter. The beast not only dined on the peanut butter dish, but the tiny little mouse tongue licked the thing clean. Eeewwww!!
With a shiver of disgust I grabbed the, now, half empty peanut butter jar. With great determination I place a spoonful on the trap. Before placing the trap back in the mouse dining hall I make a quick change. If this rascal is so sure of himself to spend the extra time to lick this thing clean, he's going to have to work a little harder. With a twist of the spoon, a good portion of the gooey peanut butter has now been stuck to the underside of the trigger. My thought, now the ferocious rodent has to contort itself to get to the last little icky drop!
Now we wait….