Prairie Gold

I went toward Torrington today in search of an antiques store Linds H. and I randomly passed on a trip back from Scottsbluff once.

It was one of those barns with junk piled everywhere, which is about all I could remember of the place - it's exact location having escaped me.

So, in hopes of finding end tables and maybe a couple bedside tables I set out. I knew it would be a bit of a trek and I also knew the place would likely be closed, but I went anyway.

I was right on both counts.

However, the drive along HWY 85 was pretty enough to make up for the time and gas money spent...

Talk about prairie gold. Like bricks stacked in Ft. Knox...

I love how truly gold the gold is in this field...

D.C. Freak?

So, I wrote a check at Target tonight that seemed to cause a system meltdown - at least for the Cheyenne store.

The cashier asked for my I.D., which I haven't changed over yet to Wyoming. Yes, I know I need to do this - and it's not that I don't want to! My current D.C. license is hideous! I had to replace it quickly the morning before I left town because my purse was stolen the night before at my going away party. I was sick, tired, and in work-out clothes, glasses and no make-up because I figured they could just pull my old picture. But, oh no, much to my horror I had to get a new one taken. So, I'm really not holding on to my D.C. license for any particular reason except I just haven't had a chance to get my Wyoming one.

Because of this I have become used to people being thrown off by my I.D. They don't know how to enter it...is D.C. the "state?" In most systems it seems to be.

I handed the Target cashier my I.D., she ran the check, and oddly it didn't seem to be accepted. I didn't really think anything of this until she apologized and then ran to get another associate.

Meanwhile, I'm left wondering why in the world my check wouldn't go through - especially since I just got paid - and the people behind me who had just thrown all their stuff on the counter kept looking at me like I was a villain.

The cashier returned with three other associates in tow. After a call to some secret Target computer headquarters by a totally different clerk everything seemed to be ok.

With some chuckling and apologizing the new clerk informed me that D.C. was under...wait...District of Columbia and not Washington STATE.

Oh? I endured confusion, a fleeting moment of anxiety over availability of funds, and the evil eye from other customers for that?!

I gathered my bags and walked out the door utterly flabbergasted.

Then, as I pulled out of my parking spot a child who couldn't have been more than two-years-old pointed at me through my open window and yelled, "Look at you!"

Yes, look at me! The weird-o girl with a D.C. license!

Alright, alright! I'll change it already!

Friday Fave

Taken at karaoke last night.

I mentioned how I've really been wanting parmesean lately and before you know it I was being dared to "drink" it. Do not ever try this, by the way.

Bowling's Back

I thought I was done forever. No more bowling. After spending a couple seasons on the "friend" league in D.C., I thought I was through.

But this isn't the case. Turns out my office has a little tradition: the first Friday after we get paid we head out for some lunchtime lanes.

That was today.

I showed up in one of my old league shirts, the Pin Princesses one to be exact, and got ready to kick some bowling butt. Thing is...I am NOT a good bowler, so the only bowling butt that got kicked was mine. (Where's the Bowling Jesus when I need him?!)

It seems the moral of the story is that no matter where I go I am destined to bowl. I guess I should just embrace this calling instead of avoiding it like I'd hoped to!

My new alley...

Yes...!

Um...NO.

I thought I'd retired this "jersey"...

Daddy of 'Em All is Done

Monday morning, after the rodeo was over, I donned my boots once again for a trip up to Frontier Park. I wanted to look around after all the hub-bub, and was it a different place!

The grounds were completely desolate minus one lone man feeding the bulls and horses left in some of the corrals. I went up to the Press Deck, walked down into the arena, lingered by the horse corral, and stopped for a bit to watch the bulls in their pen.

It was kind of sad how quickly the place became quiet. It was also weird to think that with all the excitement over I would have nothing more to do but focus on my new Wyoming life. I considered Monday the first day of this new life - and I wasn't sure what I thought of it.

I don't wish myself back in D.C. or anything, but it's just crazy to think that after the whirlwind five months I spent as a gypsy I will be setting up shop in Cheyenne. CHEYENNE! Who would ever have guessed! Not me! I have a new apartment, new job, some new friends - and some old who are kind of new again - everything is different!

Eventually, I walked back to my car to get ready for my "first" day in the office.

Here are some final pics from The Daddy of 'Em All!

The PR House. Dead. Quiet. After all the activity and beers that went on here...

Wild Horse Gulch as a ghost town...

The cowboy ready area. This is where they get changed and ready to ride - yes, it's out in the open too. Yep.

The benches are signed by other cowboys, which is pretty neat...

The empty corrals...

The vacant arena...

All week long I stood on the bench directly to the left of that first chute...

From the ready room again...

Many a cowboy landed in here...

And lastly, Chute 9 where the timed events happen...

Until next year, Frontier Days!