So my last post was a bit heated and off the cuff, whew guess I can get fired up sometimes! :) On the bright side, at least you know where you stand with me and I won't be wishy-washy on an issue right?? :):)

“The art of taxation consists in so plucking the goose as to obtain the largest possible amount of feathers with the smallest possible amount of hissing”

This was forwarded onto me this morning as the quote of the day. How about we just make it the quote of 2009? Today was an intense day to an end of an intense couple of weeks regarding cattle, agriculture, and environmental issues. Between Obama's health-care plan flowchart, the lawsuit against the WA DOE regarding stockwater, HSUS & ALL they entail, and the parents from my hometown of Selah, WA suing JBS Swift-I'm exhausted. I have had enough call-to-actions, letters to write to papers & lawmakers, and blog comments that I would be RICH if I could just get paid to do that all day! :) So the question is: to give up now because the end is near or stand and fight? Hmmm.... STAND & FIGHT of COURSE! :):) Any of you who know me, know I would say that. Remember, I should have gone to law school to make good use of my Negotiating skills (also known to some as arguing skills)!

Is there a light at the end of the tunnel to all of this? Maybe I should just sell my land, sell my cows, give up my water rights while I still have a chance? Maybe you should-but if you have any gumption and will in your bones you won't let a few wackos decide your life for you. There is some hope in all of this, you just have to be willing to put in some blood, sweat, and tears, along with some typing, talking, and reading!

People are fighting FOR US everyday and when you find examples of that-thank them. I found letters to the editors today on the Yakima Herald Republic that were fighting for us ranchers and providing a positive image and truthful knowledge to the public. There are people out there who are "telling our agriculture story" and have been for years without going on a YCC, or taking the Masters of Beef Advocacy course. Heck-these people invented ideas such as those! All each one of us has to do is just start being heard. Take some initiative and write some letters, educate some people about science based facts-instead of letting them be educated by the media, government, and other radicals! And remember, find those people who are doing actions all across the country in little ways to fight for your way of life and THANK THEM! :)

Stupidity

Ladies and gentlemen of the United States if the picture to the left isn't proof then I don't know what is: Here is the proof that you are 100% an IDIOT if you voted for this man!

Disgusting, ridiculous, absurd. I don't care if every man in this world checks people out. The so-called "leader" of the most powerful country in the world is STUPID and has no self-control for doing this in PUBLIC! What a wonderful role-model for our nation-might as well have Howard Stern be our next president.

Socialism, communism, Stupidism-I rest my case!

Grateful to be back on the Eastside!

I haven't updated a new post in awhile as I have been on the go! Well, I'm always on the go:) but we were traveling a bit! I headed to Mattawa, WA for the 4th of July and got to spend the weekend with a great friend of mine from college and her husband. We had a low-key affair and just enjoyed good conversation, drinks, and of course great beef! I taught her how to make kabobs (she's not a very experienced cook) and beef definitely was what was for dinner! Mattawa is a pretty interesting town as anyone who has heard of it knows but it is a very diverse agricultural area so its great to be there in the heart of the growing season.

When I got back to my folk's place, I took my folks to Seattle for my dad's treatment at Swedish Cancer Institute. He is on a new trial there for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) with Dr. West, who is a very renowned oncologist on the west coast. He officially started the new drug and will be taking it in conjunction with Tarceva, the other cancer drug he has been on in the past. Both the Dr. and the nurse running the trial are extremely nice, positive people, and both have a great sense of humor. All traits needed and appreciated by my dad, or anyone going through this stuff.

I officially started a "Twitter" account, which I'm almost embarrassed to admit. I swore I wasn't going to get on that thing. However, on Dr. West's website it shows his Twitter posts and one was about my dad: "Saw a very nice cowboy today (never-smoker, no less!), now 5.5 yrs out from his Dx w/NSCLC & brain mets. Wouldn’t have imagined it possible."

That was enough to have me start a twitter and follow Dr. West. My dad truly is a miracle. Even a leading lung cancer oncologist can't believe he has overcome the odds of this disease for over 5.5 years!

Anything is possible in this world, so don't let anyone tell you any different. We can't control what happens to us in life, but we can control how we choose to respond. Its not up to us when we leave this earth and don't let someone try to decide your destiny for you!