Memoirs from the Ranch-Episode 2 "Ants in my pants"

This afternoon some horses got into the wrong pasture and we had to go drive them out or catch 'em up and lead them out. I had just caught this mare up and was leading her into the right pasture when I stopped with a boy to watch one of the ranch hands, on his four-wheeler, herding the other horses around. After a minute or so I felt something bite me midway up my calf and it hurt! Then another around my knee! I started jumping and grabbing my jeans trying to cut them off before they got any higher! The other staff member, R, said he would just drop his pants if that was him! Well that wasn't happening! Yes I had been standing right near an ant hole with the big red fire ants! I handed him the horse and quickly made it up to the girls bunk where I did drop my pants to make sure and clear all the ants out of my pants! Then I got some anti-itch cream to stop the pain. So I can check that one off my list. Ants in my pants...check!

Then tonight when we were doing feed truck we got stuck in the mud! Monsoon season has begun and that means a serious rain every afternoon for several hours. EVERYTHING floods! I'll have to post pictures later but it reminds me of Taiwan where the streets would become rivers and everyone runs for cover. Anyway, we got stuck in the feed truck and ended up pushing her out and of course we all ended up wet and covered in mud! Good times! This is a perfect example of when a shower is such an accomplishment! Til next time!

 Part of the fun in is the excuse to get covered in mud!

Memoirs from the Ranch-Episode 1

I thought you might enjoy hearing some of the more lighthearted things going on down on the boarder of Mexico:

Funny story actually. So last night before we went to bed, my coworker and fellow bunkmate, B told me that we needed to keep the lights down at night because we had some boys who were peeking and on top of that, we really want to keep the girls bunk a mystery so they don't have any reason to try and get in here for anything. We have contraband food in here not to mention computers and other things they can't ever use. 

Anyway, so I fell asleep thinking about how we need to make sure and keep the bunk locked, etc. and keep the boys out. Well in the middle of the night, B started sleepwalking and she was just standing at the foot of my bed kinda in the middle of the bunk. I was in my half awake, half dream state when I yelled at her, "What the hell are you doing in here!?" and then when she didn't answer, "Who the hell are you!?" Well that second yelling woke us both up and when she said she was just B, I said, "Good, I thought you were (one of the boys)" and promptly fell back asleep. So in all my years of talking in my sleep, I can now add swear words to my sleep talking vernacular! I can't say that hanging with all these boys is really improving my language. Mom would not be so proud of me. But I am trying to keep my mouth clean! :)

On another note, I think I am going to try and purchase a pistol sooner than later. B said that since I will be traveling on my own or when I ever need to be out and about the ranch at night, it is a good idea to have one on me. :) Plus, the awful event of ever having to put a horse down while out on an overnighter, etc. But I trust in the promises of safety that I received from my father's blessing. There are angels about me and I can feel their support.


Here's the Arivaca Ranch Creed recited every morning at round up. Thought you might enjoy.

The Arivaca Ranch Hand Creed

We, the young men of Arivaca Ranch are men of integrity.

We honor ourselves, our families, and the ranch by;

Being honest in all our dealings, treating others with respect,

treating others' property with respect.

We honor ourselves by being neat and clean.

We honor the ranch be using appropriate language.

We are not quitters, we get up when knocked down.

We respect women in both word and deed.

We stand up for what's right, we defend the helpless, we serve the needy.

We honor our families with relationships of trust.

We seek learning and education, We seek to be the best we can be.

We are men of integrity. This is the Arivaca Way!

(Yell)

Arivaca-Men of Honor!

Arivaca-Men of Influence!

Arivaca-Men of Integrity!

(Bring it in-Huddle)

Arivaca Ranch-Integrity!

Arivaca Ranch-Integrity!

Arivaca Ranch-Let's Ride!

Week One!

The drive down to AZ took a little longer than expected but I was glad I didn't try to push it into one day! My first stop was in Draper to meet up with my sisters T and C for a final goodbye since I hadn't seen them over Father's Day weekend. We met up for some sweets at the Sweet Tooth Fairy shoppe in Draper and had some cupcakes and just talked for over an hour. It was great to visit before saying goodbye. It was good to see T's girl as well!

N trying on my new boots

The car was stuffed to the hilt and there was nothing else that was going to fit in there. I even had to arrange things a few times so I could see out my right side mirror. I made it into Las Vegas by around 7pm and stayed with my wonderful friends the Brewers. So great to have a good nights sleep and great company!

Travel Day Two was pretty uneventful. I stopped by to see Lake Mead and the famous Hoover Dam. A new bridge has been build for the interstate so I had to get off the highway to actually drive over the Dam. I had to pass a security checkpoint and they got a kick out of my overstuffed vehicle. I was afraid they were going to want to search it but they just checked the rooftop carrier and then let me through. I guess I didn't look too suspicious.

Lake Mead Viewpoint

 The new interstate bridge

 Trying to capture the amazing dam with my little camera

A professional photographer from the air does it much better!

I stopped in Mesa to visit my good friend/brother Dan Brewer and his wife Devery with their growing family for some lunch. The pizza was great and it was so good to catch up. I don't believe I had seen Dan since his wedding. Now he's my emergency contact in AZ since I don't know a soul!

The final 90 minutes to Tucson took forever and I was so glad to pull into my new driveway and get right to unpacking. Tuesday I unpacked in Tucson and then Wednesday I unpacked at the Ranch in Arivaca and I'm still working on making both of these places my home(s). 

 Bedroom in Tucson

The "North Bunk" at Arivaca Ranch. My little space. It's getting more comfy every day.

The first three days at Arivaca Boys Ranch were just as I expected. I had some great moments and some not so great moments. I don't feel that it is appropriate sharing in a blog some of the experiences I am having with boys and staff but let me just say that a lot is changing with my arrival and that creates some resistence. But it will be good in the end and I'm just trying to say humble and "out of the box" and work through things. If you want to know more about the Ranch and the therapeutic model combining Natural Horsemanship and Arbinger Institute principles, check out the links provided.

I came home that first weekend and crashed! I took me a full day to recouporate and I still had quite a bit of moving in to do! I bought a queen sized and got that moved in and most of everything put away. I slept really good that weekend.

Monday it was back to work for my first full week! So thus is the beginning of the dream. I know I am going to learn so much from this opportunity. I know it is going to be hard but I'm excited about the growth. I'm most concerned about finishing my thesis at this point but that will just have to come one day at a time! Thanks for reading!