A Long Ways from Long Island

Oh deer… we’re a long way from Long Island.. When I was a little girl we lived in a suburb of NY . The parental units would take us every summer to a country hotel complete with wrap around porch and tons of acreage in upstate New York.. The Pine Hill Arms where all the guests knew each other and it was more like an annual family reunion. I’ve lived on or near Long-guy-land a good portion of my life (with stops along the way on the “left” t coast) until d moved to to the” last best place” aka Montana 3 years ago t o live out my Pine Hill dream of the bed and breakfast. am often in awe that by the grace of G-d, I’ve realized my childhood dream of moving to Montana and opening up a bed and breakfast, where folks can come enjoy, relax and be at home away from home.

Having had worked in Manhattan for yeahs, I never realized how quickly a Noo Yawker walks or, talks for that matter. I didn’t get it, there was no traffic on the road but, trust me, no car went over 40 miles per/hour. In Noo Yawk, my nickname was ‘lead foot’. Here it’s “what’s your rush, anyway?” Good point, actually, I wasn’t in a rush but….

Everyone is friends with everyone. As the song goes “everybody dies famous in a small town” Here everyone knows your name. At first, I found this disconcerting. Why are these strangers in the grocery store talking to me like they know me? The good news is everyone knows you ; the bad news is everyone knows you. Everywhere you go salespeople chat. Who’s got time to chat? Even if there was a line behind you, they just took their time and no one seemed to care…except me. And the thing that really got me was that they genuinely told us to enjoy our day and hoped it would be a good one.

Since Noo Yawk is really a melting pot, food is easily available and extremely diverse. Here, you are lucky if you can find anythin’ with the name, ‘Boars Head’ on it and all hopes of a “real” New York bagel vanished long ago when we crossed the NY state line. Fuuuhget it.

Yes, there were a few adjustments to make. Some hard, others easy. As the years have passed I do have a theory about us ‘Noo Yawkers’: maybe it wouldn’t hurt to slow down a little, and, as they say, ’stop and smell the roses’. New Yorkers’ are generally misunderstood since most are really good, genuine, hard-working people. New Yorkers’ really care and it was especially evident during 9-11.

Slower is not bad, and actually my stomach has been in less ‘knots’ since our move . Now when I look out the window, I’m more likely to come face to face with “Doe” a deer than an irate driver. Conversation is refreshing and the open space is incredible. Our home is on 40 acres and the rippling sound of Fish Creek and have now acquired five (count ‘em) five horses… Manker the B&B dog presides over all. I have learned to take things in stride and ‘not have a heart attack’ over everything especially since I found the ‘inside scoop’ on where to find Boar’s Head cold cuts, some northern food…and Carvel ice-cream.

Who says “you can’t go home”… I have arrived. Trot on friends, trot on.

The Context of Green

In equine circles being referred to as “green” is a term for inexperience… either the horse or rider. A horse is considered green when they are young (or even old, if they havent been trained… lots of those around) but more especially refers to young, “newbie” unbroke horses. Not for an inexperienced or “green” rider. Trust me, when I started riding two years ago, I was so green, I didnt know I was green. I didnt even know the questions to ask, much less, the answers. It’s been a great journey… and one of the joys of horses is your always a student. I just now consider myself a “lighter shade of green”

In terms of the environment, being “green” is a characteristic to strive for … and a good thing… see it’s all in context; the same word, different meanings.

So if you’re “green ” about going green and need some giddyup in your git along , your intrepid innkeeper has just the solution. Check out this list of 30 simple ways to go green .

Whether you want to reduce the overflow of styrofoam packaging popcorn during the holidays or find ways to lessen your trash load there are tips for you. The list also suggest that you shouldn’t throw out your old clothes but re-purpose them as household cleaning rags or give them a new home by donating them to a local charity.

Find a few tips you like best and try them out! Better yet as with a new rider, try a new technique every couple of weeks, til you have a whole toolbox of green-living ways. A great holiday gift… that you can share with others. And keeping green… some apple crisp to munch on courtesy of tasteofhome.com

1. 4 cups sliced peeled tart apples
2. 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3. 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
4. 1/2 cup rolled oats
5. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6. 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
7. 1/3 cup cold butter or margarine
8. Vanilla ice cream (optional)

Directions
1. Place apples in a greased 8-in. square baking dish. In a bowl, combine brown sugar, flour, oats, cinnamon and allspice; cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over apples. Bake at 375 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until apples are tender. Serve warm with ice cream if desired. Yield: 4 servings

Trot on friends, trot on

You Might Just be from Montana

I got an email from “barn buddy Bon” with a list of Jeff Foxworthy’s “You Might Just Live in Montana if..”… He’s a hoot and I find myself tuning into his weekly Jeff Foxworthy Countdown of the top 25 country songs either going to or back home from my Sunday barn ride. What I really like is his weekly signoff with “And remember… you’re not alone, everyone’s family’s crazy, so kiss your kids and call your mom”

Remember that family is what it is about. The trim isn’t essential, the people are. If you keep sight of the reason for the celebration– the people are the reason– then everything falls into place. Share the preparations, make it part of being together, or simply accept that people aren’t there for the gifts or food…they are there to be together

Speaking of family, every year at Christmas, my grandmother (Oma) made a chocolate mousse to die for. Natch, using only the finest Swiss chocolate, the only downside and probably in retrospect what makes it so special is that it only made an annual appearance. This recipe though is an adaptation from Epicurious since I never managed to get hold of her “original”.

True chocolate decadence It is truffle-like in taste and texture, decadently rich with butter, deliciously chocolaty, and surprisingly light.
For 4-6 people.

Ingredients:
500g Bittersweet chocolate
3/4-1 Cup Water
6 Eggs at room temperature
4 Tbs sugar
300g Unsalted butter, at room temperature

Chocolate Mousse Pudding

Directions:
1. Separate eggs and put the whites in a medium bowl.
2. Melt the chocolate with the water in big bowl, over a /double boiler
3. Once the chocolate has melted and is well blended with the water, remove from the double boiler
4. Add the butter, the egg yolks, the sugar and stir continuously for about 20 minutes.
5. Beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until solid peaks form.
6. Very gently fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture until well blended.
7. Pour the chocolate mousse into a clean bowl.
8. Place the bowl in the refrigerator, overnight.

Musings:

Melt the chocolate over low heat and continuously stir the mixture in order to obtain a liquid, yet thick and creamy mass. You can also add the spices/flavors (coffee, cinnamon, etc….) of your choice or a healthy dollop of whipped cream!
The “Chocolate Mousse” should stay in the fridge for about 10 hours before it is served.

But alas, I’ve digressed.. back to Jeff

If parking your car for the night involves an extension cord
You might live in Montana

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from
November through March,
You might live in Montana.

The DQ’s that stay open year round display a huge sign saying so.

If you’re proud that your state makes the national news
primarily because it houses the coldest spot in the nation,
You might live in Montana.

And in the”whod’a thunk” category..
“The greater the airtime devoted to country music, the greater the white suicide rate. The effect is independent of divorce, southernness, poverty, and gun availability.”– “The Effect of Country Music on Suicide”.

Dang. Giving “A Kenny Rogers Christmas ” to all my friends this year may not have been the smart move.

·Off later to ride the range on Gazi with Patrick and Dan; glad the “winds of Whitehall” are down. and I’ll keep my courage up.

Farmin the Farmer’s Casserole

As a born and bred city girl gone country, I’m plum learnin’ hey dont worry too much about it.. just do all you can do and let the rough end drag.. Seriously, the farming/ranching life is a far tougher one than the 9-5 midtown Manhattan office cubicle. A cowboy can recite the name of every horse on every outfit he ever worked on, but can’t remember his girls birthday, his wedding anniversary, or what he was supposed to bring home from the grocery store. A typical cowboy’s day: up with the sun and early to rise, working all day, which is no big surprise. The sun sets too early to get it all done; a group that is ridiculed by most, but deep down envied by all.

But I digress. Take something as basic as eating . Leave it to us humans to let this vital, natural act just about consume (!) our lives. Even though most of us now have the luxury of hunting and gathering our food from the farmers’ market or grocery store rather than out in the wilds, (which is the preference in these parts actually) it’s a non stop topic of conversation

Now instead of worrying whether we’ll be able to take down a bison to feed us through the winter, our days are now dominated by smaller, , in the ultimate scheme of things, small details, such as figuring out how to produce meals that will simultaneously support our health, our budget, and the never ending desire to lose those last ten pounds. Can start to send you over the deep end.

For instance, some people believe that calories don’t actually count if you’ve swiped it from someone else’s plate. Or that a healthy breakfast can consist of an enormous hunk of chocolate cake as long as it’s washed down by a large glass of milk ( okay so you are getting some protein). Nitrate-fearing health nuts will think nothing of wolf down a mile-long hot dog if they’re sitting in a sports stadium, and people who would never allow a bag of refined sugar into their homes are routinely seen walking around the malls snackin out and gettin’ their genuine junk food high.

Some people are more practical, only consuming certain foods if they’re in season, or setting spending limits and refusing to pay more than a dollar for a can of tuna or 89 cents for a bunch of parsley. Then there’s the inordinate number of us who know that when it comes to eating, absolutely anything goes if you’re on vacation. And of course who doesnt know that calories dont count on Sunday.

But as one of my coaches once said “no on e makes it out alive”, sometimes you gotta just cut out the internal chatter, cut t othe chase.. git ‘r done and have some fun. We only go around this way once. And since man (and woman for that matter) cannot live by bread alone, thought this hearty farmer’s casserole would put some giddyup in your git along.
Farmers Breakfast Casserole from BH&G

Ingredients

* Nonstick cooking spray
* 3 cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes
* 3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeno peppers or shredded cheddar cheese (3 ounces)
* 1 cup diced cooked ham, cooked breakfast sausage or Canadian-style bacon
* 1/4 cup sliced green onions (2)
* 4 beaten eggs or 1 cup refrigerated or frozen egg product, thawed
* 1-1/2 cups milk or one 12-ounce can evaporated milk or evaporated fat-free milk
* 1/8 teaspoon salt
* 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

1. Coat a 2-quart square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange potatoes evenly in the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle with cheese, ham, and green onions.

2. In a bowl combine eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Pour egg mixture over potato mixture in dish.

3. Bake, uncovered, in a 350 degree F oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Makes 6 servings.

4. Make-ahead directions: Prepare as above through step 2. Cover and chill for up to 24 hours. Bake, uncovered, in a 350 degree oven for 50 to 55 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

And remember folks, sometimes it’s easier to ride the horse the direction it’s going in. Trot on friends, trot on.

This Spud’s for You

he U.N. has officially declared 2008 “The International Year of the Potato.” According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, the world will need to increase food production by about 60 percent to meet the needs of the growing population. And the potato can help in this fight against hunger and poverty.

The potato is nutritious, offering many vitamins and fiber, yet they contain no fat, cholesterol or sodium. Potatoes also have the highest protein content of any root vegetable.

Thw International Year of the Potato aims to raise the profile of the potato, promoting its production and consumption, with hopes of increasing food security around the world. IYP also hopes to focus attention on protecting potato diversity and creating solutions for sustaining farming networks, as family farm size shrinks.

Now I don’t know how the UN usually works, but year of the potato seems pretty odd to me. Probably because most folks consume it in the fried version (can you say “McDonald’s”).. So if you’re gonna do the spud thang, go either organic or in my never to be humble opinion.. my absolute fav, year round the sweet potato The nutrition profile of potatoes compared with the nutrition profile of sweet potatoes and it’s clear that sweet potatoes are more nutritious.

Although the frozen ground of winter does not lend itself to an expectation of fresh vegetables, local farmer’s markets do offer seasonal winter produce grown by local farmers. To find a list of farmer’s markets and family farms local to your area, and which ones are open during winter, visit the US Department of Agriculture database of farmer’s markets and Local Harvest.

And appropriately enough, January’s National Soup Month… To repeat an often used phrase, soup is good food. Especially this time of year, when soup warms the body, soul, and can be good if you’re watching what you eat too. January is National Soup Month, so that’s a good opportunity for a soupler Sunday. An entire section devoted to soup, including this one over at the ever trusty AllRecipes.

So what’s an innkeeper to do? Another opportunity to feature one of my favorite breakfast/brunch item: the eggs-cellent omelette. Brunch is served. Without eggs, brunch is simply not brunch. Rather, it is a belated lunch–an awkward “blunch,” and not “brunch.” What’s that you say?

There’s many ways to prepare omelettes. Some people just bring a large stock pot of water to boil, and drop in ziploc bags filled with beaten egg and other ingredients into the hot water. The omelettes are done when the egg solidifies. You just use a slotted spoon to take out the plastic egg bag, and “pop” the omelette out of the bag onto a plate. Accompanied by roasted potatoes seasoned with extra-virgin olive oil, crushed peppercorns, and coarse granules of kosher salt and life is eggs-cellent. This spud’s for you.

Aiming to Be Amish

Just outside of our fair town of Whitehall, , is the Amish Community of Waterloo. Bordering the National Forest with easy access to riding trails, one is transported back to a simpler time and way of life. These folks define “hardiness” and goodness. I’ve spent some time there since most of our inn furnture was hand built by the local Amish and also access to the infamous Mill Creek riding trail.. (but that’s another story)

The jingling sound of chains is, oddly comforting. . The sound of plodding hooves marked the flow of that power from beast to the construction implement that sustained their world. It still does today

The sturdy Amish, have never seen the need to motorize. The use of animals in harness or under yoke is practically obsolete. We’ve simply walked (or would that be driven) away from thousands of years of tradition.

Today the Amish way of life is perceived as a kind of quaint, anomoly. It seems like ancient history to harness (pun intended) animal power. Alot of the Amish farms here use both horses and tractors… The reasons most frequently given for converting to tractor power were the cost of feed, convenience, and ease.T ime marches on. And while technology advances are great, we’ve become victims of “nothing succeeds like excess”. Detrimental to both our spirit and our environment methinks.

One thing is certain. Horses were not abandoned because they were no longer up to the job. Horse power runs on homegrown fuel—hay you’ve raised yourself or maybe purchased from a neighbor. At worst, you feed grain raised in a neighboring state. We just got our second load of hay from a local farmer… the girls and Gazi will be happy about that!

A horse’s usefulness is limited by our own creativity . Hauling and dragging around the farm—horses are far superior to any motorized device. Small horses and mules,are handy at these tasks. You don’t need a team of Budweiser Clydesdales to bring in a few armloads of firewood. You fire up the pickup a few times to jaunt here and there around the farm, and first thing you know, you’re running on empty.

If you think about the Amish, chances are progressive energy-use practices aren’t the first thing that jumps to mind. After all, these are people that still get around by horse and buggy so as not to become corrupted by modern American society.

However, it turns out 80% of Amish families have photovoltaic panels for generating solar power. It’s a handy solution for a variety of problems — it means they don’t have to use dangerous gas lamps, and also means they can stay disconnected from the electric grid, thus maintaining their separation from the rest of us.

So next time you give a condescending nod to the Amish man, thinking how “quaint” he looks on his wooden cart , riding into town, remember: he probably spends his spare time furthering the world’s understanding of new alternative energy technologies. Pretty awesome.

[via New Scientist]

But probably nothing beats for methe liberating joy of independence. Independence of spirit,, from the parts man, from temperamental ignitions and carburetors, from th freezing cold temps—I wish I could convey the sense of serenity and confidence that settles over me whilst riding…. especially in the snow. Gives new meaning to offsetting your carbon footprint.

Trot on friends, trot on.

On a Wing and a Prayer

“A horse gallops with his lungs,
Perseveres with his heart,
And wins with his character.“
- Tesio

How often do I run into obstacles?
How does competition affect my strategy?
How often do I get discouraged
What makes you give up?
How bad do you want it?

We’ve all heard the common saying horses fly without wings. To me, I think horses do fly without wings, it’s just that no one has seen them do it. I believe that to truly recognize their specialties, we need to give them full dedication, love and trust, and only the ones who can truly believe it can truly feel it.

Flying without wings on a horse doesn’t always have to account for when you’re jumping or galloping. It all depends on your measure of the three things listed above: dedication, love, and trust. Who knows? You might find yourself soaring at a walk!

So next time you go riding, feel every single rhythm and listen to every beat. You might just feel the hoof beats easing off into the air.

Green Innside

In what seems to be a “former liftime ago”, being Bat Mitzvah age, on this date, we moved into our home on Long Island . A larger home complete with an addition built upstairs for us kids including a TV room in between our brother’s room and ours (hmmm the demilitarized zone in retrospect) . A new life started.

Apropos of this “anniversary”, when we decided to purchase our property here in what would also be our bed and breakfast., we knew a complete remodel (can you say gutting) would be required to make the “last best place” to be in the “last best place”. Overall green remodeling has proven to be great innside and out!

The childhood dream of having a “log home” was soon to be a reality. I’ve gotten the “why log”… which in Big Sky Country was a no brainer. A handcrafted log cabin is very picturesque and comfortable at the same time, Set up in a “paradise” it’s a great vacation location . We studied study some log cabin plans, you realized a log cabin is more than a simple home and has the features of an artistic product.
I think the main reason log homes are so popular nowadays is the combination of elegance and comfort a handcrafted log cabin can provide. Check out some log cabin plans and you will get the basic idea of what a vacation log cabin can offer. The great thing about log cabin designs is that the resulting building will not only have a rustic and picturesque appearance, but also provides eco friendly comfort. Our special preferences, creates an atmosphere our guests will never forget. or as I’ve trademarked , Making Montana Memories.

We were able to really customize our style environment friendly flooring, roofing and furniture. Most of it was built by the local Amish community… keeping business local as well It’s proven to be not only extremely comfortable and beautiful in itself, but also protective as far as the environment is concerned.

We scoured the ‘net for resources on green building... Now you’re good to go. Barely scratching the surface (pun intended) - the benefits of

Green Remodeling:

• Reduces operating costs in the home by increasing efficiency
• Conserves natural resources
• Increases the value of the home
• Reduces waste
• Reduces emissions costs
• Increases productivity of occupants
• Improves quality of life

Ways to Implement Green Into Your Home

• Green remodeling can be done in small ways and doesn’t necessarily have to encompass the entire home. It’s easy to pick and choose elements that fit each particular homeowner such as:
  • Non-toxic paints and sealants
  • Programmable thermostats
  • Energy efficient appliances
  • Natural flooring
  • Local building materials
  • Natural fiber rugs and fabrics
  • Recycled material roof shingles and tiles
  • Energy efficient lighting
  • Insulated hot water pipes
  • Tankless water heaters
  • Quality insulation

For more information about remodeling and incorporating green elements into your new space, visit the The National Association of the Remodeling Industry website. Or if you’re in the area… a “picture’s worth 1000 words”. The U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Greenbuild International Conference and Expo will take place November 7-9, 2007 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

The event will feature three days of extensive green building educational sessions and workshops, a vast exhibition floor, and numerous networking events. Attendees come from around the world, and include architects, engineers, facilities managers, developers, contractors, builders, interior designers, product manufacturers, and government representatives.

For information, visit the 2007 Greenbuild Web site: www.greenbuildexpo.org

Now go make a dream come true.

I’m Singin’ in the Barn

Yesterday as I was tacking up GaZi for a ride , I started singing to take my mind off the little bit of pre-ride anxiety I tend to get. (What side of the corral did he wake up on anyway)? It seemed to me that as long as there is oxygen flowing to the muscles in my legs, there is really no reason why I would have to stop. The song of choice invariably is a combination of prayer and the never ending desire to control the mind. . Of course, this comes back to my why. There is no reason that I had to ride right then. To get more in shape? For a disciplined mind? I’m already pretty disciplined. To challenge myself? ? Well, that’s a good motivation, but it’s not like I would die if I didn’t do it or something

I’ve found it’s sometimes what I ‘ve dubbed my “profile in courage”. Can I brave the winds of Whitehall, especially when I wake up to the thick white stuff falling. What can I learn about myself through my horse? What can I learn about my “dance partner”?

Aside from the motivating aspect, it may also have had some positive physical effects too. Singing probably forced me to breath more deeply, bringing extra oxygen into my bloodstream. It releases the old endorphins (as with runners high) making the entire experience feel better I know physically and mentally, I feel way better after … One of the best aspects of horseback riding is that there’s always more to learn. Unfortunately, many people think riding is just getting on a horse, kicking to go and pulling to stop, and if you don’t fall off, you’re a good rider. Nothing could be further from the truth, as many unhappy horses would tell us if they could speak.

.As I thought about this, I realized that the main challenge is having the will to want to continue. I most always sing worship songs… they just come out of me almost like a mantra. Either songs that I havent sung since I was a wee ‘un in Hebrew School or a short one that I can just keep repeating while concentrating on the horse at hand… “King of Kings and Lord of L-rd’s glory hallelujah”. And when in doubt, a J song… (innkeeper’s confession, I love him)

And good for the heart and soul … the ultimate comfort food - made scratch mac and cheese a classic and favorite in many households. decades. . With generations of us having grown up eating these cheesy pots of noodles, macaroni and cheese has become if not the singular dish that epitomizes comfort food, one of the top 10.

Double Cheddar Mac and Cheese

Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes

3 cups (750 mL) dry macaroni noodles
2 tbsp (30 mL) butter
1/4 cup (50 mL) very finely chopped or coarsely grated onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp (2 m L) pepper
1/2 tsp (1 mL) nutmeg
1 tbsp (15 mL) all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups (375 mL) milk
1 pkg (250 g) cold pack Cheddar cheese
1 cup (250 mL) shredded aged Cheddar cheese

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil Add the macaroni and cook according to package directions. Drain well.

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a deep skillet set over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, pepper and nutmeg. Sprinkle the flour evenly over the onion mixture and blend well. Add a splash of the milk and blend until smooth.

Gradually add remaining milk, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes. Break up the cold pack cheese and add it a little at a time to the milk mixture until completely incorporated. Gradually add the grated cheese, stirring well between additions. When all the cheese is incorporated into the sauce, remove pan from heat.

Blend the macaroni into the sauce mixture, stirring until evenly coated. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

For the love of horses… happy valentine’s day. What can you learn from G-d’s creatures and nature? Trot on friends, trot on.

Oh Montana, give this child a home
Give him the love of a good family and a woman (horse) of his(Her) own
Give him a fire in his heart, give him a light in his eyes
Give him the wild wind for a brother and the wild Montana skies

- John Denver

Git ‘r Done by doing Some-thing

Nope, this just aint good! How many times in our lives have we had those or similar words bouncing around inside our skulls Yeah, I’ve lost count, too!

There are usually only a few reasons these annoying words show up. Occasionally, it’ll be when we just run smack-dab into an Oh Sh–! situation. You know what I mean. Accidents, diseases and a whole bunch of other stuff that seem to have popped up out of nowhere and suddenly we find ourselves up to our neck in swamp water with alligators nipping at our butts.

Now admittedly, some of these situations that seem to pop up out of nowhere are a normal result of the things we personally did or didn’t do. We made our own bed and suddenly we�re forced to either lie in it or start ripping off the sheets. Don’t ya just hate it when that happens.

Other times, an event occurs that honestly is completely beyond our control. These are just unfortunately, part of life. Natural disasters, impulsive or inconsiderate actions by other folks and many diseases fall into this category. Once again, we’re put into a position where we’ll likely need to do something that we never would have wanted to do in the first place. Dang the bad luck.

In both of these types of situations, we’re forced into a position of either having to act or suffer the undesirable consequences. Most of us will then put our logic and maybe even our survival instincts to work to do those things we need to do to try to overcome our yucky situation. More often than not, we’ll succeed. Yeehaa

But what about those situations that quietly sneak up on you You know the ones I’m talking about. It’s the job that started out to be pretty good and later on down the road has turned into drudgery and uncertainty. The relationship that was once built on caring and compassion which has deteriorated into indifference or abuse. The life path that was once paved and well maintained that has made a gradual transition into a muddy cow path. Now what

Unfortunately, because the rate of change from great to lousy was so gradual, we tend to be reasonably well adapted to our present situation even though it may be quite uncomfortable. We may even be resigned to the fact that this is the way it is or feel that we have invested so much time and effort into our circumstances that it just wouldnt be worthwhile to try to make any changes. We feel trapped and annoyed by those danged words bouncing back and forth inside our heads. This just ain’t good

Oh, if only this were one of those sudden Oh Sh–!� situations. If it were only a matter of immediate urgency. Then I’ll bet we’d do something. We’d take action and work to overcome our emergency

You don’t have to be a psychic to know where I’m going with this, do you Nah, tis pretty obvious. An uncomfortable condition whether it suddenly pops into our lives or develops over atime is still an uncomfortable condition. Yeah, this is one of those if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck well, you know the rest.

And that bring us to our ‘This Just Ain’t Good’checklist. When we find ourselves in uncomfortable or undesirable situations, we only have two initial choices.

1. Do Nothing This of course, is the easiest course of action and is absolutely guaranteed to bring about zero change. Things will continue to be as they are right now. Is this the way you really want to finish out your life�

2. Do Something This is the more difficult of the two choices because it immediately creates two more choices.

A. Take action to change the situation Change jobs, relationships, life path or whatever condition is causing the discomfort. and /or take action to change yourself . Change your perception of that job.

That’s it! I know a “v-8 ” moment ? And yeah, I know that our do something may actually wind up being a combination of modifying both ourselves and our situation. And the actual steps we may be required to take to make those changes may be rather involved and take a bunch of time and effort on our part. That’s okay if we’re genuinely interested in making a change. That’s just the way life is.

Of course, the basic requirement for making any changes either within our situation or within ourselves is d something.. anything. Take action. Set some goals for the changes we want, decide what we need to do to get there and get crankin.

You�ll know what you should do … git ‘r done Trot on friends, trot on.