Cape Girardeau, Missouri

This week I'm in Cape Girardeau, very close to the famous New Madrid fault, site of the worst recorded earthquake in U.S. History. I'm only a little nervous.

I'm working one block from the Mississippi river. From the office I can see the levee, with pictures of all of the famous people who hail from Missouri.

Harry Truman, for example. And Rush Limbaugh.

Homemade Tortillas

Guess what I did today? There were no wraps in the house and I wanted fajitas.

I didn't feel like driving to the store, though.

So I found a recipe on the Internet for flour tortillas and gave it a try. They were perfect!

Plus I used fresh jalapenos from T's garden. I diced one and put it in the marinade and sauted two along the the onions and chicken.

I'm quite proud of myself! T doesn't like fajitas so she wouldn't be impressed. Lindsay would have liked them, though!

Too bad she wasn't here to share!

Dothan, Alabama

Dothan, where my hotel is, is in Central time. The bank where I'm working - in Blakely, Georgia -- is across the Chatahoochee River. In Eastern time.

So I'm flip-flopping back and forth, trying to stay awake.

Fireworks

Now that its hot we turn the horses out at night and keep them in the stable during the day. So they had a chance to enjoy the neighborhood fireworks on Sunday night.

They are used to guns going off at all hours, but the whistling explosions and flashing sparklers were new. Black Cloud worked himself into a frenzy. As self-proclaimed herd leader he had to take charge and save the rest. So he kicked and bucked all over the place, running up and down along the fence line and snorting.

In his fevered imagination, he took control of the situation, scared off the intruders and led the weaklings safety.

Actually Otis and Angel were fairly calm throughout the ordeal. They seemed more apprehensive of Black Cloud than of the fireworks. Angel squealed every once in a while, probably to egg Black Cloud on. She is a bit of an instigator. Nothing to do with her gender, of course.

After a half hour they all settled down, Black Cloud no doubt under the impression that he saved the others from certain death.

I think they all forgot the whole episode by morning. They're not very patriotic.

Bear Hunting

The other night we spotted a bear across the street. I saw a snake out back. Ferocious birds try to nest in our stable.

I've decided to get a BB gun.I have the right to bear arms. For self defense.

Don't tell T or I'll get in trouble.