My School Days

The second week of October I went to School. It was in Kansas. And I was nervous. Just getting there was big for me. All alone and driving? Then there is understanding what I would learn, having enough brains to ask questions, then can I really pull on a sleeve and put it where the sun don't shine? I asked Tom for a Priesthood Blessing and it made all the difference. I felt all my anxiety melt away.

I had no problems at the airport. That is clearly going good. Every time I fly I am the one pulled to the side and patted down. So you can see my spirits are up. I get my rental car and have a two and half hour drive. I had three different ways to get there. I pick one, got lost and stopped at a Circle K to get back on track. A customer there helped me. She is a Ray from Gilbert and is married to a Whiting from Vernon. So I felt at home. She got me on the interstate. I was avoiding that because I wanted to see more of the old roads but realized I better just get there.

Monday morning we started our first day of class. There were fifteen in the class. Most of them were from east of the Missouri River. And four from Midwest, only three of of us were from the southwest, if you count California as part of that group. That is a very diverse group of ranchers. And one of us was a Dairyman from Pennsylvania. How will they understand and teach us all the right information for our areas?

Our first day was classroom only. We studied the reproductive system of the cow and the bull and when the cow needs different levels of nutrition for different times of the reproduction cycle. It was amazing to hear that. They would break it down for each of our areas. They would call me Arizona. They would say "Arizona how do you do this or that"? I would answer and the class was shocked, but the teachers would say, "Yes that is correct".

On Tuesday we did morning class, went to lunch, when we returned we found finger nail clippers and files on our desk. What? Yep you have to have nice short fingernails to don the glove and head into the rear end. This day all the cows will be open (not pregnant). Morning class had beat into our brains what we will find. Think of plumbing your house in totally pitch dark room. First thing is find the cervix (turkey neck, really feels like one). Follow it down to the Uterus. If the horns of the cornua are tightly curled she is open. There is no way to explain how amazing it was to find what they had described.

On Wednesday morning class was on nutrients, cow conditioning and assisting in calf birthing. Afternoon class was preg testing on dairy cattle. They told us they would feel different. The day before we had beef cattle. They are different! But we were well prepared.

Thursday, yea. Pregnant cows! As we were preparing to go the teacher looked at me and I must of had a bigger smile on my face than usual. He said "Arizona you look like a boy scout excited to go on this outing." I told him I felt like a cub scout going on my first outing. Everyone was assigned a cow. Now knowing that they are pregnant, we just had to drop off to the right side and feel for the womb. They told us depending on how far along they are it may feel like a water balloon with a small bar of soap floating in it. Just give it a small bounce and you will feel the fetus. I reached in, dropped off to the right and felt a large head. If you know me you will know exactly how I responded. I cried. Tony, one of the assistants who was assigned to stand by her because she is so far along saw my tears and smiled. He knew I had found what I went in for. I think they saved that cow for me. I was the last one picked and usually I was one of the first assigned. The rest felt like the balloons, but the first one I will never forget.

Friday was class time then in the afternoon we could either preg test or pass the rod (artificial inseminate). I just did the preg testing.

Then drove back to Kansas City Mo. to catch my flight home on Saturday morning. Home to some really happy dogs. Tom was camping and I didn't see him until the next afternoon. All in all that was a real great school. With them if you need a refresher class you can always come back for free. They say just call and tell them you are coming back. So if I ever want to AI all I have to do is go back.

Can You Tell Me Why?

I believe some of you can answer me this one question: Why do people pick on me? I don't know why. Here are a few examples of what I mean.

In May I drove to the BLM office for a week. It was by the old Metro Center Mall, nice long drive. The class was amazing. Learned about invasive plants, how to read soil, and wind or water erosion. I was the only civilian, meaning all the others were state or federal employees there to gain further education toward their employments.
Before the week was up they were calling me Mom. Most of the instructors were my age or older. But they came up with that name for me. And then was the picking on me. Just little jabs here and there. But then again, the instructors or the highly knowledgeable students would make sure they teamed up with me to help my inexperience. The instructors and students came from about five different states, yet they had time to pick on me and help me, a civilian out. I have high regards for them. Even though they PICKED.

Now I am in Kansas taking a class. The students here come from 6 differnt states. Most are from east of the Mississippi. Here comes the picking. The instructors ask a question and if know one answers, they call on me. The first day I got all the questions right. The second day wow, a bit more challenging. I am not kidding about picking on me. I sat in the front row so I wouldn't miss anything. Unlike the first class that was free, this one is very costly and I wanted my moneys worth. Well here comes a question and I look around to see if anyone is going to answer and dang then I look forward and I get a pointing finger or the nod. They ask me to make a guess. And some of my answers make for a good ribbing. They love that I am from AZ. They give an example and then they turn to me and say what ya think, I say, can't work here and they say your right. Then they explain why AZ is so different from were they are.
I walked out my door and the oldest student was walking to go get dinner so I invited myself to go with him. He is 78 and Vietnam vet. I wanted to visit with him and learn more about him. He is amazing person. He is from the south, and yes he is black. He used to in his younger day, raise race horses. And so many other things. He is like an interesting book and I just wanted to check it out. He is so happy and positive it sucks you in. So anyway during our dinner I told him, "they pick on me" he just smiled and said "I think they just like you".

So answer me, why am I picked on? I could see if I started it but I will testify the first class I didn't not start it. I was so out of my league that I wished I was a mute. Way over my head on that one. Now this class, I picked. But they started it.

WHY DO THEY PICK ME TO PICK ON?