TribTown

Shoot, she's quitting too soon.

In my fantasy life, I awaken to the Today Show (which would mean sleeping until at least 7 a.m.,) move from the Today Show straight to Rachael Ray, turn off the television, walk the pooch in the sunshine instead of the dark, shop, shop, shop for meaningless stuff and/or nap,  and then begin dinner preparation and watch Oprah.

OK, meaningless and fluffy -- but you know, for 31 years my beloved mom has been telling people, "poor Sally Ann, she has to work!" -- like it's some kind of curse to have a full-time job that I adore.

Once upon a time, when we were mandated to use vacation time or lose it, I had too much vacation for trips I could afford, so I cleaned closets, cooked -- and got used to my daytime TV schedule.

Now, Oprah is hanging it up -- at least at 4:00 on KTWO -- before I have a chance to watch full-time.

I absolutely did not agree with her politics and found some of her subjects nearly absurd, but I admire her greatly, envy her bank account and think she would make an awesome friend.

Whatever she does, I hope it's on television -- and I hope someday to see it.

Save for the Herders and the Broncos, the weekend was seriously nearly perfect.

Because:

1. NO must-appear events

2. PLENTY of time for cooking

3. Lengthy visit from Mouse

4. Pokes won in fantastic fashion

5. Packers won in fantastic fashion.

Started out by making pumpkin pie with fresh pumpkin -- a first for me. Used two pie pumpkins that had been gracing the front lawn since way before Halloween.

But they were frozen, so I nuked them and was terrified they would blow up (they didn't).

Consistency was scary and very stringy. That's why I made it Saturday, so it wouldn't ruin Thanksgiving dinner.

Bake time was MUCH longer than recipe suggested, but the friend and Mouse both think it tasted great -- and I do too.

Then I made beef enchiladas and Mexican rice on Saturday night, and they both were really good. Forgot to buy stuff for margaritas though, so we drank beer while we waited for Wyo-SDSU to start.

During halftime, I threw together the citrus french toast from Saturday's American Profile.

After Mass Sunday, I baked it and we enjoyed a late brunch as we waited for the Broncos to begin.

A cookin', winnin' weekend -- my very favorite kind!

With only two high schools in the county and both ranked 10-0 and playing for state football championships in different classifications Friday and Saturday, the staff of the Douglas Budget and Glenrock Independent newspapers have thrown their support behind the teams.

This week's editions of the Budget and Independent had inserts to use as signs at the games. The opposite side of the cheer signs had sponsorship ads from numerous local businesses congratulating the hometown squad.

And an editorial proclaimed how proud the county is of both squads -- Douglas in Class 3A and Glenrock in Class 2A.

The seniors on this year's Glenrock team have lost just one game in four years -- as freshmen to Douglas.

Go Big Purple -- and, sure, Go Big Blue.

In the least populated state in the nation, in one of the least populated counties in the state, (13th out of 22 when license plate designations were determined) should both come home victorious, you'd think that would get some attention outside the borders.

Nevertheless, the home folks are proud.

Was truly honored to spend 90 minutes today at the Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery for the annual Veterans Day ceremony.

It was a wonderful occasion, filled with the things we so take for granted -- The National Anthem, The Pledge of Allegiance, the posting of the colors, an invocation and benediction, a rifle salute that made me jump and Taps.

And it was filled with so much more -- Tra' Vendela in his wheelchair, telling the capacity crowd that he has not one regret and that "life is good as long as you're living it."

He's about to be a daddy for the first time, the team he coaches on a volulnteer basis plays for the state championship on Saturday and as he puts it, "he's working for himself to help others."

Thirty minutes is a long time when a poor speaker is talking or the subject is not interesting.

Thirty minutes went by in a flash with Tra' at the microphone.

It was an awesome, awesome day.

I don't really know what a state treasurer does, but I do know what Joe Meyer did for all of us as secretary of state.

He's the guy who protected the Bucking Horse and Rider (official term) trademark from all comers,  foreign and domestic.

I, of couse, refer to it simply as the buckin' horse.

Our own Joan Barron detailed the intricate history of licensing and trademarks and who can use it free and who has to pay in a piece for us in December 1999.

I always think of him when I see the buckin' horse, and trust me, I see it alot (it's all over my powder room and on perhaps a full 50 percent of my wardrobe!)

So now that Cowboy Joe is facing a fight with lung cancer, just want to say, from one UW alum to another, "Godspeed."

The words to Kenny Chesney's song used by ESPN on college football telecasts swirled through my brain as I tried to find a comfortable position for sleeping.

A completely klutzy move on my part had wrenched my back.

"This is our moment/this is our time," were the words that didn't let go.

And I thought how foolish I was twice within a 24-hour period.

First, the friend had amazingly agreed to attend a Halloween party, though he was on call and had to awaken at 4 a.m., for his next shift.

The people hosting were acquaintances, who we enjoy visiting with whenever our paths cross. 

We arrived to a small crowd, most in costume. The friend was sporting his Wyatt Earp get-up and looked authentic and amazing.

Kevin Costner and Sam Elliott might be good to look at, but so was he -- and he was right there by my side.

I was in all black and my giant orange and black-striped witch hat stuffed with newspaper so it stood straight up.

I had texted my two beloved children with a photo, asking "good or wicked?" They instantly replied -- one wicked for sure; one a mix of both.

The party food was lovely, including a carefully crafted, delicious  hummus faux brains dip in a carved jack-o-lantern. Definitely something to remember.

So did I enjoy myself and embrace the chance to chat up new people and potentially make new friends in my new town?

I fretted about not getting the Wyoming game on television and then stood like a stone next to a radio and fretted when the Pokes let a very realistic victory slip away.

The very next afternoon, I stewed about leaving the game of the century on television to see Dick Cheney at an intimate gathering of United Way supporters.

Dick Cheney, easily one of Casper's most well-known residents.

There I was, feet away, and I didn't chat him up. Didn't relay Peggy Jane the Mom's requested message. Didn't even partake of the delicious hors d'oeuvres prepared by Jim McBride and John Johnson of the Johnson Restaurant Group.

I talked to several folks briefly, noticed who was and wasn't there, stayed for the planned remarks and left the moment after Dick Cheney left, even though there was 45 minutes more available for socializing, networking, eating -- and drinking on the house.

Stupid, stupid me.

This is our moment, this is our time. Shame on me for wasting it not once, but twice. Perhaps I've learned a lesson. I'm praying that I have.

I left my home at exactly 2 :45 p.m., and returned at 4:40 p.m.

I missed the entire second and third quarters of the NFL regular season game that had the globe tipping off its axis.

I was showered, makeuped and business dressed and at the Wolcott Galleria, greeting former VPOTUS and Casper-raised Dick Cheney.

It was an intimate gathering of those who give more than $500 annually to the United Way of Natrona County, easily number one on my giving priority list.

United Way is the perfect philanthropy for lazy, busy people like me, because the giving comes directly out of my paycheck and benefits 28 agencies that directly affect people, including several of my favorites.

So Dick greeted the small crowd individually and then sat on a high-backed bar stool and made some informal comments and then took five or so questions.

His best line was in the beginning, when he thanked Mick McMurry for the ride in his plane.

"Nice plane, Mick," he said. And then not missing a beat, he said, "I used to have a nice plane."

He talked at length about tthe people who made his 40 years in public service possible, including Don Rumsfeld and Gerald Ford.

He talked of playing for Harry Geldien and Swede Erickson and mused that there were lots of people in Casper back then who never would have thought he'd one day be vice president of the United States.

Many in the crowd were shocked that I was there during the game, but I was there not out of a sense of duty to the VPOTUS or to United Way folks, but because Peggy Jane the Mom told me I had to go.

"If I had the chance, I'd go," she gushed when I told her how unhappy I was with the completety unfortunate timing.

She asked me to give the VPOTUS, one of her favorites, a message for her. I didn't get the chance this afternoon, but I was there because she asked me to be.

And this was her message for him: "Tell him I think he and Rush Limbaugh are the two most misunderstood people in America. And tell him I especially like what he's been saying recently."

OK, mom. Message delivered.