As you learned in my post from last week I’m now sporting a
new ride…or two. One of them is a feed truck. I mentioned that Ole Jus really
decked ‘er out for me with a grill guard, feeder and hay spear. What I didn’t
mention was the romantic adventure we had in the process. As you read below
please refrain from being overcome with jealousy that you and your mate cannot
participate in such a quest for lasting love…and a feeder.
The first month Justin and I were officially a couple years
and years ago, I accompanied him to the Texas panhandle to do something
important. My memory fails me on the exact reason for the trip…I’m certain it had
to do with horses…or was it cows? Anyway, I’ve been tagging along on Ole Jus’s
ranchy escapades for a long time so it really isn’t anything new to me…or him.
Long story short…we needed a feeder, they don’t just sell
them everywhere, there aren’t many available, it saved us money to go get it
ourselves. So we set out for Oklahoma (where the wind comes sweeping down
the plain). We dropped the kids with my fantastic aunt in the Dallas area and
made our way north. After dinner at a Texas Roadhouse (which, did you know,
didn’t actually originate in TX?), we crossed the Red River and a few casinos
before we checked into our hotel for the night. Shout out to Hilton Hotels, I
love a good Hampton Inn and you can find them almost anywhere…even in Oklahoma!
The next morning after I begged and convinced Ole Jus we
should sleep-in a little, I couldn’t find the hair dryer. I don’t usually pack
one since the hotel provides them. I looked on all the bathroom shelves, the
drawers in the dressers, and I even checked the closet. Since my searched turn
up nothing, I called the front desk and the lady seemed very surprised at my
request, but assured me she would find one to send up. About 30 seconds later
the phone rings, “Ma’am are you sure there isn’t one mounted to the wall near
the sink?”
Well, whaddaya know? THERE WAS ONE MOUNTED NEAR THE SINK.
It took around 30 minutes after we left the hotel to get to
the feeder-getting-place that Ole Jus (and everyone else) calls J & I
Manufacturing. Want to know where it was? In the middle of nowhere. I took a
screenshot on my google maps so you’d be able to see. It’s like they found a
road that cuts through the countryside and plopped this place right smack in
the middle of it.
This place was huge! I had no idea we were shopping (a loose term) at the
epicenter for anything manly in OK. They had feeders, tires, tools, cattle
chutes, gloves, and everything you might want or need to do man things.
Right
away I can tell that these people probably aren’t my people. As we walk in, I
realize I am sticking out like a priest in a honky tonk. There were very few
women and the ones that were in J & I Manufacturing that day were the real
kind of country girls…unlike myself. I
need to point out that Ole Jus does not want to draw any attention to
himself…ever. Naturally, he gets pretty angry if I am not on my best behavior
in an atmosphere like J & I.
I couldn’t help myself!!! First I made him take my picture (which explains the quality of the photograph)
so I might convey what a prissy pants I looked like next to all of the shoppers
in overalls, camo coveralls, work boots and lots of mud.
Then I walked around
and took pictures I thought you’d enjoy…
The footwear department.
The clothing department.
The bathroom that has A HUGE WINDOW in it?!?! What?!?!
Entertainment on a stick...
Then I found these “getters” as I like to call them. I
NEEDED to test out these getters, so I picked up a few things on shelves
nearby, but I NEEDED more. I found Ole Jus a few aisles over talking business on his phone. So I
used the getters to see if they might be strong enough to “get” his cowboy hat
off his head. I think they could have if he didn’t so abruptly end my
experiment and walk away from me. So as anyone might have done in the same situation
I used the getters to pinch his butt. Still on the phone, he gave me a very,
very bad look. He was not having nearly as much fun as I was. I put the getters
away, but I needed one more picture for the blog…one of Ole Jus in his element.
The risks I took to get this picture are beyond any other I’ve taken for you,
my readers. I’m pretty sure he said something like this, “Stop it! You are
really making me mad!”, but in a really serious angry voice.
He cooled down a smidge by the time we got to the checkout
line. We stood waiting…nicely… on our best behavior. There was a sign posted
near the checkout counter. It was partially hidden by a man’s head and hat so
we could only read the top half. Justin said, “Look! That sign says, “You WILL be prosecuted for taking pictures.”“ I
freaked out a little. I looked around to see if security had initiated
surveillance on me. Then I wanted to take a picture of the sign, but resisted.
As the line moved, the sign was revealed in its entirety…”You WILL be prosecuted for shoplifting.” He thinks he's funny...and it was.
The day really came full circle later in the afternoon when Ole Jus went into James Avery alone for a little Christmas shopping and the woman asked him, "You don't really fit in here, do you?" Why, no ma'am, he doesn't!
On our ride home we did the first ever Interview with Ole Jus which I'll post later this week. This is true love in real life...bursting at the seams some days..FROM THIS SIDE OF THIRTY.
Labels: Ranchlife
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