Gathering laughter...

I've pretty much healed up from the LV trip... Who knew you could get laughing moon burn in a hot tub!

The day we left home, in the rush to get out the door at O dark thirty, I put my cell phone in my everyday purse (which I did not take). Didn't even realize it, til I went to scan my boarding pass, thank goodness I had printed a confirmation copy and stowed it in my carry on. I didn't take even one pair of cowboy boots, the cowcamp honor was upheld as Marymine and granddaughter Ali both wore theirs.

All of us arrived at McCarran airport about the same time and traveled to the house we rented. It took about five minutes before there were twelve of us, (with wine in hand) in the hot tub. 

We had a great time, saw some interesting stuff, did some interesting stuff, ate at the house for the most part (there are some fantastic cooks in the family), drank a lot (there are a few in the family that worked their way thru college as bartenders), and we spent a lot of time laughing.

Never had any problems, but then it was a "very" well armed group of ladies.

the younger part of the crew, (between the lettering is the family brand in bling)

Some of us hadn't seen each other since we scattered the Cowman's ashes up at the fort, so we got to catchup on hugs, and tall tales, and laughter.

Marymine said I was, unusually, very well behaved. She only had to grab and hold me back once, and that was on the late night flight home. A balding, full of himself man, was setting behind me and hustling hard on some hoochy gals across the isle from him... which was entirely his business, except that he was very loud. Geez, I was just going to whisper in his ear:Sierra-Tango-Foxtrot-Uniform

We all had a great time, and have made plans to do it again, soon.  The next time we are going to the coast, and bringing our men!  Well, they are bringing their men, and I'm bringing myself and a kayak...

Yeah Right Bucko...

               

A girlfriend called to say she was driving up to Washington state to spend a week with her sons, and would I like to ride along so I could spend some time with my Sean.  Took me about a minute to throw some clothes in my bag, make arrangements for Gus to stay with Marymine, and away I went. 

Spent a great week with my Sean and his girls. The girls and I did Fort Vancouver twice, and made hand puppets for their impromptu puppet show for Sean.  Those girls are inventive, we laughed and had a great time.

 Sean needed to find a home for his Queensland heeler, Jack.  After a call to Marymine to see if she was interested in adding to her pack, and an OK from my girlfriend, it was a go for Jack to ride home with us. 

Jack looks a lot like the Queensland heeler pictured above.  He is a dear sweet dog with very good manners, So I figured it would be smooth sailing getting him to Marymine's. 
Sean said he's a good traveler, except here I am driving a friend's car on a very busy 205 when he farts.  Now her car is nothing like my ol SUV, so I'm trying to drive, and roll down the window at the same time.  After we had nearly passed out from the fumes, I found the right button to push and aired us out.  We laughed, and said "Oh Jack you must have eaten something you shouldn't have".  On we went with me driving the Vancouver to Roseburg leg.  The next time he let one go we were in a driving rain storm and could only crack the windows, still able to laugh somewhat.  
Told my girlfriend of the time my cousins had sent a book to Sean's girls entitled "Walter the Farting Dog".  We had all gotten a kick out of that book, I must have read it to the girls a dozen times. 
Now it was starting to look like we had another five hours of driving with "Jack the Farting Dog".  We ran into snow on my next leg of driving, with no chains or 4 wheel drive it got a bit dicey. Jack the Farting Dog continued apace. Just about the time we would think he wasn't going to gas us again, he would let loose. Truckers would signal to us that our windows were down and it was snowing out, we pointed to Jack The Farting Dog, and kept on. We were starting to think it might be wise to stop at a WallyWorld and get gas masks. Tears were coming to our eyes, but it wasn't from laughter. We finally reached her place, switched my bags and Jack to my ol SUV for the last hour and a half  to my bunkhouse.  Pulled in, let Jack stretch his legs, retrieved Gus from Marymine's, and made Jack promise that he would Not fart in the bunkhouse.  He didn't, and now is happily living with the crew at Marymine's.  
When I called Sean to ask about Jack's fumigating specialty,  Sean said he probably was just plain scared to death riding with two ol ladies in that little car going thru rain and snow storms. Yeah right Bucko...