This has been a very exciting week. Actually, I can't believe everything happened in only one week's time.

Monday started out as a very snowy day. The Colstrip teachers were late due to about a foot of snow. The rest of us held down the fort until they could arrive.

Tuesday, I mailed out about 30 books to fill my preorders. The post office lady was getting a little skeptical so on Wednesday, I brought a book along to show her that I really was mailing books and that I was legit.

Thursday was a bad day, I was tired and quite emotional. I did make it through the day and came home to the ranch to find out that The Black was dead! (The Black is a longhorn steer that we have had for about 8 years.) Although, we have never really trusted him and always kept a watchful eye on him, it was like losing a piece of the ranch to know that he would no longer roam the fields.

I didn't sleep well Thursday night. (I need to stay off of pop.) So with lack of sleep, I was again emotional on Friday. We stopped at Hersruds where I sold one book, (we have paid for that book many times over the last 11 years.) then we headed to Black Hills Optical where Chip got his glasses and I had mine straightened. (That lasted until we got back home and the screendoor blew back and hit them.)

I haven't been able to place my books at Lynn's Dakota Mart yet as the manager was at a funeral all afternoon. There is a boxful of books setting at A and A Stieg's in Ekalaka, MT.

I just got back from trying to read the electric meter over at Carl's ranch. When I saw that the tracks stopped about 100 feet into the driveway, I decided it would take a braver soul than me to try it at 4:00 P.M. An educated guess might work just as well this time.

Next week will be spent processing The Black. He is one big piece of meat! Saturday, I will be at the flea market in Belle Fourche, primarily selling my book, Pat Anderson's book, Tears in the Bug Juice, and also a bunch of brand new Christmas stuff. For those of you who are into Matchbox cars, I will be selling them for a church in Florida.

So with that I will start wishing you a wonderful Christmas.