Progress

Steph, our amazing GGYR neighbor, took pictures while we were in Chicago of the first steps to our new water line.


We love Steph and thank her for snapping shots when we weren't around. I've said it before, but it is worth saying again---neighbors don't get any better!

How Do You Plea?

News from the slammer.

The very next time I decide to marry a hardened criminal, I vow to marry one with a surname residing in the first half of the alphabet!

Max and Michelle Wade, the deadbeats of Rio Rancho, attended a proceeding in Municipal Court on a zoning violation. Michelle was rather smashing in her dark blue pants, a pleasant change from her tired blue jeans. Max, dapper in his collared shirt. Sitting in the back row cuddling and planning their defense, the morning was almost pleasant. No children to interrupt, no laundry to fold--maybe there is something to a life of crime.

They patiently waited as all the drunk drivers, shoplifters, and drug possessors argued their side of the story. This judge, a fair and kind man, graciously handed out community service like candy at Halloween. In the mean time, Max and Michelle debated back and forth--guilty, not guilty, or no contest? What was the truthful answer to the burning question?

"Max Wade." Finally--W called.

Michelle walked up the aisle along side her criminal spouse. The judge looked at the cowboy and read the charge. "You are accused of having horses but no primary residence--apparently this is a crime?.!.!? How do you plea?"

Max, "Well, sir, we do have horses there. . ."

Michelle, "We do want to build our house but the City is not allowing us to put in the water line. Without it, we cannot build our house. They are awaiting a meeting on June 23 for a vote on a new pro rata agreement. The permits have been pulled, the engineering done--we just can't build because the City is not allowing us."

Kind judge, "Well, I'm going to enter a plea of 'not guilty' and we'll see you back here in 30 days. Hopefully by that time we can have some resolution to this matter."

Max and Michelle exited the courtroom, pleased that fair, level-headed judges do exist.

Until next time. . .

Thanks to the gang for running the ranch in Max's absence. Way to be Melissa, Steph, Carri, Leah, De, Joyce, and Kat!

Why Michelle Doesn't Get Invited To Many Lunch Meetings

I realized something about myself today--I am courageous! There is no other way to describe someone who foolishly takes her camera into places and then uses it when it is most awkward to do so. I should also mention that my camera is not a point and shoot discreet little number. Doesn't stop me. I press on. I humiliate myself in the pursuit of journalistic excellence, to show all of you the events shaping the entity that is Galloping Grace Youth Ranch.


Lunch at Weck's restaurant in Rio Rancho provided me yet another awkward photo op. Max and I met with the engineers and contractors bidding to do the job for our water line. Three of the four men I had never met. How often do you figure these men are photographed while dining and discussing roads, easements, stub outs, utilities, etc.? Not often, I would argue.



I announced that I had to take a few pictures for a blog I keep on the ranch. Imagine my surprise when Tim, pictured on the far right, said he has read it! You just never know who checks in--possibly because few comment and thereby satisfy one of my love languages. (I'm just sayin'.) Tim heard about GG, looked at the website, and then found the blog. I get a little nervous when I hear something like that. Which post did he see? I can't seem to pull myself out of this boring slump. Perhaps a vacation is in order.



Here I present the amazing Bill Joiner! Yep, the same man whose company hauls water out to GG EVERY WEEK! He has done so much more for us. Seriously, his heart is gigantic! He cares, he helps, he gives. We have no way of adequately thanking Mr. Joiner and his sweet wife, Evonne. They are well known in Rio Rancho for their kindness--we can definitely attest!

Bill's company, which he is now closing, bid on the job. One of Bill's employees, Mike (far left in above shot) is starting up his own company. Bill and Max talked that perhaps some of the fees the engineers built into their bid might be waived if his company were to do the construction on the water line. This lunch was set up to determine all of that. As lunch progressed, the two groups discovered that a few items might have been left out of the original bid--the cost might go up! Ahhh.

I found all the talk interesting even though most of the concepts and issues floated right over my housewifey head. I must admit I didn't bring a lot to the table. At one point I asked Tim and Kim, the engineers, if they knew my sweet friend Pam who is also an engineer in Rio Rancho. Kim (striped shirt) did know her. He said she works for another engineering firm (company?). Bill Joiner then started teasing me that I threw her in while negotiating prices as a bargaining tool. I assured them I had not. I didn't know Pam did that kind of work. I said, "I thought she designed the lay out for the new high school in Rio Rancho." Kim said I was right--the utility lay out! Yikes! Pam, my sweet love who reads this blog, please know that it never occurred to me that we should ask you for a bid. Clueless and out of the loop, I am. I promised the men over and over that I was innocent. Did they believe me? Don't know. Does Pam believe me? I hope so.

A little background on Pam. We played basketball together in high school. We really were great friends. Geez, that girl could dribble!! Pam was always smart, sweet, and fun. It's really no surprise that she is a talented architect now. In December I had the pleasure of reconnecting with her in and another friend, Kelly, after almost twenty years. So good to see them!

Tim and Kim, my new dining buds, thanks for taking the time to meet with us and explain your bid. Pam, if you want to throw either of my new friends under the bus with a lower bid, have at it. :)

Teasing.

A little.

Sort of.

Perhaps I discovered something else about myself--I'm a cutthroat business woman at heart.

Hee hee. Who am I kidding? Engineers, new friends and old, why don't you just work together on this one? Wouldn't that be something new and fun? Have your people call my people and we'll work something out.

Water line construction--a nerve racking experience.