When cold weather blows in, there are a gazillion things to remember in order to make sure the place is buttoned down for the freeze. Hay the cows, check the water supply, antifreeze in all the equipment, water pipes still wrapped, hot water heaters protected, commodes flushed so they won’t crack if they freeze, water troughs wrapped as needed, hay supply secured, fences all okay, dead tree limbs moved from fence lines, lights on in the pump house…and on and on and on…it sometimes causes me a little confusion.

Then there are always the home issues, work issues and just life in general. Yes, I have been a little confused as of the last few days…but, it’s always of my own making. I take on too much, so that is why I enjoy the ability to go to the ranch in the first place. Even though it winds me up with all the extra work, it still un-winds me. Life is good!

Last Thursday I went to my car at lunch time and placed myself behind the wheel. As I closed the door I noticed the radio was playing. “Hmmmmm,” I thought to myself. “I wonder why the radio is on? Hmmm, look at the heat gauge. It’s on. The gas gauge is on. The dash lights are operating? What is going on here?”

I slowly stepped on the gas and MY CAR WAS RUNNING! I had left it running for the past four hours! I never cut my car off! I simply got out and went inside to go to work! Wow! But it gets worse!

On Friday we had our snow and then, of course, Friday night and early Saturday it was extremely cold. It was so cold, in fact, Saturday morning there was a thin sheet of ice on our cars. I needed to get something out of the back seat of my car, so I pulled on the door handle and the door was frozen shut.

Unbeknownst to me, my mother had been watching me out her back window. I grabbed the handle again and the door was stuck solid. I went into the house and grabbed a glass of water and slowly began to pour the water between the cracks in the car door hoping to melt the ice. After pouring the water I reached down and grabbed the door handle again. I tugged on it and it immediately slipped out of my hand and would not budge. I pulled a little harder to no avail.

I went back into the house to get more water, so I grabbed a gallon tea jug. I figured the thing had more ice on it than I anticipated. I came back outside with the gallon jug and again began pouring the water in the top of the door. I was thinking that the rubber door seal had retained moisture from the rain and had frozen solid. After a few moments of pouring my full gallon of water on the door I tried it again. The door failed to budge! Now I was aggravated!

I set the jug on the ground and took both hands and pulled on the door. Still not budging. I grabbed it again with both hands and this time I put a little body weight into my pull, leaning backwards as I pulled. I then realized the door handles were plastic and if I kept this kind of strain on them, they would break off!

By this time my mom was calling over to my house asking my wife what I was trying to do. As I entered my back door somewhat flustered and frustrated, I sat the now empty tea jug on the kitchen counter right next to my…well, next to my car key…It was only then that I realized my car was locked up…wow…

Okay, go ahead and laugh! But this is not quite as bad as my friend, Rick Tomlinson! Yes, that is his real name! He went out one morning to do a little maintenance work on his motor home, so he cranked it up to make sure the battery would stay charged. It was only late at night before his head hit his pillow did he realize he never turned the thing off. He left his motor home running for TWELVE HOURS!

Stuff happens, but life is good and I thank God for letting me live it to the fullest!

Clifford

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