Soapweed
Well-known member
My journal entry for Tuesday, January 23, 1968
I'm really getting "lax" about getting up. This morning I struggled out of bed at 6:45, but was tired all day anyway. We had breakfast and left for school at 8:00, as there was no band again today.
Typing went along about like normal. We had another interesting Geometry class with not too long of an assignment. In Geometry, Mr. Card really piled on a long and hard assignment. Krotz gave notes all through Science class, so as you can see, we had an awful hard morning.
Noodles over mashed potatoes, beans, a bun, and plums made up dinner. This is not my favorite dish by a long ways, but I guess it filled us up. I studied all through the noon hour.
In the afternoon, I attended twenty minutes of English class and then took off, but not quick enough to dodge another rough assignment. I got it cleared to go down to the Fire Hall to attend another "rancher's workshop." For the first half hour, I almost fell asleep. Then things got a little interesting. Harry Stokely, the county agent, and Carl Powell got in a heated discussion with Donald Clanton, the "bigshot" speaker at the session. Mr. Clanton made some remark about a "cow and calf" ranching operation making more money than selling yearlings or two-year-olds. Immediately Stokely and Powell got their dander up and started to discuss all angles of the situation. Anyway, I no longer felt sleepy. We had a good lunch at about 3:30, and I left at about 3:45.
I meandered on up to the school, got my books, and went out to the car. Sybil was there and ready to start for home. (Sandra went home with the JO outfit, as there is a ball game tonight.) As we were driving along Main Street [really the main street of Merriman is "Mills Street"], Sybil spotted our new pickup. I went to the post office and got the mail while Syb got groceries and looked around a little for Dad. We didn't see him anywhere so came on home. I guess he had gone to Martin, South Dakota, for a bull sale.
Later I asked whose sale it was, and Dad replied, "Oh, just some guy from Ogallala." I sensed a bit of disgust, so pressed for further details. Dad went on, "I'd about as soon see more Australian imported beef come into this country." I said, "Really?" Dad went on, "He is really hurting our bull business. As good of luck as he had this year, he will probably bring up a hundred or more next year." [This was my dad's opinion at the time. I have no idea who the bull purveyor was who Dad thought should have stayed in his own territory to sell bulls.]
I went out and helped Lloyd fix a couple gates and then we did chores. Lloyd didn't stay for supper because he is taking tomorrow off to attend to some business.
I came in the house to find the rest of the outfit getting ready to go to the ball game in town. I had to talk pretty hard and use "three hours worth of homework" as an excuse to stay home. Some of those guys around town might get the idea that if I watched a basketball game, I'd just as well play with them. I never did "lose any love" over basketball, and cannot work up any excitement to play the game.
I'm really getting "lax" about getting up. This morning I struggled out of bed at 6:45, but was tired all day anyway. We had breakfast and left for school at 8:00, as there was no band again today.
Typing went along about like normal. We had another interesting Geometry class with not too long of an assignment. In Geometry, Mr. Card really piled on a long and hard assignment. Krotz gave notes all through Science class, so as you can see, we had an awful hard morning.
Noodles over mashed potatoes, beans, a bun, and plums made up dinner. This is not my favorite dish by a long ways, but I guess it filled us up. I studied all through the noon hour.
In the afternoon, I attended twenty minutes of English class and then took off, but not quick enough to dodge another rough assignment. I got it cleared to go down to the Fire Hall to attend another "rancher's workshop." For the first half hour, I almost fell asleep. Then things got a little interesting. Harry Stokely, the county agent, and Carl Powell got in a heated discussion with Donald Clanton, the "bigshot" speaker at the session. Mr. Clanton made some remark about a "cow and calf" ranching operation making more money than selling yearlings or two-year-olds. Immediately Stokely and Powell got their dander up and started to discuss all angles of the situation. Anyway, I no longer felt sleepy. We had a good lunch at about 3:30, and I left at about 3:45.
I meandered on up to the school, got my books, and went out to the car. Sybil was there and ready to start for home. (Sandra went home with the JO outfit, as there is a ball game tonight.) As we were driving along Main Street [really the main street of Merriman is "Mills Street"], Sybil spotted our new pickup. I went to the post office and got the mail while Syb got groceries and looked around a little for Dad. We didn't see him anywhere so came on home. I guess he had gone to Martin, South Dakota, for a bull sale.
Later I asked whose sale it was, and Dad replied, "Oh, just some guy from Ogallala." I sensed a bit of disgust, so pressed for further details. Dad went on, "I'd about as soon see more Australian imported beef come into this country." I said, "Really?" Dad went on, "He is really hurting our bull business. As good of luck as he had this year, he will probably bring up a hundred or more next year." [This was my dad's opinion at the time. I have no idea who the bull purveyor was who Dad thought should have stayed in his own territory to sell bulls.]
I went out and helped Lloyd fix a couple gates and then we did chores. Lloyd didn't stay for supper because he is taking tomorrow off to attend to some business.
I came in the house to find the rest of the outfit getting ready to go to the ball game in town. I had to talk pretty hard and use "three hours worth of homework" as an excuse to stay home. Some of those guys around town might get the idea that if I watched a basketball game, I'd just as well play with them. I never did "lose any love" over basketball, and cannot work up any excitement to play the game.