Ranching's Good. Puts hair on your chest.
Since I've been unable to find a job in the Twin Cities, my grandfather was kind enough to offer me a position on his ranch in the Black Hills, near Rapid City.Since he's getting on in years, it's my job to do all the things his body can't handle anymore. Like shoveling cow-pie out of the herd's watering hole (Actually saw one wander in it and then plopped a huge one right there. Did not get a picture but the smell was enough) or replacing tires on the motorcycles he uses to check the pastures. Fixing fences, stuff like that.
I did spend the first night at my uncle's dorm at the Rapid City School of Mines. Place was a mess worse than the ranch, I tell you.
In any case it's only been a few days on the job, but I've been kept busy enough.
When he offered me the job, one of the stipulations was that I would be cooking for him. He has very strict standards as to what he eats now, and the wif has had a bum leg for about a week now; she can't do anything besides lounge around.
To-nights been my first attempt: turkey burgers and fried potatoes. All Organic. All Natural. I swear the man is like a Jesus Freak when it comes to organic food, only he's a.... organic freak.
At first he makes an honest attempt to look over my shoulder and give me direction. But eventually he just wanders off and sits by the couch, waiting for his din-din. Everything turned out fine, but it took him some reminding after the food was done, to actually say thanks, and make some suggestions.
On the positive side, the rule of the house is that the cook Does Not Clean The Kitchen. That's left to everyone else.
It's got it's plusses, and minuses; still, I am beginning to realize that my grandfather has many, many faults, most noticeably the inability to think of others. He's not selfish in a malicious way, it just never enters his mind to be thankful to his wife for all the good food, that he demands to be a certain way, no less, and then expects me to do a comparable job.
It's going to be a looooong two months.