Robert Redford on My Father-In-Law, A.C.

A.C. on the cover of National Geographic

My father-in-law was a larger than life man. Sometimes it seems he could have been an American tall tale, like Pecos Bill or Paul Bunyan. He was a rancher and a rodeo star and I think everyone who ever met him has a story to tell that will make you laugh, shake your head and say "Only A.C.". Back in the 1970s Robert Redford took an interest in the Outlaw Trail, which ran right through the ranch A.C.'s ancestors had homesteaded and A.C. was currently running. Robber's Roost was a point of historical interest for Redford and A.C. was a human link to the past. Redford eventually featured A.C. in his book about the trail, as did National Geographic when they published an excerpt of Redford's book.









Check out this short interview clip of Robert Redford's observations of A.C. and his type's influence on the American West.

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Lego Back to the Future!!! Yay!!!

You may know that I had a major crush on Michael J. Fox back in the day.  Family Ties was my "I'm gonna die if I don't get to watch it!" show as a tween, and I sat through all his post Back to the Future movies, no matter how bad they were (Light of Day anyone?).  When it comes to Back to the Future itself though, it was not only my favorite movie of the 1980s, it took Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban to dislodge it from it's spot atop my all time favorites list.

These days, LEGO rules at my house. Not only is my son obsessed, but they are the subject of truly cool pop culture homages.  Both the LEGO company videos (the LEGO Star Wars episodes are must see for any Star Wars buff) and the fan made creations are clever and fun. The best evoke nostalgia and this does.  Seriously, LEGO Back to the Future wins the internet this week.

(I recommend watching it in HD and full screen.)

Indoor Cats

The glorious Mr. Fluffypants

When I was a kid, cats were strictly outdoor animals.  (Okay, at our farm all animals were outdoor only animals.  My parents were old school that way.)  I always wanted one to sleep with me but my mom was having none of that.  I grew up, got a house of my own complete with cats and dogs.  They were indoor/outdoor animals. The cats got to sleep with me but also hunt birds, climb trees and all the things cats enjoy doing.  I had kids.  My kids love animals the way I do, but one of my children is C. R. A. Z. Y.  about cats.  She's also quite sensitive and when something goes wrong with her day,  it can sometimes ruin her whole world.  She has a special bond with one of our cats, Mr. Fluffypants. He's become something of a therapy animal for her.  He can instantly sooth her, bringing the sunshine back to her life with willing cuddles and licks.

Freddy and Mr. Fluffypants birdwatching.

One day, Mr. Fluffypants decided to act like a cat and pretend he couldn't hear us calling him in at night. He sat on the neighbor's deck, in plain view, and just looked at us as we begged him to come home.  For three days.  That was a pretty long three days for us as we tried to minimize his disappearance for our daughter.  After that we were hesitant every time we let him out, and kept a close eye on him.  I trained the cats to come running at the sound of a spoon on a plate.  Then we moved.  Twice in a year.  Moving with cats can be tricky.  They'll sometimes try to go back to the old home, or get in trouble with unfamiliar streets or animals.  It was important to keep all of our pets safe during this time, so all three cats became indoor only animals.  I feel a little guilty even though I know it's for their safety,  even though I have an enhanced interest in keeping Mr. Fluffypants safe for our daughter's sake.  I know life in a house is dull for a cat, they are natural roamers and hunters. Toys and kids are fun but I'm sure my cats miss climbing trees and really sunning themselves on fences.  I've hung a bird feeder where my cats can sit in a windowsill and watch them eat.  I did it thinking it would entertain them, and it does.  I do wonder though, if it's more of a cruelty to show them what they can't have.  They sit and chitter at the birds, noses almost pressed to the glass.   Our cats are safe, but are we cheating them?

It was a pretty good show this morning.