These Boots

So I'm back from Eric Church, and its was gosh-darn-bang-fantabulouly-awesome! or in other words, EPIC! But I guess when isn't Eric Church epic.

But there was one, well technically two if you count the no adult beverages rule, that was not so EPIC.

One of my greatest pet peeves is the apparel I see at concerts. So things such as "These Boots" kinda bug the bejeppers out of me!

(FYI if my brother sees this. Yes, you did tuck your pants into your boots for dramatic effect for part of the night)

So before I proceed let me say, Disclaimer-This is purely my opinion.

I would just like to share with you my overall rules of thumb for concert attire:

1. If you don't own a second pair of boots that are covered in mud or animal crap, you do NOT need to have a pair of boots to prance around in.

2. Please do not go purchase a new outfit from the, and I quote "Cowboy Store", just to go to a concert.

3. If you don't know what a longhorn is, please do not wear jewelry which have said animal on it.

4. If you have never shot a gun, please do not show up wearing camo.

5. Plaid. Nowhere on your ticket stub does it say, must wear plaid for admission, so just stop it.

So I probably seem a tad bitter about this but that is because for some, These Boots are almost sacred.  Some boots have seen a lot and have traveled many miles out in the fields or pastures.  Working long hours out in the heat and dead of winter working the land. So when I see people prancing around in "cowboy clothes" I take offense.  Not on my behalf, but on the behalf of those hard working men and women who wear those work boots everyday and work extremely hard for you and me.

So before you get dressed up in your next concert get-up and slip on your brand new pair of boots, think about the true meaning behind These Boots.

...that's what she said
Ashley

I'm Going to CHURCH, Well Not That Kind of Church

Guess what kiddos! I have been 22 for two days now and let me tell you....... it feels the same as 21.  But o well, in 10 years I am going to wish I was 22 again so I am going to enjoy it while I can.

Anyway, so I totally FAILED yesterday and didn't get my awesome Country Music Monday post done. #Fail  And I am going to #Fail again on Wordless Wednesday because I have some work things to take care of. So GUESS WHAT! You are going to get something I like call "Wordless Country Music Tuesday". (I know the name kind of blows but just go with it.)

So as you probably already noticed I am kind of rambling on and on. Well here is my reasoning.... I AM SO GOSH DARN EXCITED because............ I GET TO SEE MY MAIN MAN ERIC CHURCH IN 5 DAYS!!! I know right, BEST news ever!

So Sunday myself and about 7 others Church-sters are venturing our way up to Madison, Nebraska for the Madison County Fair.  Now I know this is like a definite shot in the dark but one of the top things on my bucket list, is to meet Mr. Church.  So I will keep you posted as to my success in that category but seeing as this is the third time in two years that I will be seeing the boy, I feel like the third times a charm.  So wish me luck y'all! And if I do succeed in this task I am sure the whole world will be hearing about it. haha

So in honor of the one and only bad boy of country music, I invite you all to go to CHURCH with me, and take a gander at some of these lil nuggets of pure country.

...that's what she said
Ashley

Birthday Cow!

So since today is my birthday!!!!! This is a crazy short post because, its my BIRTHDAY!!

My birthday cookie with, what the decorator called a "normal" cow. Because yes! All cows have spots and wear bells and carry balloons around.

Thus I say, agriculture education must be a requirement for all high school students!

Humane Society of the United States... Not On My Birthday!

Guess what y'all!! It's almost my birthday!! The big 2-2 is just 3 days away!! And everyone has been asking me lately "What do you want for your birthday?" So, I have been thinking lately what I would want for my birthday. And I guess I have been having trouble, and then something came across my radar the other day.

It was recently announced that Bank of America has launched a Visa card with pictures of little kittens and puppies on it. Sounds sweet right, well for every credit card account opened they will give $60 dollars to the Humane Society of the United States, and 25 cents for every $100 spent on each card.

Now first let me say, HSUS is NOT YOUR LOCAL HUMANE SOCIETY. HSUS HAS NO CONNECTION TO YOUR TOWNS ANIMAL SHELTER. So don't be confused or hoodwinked by their name.  Many people have been taken by the over dramatic commercials on tv and their extreme and radical approach in the media. So here are a few facts about HSUS that many are unaware off:   (these facts came directly from the Center for Consumer Freedom and Humane Watch)

-HSUS scams Americans out of millions of dollars through manipulative and deceptive advertising. 85% of all HSUS tv ads feature cats and dogs.  However, HSUS does NOT run a singel pet shelter and only gives 1% of the money it raises to pet shelters, and it has spent millions on anti-farm and anit-hunting political campaigns.

- HSUS receives poor charity-evaluation marks. ChairtyWatch(formerly the American Institute of Philanthropy)  gaves HSUS a D rating.

- Six members of Congress have called for a federal investigation of HSUS. In 2011, six congressmen wrote the IRS showing concerns over HSUS's attempts to influence public policy, which they believe has "brought into question HSUS's tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status.

- HSUS regularly contribute more to its own pension plan than it does to pet shelters.  An analysis of HSUS's tax returns determined that HSUS funneled $16.3 million to its executive pension plan between 1998 and 2009 - over $1 million more than HSUS gave to pet shelter during that period.

Quotes from HSUS Officials

-“We believe in the Three Rs - reducing the consumption of meat and other animal-based foods; refining the diet by eating products only from methods of production, transport, and slaughter that minimize pain and distress; and replacing meat and other animal-based foods in the diet with plant-based foods."– Wayne Pacelle, President/CEO (Farm & Dairy Magazine, 2009)

-"The Meat Industry Equals Systematic Murder."– sign carried by Paul Shapiro during Compassion Over Killing protest (The Washington Post, 2003)

-"My goal is the abolition of all animal agriculture." - John “J.P.” Goodwin, Director of Animal Cruelty Policy and former Animal Liberation Front spokesperson

HSUS is a radical animal rights organization that is not affiliated with local animal shelters and instead uses its more than $100 million budget to threaten America’s hardworking farmers and ranchers. While many Americans mistakenly believe HSUS is the national organization affiliated with local animal shelters, very little of its funding is used for hands-on animal care. Instead, HSUS uses its resources to attack farmers and ranchers with legislation, litigation, and public relations smear campaigns.

So for my birthday, the only thing that I want is for you to go to Bank of America's facebook page, and write them the TRUTH about HSUS and tell them why they are making a huge mistake in partnering with such an outrageous, radical, and immoral animal rights organization.  And if you do hold an account with Bank of America, do you really want to be apart of such a ridiculous partnership? If you value the food you eat or the clothes you wear, you will STAND UP for American farmers and ranchers and say NO to the HSUS.

that's what she said...

Ashley 

New Meaning to "Flyover States"

So I have three different paths I could take with this week’s Country Music Monday song. 

1. I could go with the unsurprising – The Midwest is not a bunch of flyover states, we are the heartland of America and offer so much to our country in terms of lifestyle, beauty, and of course AGRICULTURE. But, that is what you’re all expecting me to write about, so PASS.
2. I could do the unspeakable, and yell at Jason Aldean for leaving out Nebraska in the song’s lyrics.  But there is no way I could be mad at such a good looking hunk of country music man. So, PASS.
3. For this week we are going to be talking politics.  Yep, I said politics, everyone’s FAVORITE subject. But the politics that I am going to be talking about may be a tad unfamiliar to many of you.  I am talking about the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and their recent unwarned, and in my opinion inappropriate and waste of tax payer dollars, aerial flights over Nebraska rancher’s property. 

So before I get to really rolling here is a little background of this whole issue.

A few months ago it was discovered that the EPA has been conducted small aircraft (NOT DRONES like the media has been reporting) flights over cattle producers and taking photos from the sky.  The reason they say for this is to find producers who are in violation of the regulations.  In simple terms, checking to make sure that no feedlot run off is spilling into fresh water areas or things like that.

Now you probably are thinking well how is this a bad thing? Let me first say, beef producers in Nebraska are committed to protecting their environment and being in compliance with all regulations and they are committed to making sure that our water, soil, and air are protected in all ways.  They are in no way trying to hide from regulation. 

So now let me give you some facts as to why cattle producers, Nebraska Delegation (Mike Johanns, Ben Nelson, Jeff Fortenberry, Adrian Smith, and Lee Terry), and many of the agriculture community are upset and why the EPA aerial flyovers are inappropriate and in my words, a waste.

1. The NDEQ (Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality) was even unaware of the flights occurring, and they even feel as if EPA is overstepping because the NDEQ is the authority in Nebraska.
2. EPA and NDEQ currently have the right to inspect any cattle producer currently under regulation at any time, so the flights are a waste of time and tax payer dollars.
3. The EPA fly overs are done secretively with no warning to producers. (Many say well the police patrol from the sky so it’s the same thing. No it is not because the roads have clearly marked signs that say aerial surveillance zone.)
4. When the EPA conducts flyovers and takes photos, majority of the time private property such as home steads are also taken in the photo. 
5. Many times things are not as they appear, especially from the sky.  In many cases thus far, EPA has found, “what they thought” were violations, but if they would have only been on the actual feed lot, on the ground, they could have easily seen that there was nothing wrong in the first place.
6. Nebraska Delegation sent a letter to EPA Region 7 officials asking for answers about the fly over program.  The EPA has been secretive, vague, sluggish, and practically unresponsive to citizens and government concerns.

I could go on for hours about this topic, but don't worry I won't because I know I have probably already lost half of the readers by know anyway. So my finals thoughts about this whole thing is that this flyover program is creeping way to close to “Big Brother is watching you” territory.  The government is getting way to intrusive and it’s just wrong. I am in no way trying to protect those few cattle producers who are violating the laws and creating environmental problems, but I am protecting those cattle producers who do AMAZING work and create great steaks for all of us to enjoy. So I say let the NDEQ do its job and BACK OF EPA!  

that's what she said...

Ashley