Sleep deprived thoughts

The lack of sleep this week has directly affected my ability to to write anything that was on my mind. Although their seems to be no end to the things that I think about, and often stare off in space, and ponder. These seem to be some of my random thoughts for the week, but by no means all of them.....not that anyone would care....just things.

Big specialty stores that once were special due to their uniqueness can not stay unique by adding a bunch of other stores in the region. I am referring to the Bass Pro Shops, in particular, in this part of the country. The one in southwest Missouri was once a mega tourist attraction drawing hundreds of thousands of people to it's location from states all around the region, but has since added other locations throughout the region, and in my opinion has diluted the uniqueness of the experience. I was in the one in southwest Mo. last weekend and the stores around it are closing up, things are looking old, and last but not least, which I feel is most important is that the energy is not the same in the building. I was their 20 years ago, and it was hopping. Move forward to this week, and I just got home from visiting the new Bass Pro Shop in the Kansas City area, and it was nice just like the old one, and it was busy (probably because it was new) but the feel was just not there. It didn't feel special. Nice, but not special. These places used to be an event, a trip, a big deal if you have it. Now it's one more mega store with a different decor.

I am currently going through a training program to become a naturalist for the states conservation department. This week we learned how to handle snakes, and other reptiles during public presentations. I learned several things. 1. I have forgotten more than I realized. 2. A snake four foot long under my shirt still makes me nervous. 3. That my ego is still alive and well when surrounded by women and children, and that I didn't....A. shit my pants. B. scream like a baby. or C. drop and roll like I was on fire. I never cease to amaze myself.

Ballroom dancing is about a hundred times more difficult than I ever realized. Their is never more than six freaking steps, and you either go forward, backward sideways or diagonal. Sounds simple, oh, and left and right,.....I guess that's sideways for some of us. Throw in some music.....follow some relatively finite pattern, and walla,...were dancing. Bullshit! Now I'm not saying I'm terrible at all of the dances like Tango, Cha,Cha, Foxtrot, Waltz etc... but this goddamn thing called the Samba is whipping my ass. I'm not sure what this dance is supposed to look like.....but after watching myself in the mirrors it reminds me of a bear trying to dance with a broom stick in it's butt. I just know that my instructor has to be laughing his ass off,....I totally anticipate to find out that he has been secretly taping my version of the Samba, and posting it on U tube, and in a couple of weeks I will get an invite to the David Letterman show for some stupid human tricks!