Don't wash my shirt!

It always has fascinated me how people can control horses to do exactly what they want to do.

I don’t come from a ranching town and the only horses I grew up seeing was when I went to the City and saw horse drawn carriages.

But to think of a time where horses were your vehicle and work-machines makes me feel less-than, because I to this day will not ride one.

I may never be able to break a horse. However I know of a few things I can.

A brand new pair of pants.

I will wear the life out of a pair of pants right off of the shelf.

As a man, I simply do not see the need for 15 pairs of jeans. So I have one maybe two pairs. That being said, until they fail the sniff test, a new pair of jeans can last a few weeks without being washed.

Another thing I have broken in on occasion is a brand new T-shirt.

I don’t find the need to wash my brand new shirts until they are “broken in.” This is a process that can take a few hours or a week of continual wear.

My three year old nephew from Ethiopia looked at me the other day, saying “you wore that shirt twice.”

I responded, “What if this was my only shirt.” Then Susan responded to Jett, “It’s not.”

The truth of the matter is a T-shirt of mine does not get washed until it meets the specifications of a “dirty” shirt.. It’s luster depreciates after the first washing.

There is nothing like getting peed on for the first time by your baby son. The first time I moved out of the way. The second time I was at the Phillips County Hospital one-handing P. J., who was butt naked, thanks to the nurses who wanted to weigh him naked.

He peed. I couldn’t move. I got broken into fatherhood in the moment. (I did save the bowl of popcorn that would have been in his stream.)

I washed that shirt right away.

I’ve been a broken in home-owner that just realized that if I don’t fix my roof, I won’t be covered from things like a tree limb falling through my roof.

I’ve been broken into becoming a news-writer, a profession I didn’t see coming, due to the fact I hated writing in college and high-school.

I must say I do appreciate the compliments and constructive criticism that this column brings.

I think it’s safe to say that I have been broken into Phillips County. Coming from a big town to a small town, wasn’t a rough adjustment.

I have to admit, watching these high schoolers play sports, helps fuel me, because if I was home in Chicago my television would be permanently tuned to Chicago sports.

The game means a lot more when you can somehow relate to the town or city associated with that team.

Besides most of the kids on these high school teams, like horses have been broken in or brought up the right way.

I was never one to turn on a rodeo, while living in Bolingbrook, IL, but after living here, I could see how that would change.

I have much respect for the sport. That means everything from team-roping to Boots and Saddles to those crazy people that try and ride bulls for over eight seconds.

P.S. You would never ever catch me on a bull... Though it is fun to watch.