Judging by the sound of country music, racing ATV's and the whoopin' and hollerin' coming from the neighbors, I suspect rodeo week has hit the town of Fortuna. As I sat here today, editing endless wedding photos from a June shoot, I watched a bazillion jacked up trucks pass by my house, stuffed full of cowboy and cowgirls, heading on over to the world's best neighbor's house. I really love my neighbor, but this time of year causes the man to go a bit insane. We're talking tents in the front yard, tons of picnic tables with last years booze and food still stuck to the tops, Garth Brooks screaming over his stereo speakers, endless amounts of Natural Ice, and of course, drunk cowboys and cowgirls showing the Valley how to live it up.

I carefully watched him today, out in the front yard with twenty of his best friends, setting up temporary Humboldt condos. He caught my eye and offered to put some tents up in our yard. I smiled, thanking him for his thoughtfulness and promptly turned him down. If his three day party is anything like it was last year, I expect to look out my livingroom window and seem him at some point, passed out cold on a picnic table while the rest of the revelers continue to party and dance around him. It's kinda like something from "Lord of the Flies" - some sort of redneck spiritual revelry that I simply do not understand.

I anticipate the happenings to pick up full force once Friday hits and the ATV riders get ready for the Quadiator event at the rodeo arena. What could be better than excessive amounts of alcohol, too much testosterone, and men with bats chasing other men with balloons on their head, in an effort to pop the balloon? Nothing I can think of! Whoever thought of this event is a pure genius and I thank him or her for the entertainment. It's sure to get the party started.

Well, enough complaining for now. I need to go find a clean pair of Daisy Dukes, my favorite beer koozie, and of course, some fresh possum meat to bring for the BYORK (Bring Your Own Road Kill) BBQ at the neighbors'. Heck, if you can't beat'em, JOIN'EM!