Well, the preparations to film the next blockbuster movie are underway. It sure is a good thing the Cowboy has a lot of cash. This cast and crew have never had a single one of their projects funded before, so they might kind of like the life of a star.

Meet the Cowboy…he rode into town on a Harley, named Wayne. Cowboy is his own man…kind of the John Wayne type, which is probably why he named his motorcycle Wayne. He’s a quiet guy, but when he speaks everybody listens. Just the other day he said, “Hi,” to me, and I’ve never forgotten it.

Today, we’re on location at the newly remodeled (on the inside) mansion belonging to the newly rich guy who calls himself, Cowboy. The name of the movie is Take 2, and it’s about two female country veterinarians. One of them specializes in large animals like cows and horses, and the other one takes care of all the little critters. Meet Dr. Longhorn in the purple gown, and Dr. Howliday in the shimmering red number. Wait!

Director: “Hey assistant!!!  Tell wardrobe to get some white doctor’s coats for the vets so this can be a little bit believable and girls…lose the crowns!!!…. Now where was I?”

Oh, yes…Lucky is played by Soo’-TAH who was played by Arf. He’s already kind of famous. You might remember him in the well known Dakota’s story. Lav and MG got to be the two main stars because they showed up with Lucky. So far he’s the only animal we’ve got. “Hey assistant!!! get some big animals and small critters in here for Sherri to audition. They don’t even need to be sick looking!! That’s what we’ve got makeup people for!!

Assistant: We don’t have any wardrobe or makeup people yet Mr. Director, sir. My sister is really good with eye-makeup, should I call her?

I’m the assistant..I like to assist and feed people cake.

Director person: Wait! I see a vehicle coming down the road and it’s kicking up dust. Is that Dr. Longhorn’s dog Nincompoop? Look she’s got some longhorns for Dr. Longhorn. What’s that other thing?

Dr. Longhorn: Ninny!!! You brought me longhorn cows…and Dr. Howliday her stuffed bear,  Odrum (Murdo backwards). Maybe we can get some sleep now. Did you bring my favorite pillow?

The Director: No  “ACTION “ for a minute, I’m going to get my bull horn.

 Sherri the casting director: Wait just a minute Mr. Director. I’m the Casting Director and I’m way ahead of you..just look at all of the animals I have auditioning.

And this is me with all of my assistants, makeup, and wardrobe people. I’m in Yellow.

Sorry folks…there seems to be a few kinks to work out. What next!

Hi my name is Rufferalla…They keep me in the basement of the newly remodeled on the inside mansion. I’d better get kicked upstairs real quick like or I’m going to bark to all of the newspaper boys and mailmen that come around here. HaBARK! HaBark! HaBark!

************************************

So…as the sun sets on another beautiful Southern South Dakota day, we appear to have some trouble brewing. I think I’ll just go on up to the newly remodeled on the inside mansion. I’m hungry and it’s mashed potatoes night.

Hmm: Looks like somebody broke down. I’ll go see if he needs some help. 

Lav and MG had no earthly idea what the Cowboy was talking about when he said some of their “entourage” was already there. They didn’t want to look stupid or anything but it really couldn’t be helped; however, when he mentioned “on the house.” they knew right away that translated to, “Don’t say a word, it’s free.”

Lav and MG were shown to their rooms, and told supper would be served in the dining room at 6:00 o’clock, which would give them time to freshen up. When MG asked if pets were allowed, the Cowboy said, “You betcha little lady, I’m cooking Lucky’s steak bone right now. Will he get out of the river long enough to eat it?”

Lav: We don’t have a clue, Cowboy..we barely know him, but he’s helped us out a bunch on this long journey we’re on.

Cowboy: I can only imagine how grueling a long road trip can be. I won’t even travel on horseback anymore…course I’ve been having some arthritis flareups lately. A friend suggested I drink 47 juices, but I could only find 40 so I figured what’s the use?” How many miles have you covered?

Lav: Do you know where Murdo is? (At which time MG jabs Lav and gives her the “zip your lip” sign.)

MG: Can you tell us what members of our “entourage” got here before we did?

Cowboy: Near as I can figure, there are 3 directors, 5 makeup artists, 8 actors, 1 stunt person, a director, a photographic drawer, a gopher, and a location scout. I heard they already sent the scout back to Murdo. There’s some big Boy Scout doings this week-end. You will see everyone else at supper. I won’t be there. I’m saving myself for my audition tomorrow. See ya later.

Lav: Wait! Does this place have showers? I don’t like showers. Have you seen Psycho MG?

MG: Why would I see that Lav? I live it! I didn’t see any modes of transportation outside. How do you suppose all those entourages got to White River?

Lav: Why? Why? Why?

MG: Why what Lav?

1964 corvette…(Lav found this beauty parked in front of a hardware store…)

( police bullhorn) Lady, get away from the car…Do not make any sudden moves, and hand over your expensive purse, and those really cute flag shoes.

Lav: There are so many beautiful canary yellow corvettes out there. Why would they pick a VW bus?

MG: Oh jeez….It’s orange and black!! My fav colors!!

I’m the driver!

Well, the beautiful South Dakota sun sets on another White River day.

What will tomorrow bring for the adventuresome twosome and their entourage? Will they make it deeper into the deep South Dakota South, or will they take a right and go left? Will the entourage hold up, and what is the name of this movie being made? 

Cowboy: Don’t ask me…I’m just the Cowboy. I thought they’d like the deer horns in their hotel window. They called them antlers. Oh I’m still going to tryout for a part in the movie tomorrow. I know the producer, and he has good product…best you’ll ever find and it’s right there in the produce department. There’s nothing better than a homegrown tomato. I’ll get off my soapbox now.

Where did that cute Lucky go?   I’m Lucky..If anyone is looking for me, I’ll be in the 64 corvette.

Next: Let the auditions begin for the next blockbuster movie…Or the one we’re going to make.

Continuing on with the epic saga of MG and Lav and their odyssey into the deep South…Neither of these neophytes have ever been this far south before. What a great adventure they’re on. It’s Lav and MG, and their lucky dog Lucky. They only made it about thirty miles the first day, but that’s not so bad if you figure in some of the obstacles they’ve faced and surmounted. 

I wonder how far I can swim…I wonder how far Lav and MG can swim..or how fast or…where or…somebody slap me please!

They were given a broken down old red pick-up, no strings attached, by the Murdo Coyote Newspaper. The only caveat was they had to leave town, I mean take a trip and record every minute of every day. Later, it will be edited, I mean editorialized in the Murdo locals section.

Lav: Jeez MG, we’re all the way to White River. I didn’t know it was this big! According to this pamphlet I’m reading they’ve got 598 people living here. Hey MG..If we moved here they’d have an even 600. Awe..Do you think we should help them out?

MG: Not now Lav.. I’m so tired, I could sleep in a hay-field on a haystack right now, which isn’t such a bad idea. I wonder where people who don’t have any money stay…

Lav: Well, they stay at motels just like everybody else MG.

MG: Okay, lets look around for a decent place Lav. One thing is for sure, we’ve both cleaned a motel room or two haven’t we. Remember the Chalet?

Lav: How about that one on the right MG? It’s sure got a lot of stars!

MG: Pull on over Lav, I kind of like the rustic look of this place. I don’t think they sell gas though. Maybe Lucky can find some for us. I’m hungry are you Lav? Maybe Lucky can catch us some fish.

 Don’t look at me like that…

White River, “Where Prairie Skies Meet Western Life”

Located 23 miles south of I-90 at the junction of Highway 83 and 44; White River is a gateway to the Badlands and Rosebud Reservation. Settled in 1911, White River has become known as a favorite hunting area for grouse, pheasant, deer, varmint and wild turkey. Experience fishing, ranch vacations, rodeos, pow wows and other outdoor activities where the prairie skies meet western life.

It seems that Lav and MG’s luck continues to hold up. They park in front of the boarded up hotel and try to open the door, and it’s locked…but guess what? the doorbell works and a Cowboy says “howdy,” and lets them in. 

They promised the red truck would be garaged

Lav: We are here to visit your fair town, but we don’t have two nickels to rub together. We can sure make a mean bed though, can’t we MG? 

The Cowboy: Never you mind little lady, part of your entourage is already here….said you were scouting out movie locations. Everything is on the house! Oh, and we plan to put some windows in tomorrow…or the next day. You’re gonna just love White River. 

MG: Does White River have a water tower, Cowboy?

The Cowboy: We sure do miss. It would be my honor to take you and your crew over there to see it tomorrow..At your convenience of course.

So they all settled in for the night or maybe forever, who knows. I’ll find out tomorrow I guess, who is in the “entourage.” Right now, I don’t even want to know.

I can’t speak your language, but I can know your heart

This is the 3rd sunset I’ve watched since I got here. I love the river, but that isn’t why I came. I thought maybe you would be here fishing. I have watched the road every day for our old red truck, but you never came.

I knew you were really sick, because you stayed in bed, and you didn’t throw the ball to me, or give me treats from your plate. Now that I think about it, you hardly ever ate those last days you were home. I slept on that rug by your bed, day and night and every now and then, you would dangle your arm over the side and touch the top of my head. That was enough for me. 

Well, they took you away and they never brought you back. You were old and I’m still young. I know your heart…that’s how I know you’re never coming back.

Well, I guess I’d better find myself a new home. I hope I find one with kids this time. I like kids. I still have my collar on, so they will know my name is Lucky. I got my name because my owner’s last two dogs got run over and my owner thought I might be luckier if he named me Lucky. So far, it’s worked. Well, guess I’ll take one more swim before I head down the road.

Hey..I hear my truck! Here comes the old red truck! I know you’re not coming back, but the least I can do is look after our truck.

You said you wanted a family with kids, Lucky. Are you talking mind or body? Maybe you should have been more specific.

Sure enough…here comes the truck and it’s sputtering and coughing like it has a bad case of vehicular pneumonia. Well it stopped. It either died or it needs a rest.

Lucky: Hey…two ladies just got out of my truck..and they slammed the doors. “Hey ladies!! Don’t be slamming my truck’s doors.” I better get over there.

Lav: Finally…the noises this truck was making have stopped. Good! I couldn’t stand much more of that coughing and sputtering, and lurching and lunging and…

MG: Stop Lav! I liked all of that noise; at least we knew the thing was running. It’s quiet now all right, but it also quit going down the road! Are we out of gas already? Hey! what’s that dog doing? He just jumped into the back of the truck. Who does he think he is anyway?

The name is Lucky, which you will find out as soon as you get smart enough to read my tag, which should be any day now. I’m just getting back here to point to the gas can. It was full last time I was in this truck. 

Yup! There it is, right where we left it and it’s still full of gas. Well are you gonna lift it out of here and put it in the truck? I’m just a dog ya know. I can’t carry your gasoline.

Lav: Hey look MG!! That dog found gas! We’ll be coughing and sputtering down the road again in no time. We’re already 20 miles from Murdo too. We’re all the way to the White River. We’ll be in Kadoka in no time.

MG: I don’t think this dog has a home. He looks like he’s been swimming in the river for days.. We’re bringing him with us. He can sit right up here in the middle. We are so lucky he found that gas! Yup we’re sure lucky!

Lucky: HUH?

MG: What map are you looking at Lav? Kadoka is way west of Murdo. We’ve been going South.

Lav: Well, I like the South don’t you? Tonight I’m going to write a letter to all of our friends and tell them we decided to go south. I wonder if Murdo misses us yet?

MG: No…probably not yet…I’ll drive Lav…You rest. I see we have a spare tire.

Meanwhile…the town of Murdo is looking for Lucky👀.

One of our neighbors put on the most amazing fireworks display Saturday night. It was like an hour long grand finale. He told Kip he has done this for the past thirteen years.

When I saw those fireworks exploding in the sky, I thought about the star

G

I’m rerunning this because it has the 4th of July in it. The someone referred to at the end is the mysterious cowboy.

Lav and MG’s Great American Road Trip

They aint exactly Smokey and the Bandit, or Thelma and Louise

But nicer road hogs you’ll never find, they even say thanks and please

Someone said they hit the road on the morning of July one

By the fourth they’d be in Rapid City for some 4^th of July fun.

Well they circled Murdo a couple of times, then stopped to have some lunch

Someone at Fern’s kicked them out. No money would be my hunch

Someone said they had no gas, but that could be just a rumor

Someone told ‘em,..Go to Dean’s 66, he’s got a sense of humor

So they pulled into Dean’s 66 and said.. please fill er up

Someone said, you two again? You’d better just give it up

Well next door is the Auto museum, and they recognized their truck

Someone said Ruben took the keys. Now how’s that for real bad luck?

Saaay, Murdo Girl said to Lav, how we gonna hit the road?

Someone said, they might just haf’ta put their trip on hold.

Lav said, we need some cash MG. How can we get a sackfull?

Someone said to go on back to Fern’s only this time be more tactfull

Fern’s will give ya free bus tickets. Now wouldn’t that be nice?

Someone told them their luck was changing. A free ticket’s worth half the price

This dang poem goes on and on, I thought I’d never quit scrollin

Hey, Lav and MG, stay away from someone, cause he don’t seem worth knowin.

Who is this mystery guy I ask ya? He must have a bone to pick

Cause MG and Lav are still in town..the free ticket at Fern’s was a trick.

Makes ya proud to be an American don’t it?