I want to be a cowboy, baby!

Here's an article from the Slate Online about how the Mongolian way of life compares the romanticized Old West in the States. http://www.slate.com/id/2200544/entry/2200547/

Thanks to Elizabeth Carr (thoughtful girlfriend of Nathan's middle brother) for the link.

There are three articles linked from this one author, Tim Wu. Be sure to check them all out. We couldn't have described things any better.

One point of interest in the cowboy article is the Altai Mountain Range. It runs across the southern part of our province or "aimag." I (Nathan) went to the northern part of this range a couple of weeks ago and saw some of the most gorgeous landscape one could possibly see - and it did remind me of what the Old West must have been like. It was an open prairie overlooked by towering snow-capped mountains. In fact, much of Mongolia reminds me of a dry Wyoming and the wet parts look much like Montana. It's no wonder, then, why Montana is "Big Sky Territory" and Mongolia is "The Land of the Blue Sky."

Mongolians tend to dig American cowboys too. The cowboy hat can be part of the traditional outfit or formal attire, like this gentleman singing at the opening of a festival.

Cowboy boots aren't as prevalent, though. Here's a typical scene during the summer of a guy just getting around on his horse. Notice the ubiquitous rubber sandal, if you can, or just take my word for it that he's wearing one. These guys don't need boots to look tough. I've had my butt handed to me in basketball from a kid dunking in a pair those things. (Also interesting how much Mongolians remind me of Native Americans. There seems to be little doubt in my mind of their connection. I could write a thesis on that point.)


And finally, just to hammer home that Mongolia is first and foremost a place ruled by livestock, and that no place is off limits for a meal, this calf is eating from a patch of grass in a populated area of Mongolia's second largest city. Where there's grass, there's livestock.

Check out the Slate article: http://www.slate.com/id/2200544/entry/2200547/


Special Acknowledgments:
Congratulations to Nathan's Uncle Alan and Aunt Geneva who are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary this weekend. We're bummed we can't be there with the rest of the family, especially the road trip from Ohio to Iowa this weekend.

Good luck, Catherine, in Chicago. Go be an awesome lawyer!

Congratulations to Mike and Kristi in Seattle on their new house! It's only a matter of weeks before they get a brand new little tenant too. We look forward to the pictures.

Also congrats to Zac and Teal who also had a baby three and a half months ago. We hope you get a nap soon.

And one more congratulations to Leslie's brother Stephen and his brand new bride, Lisa. We sent you a text message before the wedding, but Verizon doesn't accept them for some reason - only AT&T we've noticed so far. Thanks to Leslie's mom for the pictures. What a treat!

To Jimmy in D.C., I'd really like to sit down over a beer (or 5) and chat right now. I hope all's well in D.C. and that you're able to find some channels with random, gratuitous frontal nudity. You come up a lot in conversation. Pick-pocketing is kind of a problem here.

And can anyone confirm the health status of John Reeder? We haven't heard but a little peep from him since we left. In his stead, someone please send confirmation of his probable incapacitation. [Update: John is well, but overworked and continues to be quite possibly the wittiest person on Earth, as evidenced by the email he just sent me. Oh, and he has a new dog - sucker.]