Home Care In Mountain Home, TX

Wrapped in a blanket and standing at the highest point on Y.O. Ranch in Mountain Home, TX, at sunset, Tanya Tucker sings: "Never thought it'd be his last ride|' Til the last time he got thrown|When your heart can't take the losing|And your knees can't take the blows|When the rodeo is over, where does the cowboy go?"

"When the Rodeo is Over (Where Does the Cowboy Go?)" is from Tucker's latest album, "Sweet Western Sound," the follow-up to her 2019 Grammy-winning "While I'm Livin'" that thrust Tucker back into the spotlight and introduced her to another generation of country music fans. Shooter Jennings and Brandi Carlile produced both albums. While the song "Bring My Flowers Now," which inspired the 2019 album title "While I'm Livin'," is about celebrating people while they're alive to enjoy it, "When the Rodeo is Over (Where Does the Cowboy Go?)" explores what happens to cowboys when the rodeo stops appreciating them.

Billy Don Burns and Craig Dillingham wrote the song, and Tucker's friend and longtime collaborator Joanne Gardner came out of retirement at her request to direct the video, which debuts today on CMT. Gardner directed many videos for Tucker in the '90s, including "It's a Little Too Late," "Some Kind of Trouble," "Hangin' In," "Soon" and "Two Sparrows in a Hurricane."

"I wanted to just cry. In fact, I probably did," Tucker said of how she felt when she watched the video for the first time. The video follows the song's lyrics while incorporating rodeo scenes as memories and spotlighting the camaraderie that often comes with the lifestyle and circuit.

"It just gave me chills," Tucker continued. "I thought, 'Well, I'm so close to it. Is anybody else gonna feel this way?' But every person that I showed it to felt the same way. I'm just elated. I really am so grateful."

It was Gardner's idea to wrap Tucker in a blanket and stand her on the hilltop for the performance portion of the deeply emotional video. The "When the Rodeo is Over (Where Does the Cowboy Go?)" video humanizes the loss, confusion and abandonment cowboys feel when they give their life to the sport and their bodies force them to step away before their hearts are ready to quit.

The clip is dedicated to the late professional rodeo cowboy Larry Mahan who won six all-around world championships and two bull riding world championships. The video also celebrates the lives and careers of rodeo legends. It features several prominent cowboys from the community, including champion saddle rider Bobby "Hooter" Brown—a member of the Rodeo Hall of Fame and Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame. Writers Dillingham and Burns are also in the video.

Dillingham is Tucker's boyfriend, and when Jennings found the song and Carlile sent it to her and said she wanted to start with it, no one knew that Dillingham wrote it. When Tucker asked Dillingham to listen to the new song she had been pitched and share his thoughts, he returned to the room about 30 seconds later and told her he had written it 20 years before.

"I was just like, 'Whoa,'" Tucker said. "What a way to start a record. It's just a mind-blowing experience. Craig had never played it for me. It was just wild that it would be a song that he wrote. So that was amazing right there. We went in and recorded it, and when we got down to the final mix, I said, 'Wow, gotta do a video on this.'"

The song spoke to Tucker because the rodeo has been a huge part of her life since she was a teenager. But, she worried that people who weren't as deeply rooted with the lifestyle wouldn't connect with the song.

"I had so many people tell me that's not even what it's about," Tucker said. "Its circumference covers everybody because everybody has that feeling, especially when their work is done. They're getting older. What do they do? Where do they go? Five or six people told me the same story. This was what I like to call 'a God thing.' When I can't figure out how everything came together, I just figure it's a God thing. And that's what this whole video was."

Guadalupe Mountains National Park probably isn’t on your bucket list.

With fewer than 220,000 visitors last year, it’s among America’s least-visited national parks, but it’s not for lack of sights.

The West Texas gem is home to the highest point in the state, Guadalupe Peak, and an array of striking scenery across its more than 86,000 acres.

“It is literally one of a kind,” said the park’s acting superintendent and Visitor Services manager Theresa Moore.

Here’s why and what you should know about Guadalupe Mountains, the latest national park in USA TODAY’s yearlong series.

Why are the Guadalupe Mountains special?

“So many reasons,” Moore said. “It is a fossilized sponge reef that’s over 260 million years old. So that is incredibly unique ... And if you look at it, we have the Chihuahuan Desert. Go up 3,000 feet and you’re in the middle of a ponderosa pine forest. The biodiversity of the park is amazing and breathtaking.”

Which Native Americans lived in the Guadalupe Mountains?

The following tribes have historic ties to Guadalupe Mountains, according to Moore:

How many days do you need for the Guadalupe Mountains?

Moore suggests spending two to three days in the park, noting a roundtrip hike to Guadalupe Peak would take a day on its own.

“If you would like to explore more than just the top of Texas, we are Texas' largest and oldest designated wilderness,” she said.

Two of three days also give travelers a chance to visit the park’s cultural sites.

“We have the ruins of the Butterfield stage(coach) route at the Pine Springs and Pinery. We have the Frijole History Ranch Museum,” she said. “Then if you hike up into McKittrick Canyon to the Pratt Cabin and onto the Hunter Line Shack, it’s only about seven miles round trip, but you're going to stop and enjoy the scenery a lot.”

Entrance passes cost $10 and are good for seven days at the park.

What shouldn’t visitors miss at Guadalupe Mountains?

Moore recommends visiting the Frijole Ranch area and hiking to Manzanita Spring.

“This is water that is flowing water in the desert. Water,” she repeated for emphasis. “In addition to that, if you hike from Frijole, behind the ranch house and do the Smith Spring Trail, that takes you into our designated Wilderness. So in a little 2.3-mile loop trail, you not only get to experience the historical cultural side of the park, but you get to walk into the wilderness and it's a flowing spring. It's this little oasis.”

She added that it’s a great place for birdwatching and one of the more accessible areas in the park.

Moore also suggests seeing Dog Canyon and the Salt Basin Dunes.

Every body outdoors:How national parks can make nature more accessible for disabled travelers

Can you do Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains in one day?

Technically travelers can visit both national parks in one day. Carlsbad Caverns is only 30 minutes away by car, just over the border in New Mexico.

However, to truly experience both parks, more time is required.

What is the best time of year to visit Guadalupe Mountains?

Any time of year is good for a visit, according to Moore.

“In the spring, it's beautiful. The desert is in bloom,” she said. “In the summer, it's hot, but it's still amazing and stunning.”

“If you want to be amazed, come to the park in the fall. We have fall foliage. If you hike McKittrick Canyon, there are maple trees and oak trees, and you get the reds and the yellows and the oranges,” she added. “Then in the winter, if you're a weather geek … our weather is a lot of fun. We have some pretty strong winds that come through the pass there.”

She urges travelers to check the weather whenever they visit, but especially in the winter.

What is the closest city to Guadalupe Mountains National Park?

The closest major city is El Paso, Texas, which is about one hour and 45 minutes away by car. El Paso International Airport is the nearest major airport.

What should visitors know about Guadalupe Mountains National Park?

Moore reminded visitors to come to the park with plenty of gas for their cars and food and water for themselves.

“There is no gas,” she said. “Our park store does sell some little snacks, we do have water refill stations, but be prepared.”

She said phone service can be random, though there is Wi-Fi in the visitor’s center. Moore also noted cell phones sometimes pick up service from towers in Central Time, though the park is in Mountain Time, so it can be confusing.

Visitors who want to spend the night in the wilderness will need a permit, which they can reserve in advance at Recreation.gov or try for in person with a walk-up. They will need to something they may not expect.

“You must show the ranger one human waste bag per person, per night that you will be in the wilderness,” she said before adding with a laugh. “We're sitting on a 260-plus million-year-old fossilized sponge reef. You can't dig a hole.”

Plenty of homes have pools; few can claim an entire waterpark. If the latter sounds more your speed, then good news, as a home in Texas with waterfalls and slides worthy of a Great Wolf Lodge resort has just listed for $19.5 million.

The home, which belongs to Spurs legend Tony Parker, is located just north of San Antonio in the gated community of Anaqua Springs Ranch. The property sits on a 53-acre site and includes a six-bedroom main home, plus a four-bedroom guest home for visiting friends and family. The larger residence is the real architectural standout, though, as it has a double-height living room with floor-to-ceiling windows that give the communal space an open, airy feeling.

The primary suite feels like its own private residence, with a sitting room, a bathroom with marble accents and a custom walk-in closet. It’s an ideal piece of real estate for wine lovers, too, as there’s a temperature-controlled cellar that can hold a whopping 1,500 bottles, plus dedicated storage for larger magnums.

Other amenities include a home cinema with red seats that give it a classic, old Hollywood feel and two home offices for WFH. Those who’d rather not renew their gym membership can just hang here and get their reps in, too, as there’s a nearly 6,000-square-foot fitness center.

The home’s best—and most interesting—amenities are the ones outside its four walls. The water park itself features everything from lazy rivers and slides to waterfalls and grottos. Bridges and paths run throughout it, and there’s even a diving platform for those brave enough to take the plunge.

If that’s not enough, there are also plenty of outdoor entertaining areas, including a covered loggia, as well as a greenhouse, fruit orchard and a tortoise enclosure (the latter seems a bit niche, but great if that’s your thing).

All to say that if a run-of-the-mill outdoor lap pool isn’t cutting it for you anymore—and you’re on the hunt for a bigger space to store some vino—then it may be worth scoping this property. Check out more images below:

Chief Master Sergeant Cedric I. Foster is the Command Chief Master Sergeant of the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. Chief Foster provides enlisted leadership to a wing comprised of more than 4,300 military and civilian members serving in 15 squadrons, and A- Staff functions supporting the F-15E Strike Eagle mission. It hosts the 726th Air Control Squadron – one of only three active-duty Air Force control reporting centers in the U.S. – and the Idaho Air National Guard 266th Range Squadron. The wing operates, maintains, and develops the Mountain Home Range Complex comprised of 9,016 square miles of associated airspace and 122,000 acres of land space used for two air-to-ground training ranges, five no-drop target complexes, and 30 multi-size electronic combat sites. The command also includes the 390th Electronic Combat Squadron, which flies U.S. Navy EA-18G Growlers at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. Chief Foster is charged to develop combat-ready Airmen, take care of Gunfighters, and protect and enhance our resources. He is the functional manager for fourteen First Sergeants, ensuring proper training and utilization in leading the Gunfighter Team.

Chief Foster grew up in Pace, Mississippi and entered the Air Force in March 1999, starting his career as an Electrical Systems Apprentice. He has served in a variety of positions in and out of the Civil Engineer functional community and has deployed in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, ODYSSEY DAWN, INHERENT RESOLVE and Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa. His previous assignments include service in Qatar, Louisiana, Japan, Texas, South Korea, New Jersey and Arizona. Prior to his current assignment, Chief Foster served as the 355^th Mission Support Group Superintendent at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.

EDUCATION 1998 Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications, Mississippi Valley State University 2003 Airman Leadership School, Kadena AB, Japan 2003 Associate of Applied Science, Mechanical and Electrical, Community College of the Air Force. 2006 Associate Applied Science, Instructor of Technology/Military Science, Community College of the Air Force. 2007 Certificate of Master Instructor, Community College of the Air Force. 2008 Certificate of Occupational Instructor, Community College of the Air Force. 2008 Community College of the Air Force Instructor – Level II. 2009 Principles of Instructional System Development (ISD), Sheppard AFB, TX. 2009 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX. 2011 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education (Correspondence), Joint Forces Staff College. 2013 Master of Divinity in Church Ministries (MDiv), Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA. 2013 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force. 2013 United States Marine Corps Watch Officer/Chief Certification Course, Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan. 2013 United States Marine Corps Senior Noncommissioned Officer Advanced Academy, Camp Hansen, Oki Japan. 2016 Air Force Institute of Technology Civil Engineer Superintendent Course, Wright Patterson AFB, OH. 2016 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education II (Correspondence), Joint Forces Staff College. 2018 Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Course, Scott AFB, IL. 2018 Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Course, Maxwell-Gunter Annex, AL. 2019 Air Force Personnel Center Commander and Superintendent Course, Randolph AFB, TX.

ASSIGNMENTS 1. March 1999 – May 1999, Basic Military Training, Lackland AFB, TX. 2. March 1999 – November 2000, Student, Electrical Systems Apprentice, Sheppard AFB, TX. 3. November 2000 – June 2001, Electrical Systems Apprentice, 2d Civil Engineer Squadron, Barksdale AFB, TX. 4. July 2001 – February 2003, Electrical Systems Journeyman, 18^th Civil Engineer Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan. 5. February 2003 – August 2005, Electrical Systems Craftsman, 18^th Civil Engineer Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan. 6. August 2005 – August 2007, Electrical Systems Instructor, 366th Training Squadron, Sheppard AFB, TX. 7. August 2007 – August 2009, Electrical Systems Master Instructor, 366^th Training Squadron, Sheppard AFB, TX. 8. August 2009 – August 2010, NCOIC Exterior Electrical Systems,51st Civil Engineer Squadron, Osan AB, South Korea. 9. September 2010 – July 2012, NCOIC Interior Electrical Systems, 18^th Civil Engineer Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan. 10. July 2012 – October 2013, Exercises Superintendent, 18^th Wing, Kadena AB, Japan. 11. October 2013 – October 2016, Career Assistance Advisor, 18^th Force Support Squadron, Kadena AB, Japan. 12. October 2016 – September 2017, Operations Flight Superintendent, 87^th Civil Engineer Squadron, JB-MDL, NJ. 13. September 2017 – June 2019, Superintendent, 87^th Civil Engineer Squadron, JB-MDL, NJ. 14. June 2019 – March 2020, Superintendent, 355^th Civil Engineer Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. 15. March 2020 – June 2022, Superintendent, 355th Mission Support Group, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. 16. June 2022 – Present, Combat Command Chief, 366^th Fighter Wing, Mountain Home AFB, ID.

MAJOR AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters Air Force Commendation Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters Air Force Achievement Medal with one bronze oak leaf clusters Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with silver oak leaf cluster and valor device Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS 1999 Honor Graduate, Electrical Apprentice Course 2000 Senior Airmen Below-The-Zone 2003 18^th Wing Distinguished Graduate, Airmen Leadership School 2003 18^th Wing Leadership Award, Airmen Leadership School 2007 366^th Training Squadron Volunteer of the Year 2007 366^th Training Squadron Noncommissioned Officer Instructor of the Year 2013 United States Marine Corps Gung Ho Leadership Award 2014 PACAF Professional Development Program of the Year 2014 18^th Wing Japan-American Air Force Goodwill Association Award 2015 18^th Force Support Squadron Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year 2016 PACAF Professional Development Program of the Year

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

Airman First Class March 24, 1999

Senior Airman January 24, 2001

Staff Sergeant January 01, 2003

Technical Sergeant May 01, 2007

Master Sergeant June 01, 2011

Senior Master Sergeant December 01, 2015 Chief Master Sergeant October 01, 2018

(Current as of June 2022)