Good morning from the Top of AZ

Mornin'

Again, it has been a while. Since last I wrote the road beckoned me once again. Have been to Phoenix to visit Ranger Bob and Mooselee (although am not sure of the latters nickname now that they have moved to AZ) where it was hotter than hell (in the 90s the whole time). Then I was off to southern California to visit family and friends where again it was very warm. Those October Santanas put the temps in the 90s in north San Diego County as well. I hate hot weather! Funny, I loved it when a young "beach guy." I did get a little time for that in Carlsbad with a friend when I first arrived.

My grandsons are a "kick" and always in motion. The number of activities they are involved in exhaust me just thinking about them. With all the soccer, basketball, (baseball to come)various practices/lessons and school activites I am amazed at my daughter's ability to get them where they are suppose to be at any given time. They, and she, are on the go from morn until they go to bed. They have very busy lives.

After the wedding, the move, and the trip I am ever so thankful to be back in Flagstaff where the temps have been in the low 70s. On the way back I did stop off in Prescott for a night. I needed to see some of my friends there. But, as I said, it is good to be back in Flag. I am hoping to "hunker down" here for a while before having to foray out again.

Movie reviews: I saw three movies in San Diego, two pretty good ones, and one so-so. I found "W" to be interesting but think that the director went overboard again in his style of trying to get too "trippy." In addition, the film is too long. Josh Brolin, along with the rest of the cast does a good job with the material they are asked to intepret. On the other hand Ann Hathaway's performance in Rachel Getting Married is by far her best ever. She should get an Oscar nod for this performance. Although the film is a great one i do not think it is for everyone. It is a bit of a "downer." The third film from my trip was The Secret Life of Bees, which is not really about bees. Dakota Fanning, Queen Latiffa (sp), and the other actors do a superb job in this small film about the growing pains of a young white female in the south of the 1960s who turns to black females for solace and meaning in her life. Some might call this a "chick flick," but I found it a good and compelling human story.

Upon returning to Flag I saw Pride and Glory, another cop film with predictable good versus bad policeman in NYC. There are good actors here going through the motions, Edward Norton, John Voight, and Colin Ferrell. I recommend waiting for this film to find it's way to DVD if you are into this genre or these actors.

That's it for now . . . Happy Halloween and be safe "out there."

Early Morning Musings . . .

Good Morning!


And, it is early in the morning. It seems for the past few weeks my sleep patterns have had me up even before "the crack on dawn," usually somewhere between 3:30 and 4:30am. That would be nice if I were a rancher or farmer, but I am not. There seems to be conflicting info about how much sleep one should get and the affects of its deprivation. My doctor says I should be fine with six hours, others say a minimum of seven is what you need. At any rate, I am one sleepy individual most of the time lately.


For the past two weeks, since arriving home in Flagstaff, I have been very busy. First there was the "prep" leading up to, and then Natasha's wedding itself. Then, secondly, amidst all of that, I decided to move in order to give the "newlyweds" my old apartment. So, following the wedding and beginning before this last weekend I began the arduous task of moving across town in Flagstaff. My friend Marc came up Saturday with his truck to help with the more cumbersome items, but most of the moving has taken place with 6 loads so far in my Subaru.


This move fits in with something that I had decided to do before leaving the Tetons. My life needed a "jolt" of sorts and my decision was to "pare" it down some. That is, there are too many things that I have been hanging on to that need to go, most of it material stuff. Moving is a good time to rid yourself of things like years of old Patagonia catalogs and other magazines. Why keep them, I never go back and look at them. The same is true of books. I love books but have decided to keep only a few and recycle the rest. Then, of course, there are non-material parts of life that need some change as well.

As for the wedding, it was a lovely affair and Natasha looked beautiful. My sister Norma was able to fly over from San Diego. She was the only representative from my family. I wish Tasha's sister, Tania, could have made it over, but alas, my three grandsons made that much too difficult. However, in general the "turn-out" for the wedding and reception was good with a lot of Natasha's old friends and my friends that she had grown-up with in attendance.

I like my newest son-in-law Jason. I am lucky that both son-in-laws are good guys.

The next thing on my agenda is a trip to San Diego County to see family and a "friend." I miss my eldest daughter and grandsons. The boys always grow so much during my long periods away from them. This trip will mark the last time I will stay at sister Norma's house as it has been sold and she will be moving before I again return. It has been around 30 years in this house for her. She hosted many family get-togethers there. But, with our Mom gone and other changes in the air, it is time to move on.

Movie Reviews: Inspite of being busy, as many of you might suspect, I have squeezed in a couple of movies. Probably the best of them is Spike Lee's new WWII film, Miracle at St. Anna's. The performances are great and it covers a subject not generally known about, that is black American soldiers during that war. It is not overtly a political/racial movie as many of Lee's past films. Other critics have said it meanders too much. I think they are wrong. But be prepared; it is not a short film.

I just saw DiCaprio and Russell Crowes performances in Body of Lies. Again, the acting performances are good but I do not recommend this film to everyone. It is an interesting presentation of the CIA and their involvement in the Middle East but lacks something I cannot quite put my finger on.

Eagle Eye has an interesting premise but fails to follow through with a credible story. I think the male lead is miscast. Shia Le Beoff, or whatever his name is, just doesn't carry it off well. On the other hand I do like the female lead, even though her perfomance is wasted in this film.

Ciao All!

Back in Flag!

I am happy to say that I'm back in Flagstaff! As Dorothy says in the "Wizard of Oz," "There is no place like home.


The trip back was uneventful with the exception of a great interlude in Cedar City, Utah. My stop overnight there turned out to be wonderful. I went to the fall Utah Shakespearean Festival's presentation of "Julius Caesar." After last year's only fair production of "The Tempest," I was a bit wary. But, this was one of the best Shakepeare performances I have seen in years. The director had "tightened up the play" (as is often the case with this genre) and the acting was superb.


Arrival in Flagstaff was met with the flurry of activity that I had expected with the upcoming nuptuals of my youngest offspring. She, her fiance Jason and I have been running around trying to get everything ready for Sunday in Sedona. This is not to mention the alarming rate at which funds are flying out of my accounts. Bride to be, my daughter Natasha


Leaving the Tetons was bittersweet this year knowing I will, in all probability, not be going back. Some of the folks I worked with at Jenny Lake VC had a combination Equinox and "going away" party for me. They were a good bunch to work with. It was a good experience this season up until the last three weeks where some drama occurred to ruin my concluding time there.
Some of the Jenny Lake VC Rangers at Play on the Equinox

Movie Reviews: "Nights of Rodanthe," or something to that affect, with Richard Gere and Diane Lane is a bit vapid but probably a good "date" movie. "Ghosttown" was a nice comedy with Greg Kinnear, Tia Leone, and Ricky Gervais. I liked it. The comedy was fairly intelligent.

That's it for now . . . wedding stuff and getting settled in back home again is taking up most of my time. I will try to get back to this soon.