Flagstaff!

Hey All,

As many of you already know I am back in Flagstaff. It will be my first summer here. When I retired from teaching and moved here eight years ago I was on my cycle of going to the Tetons to do my ranger thing every summer. This caused me to be gone by May and back sometime late in September. Due to some personal issues I resigned my new ranger position in Yellowstone for this summer. So . . . I'm back.


Along with attempting to settle some of those issues that brought me back I'm going to try to do some things that I haven't been able to do in the past 10 years of rangering in the summers. The first thing on the agenda looks to be a short backpacking trip into "the canyon" (Grand that is) next week. My friend Keith, with his family, has graciously invited me to join them on a trek to Phantom Ranch. Although I am definitely not in backpacking/hiking shape will try to do the 17 miles (in 3 days) to mark my new status. Have not done a canyon trip in about five years. We use to do up to five a year in the "old days." I am in "gym shape," which is different, but should help some.


I arrived home from Wyoming a week ago today. It was a nice trip up, and I was happy to see my friends in Grand Teton Park. I did not have enough time to meet anyone at the new job other than my perspective boss, Peter. He seemed like a very nice guy. But I have to admit, it is a relief to be home, even with the aforementioned personal issues that needed to be dealt with. Probably, I could have gone back up to the job once things were settled here, but really did not have the will to do that. And who knows, the same, or similar issues could flair up again and I'd feel obligated to return. In the mean time, my plan is to make short forays out of Flag throughout the summer. Early next month I will try to head over to San Diego County to see my grandsons play some Little League Allstar games.


Movies: Daughter Natasha and I went to see Angels and Demons last Friday. It is supposed to be the prequel to the DaVinci Code but they have made it into a sequel. Both books were very interesting in their twisting and turning plots. The first film was OK if you had read the book. The second Angels was a better "put together" film but not stellar. Tasha noticed that they had left out one of the minor stories that had taken up about 4 chapters in the book. The romance angle that was prominent in the book between the two main characters was deleted as well. Again, I would recommend it as summer "escapist" fare,


Adios Amigos y Amigas

Yellowstone!

Good Evening All,

(By the way, this is not Yellowstone to your left, but is the Tetons as they looked the other day)

After an interesting week on the road I am ensconced in my very humble abode at Grant Village in Yellowstone National Park. This will be my "home" for next four months. Pretty fancy eh?

The first part of the week I spent a night in "beautiful" Bountiful, Utah where I had a sumptuous breakfast at Paradise Bakery & Cafe. From there I pushed on to Jackson, Wyoming and spent a night there. This was what I use to do when Bob and Cindy Henry still lived here. On Thursday I headed up to spend the night at "Old" Ranger Bob's at Colter Bay in Teton Park. Friday I headed up to this habitation site where my new boss introduced me to the area. Upon moving my stuff in I headed back down to the Teton.

I spent some time with my friends at the Colter Bay Visitor Center which was in the final stages of preparation for opening to the public on Saturday. Colter Bay VC traditionaly opens on Mother's Day weekend for the season.

It has been a tradition for we in that park to go to the opening night of Signal Mountain Lodge and Restaurant. They serve the most "kick ass" Margaritas there of anywhere I know. Bob and I met up with his daughter Katie, son-in-law and grand-kids to have piles of "Signal's" famous Nachos (and of course a couple of Margaritas). We had a great time.

Saturday I went to town to pick-up a few items that had not been brought with me. You always forget something, or find you need more than you initially thought you did . The drive in is always so beautiful this time of year with snow on the Teton Range. I reflected quite a bit on how much I will miss working here and being close to my friends. Now I must think about starting over once again tomorrow in a new place with new folks.

Movies: I saw two films in the last week before setting-up here at Grants Village, both in Jackson. The first Wolverine, the X-Man thing. It was not something I normally would have gone to see but did not have much choice in the current offerings. It was OK for what it was, but not for me. I caught the new Star Trek film on Friday when it came out. I have to say I liked it. It goes back to the beginning when all the characters were young and just starting out. It made me reminisce to back in the 60's when I was in college and the first one's came out. At any rate I'd recommend it.

Adios from Wyoming and Yellowstone!

On the Road Again, Well, Almost!

Good Morning Folks,



It has been warm in Northern Arizona and this apartment, that I abhor, is hotter than the outside temps. Most of you would think those temps are pleasant and comfortable, in the low 70s, high 60s, but I find them too warm. It seems I am leaving for parts north not a minute too soon.



Tomorrow I head out for my first day's goal, beautiful downtown Bountiful, Utah. I like to get a bit north of Salt Lake City my first day. Besides, there are relatively new Starbucks, Paradise Bakery & Cafe and a Costco (last one I will see for awhile) there. Second day I should be in Jackson, WY where in past years I would stay a couple of days with Bob and Cindy Henry. Of course that is no longer possible since they moved to Goodyear in AZ. Not only that, Bob is working in Alaska now. And, my move to Yellowstone from the Tetons after 10 years is the big change for me. It is funny how everything can change in such a short amount of time. Oh well, it seems to be the way of the world. We all just have to "march on."



The only thing that will bother me about departing Flagstaff this Spring is leaving behind my lovely daughter Natasha. By the time I get back she should have moved back to a big city (maybe even Paris and/or London). I will have to resume our distance relationship of before. It will be good for her to get back "out there" after a year's respite in the mountains. One good thing that happened for her while she was here was that she was able to get back on stage.







Movies: Have only seen one dreadful film since last I blogged. I have to say that i was desperate and wanted to use the last of my theater gift card. Matthew McConaughy, who I thought had great promise as an actor in his first films, has sunk to doing really mundane "romantic" comedies for the past few years. I like good one's of this genre such as When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, etc. But, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past is not even close to those. There are a couple of laughs but overall it is not worth the money (good thing I had a gift card).




This does not bode well for the beginning of the summer movie season. Summer is usually the worst in it's "pap for the masses," especially the newer generations of brainless folks. I hold out hope for a few gems here and there this summer, but guess it is good that I will be much more isolated where stationed in Yellowstone and will, in all probability, not get out to see as many.





The next Flagstaff Mountain Curmudgeon blog will come from Wyoming.



Adios Amigos y Amigas