Elections

This morning I was thinking about the coming Presidential primaries. Earlier this week I cast my vote for John Edwards (we can vote early at county building). Now, even before the official primary on Tuesday, he has dropped out. Someone said to me yesterday, "Why did you vote for him; he didn't have a chance!" In addition, they initmated that perhaps I had wasted my vote. My response was that at the least, in the primary, I get to vote for who I want, not who I will have to "settle for" in the main election. And that is the rub isn't it? We have to settle, and it seems that is what almost always happens.

In the end I can support Barak or Hilary, but I do not like the negativity coming from either of their camps. I definitely cannot vote for a republican. Look where they have taken us, especially the arrogant "W" and his hinchmen. At least they were able to fill their own pockets while in office at the expense of the rest of us. I am sure Cheney can move back into Halliburton with ease, not that he ever really left.

Whoever gets into the White House will have a huge mess to clean-up. When Bush arrived he had a thriving economy bequeathed to him by the previous administration. Some of my more conservative friends have pointed out to me that Clinton was just lucky that he rode an economic up turn. But, he did not create a trumped up war that has drained our countries finances and killed our young people.

That's enough of a political tirade for so eary in the morning. Usually, I try not to argue politics very often. Most people have made-up their minds and it just becomes a futile fencing match that is more agravating than it is pleasurable.

And so it goes . . .

More Snow!

Another snowy morning in Flagstaff. We had a very windy snow storm last night. I was out shoveling at 6:45am while it was still a bit dark. The temp was about 5 degrees. But I have to bow to my friend Ranger Bob in the Tetons/Jackson Hole. He has been shoveling for days and they have had 300 inches this season so far.

Saturday, Sunny & the Heart of Winter

Thursday the last snow storm dropped about an inch, so it didn't do much for the trails out at the Nordic Center, especially since it was followed by 42 degree temps. Decided not to ski today. My cold is still bothering me and conditons are not optimim. I have become spoiled since moving here. Tomorrow the forecast is big rains coming from California. Hope that doesn't happen at 8,000 feet, need new snow.

Some folks here in Flag are already weary of the winter. They cannot remember what is was like in the past here. Plus, as I tell them, we are only in the heart of winter now. But today, for them, it is a sunny day, and about 36 degrees so far.

The thing about winter in Flagstaff is that the days are not usually gray for long. In Wyoming, Montana and the northern tier of states when winter sets in, very rarely do you get sunny days. Even though it may be cold here, more often than not, the sun shines. So, for all those who thought it would be great to retire here and are now cold, what did you think living in the mountains would be like? Move to Sun City or Yuma if you want warmth in the winter.

I am happy living in the mountains with some cold, sunshine and clean air. And, if I were a religious man I'd say "Pray for Snow," as we use to say "Pray for Surf" when I was growing up a southern California adolesant surfer.

As Mountain Gazette says, "When in doubt, Go Higher!"

Family

Wow! Has January gone by fast. I cannot believe it almost February already!

Today I have been thinking of family quite a bit. I miss both my daughters and my grandsons. As a solitary "elder" I do not get lonely per se, as some have asked me. However, I do miss folks, especially family. If I could stand southern California (much less afford it), I'd move back there just to see and talk more often to daughter Tania, and grandsons Zac, Cole and Torin. We had great Christmas together but my average of three trips a year over to see them is not quite enough. Plus, it puts a burden on them to "entertain" Gramps. If we all lived closer, I could drop in from time-to-time as do the other grandparents.

Then there is Natasha, daughter number 2 at the other end of the country, New York. In a way I do have more contact with her since she is on my cell phone account. We talk almost daily. She is engaged now and when Jason, her finance, is in town I hear less from her. I forsee that once they are married that will become even more the case, as it should be.

Time goes by so rapidly and life changes are a part of it for us all (not a very astute observation but it is Thursday on a Snowy day here in Flagstaff).

Home Sweet Home?

It is still cold here in Flag, 7 degrees this morning. It seems I am a bit fixated on this weather thing in these blogs. This time it has more relevance as I now have a "cold" and haven't had heat in my abode for three days. The property management folks sent someone up yesterday but it turns out that they had to "overnight" a part for the furnace.

At the moment my heating consists of a small space heater, a wall electric heater in the bathroom and in the mornings, opening the oven door on the stove (don't worry it's electric too). As for the night time I sleep in my sleeping bag and turn off the heating devices (safety first). Guess you might say I am the Flagstaff Mountainman!

I should not complain, there are many transients in this town who sleep out most nights. Flagstaff enacted an ordinance against "camping out" in the city limits (with exception of the RVers who overnight in Wal*Mart parking lot) but the creative "homeless" tend to find a way. Many of them freeze in the winter. The city is making an old school into a overnight homeless shelter but local residents in the area are opposed. At any rate it will only make a small dent in the problem as it will only hold 20 people. Why transients would pick Flag in winter is a mystery to me. Why not Tucson, it warmer?

More snow is forecast for tomorrow. I cannot wait; XC skiing calls.

Sunday, Sunday!

Morning Folks,

It is a less chilly one here in Flag this morn, double digits, 16. Yesterday I went cross-country skiing at the Nordic Center. When I hit the boards at 9am it was -4 degrees, but a much warmer 31 upon completion at 11am.

It was nice day for skiing in the backcountry. What I like most about XC skiing as opposed to Downhill is the lack of crowds ( not to mention I am not much in to speed). Even at the Flag Nordic Center once you get out a ways you only see others occasionally. It brings to mind what someone said to me a few years ago about the two type of skiing. Republicans are "downhillers," and XC Skiers are "democrats," an interesting observation.

The tranquility of the forest and the actual work involved in cross-country skiing is what attracts me to it. I like the workout. Even though I have been doing it for years, my technique is sorely lacking in improvement. I first learned in Alaska as a young Army soldier stationed at Ft. Wainright in Fairbanks where it was actually a part of our job. We were expected to ski with rucksack and rifle on our back and were sent out two or three times a week to ski with our platoon about 10 miles a day. At any rate, I am still a plodding "traditionalist," not the relatively new "skater" type.

Today is a football day. The playoffs are in full bloom with four teams playing that I am actually interested in. I have noticed in the last couple of years my interest in the game, which waned for a couple of decades, is back (maybe it has something to do with age). Who would I like to see go to the Super Bowl? My favorite is New England, so of course them. As for their opposing team, I think I'd like to see the Packers.

Burrrr . . .

With apologies to my friends in Jackson Hole, but as my Missouri farm boy father use to say, "It's colder than a well digger's ass" here again this morning. The airport official temp is -2. But everyone knows most of us don't live at the airport! Here at my place the reading is closer to +6. The semester my daughter Natasha lived with me here in Flag it was this frigid and she said that she did not mind the cold but where the hell was the snow. Usually the daytime temps are in the high 30s, or low to middle 40s. Yesterday they stayed in the 20s with a cold wind breeze.

There is still snow around from that last storm but nothing new out there. It is all very crusty and hard. At the Flagstaff Nordic Center trails are icy and as slick as snot. I was out there Monday morning and ended up getting into the deep snow to keep my footing. It was a good workout but not much fun as an exercise in cross-country skiing. Guess it was truly "cross-country." Am glad I have those Back Country skis.

The weekend is almost upon us. Really, for we semi-retired folks, it does not mean too much difference in our routines. I remember looking forward to weekends when I was still teaching, but now it is pretty much just another day. Maybe here in Flag it means more people from "the Valley" being here to ski at Snow Bowl. I remember a song with lyrics that stated that "everyone is working for the weekend." Guess working defines our lives in terms of how we divide up time in this culture. Mine will go back to that when my ranger season begins again in May. But instead of "working for the weekend," it will be for whatever days off I have, which usually do not coincide with the traditional weekend.

Have a good weekend all!

Life, Death, and the Between

Good Morning again from Frosty 6 degree Flagstaff,

The title of this blog may seem a bit morbid, but of late I have been thinking about just these topics. This has been spurred on a bit by the death of daughter Natasha's only maternal side Aunt Cindy this past weekend. Like my friend Ronnie, Cindy died at, or near the age of 50, much too soon.

It may be my age, or the fact that my beloved mother died only a year and a half ago, that has got me spending some time thinking about this journey through life in which we are all engaged. When we are young we cannot wait to be older. Then all of a sudden it is upon us and the rate of change and time seems to accelerate exponentially. All of sudden we are members of AARP and grandparents.

There have been several films lately covering the subject; Away from Her, The Savages, and The Bucket List. The first two deal with subject of aging rather seriously and the performances are excellent. The last, The Bucket List, includes a bit more humor. All are recommned.

I should say that with my 62nd birthday and social security coming next month (at least the b-day, the other has a two month delay) all of this does not depress me. It just "stuff" I have been reflecting on since the death of my mother, grandfather, and my longest continuous friend so early in his life. I wish that I believed in a "higher power" and the "great beyond," but I don't! I am happy for those of you who do. For me, life is now. We need to grasp it and our loved ones and make everyday count. Everytime you talk to family and friends let them know you love them.

And so it goes . . .

First one!

Well Folks,

Don't know why I created this blog other than my friend Mooselee Henry in the Tetons said I ought to, even if only to let people know what I am thinking (not that there are that many that care). But, in this age of cyber-space communication so guess I'll try it out for a while.

It is a chilly 19 degrees here in Flagstaff this morning. No new snow for a week and a half, but that storm was a "duzzy," about a foot and a half in town over two days. We had a storm like that a couple of weeks before Christmas as well. Besides the good, and early cross-country skiing it affords we who engage in that, it bodes well for the water table and the coming summer fire season.

More later!