Thanks, or not!

Happy Thanksgiving All,

Guess it is a day for reflection on what we are thankful for . . . maybe not for those original Native Americans who helped out the Pilgrims after some hard times. Don't think they knew what was in store for them for the next two centuries. Then there is the turkey itself. Except for that one that gets pardoned by the President, I don't think they are very thankful for this day. By the way, what did that turkey do wrong to get a pardon along with all the others Bush will let off the hook before he goes out of office. I hope he, at the very least, pardons those two border patrolman who were "railroaded" to prision.

Oh yeah, what I am thankful for is the topic isn't it? Lets see . . . my two daughters, their husbands, my grandsons, my sisters and brothers, their families, and all my friends are probably at the top of my list. Outside of that I am thankful for good health and a new President, particularly that it is a democrat who might do something to improve the country and our relationship to the rest of the world. There may be some cause for HOPE.

The first snow fell on Flagstaff a couple of weeks ago, not much, but over this holiday more is suppose to be on the way. I am in Prescott with my friends the Hammonds for the Thanksgiving repast, but will head down to Estrella (Goodyear, AZ) tomorrow to spend the rest of the weekend with Bob and Mooselee (Cindy) Henry. I would be very thankful if we got enough snow in Flag while I was gone so that I could go xc skiing. The old adage (or was it a bumbersticker?) applies, "Pray for Snow." Of course if you are the praying type put in a word for peace as well.

At any rate Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

Meandering through my thoughts

Mornin' All!

You'd think a semi-retired person could get back to this blog a little more often. This entry is liable to be a bit random as I have all these stray thoughts going through my head.

As for the the election, I am as happy as are a majority of folks (except the right wing of course; they have already been carping). The problem now, as the economy keeps spiraling down, is that Obama is expected to be the saviour. With the mess that "W" has left it, it will take years for things to turn around. I have every confidence that the new President will surround himself with the "best and the brightest," but we all have a long haul to get to the other side. It may be, that at my age, I will not see it. Hopefully, my daughters and grandsons will!

Saturday I took my first stroll up in the Kachina Peaks (San Francisco Mts.) since returning to Flagstaff. Figured I'd better get up there before the snows began to fly in earnest. Even though working out in the gym 5 days a week, the 9000 feet elevation up there had me out breath after about a mile. It had snowed a bit about a week before but there were only a few traces left in the shade. I cannot wait for it and hope we have as good a winter as the last.

The Aspens were very stark with their leaves now gone. I missed their colors this year with all the activity and travels in my life after my return from the Tetons. Their beauty is still evident in preparation for winter. They are my favorite tree. As I walked the trail through these trees my thoughts were freed of other concerns. They always have a calming effect on me.

Movies: Tasha and I went to see the new James Bond film. Both of us enjoyed it more than most critics. It may be that Daniel Craig seems to be the best Bond since Connery. Yes, there is much more in the way of cinematic mayhem than in the last but I find the relationships of the characters a bit more developed than the caricature Bonds of the past. The best film that I have seen in the last few weeks is Changeling with Angelina Jolie. The story is well presented by director Eastwood and she does a marvelous job in her portrayal.

RockunRolla, Guy Ritchie's new film is entertaining in a comic book (graphic novel these days) way but not all that memorable. I went to Zack and Miri Make a Porno for something to do, but found it to be another waste of time and money. Kevin Smith, the director seems to be stuck in a groove of sophomorphic sex humor. I liked his Clerks and Dogma, but this one misses the boat unless his audience is underdelveloped males in their late teens through early 30s. Of course that seems to be the audience for most Will Ferrell movies as well.

That's about it from the cluttered and random mind of evan.

Election Day

Mornin' All,

This morning is very important, in fact the whole day is, election day. I have been alive for many presidential elections now, going back to very bare memories of the end President Truman's time. However, my first real recognition of the presidency is of "Ike," who seemed in my childhood innocence, a nice, and grandfatherly man. I was old enough to adore the image and promise of Kennedy during his short tenure. Even LBJ, in retrospect, seems a much better president than I thought at the time. His "war" stinks, but he did not start it. Those roots go back to Ike and Kennedy. Nixon, Ford, Carter, Regan, and Bush#1 are forgetable to me, even though some were nice men. In my opinion, Nixon and Regan did the most damage with the roots of today's problems squarely in their court.

Then, there is Clinton and "W." The former a personally flawed man but bright and a good president from the point of view of the economy and social programs. "W" has been disaster. Not since possibly U.S. Grant have we had so much corruption and downright "selling" of our country down the river to the rich and influencial. Grant a good soldier let profiteering carpetbaggers run his government, while Bush in his "bullheaded" effort to show his father his worthiness led us into an unecessary war followed by the economic collapse of the country. His henchman and VP, Cheney was by far the worst of the lot, engineering the taking away of our personal freedoms in the guise of the "Patriot Act." The best I can say about "W" is that he probably meant well.

This election we cannot elect another "goof" on the assumption that "he is just like us." I don't want a President who is "just like me." I want a bright and intelligent person, someone above the "Average Joe." I think Obama is that person and I voted for him a few weeks ago before heading to California. Although he was not my first choice when this process began, he is now.

I have voted for McCain as a senator in one election (even though a democrat). There is no way I would now. He has shown that he will change his stripes too quickly to be president. And his choice for VP illustrates his lack of judgement. I could not ever support him again, even though he was a "Maverick" amongst repubicans for awhile. He is not now. Besides, it is time for a new generation to take charge.

I will not say, as many ads have, that you should get out and vote no matter for whom. That is a mistake. Get out and vote for Obama! Those are my last words on the subject!

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.

Not long now . . .

Howdy,

Again it has been a bit of time since last I wrote. My only excuse is that it becomes difficult to get to this after a while, it becomes something you feel obligated to do no matter how mundane the "drivel" you write.

So, here goes . . . went back to Montana again last weekend with friend Ranger Bob the younger. We did a fast trip up to Missoula to get the new kevlar canoe he had ordered. Even though it was a lot of driving in about 25 hours, it was fun. We came back through the Bitteroot Canyon and stopped at the "Big Hole National Battlefield" Historical monument. It is where the U.S. Cavlary ambushed Chief Joseph's Nez Pierce bands when they were attempting to flee to Canada. It was pretty interesting place, another sorry saga in American History. Bob Henry & Me, "Big Hole Battlefield"

The weeks have sped by and I am again preparing to leave Grand Teton Park next week, probably for the last time as a ranger. Events in the last couple of weeks have made that more a sure thing. I am too outspoken to work for the government. But the last 10 years have been a good run in a wonderful place. Ron & Brooke at their Lander House

I am on my last days off for the season. Wednesday, after work I headed down to visit my friends Brooke and Ron in Lander, WY. Ron is the person who introduced me to Wyoming and the Tetons about 18 years ago. Even though we only see each other once a year, we have remained steadfast friends. Real friends are few and far between in a lifetime
Ron & Me @ Sink's Canyon, Lander, WY

Movie Reviews: I liked the Coen Brothers new romp, "Read Before Burning," with Clooney, McDormand, Swinton, Pitt, et al. It is a dark comedy with very interesting characters. Again, this is not for everyone. "Traitor" with Don Cheadle was OK, better than most of the oft mentioned sparce quality of the summer.

This is probably my farewell blog from the Tetons. Next one will come from beautiful downtown Flagstaff. Fall colors in Grand Teton, Mt Moran

Cheers all!