Rain today!

Overnight, a much needed storm blew in and I could hear the thunder and see the lightning. It was a good heavy soaking rain, not a deluge, but a solid rain.  There was standing water in various parts of town, and I did not hear about it, but possibly some local flooding in the areas that flood http://www.kcbd.com/story/36016494/localized-flooding-causes-issues-for-drivers.  I did not drive around after work to look, but the rain stopped late morning, the sun came out and started drying things out.

Listening to the weathercast tonight, many places received 2-5 inches of rain today, and storms are moving back in tonight.  The problem is that our ground is already soaked, so more soaking rain can cause flooding, and the storms are moving very slowly, which will also contribute to flooding.

Abandoned? Maybe Not.

Or maybe so.  Usually one or both cats sit with me in the computer room while I am watching TV and computering.  Not so tonight.  Haiku is in the crate in the closet, and Taki is in the spare bedroom.  I am not sure why.  They were both in the room with me earlier this evening.   Haiku disappeared first.  Then Taki.  Oh well, as long as they are both okay.  

Violence in Entertainment

So, I went to see the movie Dunkirk http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5013056/ today. I was sickened by all the trailers.  I guess it might be logical to show trailers for violent movies at a movie about war, but that was all that was shown. Dunkirk was not about violence.  It was about a heroic rescue by civilians of military personnel, who suffered due to the violence of war.  The Dunkirk rescue was heroic.  And we do not recognize that enough.  We need to recognize heroism and acknowledge it publicly more often. 

Dunkirk

I went to see the movie Dunkirk http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5013056/ today. This is a part of World War II history, that I only know a little about.  It is time for me to read more about it. The movie was good, lots of action and violence, which is to be expected in a war movie.  I wish they had explained more about the history.  It touched on what was done, and used captions, but I think a few more captions would have helped people who nothing about the story to have a better understanding of what was happening.   

Saturdays Are My Down Days

So Saturdays are my down days.  I often do not go anywhere or even take a shower. I do housework, read, computer, take out the trash.  This is my day to just chill.  If WGN America http://www.wgnamerica.com/ is airing Blue Bloods http://www.cbs.com/shows/blue_bloods/ I binge watch.  Today has been such a day.

A New Way of Working

So, we have had some changes at work, including that we now have computer access in consult rooms on our pods, so we can interview patients and have access to the electronic health record at the same time.  I was very excited about this today.  I did an early group, and completed the documentation for the group, then the officers were able to put the Ad Seg patients in the day room, and I was able to do that group, and do the notes in the consult room, then I finished my day seeing a few patients and being able to finalize those notes.  The provider I work with came by and we made a plan for working with our patients. 

I was charged. This was such an empowering experience.  I am so pleased to be able to do this.

This is Why I Do Not Manage to Blog Daily

I really would like to blog daily.  But I do not.  And this is why.  Because by the time I get home in the evening, my brain is used up and often, I cannot think clearly or creatively.  So although I have some ideas, I cannot express them as I would like to do.

And get this.  I was able to blog almost every night of my recent vacation, because we had quiet down time and I was able to think. So, I have a blog for every day of my 9 day vacation, and a pre-trip blog on packing.  And yet, it is five full days since I have been home, and have only entered blogs for the pre-trip and the first three days.  The other blogs have been written in word, but require editing and sometimes I am even too tired to do that well.

And, as it is, I have had to go back and edit some of those blogs more than once.  I am not physically tired, but I am mentally tired. So, I can do some easy work puzzles, play Solitaire, or mindless fictional reading, but even non-fiction is more than I can usually handle after work. That is why watching sports is so good: it takes no concentration, I do not have to follow a plot line, and there is at least one announcer if not more than one to repeat what has happened two or three times, in case I missed it the first time!

Electronic Hauntings

It started at work on Tuesday afternoon, July 25, 2017.  Sometimes, the notes I was entering into the computer would save, sometimes, they would not.  The electronic health record is supposed to save our notes if they cannot be transmitted to the server.  Sometimes it does, sometimes it does not.  When it was time to go home, some were saved, and some were not, and some were waiting to be saved to the server.

When I arrived at work on Wednesday, there were 3 notes that were still waiting to be saved to the server.  I put in a work ticket, and went to my group.  IT support called me while I was at group, and said to call back.  I did. There was nothing they could do to save those notes, and they deleted one that was nothing but blank space in the computer.  So, I had to redo those notes. I was distressed enough about having this problem that when I arrived on my pod to do the group, one of the security officers asked me what was wrong.  I just told him I was in a bad mood and did not want it to interfere with interactions with others.  He said he could tell by looking at me.

But, while I was at group, the electronic gremlins haunted me.  I have an old cassette and CD player at work, and I use an old cassette for Relaxation Breathing and Progressive Muscle Relaxation instruction, which was what was on the agenda today.  Well, the tape started off sounding really slow, so I rewound it, and it got better but close to the end of the lesson, started slowing down again.

Then, I tried to play some CDs.  The group picked one I had not played before, and it would spin, but not play, and it would not let me program the player.  So, I tried a CD that I had just played the day before in group, and it would not work.  We still had about 30 minutes left, so I was doing to call some coworkers to see if someone could rescue me with a CD player.  As I picked up my equipment to leave the room, I realized the plug into the CD player was not well seated (although I had checked that when I first started having trouble with the cassette.)  So, I put it in correctly, low and behold, chased away the electronic gremlins!

I have to tell you the day got better after that.  

Waiting for Rain

When I left work tonight, it was obvious that there were some thunderstorms in the area, especially to the west, but the weather forecasters were saying that the storms would probably dissipate before they reached Lubbock.  I could appreciate that, but as the evening progressed, the clouds maintained but did not really build and did not appear to have storms in them.

It is now a little after 9 PM.  The sun is setting, and the air is still, humid, but without rain.  I am not sure what to expect about rain tonight, but I am not keeping my hopes up.  I think the forecasters got it right. 

Return To Work

After two weeks off from work, I returned today to my job at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Montford Psychiatric Prison  https://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/unit_directory/jm.html, in Lubbock, Texas.  Because I coordinate a chaplaincy ministry including therapy dogs for my pod about 5:30 PM on Mondays, and because I cannot work overtime due to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 2016 https://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/hrg.htm, I have the obligation to go to work at 9:30 in the morning, instead of a more typical 7:30 AM or 8 AM arrival time. Such a difficult duty.

I did so today, and as I was going into the unit, one of my coworkers was going out of the building for a break, and gave me a hug and an enormous greeting, telling me how much I was missed.  I thanked her then, and later in the day, made a point to tell her how much her warm and heartfelt greeting meant to me.

Several other coworkers, in my office area, wanted to hear about my vacation, and made me feel welcomed back.  Two of the coworkers had a special interest in my trip: a daughter and niece is working in Yellowstone this summer.  Mom drove up with the young lady and flew home, and later this month, aunt will fly up and then drive home with the young lady.  So we have talked Yellowstone all spring.

Another coworker had done "the grand trip" several years ago, that included not just the Grand Tetons, and the Yellowstone, but Glacier National Park, and places in British Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, and into California.  Her trip sounded just marvelous! I was so thankful she shared that with me.  

My supervisor called and told me not to feel I had to "hit the ground running," that I should take what time I needed to read emails and get up dated on changes, and that we had two meetings scheduled for the day.  I ultimately spent 3 hours in meetings today.  But, I did get some patient care done, although I had to reschedule my group.

And, the warden's secretary sent me an email welcoming me back.  She is so supportive of me.   I do the phone calls for patients who are new to Montford and are still in "crisis management mode" so their communication with family and friends is truncated. Both of the warden's secretaries tell me how much they appreciate me because I am so timely and helpful when I return family calls. (Why would anyone do anything different?).

Wow!  How many people are provided with that kind of validation when they return to work?  I am so blessed to have such wonderful coworkers, and such  a supportive supervisor!

Sitting With Me Tonight

I am so blessed to have two loving and caring kitties who show me wonderful caring, and snuggle and just like to sit with me.  Today, Taki and Haiku have spent a lot of time on the chairs in the computer room, just being near me. Sometimes, one or the other asked for a treat, and sometimes, one or the other wanted to be held. But mostly they were just there for me to touch and stroke as I wanted. 

I really appreciate my kitties attention and solicitude.  

Old Socks and Shoes

Okay, so I am telling on myself, but today, I noticed that my bedroom smelled like old socks and shoes.

I am not sure where that is coming from, but the easiest way to deal with it was to open a Renuzit air freshener cone https://www.renuzit.com/.  I keep those available in the house, because the cat pans sometimes retain odors, and the air fresheners help.  So, now I have one in the bedroom.  Thank you Renuzit. 

Thunderstorms?

I was not paying attention to the weather today.  I decided to run a brief errand about 2:15 PM.  Earlier in the day, I had noticed that some clouds were growing, and recalled that the weather forecast included the opportunity for a 30% chance of isolated thunderstorms.  I had decided to wait to water the trees, until after today, to see if we did get rain, and also to wait until after the lawn service guys come out and mow the backyard and alley.  They did the front last week, while I was out of town.  

So, I left the house, and there were storms building all around, but I would say the sky was about 30% cloudy, but the clouds definitely bespoke storms.

About 45 minutes later, as I was driving home, the sky was about 80% clouds, and there was thunder and definitely rain in the area.

So about 3:40 PM, I looked out, and it was pouring rain! I am not sure when it started, but 15 minutes later, the sky is getting brighter, the rain is more like sprinkles, but still continuing. We needed the rain.  Thank you for the rain!

Lowboy Versus Highboy Toilet

Some years ago, I had my bathroom remodeled, and one of the recommendations of the remodeler was to use a highboy toilet http://www.plumbingpro.com/toilet-faq/what-is-an-Comfort-Height-toilet.  I did not much think about it, but one of my coworkers said it would make a big difference.  I am so used to the highboy toilet, that I do not think much about it.

But during my most recent vacation trip, I realized what a difference it makes when you are using a lowboy vs. highboy toilet. I am so grateful the remodeler made the recommendation and that I accepted it.

Our Responsibility as Voters

I had this epiphany as we were driving home from our trip on the 21^st of July. 

As a citizenry of the USA, we have to be responsible when we are voting for potential leaders.  Our obligation is not just to understand the candidate’s stand on various issues.  Our obligation is to understand the provisions of the Constitution of the United States.  We have an obligation when we elect a president to decide if that person can successfully recuse himself/herself from profit making so as to comply with the tenets of the Constitution, especially the “emoluments clause.”  If we elect a person whose business entanglements are so intricate that this is cannot be done, then we as citizens have failed our constitutional duties as voters.  These issues were brought to the foreground by the media during the election, but it was presented as an obligation the potential winner had to deal with, not as an issue the voter had an obligation to consider when casting their ballot.  I think, in retrospect, that viewpoint was wrong, and we as voters needed to be challenged to be responsible for making that a consideration when we decide on our candidates.

What I Learned About Me

I know that I am difficult to live with. I always have been.  So, why am I surprised that is one of the things I learned, again, from this recent trip to the Yellowstone.

I also do not make choices well. This aggravates other people, I think because they are afraid that if I do not make a choice, I will resent their choice, when in fact, I usually do not. I am smart enough to say this is specifically what I do not want to choose, at least.

Sometimes, I tell someone these are my preferred options, either is okay. That does not seem to satisfy people who want me to make a choice.

The other thing is that when I do make a choice, my companions do not always recognize that I have done just that.  It is as if, since I do not always express myself, when I do, my choices are not always recognized.  I appreciate that and understand that.  It really does take some discernment to understand that I have made a choice.

I knew for a year that we were going to be making this trip, and I am not happy with myself that I did not work at getting in physical shape for this trip.  But, that does not mean I cannot work towards getting in shape for the future.  Hmm, let us see what happens.

Arriving Home

As it turned out, when we arrived at my house, my cat sitter was just finishing up. I had sent her a couple of messages about our timing, including if she was scheduled to be at the house before we arrived, to keep her plan, and if she was there when we arrived, I would be able to pay her then and there for her services. 

She helped us to unpack the car and we were able to talk about the cats and how they were doing, and then I was able to pay her for her most wonderful and heartfelt services for my kitties.

Actually, when I arrived home, I still had a lot of energy left, so I was able to do a lot of unloading, and  unpacking.  I still need to put my suitcases away. I was able to send some pictures from my IPhone to Facebook.

Trip - Day 9

So Friday the 21^st of July, we made the final leg of our trek home to Lubbock. Going over the Raton Pass in beautiful, sunny weather was much more pleasant than going through in a severe thunderstorm with hail.  As we drove down the east New Mexico plain and into the South Plains from Dalhart to Lubbock, we sometimes experienced heavy winds, but mostly it was sun, dry air and straightforward driving.

We stopped for a fast food lunch in Dalhart, Tx. and by chance we were following a Christian youth group, and the Philmont Boy Scout Group http://philmontscoutranch.org/ who were in town. The Boys Scout Group included one girl member.  The leaders of the Christian group encouraged their group to eat up because others needed seats.  I was not so impressed with the Boy Scouts.  I was in line for ordering, and a couple of scouts stepped up ahead of me, to be with a buddy, but then the three of them decided to abandon their place in line and advanced my place as a result.

I was distracted but my traveling companion saw a pheasant on the side of the road.  We also saw antelope in New Mexico.

We were amazed  but should not have been at the low cost of gasoline in Hereford, Tx. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English  something like $1.87 plus per gallon. Hereford has become an industrial hub for using corn for producing ethanol that is mixed in with gasoline.  In Lubbock, gas was $2.19 plus per gallon.

Garden of the Gods

We went through the Garden of the Gods http://www.gardenofgods.com/, which is a phenomenal display of red sandstone rocks in various formations.  It was donated to the City of Colorado Springs by the children of Charles Elliot Perkins.   These sandstone rocks are just amazingly beautiful.  What is more amazing is that the City of Colorado Springs continues to abide by the donor’s request that these geological formations are available to the world, at no cost.  The City of Colorado Springs has added additional features which can command fees, but the spirit of the donation is being maintained.

We were able to find an area in which we could have a late afternoon lunch picnic.  That was really special.  A great bonus to our trip to the Yellowstone!

Return to Access

It was good last night to return to cell phone and internet access, and to watch the news.  Unfortunately, much of it was a rehash of what has been going on in the Trump presidency for the last six months.  He does it to himself.

Watching the news tonight, it just did not feel like there was anything new about it.  Maybe a return to access is not that important.

Trip - Day 8

July 20, 2017

Today we drove into Colorado Springs, Colorado https://coloradosprings.gov/ from Casper, Wyoming.  It was a much shorter driving day than we had been doing, but still put us in comfortable range to reach Lubbock tomorrow.  We saw antelope again today!

We were able to take the bypass around Denver, E470 https://www.e-470.com/Pages/PayingTolls/Paying-Tolls.aspx.  We kept waiting to see toll booths, and were ready to pay, but no booths were present.  We figured out, finally that we were a License Plate Toll customer, and my traveling companion would receive a bill in the mail about the toll.  It looked like it might only be $1.55, but I assured her if it was more, I would be willing to pay my fair share.  

We took a tour around the Garden of the Gods http://www.gardenofgods.com/, after a brief stop in the visitor’s center. We had a picnic in the free city park, donated to the city by the founders.  I had a left over salad for my picnic.  I had never even heard of the Garden of the Gods, so if my traveling companion had not known about it, I would have missed it. 

On our way out, we went through Manitou Springs, which was an awesomely interesting looking town, touristy and old west combined.  The Manitou Springs http://www.manitouspringsgov.com/ and Pikes Peak Cog Rail starts in Manitou Springs. 

We had an early night in the motel tonight.  For dinner, I had the rest of the Indian Taco I had ordered the night before, and could not finish!  Once again, it was nice to have internet access. 

Trip - Day 7

July 19, 2017

So we left Yellowstone by way of Fishing Bridge https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/explorefishingbridgelake.htm  and the East entrance.  On our way, we saw more Bison, antelope and pelicans!

The land outside of Yellowstone was National Forest, and just as spectacular as Yellowstone.  We made our way to Cody, Wyoming http://www.cityofcody-wy.gov/, where we spent 3 and half hours touring the Buffalo Bill Museum Center of the West https://centerofthewest.org/.  It was amazing.  There were several sections, including the Draper Natural History Museum, the Buffalo Bill Museum, the Plains Indian Museum, the Whitney Western Art Museum, a section about the original curator, McCracken, a sculpture garden, an aviary for raptors, and more.  The admission fee was a little high at $19, but it was good for two days.  Of course, we only had part of one day, so we missed a lot but it was a phenomenal museum! We had lunch there before getting back on the road.

We drove on to Casper http://www.casperwy.gov/  through Thermopolis http://thermopolis.com/ to spend the night.  We had a good hotel, and walked next door to a Mexican food restaurant.  

It was good to once again have internet access and access to TV.  

Lack of Media

We have been without media for all intents and purposes since some time on Saturday.  The radio reception was bad for much of the day, then we entered the National Parks, and there is no cell phone reception, except in very few places, no TV, no radio in our cabin, and no internet.  We could purchase internet, but why?

The most difficult thing for me during this time is being without weather media.  The weather forecasts are posted on most of the Yellowstone General Store doors, which is helpful, but I still like maps, radar, and weathercasts.  But the postings do help.

I feel lost without any electronic media.  But it is a good experience. One of the results of the quiet is that not only am I able to notice and think about things, but my brain is not so busy and impacted that I cannot blog about things. 

I know this to be true.  I do blog more often and more effectively if I turn down the noise at home: no TV, no radio, and if I do music, it is bagpipes, musical scores, Gregorian chants, or classical music.

So, tonight, as we relax in the cabin, we are listening to Andrea Bocelli’s “Concert in the Park.” I could play the DVD, but viewing would be a little tight.  Listening is just perfect.

Trip - Day 6

July 18, 2017

My traveling companion suggested we arise at 5 AM this morning, in hopes of seeing more wildlife, as we went on our way.  One of our destinations was the Lamar Valley http://yellowstone.net/intro/lamar-valley/, where wolves are known to linger.

It was dark at 5 AM, but by the time we headed out on the road, the sun was already coming up.  We had seen a few elk bucks in our area, but this morning we saw a small herd, about 8 elk cows less than a mile from our cabin.  A good start!

When we arrived at Hayden Valley https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayden_Valley, the traffic was stopped, by the Bison crossing the road.  This was a real rush, to have Bison, large and small, walking so close you could reach out and touch them.  They stopped and stared at us, and then went on their way.  This was the first time we could see calves well.  Although we regularly see large herds in the Hayden Valley, away from the road, I wonder if the cows and calves mostly graze out of sight.

We did not see too much more, even in the Lamar Valley.  Occasional Bison, but we saw one antelope with a good set of horns, and additional elk cows.

We went on to Mammoth Springs https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/exploremammoth.htm, and walked in a short ways from the bottom, and then went to the top, and walked down quite a ways so we could see the main terrace.  This is a beautiful geological feature. Going up was not so bad. 

We decided to take the route from Mammoth to Norris to Canyon to Lake Lodge, even though there was advertised road work, with expectations of traffic delays.  We were delayed 15 minutes or so, but were at the end of the line, and I have to think those at the start of the line were delayed 30 minutes or more.

We stopped briefly at Sheepeater Cliff https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheepeater_Cliff, which was a sheer cliff, and understandably, if sheep for some reason went over the edge, they were goners.

We stopped near Norris to go through the National Park Service Ranger Museum.  It was interesting, including that in the late 1800, the US Army ran the park, and set up some of the standards and traditions that last today.  Included in the history was the fact that former President Gerald Ford was a park ranger in 1936, and later, his son was a park ranger for a while.

We were within a couple of miles of Lake Village and saw the congestion in the road. The first ranger to arrive to direct traffic was an emergency medical services ranger in an ambulance.  I guess when an event like this happens, whoever arrives first takes charge!  We did not know what it was, but someone said “Moose alert.”  So, my traveling companion stopped, and down the hill we went, only she tripped, twisted her ankle slightly, and scraped her hand. She did not want medical care, and did want to see the moose. There were two: an adult with antlers, and either a cow, or more probably, a young moose.  So this might have been a cow and a calf.  They were at a medium distance from the road: not road side, but as close as or a little closer than some of the elk we have seen, and much closer that the distant Bison herds (not on the road.)  We both got a good look, and then moved on. 

We had a late lunch at Lake Village, and then headed to the cabins.  As we arrived at the back of the Lake Hotel area, there was the tell-tale crowd of animal watchers. This time, fairly close up, it was an elk bull with an enormous rack of antlers.  Gorgeous.

So, we arrived at the cabin a little after 3:30 PM and unloaded the vehicle.  Once again, the cabin was at a pleasant temperature.  We opened windows, and curtains on 2 sides, but on the west or south side, the sun comes in so that curtain remained closed. But with that window open and the one across the way open, we have been treated to a wonderfully refreshing breeze.

Some might say we should be out doing something, or just enjoying the fresh air. If we had a porch, I would do that. I could walk down to the lake, even.  But we are both very tired, and have been to every spot we wanted to see in the park.  We have seen elk, Bison, moose and antelope, as well as an assortment of birds.  At the discovery center, we saw Grizzlies and Wolves.  We still have a 3 day trip back to Lubbock, and no one can blame us if we want to rest.  Because, after all, that is what a vacation is for!

The Lake Lodge Laundromat and Laundromat Etiquette

The Lake Lodge has a self-service laundromat for its lodge and cabin guests.  I needed to do one load of laundry before returning home, and since we had an early day today, my traveling companion suggested I do the laundry after we returned to the cabin, in the late afternoon or very early evening. So, about 5 PM we went to the Lodge: my traveling companion drove me, which was very gracious but unnecessary. She shopped, and read in the lobby while I did laundry.  My traveling companion was surprised that I would sit with my laundry. 

When I arrived, I was the only person using the facility.  A few minutes later, a gentleman came in, with a load of laundry, followed by a young man with more, and they did their laundry together.  Mom (I presume) showed up with dryer sheets later on. The loaded their clothes in the washing machine, noted the time it would take to finish the load, and left.  About 5:45 many people showed up at the laundry, including a few who decided to turn away, presumably to come back later.  So, all of the machines were full, one was out of service, and my clothes were in the dryer.  One patron approached me to learn if I belonged to the newly stopped machine of the gentleman-young man group.  I said no, so she proceeded to take the clothes out of the washing machine, put it in a laundry cart, and load her clothes.  I watched her to be sure that was all she did.  The two men returned not one or two minutes later, to learn their clothes had been moved into a laundry cart.  There was a brief tension, but all turned out okay.  This sort of scenario is one of many why I do not like to leave my clothing at a laundromat. If tempers had risen, I would have been glad to step up and say “I watched, and all she did was unload.” 

So, who, if anyone is at fault here:  Does the patron have an obligation to return in a timely way, so the clothing can be moved and the machine available for the next patron?  What is timely?  The machine was still finishing its cycle when the woman came into the laundry.  So, she knew it was not long since it was done.  Does she have an obligation to wait for the owner of the wet clothing?  How long?  She did not wait even 5 minutes. 

I do not want anyone messing with my clothing in a laundromat.  So, I will just stay.  As I told my traveling companion, it would not even cross my mind to leave my clothing unattended in a laundromat.

Oh, and by the way, another piece of etiquette.  I emptied the filter screen when I loaded my clothing, into the dryer, and it was obvious the previous user did not.  I forgot to empty it when I was done.  My bad. But in the process of cleaning the filter, I discovered 3 pennies in the screen.  I opened the door to the dryer above the one I was using and found a dime and a penny.  I did not feel obliged to report this to lost and found.

Trip - Day 5

July 17, 2017

We drove to West Yellowstone, Montana https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Yellowstone,_Montana this morning. It was a very pleasant drive, sometimes slower than we would have liked, but pleasant.  We saw Bison on the side of the rode, again.  Our destination was the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center https://www.grizzlydiscoveryctr.org/, in West Yellowstone.  This is an education and rescue operation, populated with animals that can no longer be released to the wild.  It is not a rehabilitation facility, but it is a facility that educates as well as houses rescued Grizzlies, Gray Wolves, and Raptors. So, in addition to the some 8 or so Grizzlies, and 6 Gray Wolves, we saw 3 Bald Eagles, 1 Golden Eagle, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Rough Legged Hawk in the aviary, and another Rough Legged Hawk and a Northern Sawhet Owl  during an educational presentation.

We heard part of the Keeper Kids lecture, preparing to allow children into the bear area, while the bears were in their pens.  We heard a brief explanation of how the bears are managed, we saw part of one video and all of another about the wolves and bears in Yellowstone, including the Druid Pack, and we saw the lecture in the amphitheater featuring a Rough Legged Hawk, and the Northern Sawhet Owl.  It was a full day.  We had a tailgate lunch in the parking lot, since there was not much time between two of the shows we wanted to see.

We did a little shopping in West Yellowstone.  Some of the stores there look old and run down, especially the non-tourist spots (supermarkets, for example), but there were many, many new and newly being constructed hotels; some of which featured cabins about three times the size of ours at Yellowstone National Park. Interesting that West Yellowstone is facing such a boom in its existence.  I wonder where that came from.  And when? We did notice, driving out of the park early in the morning that the traffic was very heavy entering into the park.  So the West Entrance must be the new fad.  Of course, we have nothing to compare it to at the South Entrance, since we arrived so late in the day on Saturday.  When we re-entered into the park late in the day, there was almost no traffic entering into the park. 

On our way to the Lake Lodge, we found a nice level shady spot near some water, and sat enjoying the scenery.  No one bothered us, and no animal did, either.

When I walk a great deal, I start to have pain in my lower back.  I suspect it is due to the fact that I am way overweight, and I carry most of that weight in my abdomen.  So, I am pulling on my lower back when I am walking.  I really need to lose weight.

I decided to bring a day pack on the trip to the Yellowstone, and emptied it as much as I could of extraneous materials.  But, a flashlight, extra set of batteries, bird book, sunscreen, bug spray, Kosh, and two wallets adds up in weight.  I was concerned how I was going to manage.

But, I did.  The extra weight is hard to carry, but I think something else is going on here.  I suspect the weight on my upper back counterbalances the weight of my abdomen pulling my body forward.

I may have already documented how certain postures and activities really bother my lower back: vacuuming, raking leaves, sweeping, standing at a counter that is too low, and I have to lear forward to work at it. 

I do not think that I have documented that at work, or shopping, I use a cart that provides me support and prevents me from putting pressure on my lower back by having something to lean on. 

If I have this kind of success walking at home with weight from my backpack counterbalancing the weight from my abdomen, maybe I can do more regular walking!

My TENS Machine

I may have blogged in the past about using a home TENS machine.  The first one I purchased at the South Plains Fair, many years ago, was a Mini-Masseuse, and I purchased it because trying it at the fair, it gave instant relief for my neck muscle pain which was ultimately caused by two compressed cervical vertebrae.  After about 90 days of daily use, it made a difference.

So, when I started having hip and eventually what I was told was Sciatica pain, I tried using the Mini-masseuse, and it did not work.  I did, however, wear it out using it on my neck. I purchased an Omron version at a retailer, and found it helped, but was not as strong as the Mini-Masseuse.  And, prior to my back surgery, it did not provide me with the relief I hoped for.

Well, in the last few months, I have had increasing back pain that responded to heat, analgesic patches and analgesic creams.  The pain was aggravated by exercising, even the low impact exercise of the Elliptical. So, I stopped exercising, but faithfully used the TENS machine on my lower back and sciatica, until after about 2 months,  I started exercising again, without the extreme distress I had felt before.  After exercising, application of the TENs for my lower back and sciatica resolved the pain.  So much so, that I packed the TENs machine for my vacation. 

On July 16, 2017, we did a large amount of walking, and by the end of the day, I was a little sore, and a lot tired.  We rested, and I sat on the bed, doing some computer chores, even though we do not have internet access in the room. I finished my book the night before, and had not packed a second, out of interest of space.

When I moved, I was stiff and sore and moved slowly.  I used the TENS, doing 3 sessions of 15 minutes on my lower back (no problems with the sciatica today.) It really seemed to help.  I can move much more freely after the treatment.

Power Outage

We were resting in the cabin this evening, and I did not notice it, but the lights blinked.  What tipped me off was the alarm clock was blinking.  So, I reset it.  Shortly after we had decided not to go out again tonight, and both my traveling companion and I were changed into bedclothes for the night, the power went off again.  Throughout the entire cabin.

My traveling companion started to change into clothes, as we have no cell phone service, and there are no phones in the cabin.  I heard any number of cars head out quickly after that happened. I have to think that some other cabins were effected, and others were heading out to report the problem.  Before my traveling companion could finish changing her clothes, the electrical power came back on.

We do not mind basic, but did not bargain for primitive.

What Are You Teaching Your Children?

July 16, 2017

At the North Rim Drive Upper Falls Overlook, there was a sign indicating no pets beyond a certain point that would take the visitor to the actual point of the overlook. The sign included a symbol that was unmistakable.  A gentleman with some sort of bulldog was dutifully sitting in the shade, waiting for his traveling companion(s) to return. 

As we walked in, there was a young family with two children and two dogs, trying to get the children and dogs to pose on some sort of statue.  This irritates me, that the parents would blatantly disobey rules in front of and including their children in the activity.  What are they teaching their children?  I happened to notice the car this family was traveling in, and had occasion to observe how the father was driving. His driving skills were no better at following the rules of the road than were his obedience to signs at a tourist attraction.

Additionally, I saw an older woman, perhaps my age, with her poodle type dog beyond the dogs allowed area. She was not with anyone, so I suppose she had a choice of missing the attraction, taking her dog with her, or locking him in the car for an undetermined amount of time, during which the dog might suffer from heat illness.

I used to travel along with a dog, Mack, and made a point not to go where the dog could not go, or leave the dog in the car for less than 10-15 minutes: buying gas, getting fast food, or maybe checking into a motel.  And often, when I checked into a motel, if I had more than one bag, the dog walked in and out with me to get my things.   There was once, the last trip I made to the Northeast with Mack, when he did not want to leave the hotel room after I got my first load in.  I could not blame him, it was bitter cold outside and the room was very snug.  He had done his business, so there was no reason to force him out again, and besides, he would let me know if he needed to go out.

Traveling with a dog is a wonderful experience, but it has its own special challenges.  I admit, the first time I travelled alone with Mack, I had not planned for all of those challenges, but most, I had planned for.  After that, I knew what I was doing and felt I always went well prepared.

Perhaps the family with the two dogs had not planned for all of the challenges they would meet while traveling with the two dogs, but this was a no brainer:  the adults just took turns going to the observation point, while one stayed behind with the dogs!  I know dogs are family, but there are sometimes special rules for these members of our families. 

Trip - Day 4

July 16, 2017

We started our day traveling toward the West Geyser Basin http://www.yellowstonenationalpark.com/westthumb.htm, and were able to see some elk there.  Then we went on to Old Faithful https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/exploreoldfaithful.htm, and were in time to see an eruption.  We forgot to bring water, and became too hot walking around a small section of the boardwalk.  When we returned to the Visitor’s Center, we had to sit outside in the shade for a while.  It seems someone has released some bear spray https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/photosmultimedia/minute-bearspray.htm, and the building needed to be aired out. 

I ate leftovers from the day before, and my traveling companion snacked on trail mix and an apple.  We went on to see other things, including the Museum at Madison https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/madisonplan.htm, and several waterfalls, including the Upper http://www.world-of-waterfalls.com/yellowstone-upper-falls.html and Lower  http://yellowstone.net/waterfalls/yellowstones-waterfalls/lower-falls/Falls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/grand-canyon.htm.  We also saw the Virginia Cascades http://www.youryellowstonevacation.com/index.php?p=region&region_id=3&category_id=37&member_id=224.  We took some scenic routes that were not even on the map!

I was concerned the cabin would be too warm to rest comfortably, and suggested finding a shady spot near some water with a breeze.  We returned to the cabin for some quick chores, and were pleasantly surprised at how comfortable to cabin was.  We did find a spot to sit near Lake Yellowstone https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/yellowstone-lake.htm, and the breeze was so strong, we had to move from the shade to a sunny spot. 

In addition to the elk at West Geyser, we saw Bison at various places, and at the North Rim Drive Lower Falls overlook there was an Osprey’s nest with a female and 3 babies in it (someone let us look through their spotting scope. My traveling companion could see the birds, I could not.)  But without my binoculars, I could see the nest and an outline of the adult.

We ate dinner at the cafeteria at the Lake General Store, Fountain and Grill https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/stores.htm .  We actually sat on stools and the counter ess curved several times through the area, which made efficient work areas for the wait staff, each of whom had one loop of the counter to work! The food was adequate, much of it was pre-prepared.  I suspect for the crowd they serve, they have to do that.

It has been a long day, with many stops along the way.

A Soft Footprint

When we checked in at the Lake Lodge at Yellowstone on July 15, 2017, for our cabin, we were asked about a new program that Yellowstone is trying.  It is called “A Soft Footprint.”  Basically, for guests who were staying multiple days, as were we, we were asked if we wanted maid service every day, or in our case, not at all, since we were only staying 4 days.  We opted for not at all. Given what had happened at the Riverton Super  8, this actually felt comforting.  I hate for a stranger to go through my stuff. So, we will reused towels, and took out our own trash, and madeg our own beds.

Some of it will help with the ecological footprint of the Lodge, but I think much of it will also help with labor costs.

On the other hand, in our cabin was the following quiz:

Is Yellowstone National Park home to more Bison or more guest towels?

Towels.  Yellowstone stocks 24,237 guest towels and about 4,900 Bison live in the park.

The editorial comment is:  “At least we don’t have to wash the Bison.”

Makes you think of the impact of doing laundry, especially linens and towels, at Yellowstone.

Trip - Day 3

July 15, 2017

We left early from Riverton, and drove on into the Grand Tetons National Park.   On the way, we stopped in Dubois http://duboiswyoming.org/ , and had an interesting visit in the Welty General Store https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welty%27s_General_Store.  The person working in the store was generous with her time, history, and information about the store and Dubois https://windriver.org/communities/dubois/.  There was an old mine opening in the hill across the street.  There was a National Big Horn Sheep Interpretive Center in Dubois  https://www.bighorn.org/, but when we learned there were no live Big Horn Sheep in the center, we opted out. 

When we drove through the Grand Tetons we did not stop often at overlooks or turnouts to read what could be learned.
 

We did stop at a visitor’s center https://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/ctdvc.htm,  got some lunch, and made the drive up an alternate route, closer to the mountains themselves.  As we drove down toward Jackson, I told my traveling companion one turnout explained about the glaciers.  She questioned having glaciers in the mountains.  I also explained to her about taking an alternate route to get back on 287 to go to Yellowstone National Park.  It took talking to a park ranger who explained the same things for her to accept the information.  

As we drove north through the Grand Tetons, my traveling companion remarked that this was unlike the Rockies in Colorado because you could drive right into the mountains.  I reminded her, more than once, that the Grand Tetons are part of the Rockies, and I had told her before even planning the trip, that we would have to get out and walk around to see things, not just drive around. Well, we did take a couple of scenic routes in the Grand Tetons, including up to the summit of Signal Mountain, which was more of what she was looking for.

When we arrived at the Yellowstone, my traveling companion was more pleased because we were in the mountains with hills and forest around us.  And she did stop at overlooks and turnouts to get out and see what the attraction was.  We did see elk:  I saw two, a young one, and a large bull with a good rack of antlers.  She saw the latter.  We also saw lots of Bison, near where we were staying at Lake Village http://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/lodging/summer-lodges/lake-lodge-cabins/, and along the road side as we drove to Canyon Village https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/canyonplan.htm.  At Fishing Bridge https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/fishingbridgecg.htm , we went to a visitor’s center, and the park ranger helped us to map out how to plan to do everything we wanted to do over the next few days.  That was really good.

Our cabin at Lake Lodge was small.  There is no TV, no air conditioning, no cell phone or internet service.   We moved all of our stuff in for the night, but will transfer some back to the car in the morning, especially the cooler, a light jacket or warm shirt, and our walking bags.

Today was a very long day, but a very productive and fulfilling one for me.  I know vacations are supposed to be restful, but I could have rested at home.

Trip - Day 2

July 14, 2017

After spending the night in Ft. Collins, Colorado, we picked up route 287 to go to Laramie https://www.cityoflaramie.org/, then Lander, and eventually to Riverton http://www.rivertonwy.gov/ Wyoming.

The traffic signs in Wyoming and Colorado are frustrating.  There is not much notice coming up on a turn, so it is hard to slow down and decide what to do.  And, unlike in Texas, after the turn, there is not another sign assuring the driver of where he or she is going.  So, we came upon an intersection that had 5 choices, including the road we were on.  I wanted to go straight, my traveling companion said left, and we tried both without success, but discovered we just needed to reverse our direction, and we were on our way. While this cost us probably 20 minutes we were able to see a beautiful part of Fort Collins that we would not otherwise have seen, including Colorado State University https://www.colostate.edu/.  

We did well after that, getting to Laramie , Wyoming about lunch time.  We ate at Penny’s Diner,

which was really an old timey Airstream diner with booths, counters and tables. The cook was a genius in motion, with no apparent unnecessary actions.  It was a joy to watch.

We drove to Lander, Wyoming http://landerwyoming.org/, again mostly seeing antelope mixed in with the livestock.  I started picking them out better.

At Lander, we took a brief tour of the Museum of the American West http://museumoftheamericanwest.com/, which was a mixture of old, very small houses, and other buildings. It was fun.  The person manning the office was a Job Corp attendee stationed out of Riverton, Wyoming.  We moved on to Riverton, where we stayed for the night. We found an interesting Mexican food restaurant, The Depot.  We had a good time. We learned there was a classic car parade and show that weekend, and a street dance that night.  But we did not attend.

I screwed up.  I let my traveling companion use my computer to try to sign onto her Hotmail account, and she could not do it.  I yelled at her, because I was giving her instructions, and I thought she was ignoring them. She became upset and decided she did not need to check her email.  I do not blame her; no one needs to be yelled at.  I apologized, and we were better. 

We stayed in a small Super 8.  It was adequate for our needs. However, late in the evening, someone walked into our room. Partly our fault: we did not lock the deadbolt and put the chain on.  We screamed, and that person left.  We tried to call the management but the phone was not working.  My traveling companion called the desk on her cell phone. The manager on duty said the intruder was an employee, and the manager would come up to fix the phone.  He explained that the system was down, and he sent an employee to check room status, but with instructions to knock loudly before entering. He assured us we were okay, and he fixed the phone. It did not feel great.

Trip - Day 1

July 13, 2017

We drove uneventfully to Raton, New Mexico http://www.ratonnm.gov/, my traveling companion doing the driving.  At Raton, I took over the driving.  Although my traveling companion owns an SUV, the dashboard and feel of the pedals was very different from my SUV.  I drove immediately into the Raton Pass https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/american_latino_heritage/Raton_Pass.html, hilly, curvy, fast and windy.  And I drove into a storm: wind, heavy rain, pea sized hail, thunder and lightning.  I drove slowly, and sometimes the visibility was poor, but we continued going, unlike many drivers who pulled over, sometimes not totally off the road.

Then we got to Colorado Springs https://coloradosprings.gov/.  And we got into heavy traffic.  We faced heavy traffic from then on, into and beyond Denver https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en.html.  I was in the left most lane when I saw the sign for the by-pass around Denver, but could not cross the four lanes to get to the exit.

When we arrived at our destination in Fort Collins, Colorado https://www.fcgov.com/visitor/, I was looking down the street at a McDonald’s and almost drove down a bank! My traveling companion alerted me in time to save the day!

We are both tired. We bought fast food take out before we registered at the hotel, and broke out a bottle of wine for a night cap. 

My traveling companion found a TV channel that was binge broadcasting Blue Bloods http://www.cbs.com/shows/blue_bloods/  Makes me feel good to watch something comfortable.

My sharp eyed traveling companion saw antelope on the roadside, and pointed them out to me, even when she was doing the driving.

OnStar Renewal

When I purchased my 2008 Saturn Vue, it came with a free year subscription to OnStar https://www.onstar.com/us/en/home.html.  I understand now that new GM vehicles come with 6 months of free OnStar. I loved OnStar. I loved receiving a monthly diagnostic of my car's operating system, and oil life history.  I renewed it at the almost $200 or a bit more a year cost because I really appreciate the peace of mind it offers.  I have continued, over the years to renew the OnStar coverage, and over the years, I have used it increasingly.  There have been times when my car did not run as I thought it should, and I have requested an on demand diagnostic which helped me to know what to do. Sometimes, my car is just acting strange, and I can call OnStar and talk to them about it and they can walk me through what is happening.  If I had a mate or spouse who knew my vehicle, they might be able to do this. But the neat thing about OnStar is that while they walk me through what is happening, I am able to talk to somebody, real time, and actually work it through in my mind. And, if a warning light appears on my dashboard, they can run an on demand diagnostic, and tell me what is happening, and how urgently I need to tend to the problem. 

I like the idea that if I have an accident, OnStar will detect it and call help for me, but I hope that I never need to use that feature. It also offers free remote service if you lock yourself out of your vehicle. 

My insurance company, State Farm https://www.statefarm.com/ has coupled with OnStar. OnStar provides my insurance company with my driving record, and State Farm adjusts my insurance, accordingly.  The first six month I used this, OnStar saved me more in auto insurance in six months than what I paid for OnStar for a year!

I use the one step above the basic plan, called "Protection."  The services include Advanced Diagnostics (monthly reports on car health, and on demand reports); Smart Driver (drive smarter and save money, including on insurance); Remote Access; Automatic Crash Response (talk about peace of mind knowing help will be on its way); Emergency Services; Crisis Assist (severe weather); and Roadside Assistance. 

The last 3 years, when I renew my OnStar coverage, I have receive a "promotional discount" which amounts to a considerable savings on OnStar. Not sure why I receive the promotional discount, but will not argue with it.

Packing

July 12, 2017

Well, a traveling companion and I are preparing for a trip to Yellowstone National Park https://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm.  We had actually planned to go in 2016, but when my traveling companion tried to make reservations for accommodations, none in our price range were available. So, we delayed our trip by a year. And, here we are.

Early in the week, I started actively gathering the items I was planning to pack. I waited because packing upsets the kitties.  Monday and Tuesday of the week of July 10, I actually pulled out my luggage, and started organizing and packing items.  The kitties sat on my suitcases, scratched at my stuff and in general let me know they were not happy. But as the days progressed, and I was still at home, they settled down.

Today, my traveling companion came to the house, and had her items packed in her vehicle, except her last minute overnight bag. We both agreed we were going to do overnight bags that would have what we needed while we were on the road to the Yellowstone, and then, have items we needed when we arrived at Yellowstone.  We packed the cooler and my items. Everything seemed to fit as we had anticipated.  This is good.

I think my kitties are still a little on edge, because they are not sure what to expect with me being around, but packing things that mean I am leaving. I can hardly blame them.  In the last few years, my packing and returning has not had a regular pattern. 

I hope, while I am gone, my kitties adjust well. I have a wonderful cat sitter, who goes the extra mile.  I have complete confidence in her.  That is so reassuring to know someone will do what is needed, without having to ask for consent or permission, if my cats need extra care while I am gone. And of course, I will remunerate her accordingly, no questions asked.

Carole King Concert

Tonight, I went to the Fathom Events Presentation of Carole King-Tapestry  https://www.fathomevents.com/events/carole-king-tapestry.  This was recorded in Hyde Park, London, England in 2016.  It was a wonderful concert.  Many people from Carole's past made statements and presentations. This included Elton John http://www.eltonjohn.com/, and James Taylor http://www.jamestaylor.com/.  Her daughter performed with her, and the cast of Beautiful: The Carol King Musical in London https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beautiful:_The_Carole_King_Musical joined her for a number.  

This was a most phenomenal concert.  There were over 65,000 people in Hyde Park.  They stood during the concert, and they all seemed to behave.  If there were any disturbances, it was not obvious.

Carole so appreciated the audience that she regularly and repeatedly asked them to join in with singing her songs, or to lead singing her songs. What a compliment to the audience. What a recognition of the mutual love and respect that Carole and the audience had for each other. 

I have been a Carole King fan since 1971, thanks to my best friend from college at that time.  I was not sure when the Tapestry album came out, but obviously, it was not too long after it came out that I was exposed to it, loved it, embraced it and have always cherished it.  I am so grateful to my friend for introducing me to Carole King. 

The amazing thing that this concert taught me was how many songs were written by Carole King and collaborators before 1971. She was a hit song writer in 1959 at age 17. She was phenomenal in 2016 at age 74.  She is an amazing person!  

I am so thankful I saw the concert.  

The Declaration of Independence

The Ancestry.com https://www.ancestry.com/ advertising people came up with a very interesting item for the Fourth of July 2017.  They replicated John Trumbull's painting "Declaration of Independence" http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/Trumbull.html for the advertisement http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/powerful-new-ad-features-multiethnic-descendants-of-americas-founding-fathers_us_59564da7e4b05c37bb7dc3ea.  They used the multi-ethnic descendants of the signers of the Declaration of Independence to recreate the picture.  So is this a cheesey stunt, or is this an advertisement that can teach us something about ourselves and our country? Definitely it is an advertising platform for Ancestry.com to promote using its genealogy and DNA identification services. Is there something wrong with self-promotion while teaching us something?  Who in this world is so altruistic that they never expect to get something back for doing something good?  Sure, people might do the right thing altruistically but I suspect most people do the right thing because of some other motive, even if it is because their religion tells them to do the right thing, and they want to follow the tenets of their religion for the related benefits, including idealistic or spiritual benefits.

We let the The Walt Disney Company https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/ invite us to "The Magic Kingdom" without criticizing them for making a profit on our pleasure.  We let the Coca-Cola Corporation http://www.coca-colacompany.com/ "Teach the World to Sing" and did not criticize them. Let's face it, advertising is advertising.  Why do you think all the major corporations get involved with all the altruistic activities they do: Foundations, fundraising benefits, national promotions of charities. Some of it may be for good, but much of it, such as the special uniforms for special events developed by Under Armour https://www.underarmour.com/en-us, are also about brand recognition and sales.  Don't deceive yourself. 

Words With Friends

Have I written about Words with Friends before?  I do not think so.  https://apps.facebook.com/wordswithfriends/.  Well, this is a Scrabble  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrabble like word game that Facebook promoted.  There was a time when you could play Scrabble on Facebook, and I had several friends who did so. But then Words with Friends took over. I think you can still play Scrabble on Facebook, but no one I know does. And then, Words with Friends started promoting "challenges" which will earn you a "badge."  The challenge is a two part challenge, to earn a certain number of points, and then to complete some other task, like making so many 30 point words, or making so many 3 words with one play or making so many JQXZ words.  All challenges in a week. 

When these challenges started, I started getting invitations from strangers to play.  Words with Friends will suggest people who play at your level, more or less.  The more people you play with, the more likely you will reach your challenge, but there is a maximum number of games you can have open.  Sometimes, all I do is play Words with Friends. I realized at one point that I was "addicted" and neglecting other things, like reading.  (I still do my household chores.)  So, I have had to manage myself, and play Words with Friends when I would be watching TV, or for a time limited session.  

Sometimes, I meet the challenge, and sometimes, I do not.