Latest Visa News

I have found my passport! I knew it had to be around here somewhere and sure enough, it was in one of the bookshelves downstairs. I have my CAS and I am waiting on the lady from the university to get back to me letting me know that she has all my financials worked out. Once I get confirmation from her, I can print it up and apply for my visa.

I am anxious about reentry into the UK but, as my brother keeps trying to assure me, I ought to have nothing to worry about, I have a valid student visa.

That is the latest news on this front at least.

I cannot enter the UK on a student visa until Aug. 26 at the earliest. It's already mid-july and I need to get those financials squared away soon as it takes 3-4 weeks to get a visa approved. I do hope to be able to fly out Aug. 28 as that seems to be the cheapest date to leave.

In other news, HP 7.2 shows tonight. I've got my ticket for the 3D 12:01 showing. I cannot wait!! I know I am going to cry though.

But it is now 1300 and I need to finish getting things ready for the maids who are coming anywhere from 0845-0900 tomorrow. Ouch. I don't think I'll be getting home until 0300 sometime. Whimper.

Anywhoo, that's all I have for t'day, t'week, t'month, :P

Much love

April 27, On the Farm Day III

It rained and it rained and it rained and it rained and it rained and then it stopped just long enough for the three of us to hop in the car to see the midwife. Speck decided she didn't want to move around much last night or this morning so Chia decided she was going to check with the midwife to make sure the fetal heart rate was up. It wasn't too much later after we called the midwife that Speck decided that she had tortured her mama enough and started moving around. The crazy child had changed positions inside her mother. But Speck is more than fine, her heart is beating well and though she isn't ready to be born tonight we might have a birth here in a week or so. Chia hopes that she comes on a Wednesday as that would give her daddy 12 days off instead of 10 as his 10 days would end on a friday and he'd get that weekend free. But Chia and I both think it'd be cool if she were born on May 1^st too. I supposed that she'll come when she's good and ready, no matter what her mama or her daddy might prefer. Babies are persnickety like that I have noticed.

There was a tornado warning for the area so we decided that we were going to stay put. There was no tornado but a couple of Californian women are not exactly prepared to face even the prospect of a tornado, but we did discuss it. Should we end up having one we've decided that we were going to toss all the clothes on the floor where the is a V in the walls and make a shield against the closest windows with the table on its side. I guess we could also make a tent out of the blankets but I suppose we don't have to worry too much about it.

C and I had fun with our morning chores while Chia was enjoying a hot shower. C has a tendency to help her while she showers and for some reason she doesn't feel as if she needs his help. So he helped me do the breakfast dishes. We had groats for breakfast this morning. Before I took my shower I soaked them in some hot, soapy water so that when I was ready to clean them the pan would be easy to get clean. C and I divided up the work. I washed each dish in the suds, rinsed them off in cool water and held each item over the drying rack. I would then as C if he could put the plate/bowl/cup/whatever into the rack. He took each item and happily helped me lower the item right where I had positioned it. Then I handed him a spoon, showed him where it went and asked if he could put the spoon there. Then I asked him if he could put the spoon with the other one and he put it in the same spot as the other spoon. Then I handed him a fork and asked him if he could put it in with the spoons. And he did. Once we were finished with the dishes we clapped and had a little celebration and then I asked him if he'd like to help me sweep.

His favorite toy has become the green green. Most adults might recognize it as a dust bin that has a long handle so it can be used without bending down or over. But he knows it as the green-green because it's green. He held it still for me while I swept the front area and then once I got the stuff from the floor into the dust bin I asked him if he could throw it away. He took it over to the garbage, lifted it and tried to get the dirt in the garbage but he needed a little help figuring out that he needed to turn it to get it to work properly. Then we swept the small kitchen area and this time he had no problems figuring out that he needed to turn it, he just couldn't quite finagle it enough to get it turned. Then we did more clapped and more praise was had and then when Chia got out of her shower, there was more praise. We had fun. I think I can honestly say that was the most fun cleaning I have ever had.

This afternoon was not without its own amusements. C was unable to go to the playground but a bed and two adults was all the playground he seemed to require. He climbed up and on and over and through and around everything. He wore us out long before he slowed down... even after his nap! Although we all slept for 2 hours and it was heavenly. Sleep has been interesting with all the thunder. But from what I have been told the storm has passed by us and we are due for a few days of sun and heat. Personally I like the thunder and the lightening but it's keeping C awake and with it his mama so they're ready for the sun to come.

I think we're headed back into town tomorrow. It gives us something to do, to be out and about. I hope to take some fun pictures while we're out. I took several fun pics of C and Chia in black and white today, a lot that are just so sweet that it'll make even a hard heart smile. It's pretty hard not to go awwww when you see a two year old boy kissing his mommy's pregnant belly. At least I don't think it is.

Chia has an odd craving for some chicken nuggets so we might hit the golden arches tomorrow and they has internet there so I will most likely be updating this then. I love and miss you all. And that includes my Coopaducks.

EHM

My name is Ein. At least, that's how C says my name. He is quite vocal and not at all shy about coming to me for anything he might want. Chia and I have already seemed to form a routine. Much like a cat, C is a huge help in the kitchen so one of us cooks while the other watches and entertains him while he sits at the table and eats snacks. And with the combined power of 2, both adults are actually able to eat an entire meal.

We arrived at the farm a bit after 3 and unpacked, had a snack and set up shop then we went to the playground by the Farm Store where C got to play around and Chia and I were able to check our mail and do stuff online. Then a little before 6 it was time to head home and get supper ready. I entertained C while Chia cooked some rice and vegetables. I actually ate some, though not all, and finished off the rest of the chicken tenders I had had from an all-nighter place my cousins had taken me to that the local Vanderbilt University students use instead of their library. There was plenty of rice left after dinner and I am sure that we'll have left-overs for dinner tonight.

The sun went down and with it we found ourselves heading towards bed as well. Chia and C had a bath and she enjoyed reveling in hot water while I dried him off and let him run around in his birthday suit. He was fine so long as he was able to check in on his mother during his bath. He's fine being with me but Mama has to be within sight.

It was warm and muggy all day yesterday and about 4 in the morning we had a huge thunder storm that woke everyone. The gloriousness of the storm was amazing though the thunder that boomed overhead made it hard to sleep as did the piercing lightening that was bright enough to see even through closed eyelids. Speck didn't really like the thunder it was that loud. I know I found it hard to sleep but eventually I managed to go back to sleep. I woke up at one point and noticed that it was light outside and I remember thinking, before I drifted off back to sleep, that C would wake up soon as Chia had told me he wakes up when the sun does.

Sure enough, not too much longer, I heard him wake up and with him Chia did. I hadn't planned on getting up so early and had every intention of sleeping in just a little longer. I hadn't gotten much sleep the night before, had a hard time getting to sleep and I thought I deserved at least another half hour of sleep. C, however, had different ideas about things and stood at the bottom of the stairs saying, “Ein, Ein, Ein, Ein, Ein,” over and over again until I acknowledged him. Once I answered he wished me good morning and I figured that if I didn't get my butt downstairs I'd be subject to him waking me up.

So I brushed my teeth, entertained him while his mother tried to make pancakes off of a finicky burner. Then I took a shower, while she tried to get him ready for the day. I watched him while Chia showered then, once we were all dressed and packed up, we went into Lawerenceburg, TN which is one of the closest towns to The Farm.

We were out the door and on the road by 9 AM... with a toddler. Yes, he got us up that early. We got into town about 10, looked to see what chinese food places there were as she was searching for a place that had Panda in the title but couldn't find any. We stopped off at Wal-Mart, got a few supplies and then we were hungry again and it was about 11 so we had chinese food for lunch. There was a chinese buffet and C had fun eating rice off of chopsticks.

Then it was time to come home. We got back a bit after noon, got resettled and then it was nap time. C is still not yet asleep but his mama is trying to get him to sleep. He was standing at the foot of the stairs calling me, probably to make sure I was still there. So we had a conversation and eventually Chia was able to pull him away.

Once we are up from our nap we'll probably head to the park where we'll play for a while. Chia and I will take turns checking email and watching C. And then, just about when the comp's battery has died and I have taken several dozen pictures that afternoon, well pack C back into his stroller and walk home and get ready for some supper. I have not yet worked on Mark's blanket though as I am reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. Part I are birth stories which are meant to combat the horror stories that women hear from women who've had births in hospital settings to show a woman that really, birthing is not a horror, pain-filled traumatic experience but an amazing one-if you do it correctly which is through a natural birth. I read a few of the stories then decided to skip most of them and went onto Part II. Which I am finding an interesting read. So far I'd highly recommend my pregnant friends to read it... okay so I only have 2 pregnant friends and one has already read it-in fact, it's her book.

It's currently 1320 and I don't think C is really wanting a nap as he is fussing. I can hear Chia speaking to him in a low, calm voice and he is responding to it.

As for me, I am ready for that nap. It is cool and breezy and the trees are murmuring gently. I can hear birds singing and calling to each other. I'd feel as if I were camping but I'm in a cabin instead of a tent. I have the windows up here wide open to allow as much as the cool, fresh air in as possible. This is what I love about being in the middle of nowhere, you can't hear the highway, or people in general, unless someone passes by. It almost feels as if you are a million miles from nowhere. The only thing that could make this better is if the cabin had more modern amenities.

As it is, not all the outlets work, which isn't all that big of a deal. The septic is very sensitive and can't handle copious amounts of toilet paper... joy. There's no internet in the cabin, which would be convenient. The Farm, however is huge and there are a lot of possibilities for hiking. I was going to bring a pair of keens but I forgot. Chia can't really hike anyway as the trails are a bit too steep for her.

But still, I am sure that tomorrow morning, instead of going into town, we'll take a nice long walk. Walking is good for all of us.

Until the next time, I love you all

EHM

The Farm

The Farm is in Summertown, TN about an hour and half from Nashville. It is warm and muggy but there is a slight breeze that is cooling things off a bit. About a quarter of a mile from the cabin is the farm store which has wifi. There is also a jungle gym here for children to play on. Tomorrow I hope to have pictures from today.

I have also met and enjoyed the company of my cousins, Caitlin, Meghan and Sean McKeighen. I am not too sure if TN is ready for 4 living and 1 dead McKeighen.

The cabin itself is very rustic and small and smells like it has been closed in and I am hoping that a few days of airing it out will get that stench out. There are two beds, one right next to the front door so you almost run the risk of hitting it when open it. Just inside is the dining table which, amazingly enough, sits 6. There is a very tiny kitchen and the fridge is just outside the kitchen itself. Again I will post pictures tomorrow as I haven't loaded them yet.

I will post more tomorrow. Love to you all,

EHM

At the Airport

Several days ago a good friend skyped me and asked if I couldn't travel to TN to stay with his wife, Chia while she enters the last few weeks of her pregnancy with kiddo #2 at The Farm in Summertown, TN. A week and a plane ticket later, I am sitting at the Sacramento International Aiport (SMF) waiting for my flight which should be boarding here soon.

I was originally scheduled to fly out of American Airlines at 1425 on Easter. I was to fly to Dallas and then, from there, to Nashville where my darling cousins would pick me up and let me crash on their couch for the night. Until I tried to check in this morning and discovered, to my very great dismay, that my flight was canceled. A quick internet search got me the 1800 number for AA and a kind lady got me onto a United flight that would send me to Denver and from there I'd head to Nashville (BNA).

The reason why the flight was canceled is because the crew never checked in. Oops. :) I am sure that they're stuck at another airport and were unable to get here. I doubt that they were unable to get out of their hotel.

So instead of heading to Terminal A I am at gate 36 in Terminal B. Boarding is supposed to commence at 1415 (1 minute from now) and is supposed to depart at 1245 but it looks like we might not be leaving until 1500.

On the way here I was quite anxious, and nervous and there is no reason for it to be honest. I'm staying in the Continental US but my last airplane trip ended in disaster.

I am sure that this time around I am not going to find myself detained.

And here is our plane!!! Yay! I am going to head out. I'll update the blog as frequently as I can.

Love to you all-

EHM

Til Death Do Us Part

This afternoon I was waiting for mom at Kaiser when I heard the soft, slow shuffle of feet and the clack of a cane approach from my right. I looked up as a woman no less than 80 walked up to the man who had been sitting on the other side of the corner just to my left. "I'm all done Sweetheart." She rested against her cane as she fished through her pocket with her right hand to pull out a gold bracelet she carefully placed onto her wrist. Her husband gathered up her purse and a plastic bag that held some paperwork and some medication. He rocked back and forth a few times before he was able to get to his feet while she waited patiently for him to get vertical. I didn't hear the words they spoke back and forth for I was too buys admiring them. How long have they been bound together by love and a promise signified by a gold band on their left hand? They were a beautiful thing to watch. There was a slight clatter as she dropped her cane. Her husband tried to bend down to pick it up for her but I jumped up and picked it up myself. They both thanked me and I replied that I'm young and limber. God bless this woman, she looks at me with a twinkle in her eye and asks, "Are you saying I'm old?" I laughed and I said, "well, you're slightly older than me." She looks haughty as she quips, "only by a few years I'm sure." I grinned as her husband was standing by and just smiling. "Of course, " I said back, as if the mere thought of her being old never entered my mind, "why, you're old enough to be my big sister!" She laughed in appreciation and they both bade me a good day.

They both left but just a bit later Mom came out and we were ready to go. We were right behind these two lovebirds when he stopped, stooped all the way over to pick up a penny. It made me smile. He carefully put it into his pocket before taking his wife's hand. They were both hunched over with the weight of their years. I stopped to rifle through my bag to look for my camera. They were shambling before me, their fingers interlocked as if to defy that love belongs to those young enough to waste it. Their hands were work hardened, spotted with age and wrinkled and yet it was perhaps one of the most beautiful things I have seen in a very long time.

That is what people want, a love that really does last a lifetime and it's love like that that gives us young 'uns the hope that maybe,just maybe love really can, in fact, last a whole life long.

Big Sister

Our pets often become our children, especially when we are sorely lacking in that department. And so, whether we intend or not, we have a tendency to anthropomorphize our pets. It gets harder when your pet really does think she is a human. Cooper looks at me as if I have just said something funny when I remind her that she is a dog.

I think, however, that there ought to be some understanding for us poor besotted fools who tend to make our pets our children because well... they act like children.

For the last four years in which I've had Cooper she's been an only child and she liked it. She tolerated the cats but I am her mommy and only her mommy and I may be no one else's mommy. She doesn't like to share. And she's never had to. Things were easy because if she wanted attention from me, there was no competition. Things are not exactly the same with her cousins.

Don't get me wrong, she likes having her cousins about. She plays with them and they are helping her explore her inner dog, something that has been sorely lacking. And she gets more help than she really wants from Roxie.

Now, Roxie is a big sister and like all big sisters, she feels as if she must keep her sister in check. On more than one occasion I'll have let the girls outside to go potty before bed. If Kai has seen a cat then she will stay outside to watch for the elusive feline. This usually requires me calling her two or three times before she finally listens. And this is where Roxie reminds me of every big sister I have ever known.

Big sisters feel as if they must take on the role of parent. Why, I dunno. I know that, on more than one occasion my own sister felt as if she needed to become the parent for whatever reason. It drove my brother and me crazy. Roxie does the same thing. If I have called Kai to come inside Roxie will go out and try and bring Kai back in. I can almost hear her yelling at Kai to come in because Aunty said so. And in true little sister fashion, Kai ignored her sister and argues with her the entire way in.

What is really amusing to me is when I tell Kai it's time to come in and Roxie goes outside, tries to grab Kai's neck to bring her in and only when she's shepherded her sister back inside will she look up at me as if to say, See Aunty, I brought her in for you. Silly Roxie. I always thank her but tell her I don't need her to boss her sister around.

What really makes me laugh is when Roxie tries to get Cooper to follow my orders. Now, Cooper's a good dog and we have an understanding. If I call for her in a certain tone she can elect to come or not. It might be her loss but hey, a warm bed all by one's self is a warm bed without anyone to bother her. Sometimes I call her and it's an order, others I call her because she's in big trouble. She usually hides when I use the MOM tone. But Roxie, being a big sister, will sometimes go and fetch her cousin.

Like sisters, I can almost hear the two cousins arguing. Roxie will try and herd Cooper towards me but Coops won't suffer that. So they argue. Loudly. Incessantly. And then I have to yell at the both of them to be quiet. I sometimes threaten to beat them with the biggest stick they can find but they don't seem too concerned.

At bed time Kai will instigate play time with Cooper. She tried with Roxie but she just ignores her little sister. Cooper and Kai snarl and growl and make all sorts of mock fighting noises as they dance and jump and prance and make general nuisance of themselves. Which makes me yell at them to stop it! I'm usually yelling at Coops since she is the elder of the two. At times I yell at them to get off the bed.

Roxie will hold herself very still as if to say, look at me, I'm a good girl. And because she is, she gets to stay up. I don't think either Coops or Kai notice. Kai will jump back up into the bed and race towards me as I am base. Cooper is a step behind her waiting for her to get away from me where she can continue her assault. And Roxie just sits there as if she can show them proper behavior.

Silly girl. I often think that she would love to rough house with Coops and Kai but she's too busy trying to be the good and proper child, to set the standard of behavior by which all other siblings will be measured. And even as I pet her and tell her she's a good girl I laugh. She's definitely a big sister all right.

Iron Constitution & Paper Towels

When it comes to canine children, I think I have it fairly easy. All things considered. My Cooper is properly house trained and she loves her mommy and, after 3 solid years of rearing, she is a good girl I have no problem letting her off leash even at a friend's house. I can also give her just about anything and she'll eat it. My baby isn't exactly a picky eater.

She also has an iron constitution.

Many pet parents have strict diets for their children. I have good friends who have a kitty who requires a very strict diet. I can feed Cooper anything. Though she doesn't like it, she is able to eat the cheapest dog food or the most expensive stuff on the market. Sure, she would love to have fresh meat for each meal but I don't have the money for that. She didn't exactly pick a rich mommy. Several years ago she even ate all but a few slices of a large salami and pepperoni pizza.

Many people supposed that she would toss it up. She didn't. I have never seen her throw up anything she has eaten.

Unlike her cousins.

My sister and I ordered some chinese food the other day. Last night I took the rest of the meat and allowed the dogs to help themselves to the remaining vegetables. They gobbled it up in appreciation. The food didn't agree with them. Both Roxie and Kai rejected their meal. Just about the same time. Roxie threw up in three different locations, including mom's $130 Ikea couch. Kai just chose to soil a blanket that happened to have been on mom's other $130 Ikea couch. Yes Mom, they've been cleaned up.

Only once I have seen to the girls did I run upstairs to check on Cooper who was curled up under the blankets on my bed. She wasn't exactly pleased to have me disturb her.

She also has shown no signs of rejecting her treat from last night.

But, a half roll of paper towels and a load of laundry later, all three girls are now curled up recharging. Roxie is on the floor at my feet, Coops is on the Lazy Boy and Kai is tucked up under my arm.

I am just glad I didn't need to clean up after myself. After all, I am not exactly known for my iron constitution.

Three Dog Night

I always wanted three kids. As in human children. I have none. But I do have a dog, Cooper. And boy it took a lot of time, effort and emotion getting her to be a solid citizen and my work still isn't done-not by half. She can always improve her manners.

Recently I have sort of become the caretaker for my aunt's two dogs: Roxie and Kai. Roxie is a redhead and dumb as a brick but sweet. She's always really bad about putting her nose where it does not belong. I'm constantly having to yell at her to get away from food. And then there's Kai who is a 6 month old chihuahua mix and has a bladder problem. More like, she has no concept that all peeing and pooping is something to be done outside and only outside. She drives me crazy, especially when I come from being gone all day long and find that she's peed on my bed. She's lucky I haven't killed her yet. And both dogs shred anything. Kleenex, paper towels, boxes, books. Yes, books.

They're both lucky I have not killed them yet.

But because of Roxie Cooper is acting more like a dog. She's fetched 4 times now! And we're so proud. She plays with other dogs. Granted Kai has become her favorite toy but... she's playing.

I always did want three children. Mainly because of the great sibling dynamics it creates but now I have a better appreciation for parents of 1 kid... it's easier... might not be as challenging as 2 or 3 but (depending on the child) easier.

I have often asked how dogs and toddlers are different and the prime difference i can think of is that toddlers grow up... dogs don't. You also don't have to change a dog's diaper. However, like toddlers, my dogs do have regular nap time. They will play until about 2 when they all just lie down and nap. No matter what they are doing, all three of them lie down for a nice nap all on their own accord. They sleep for about an hour then get up and do whatever. And then, about 8PM they go down for another nap. They sleep for about an hour and then it's time to pee and they come back in, play a bit and settle down for bed by 10.

It is a bright and beautiful day today and if I can get the gumption to get up maybe Libbie and I can take the girls to the dog park. We have three balls, three dogs and a ball launcher. Could be fun.

A New Year

A New Year has arrived and with it a new decade. I am sure the usual has already been said and all the same resolutions that no one plans on keeping past February have already been made and some of them already broken.

I know that I have a few resolutions myself and, believe it or not, I actually intend on keeping them. Happily for me, mine don't require me to get up at 0 dark 30 and pretend I enjoy running. Nah, I know me better than that-when it comes to exercise I'm not capable of kicking my own ass and need someone to do it for me. But, like many out there, it is my intent on loosing some of the weight I have managed to add and get into some shape in the meantime. I have no interest in running a 5K, 10K, half or even full marathon and there mere idea of doing so makes me groan and whimper. I have done a 5K and my lovely sister didn't understand why I wasn't all juiced from it.

My second intent is to continue with my education. Of course, this was my plan last year but... things didn't quite work out. I have hopes to get to the UK in March but my CAS for the 2011/12 school year won't arrive until May. I nearly pulled all my hair out going through this process once... I just hope I don't loose my sanity going through it all a second time. It is, however, all for a good cause. And He of whom I speak know I am referring to him.

As for the rest, well, let's just say that I also intend on maintaining everything I planned on doing.

Pictures!

The rain of the last few weeks have managed to produce some really amazing colors of green in the forest. These are some surreal colors and remind me of the greens from LOTR. It is simply beautiful but, I am sure you have enough with words and want to see some pictures! I haven't taken too many yet because I have been pretty much home bound but here are a few from these last few weeks.

These first four pictures are from May 22. It snowed and it snowed for several days off and on. I had thought I was going to miss the snows for this year but Yellowstone has had a few surprises for us!

But now I shall shut up and give you the promised pictures.

We had to close the road a few times due to snow on Sylvan Pass. People were not exactly happy about that but then, as I said-mountains breed their own weather.
And this is me, proof that I was in the middle of all this wonderful snow.
The mountain to the north of us. Just last summer that was filled with smoke from the Castle Fire.
And I love this snow line. You can tell where there was precipitation but one point is cold enough for snow and just below it is all rain.

And this is the first bison in the meadow. As you can tell the green shoots are just now coming up in this picture. Our meadow has yet to turn into marsh here but it is coming.
Memorial Day Dennis raised a new flag. Our old one was two years old, smelled funny and shall be given a proper send off.
And I love how these low lying clouds just sit there about the mountain. This happens whenever it rains. Just a beautiful effect.
And this is the tributary/cascade/whatever that had the mud flow.
same tributary, other side
and this is the meadow where it all runs into.
Ephemeral cascades and waterfalls form during the spring melt and when the rains fall.
An ephemeral water fall.
And the Shoshone River that is right next to us. It got high.
really high.
and it ran very fast!
and here is the beginning of our meadow/marsh
And this is the path that leads home. And no there are no winnows in there.
These crows were around for several days eating all the large, fat, exposed worms.
And one day I am at home and Coops just starts woofing so I decide to let her out to see what was amiss and there were 4 huge bull bison in the area. I took the following pics from the front door. And yes mark... I was not always inside the screen door when I took these but I did make sure I was far enough away. I was being careful.


















Coops had to go to this spot and smell it.




On Monday we had a cookout and it proved to be a bright and beautiful day.
There were a few snacks before the grub came one but the following takes the cake.
There are several people of Norwegian decent who are living at the east gate now and they all appreciated this. If you want to know what it means you need to ask Merethe. I have been told that it is the S word.

Anyway that is all for now. I am hoping to go into Billings in a few weeks to go to Costco. But DC is on sale, 24 pack of DC for $5 at wal-mart right now. I am SO stocking up! You really can't beat that price. You can't.

June

Apparently I have been lax in updating so I shall make some small attempt so that those whom I love will stop hounding me...

May ended without much fanfare. We hoisted a new flag on Memorial Day. Our old one was two years old and it is now in Mammoth where it will be retired with all the dignity it deserves. I took pictures but I have yet to upload them from the camera. Next time I am in Cody I shall remember to post pictures.

June came and with it Spring decided to well... spring. The grass in the meadow has slowly turned from dead and wilted grass pressed down with the weight of winter snow to small, green shoots that are already growing quite fast. It is very easy to go about one's day thinking, I'll take a picture of this tomorrow until those tomorrows have come and gone and that which you wanted to capture is gone for yet another year. I carry my camera in my bag with me at all times so I really have no excuse.

With the snow melt and the rains the river beside us is high and swift. I have seen large tree trunks flowing down the river on more than one occasion. Ephemeral water falls are once more flowing. There is a small cascade, I suppose you can call it, between the two housing units. For most of the year it is dry but it is alive with rushing water now and just yesterday it was dark with muddy water from a small mudslide. That was interesting. It could have been much worse but thankfully it wasn't and the Lake Maintenance crew came and cleared it up and then shored it up. The area now smells of good, clean dirt and rushing water. It is not an unpleasant scent. And though I do have pictures of this cascade, I do not have any of it when it was muddy and the maintenance crew was too quick to get it cleaned up before I could take a picture of it. Ah well.

And for us Spring has mostly meant rain and lots of it. It has rained every day for nearly a week. We were even getting reports of possible flash flooding in lower elevations. Our river has gotten high but not high enough to threaten us. It would take a lot more rain and more snow melt to make it not only run its banks but rise high enough to come up to the housing units. But still, it is amazing how high and how fast the river is running. And yes, I did take pictures of the river.

And between the rain, the snow melt, our meadow has become a marshy area where the faint of heart dare not tread-and those who do not have water proof boots. We have two paths that lead from the entry station. One leads to the housing units and the second leads to the ranger station and the out buildings. The path that leads to the housing units is not only covered in an inch of water but it has a current! I keep expecting to see minnows. But it is nothing compared to the path that leads the other way. I have a pair of keens that I have borrowed (read: stolen) from my mother and I have used to them to go wading through the water covering the path. It came up to my calves. I am glad I have water proof boots and a pair of solid water shoes.

Cooper, the dog who hates being in water, has fallen in love with the marshy meadow. I was showing some co-workers how to do the afternoon fire weather and I let Coops run about the meadow. She got wet and she had fun. At one point I was walking through the water to go back to the entry station and she was on the other side of the meadow. I called to her and she came bounding (literally) to me. She choose to go through the wettest part of the meadow to get to me. She has figured out less watery paths but she chose to go through the marsh. She got wet and smelly. She also got a bath. She does not like baths but her mommy hates that wet dog smell even more. Coops got a bath and she got treats then she went for a pee walk, she likes her pee walks. She is not suffering.

And for those who know about my car yes, it too has flooded again. I am hoping that we'll have nice, warm weather so it will dry up. It was quite lovely yesterday. The sun was out, the clouds were a million miles away and it was warm without being hot and sunny without being bright. It was a beautiful spring day. It was a day to make me wish I had a porch where I could just curl up on a couch and read. I don't really have a porch, nor does it face the sun. Even if it was good for sitting out in the sun, I have no couch I could drag out there.

Much has happened and then not much has. We have started reporting our numbers for the afternoon fire weather. We collect and report the highs and low temperatures as well as the relative humidity from 1300-1300 to help the park determine the risk of fire throughout the park. It is really cool science that is used not only by the park but by universities and the weather service. We've had to close the pass, we've had to open it. And there is even talk of not only more rain on the horizon, not including the small amount we got this afternoon, but of snow this weekend. If we get snow then I am very glad I have a pair of winter trousers to wear. It is amazing how warm you can be with a pair of winter trousers and 4 layers of insulation.

But the day is done and with it the sun is heading ever more westward and soon it shall be dark and I do not really like walking in the dark here where all sorts of wildlife may come out of the mountains. And I think Coops smells a mouse and she is going crazy because she can't get to it.

Until later then-

EHM

That was odd

The temperature hovered around freezing, warming up to almost not freezing then dropping back down to freezing. It snowed, it was sunny, it snowed like the dickens, making everything white and pretty, then it stopped snowing, the sun came out and melted all the white and then it did it all over again.

Yesterday. In May. At the end of May. In fact, Sylvan Pass was closed from about 7 to almost 11 yesterday. Well, they had to plow it, then the plow broke down and then there was low visibility but still... We had a line of cars a mile back waiting for us to open.

Weird.

And this morning Coops and I woke up to a very light brushing of powder on the ground. It is bright, clear and crisp and very cold. It's a perfect autum day in spring. And though I was bundled up in layers (long sleeved shirst, vest, sweater and finally a fleece jacket) I enjoyed it a lot.

Traffic is still slow but this coming weekend is memorial day weekend and though I get holiday pay (score) the traffic should be scary bad. Of course, it won't be anything like what we've had during the summer or will have (I hope) at least I have the mad skilz to deal with it. I just wish we had more than 3 people working that day. oye. But more than that, I will be wishing I were celebrating the holiday with my family.

But we have a new flag and we will be raising it for the first time on memorial day so I am going to be down there, in uniform to witness it. I am going to ask dennis if I can have the old flag. He said that he is going to send it up to mammoth to be retired properly but I think I would like to bring it to hull with me when I come.

But there will be pictures from the flag raising next monday.

Until next time-

WHOOHOO!

Just found out today that I got accepted to the University of Hull!

I am beyond excited.

Of course now this means I have to find some way to pay for it, get coops able to go to the UK, get my visa, get a good copy of my passport and send it to the university...

Oooh boy.

Here!

I am currently sitting in the Library in Cody, WY and checking up on the vast numbers of emails and waiting for a certain english bloke to come onto skype (who emailed me while I was sitting here, not realizing it and telling me he was going to take a nap-of all the luck).

I got to the east gate a little before 1700 MST and I did something amazing (almost) I not only unloaded the car but I put everything away! Okay, I did neglect to put away the stuff in the bathroom but I did do that first thing this morning, seeing as I really needed brush my teeth and take a shower. I even made my bed, which has already been upset as I slept in the freshly made bed and put the clothes I was wearing into the laundry basket.

Banner start. The real question is, how long can I keep everything this tidy. I am determined to prove that I can change and not be the slob I normally am. Hey, the first step to recovery is acceptance right? And no, I am not addicted to Diet Coke, it's just a joyous thing I drink during breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, lunch, dinner then supper. And just because I sometimes have Diet Coke for second breakfast, dinner and elevenses doesn't mean I have a problem or anything...

And somehow I have, once again, gotten off topic.

Another bad habit.

But yes, for all of you who were waiting for word, I arrived safe and sound, thank you.

And now, because that english guy isn't online I think I am going to close up shop,, get a tasty sandwich from the bistro in the library (I prefer my sandwiches to be toasted) and go and visit some friends I have here in town, do some grocery shopping as, hi, there is no food then return home.

I'll update as and when I can. No pics yet, been too busy driving although with the clouds covering the mountains, beautiful.

On the road again!

Yep, for the third year in a row I shall be returning to the East Gate at Yellowstone. I still don't know if I am going to be following that with a graduate course in Hull because the letter has not yet arrived. I am assuming that it will arrive tomorrow morning.

But, as I will not be home, I shall depend on my mother to let me know.

And I shall not be home because by the time the mail arrives I should be long gone and driving through Nevada and heading east to YELL.

There are a few parts of the park I have not seen (read: a few parts that don't require hiking/backpacking) that I hope to be able to get to this year. I am hoping to be able to get in some hiking this year but, as I have a dog, it is very hard to do that.

As always I shall try and keep you all up to date with my ramblings and photos.

And if you're reading this then you're probably family or good friends so I shall say I love you and I'll talk to you later

EHM

Nothing, I have nothing!

I have been in CA since Oct and have done absolutely nothing fun or exciting or even remotely newsworthy.

Yes, my life is just that boring.

I am really hoping to be able to add some stuff here in a bit though. I am currently waiting to see if get accepted into Hull Uni. Yeah, I said Hull. If you know what I am talking about then yes, I do know where it is, yes I do know what it is, yes I know about Hull Uni. If you don't know what Hull is, it is the Fresno of England. Yeah, that exciting.

But I have a really good friend who lives there so hey, free rent right! :D

When Bison Play Hoodlum...

...This is what you get.

Yes, bison really did try and jump the fence earlier this fall. I wasn't around to see it but as you can tell, grace is not their forte.

All Quiet on the Eastern Front

It is almost 0730 and I am all alone. I opened this morning and I am glad I did, not because it means I get off at 1600 but because it was a very quiet and beautiful morning to open. I arrived and the barricades to the gate were already closed which means that LE closed the roads up to Sylvan Pass as they have determined it to be too dangerous for traffic until a plow can come through and open the roads.
So I have this entire world all to myself, at least until Penny comes in at 0800. The mountains all around me are covered in a layer of snow and the tops of them are hidden due to a very dense fog bank. Even Sleeping Giant, always a guardian in the Eastern Sky is hidden as he sleeps, the base of his mountain white but for a few bare spots where rock and tree seem impervious to the snow.

Our lampposts have a small coasting of the snow on them as well as do our building and the roof the of gate. It snowed last night and then, sometime during the night the snow froze and there is a coating of ice all over the roads and sidewalks. It makes walking somewhat treacherous but I don't mind it. I saw prints in the snow, some of them were mine from last night and others were from vehicles and even an animal. I saw Bob the Fox's paw prints in the snow so obviously he has already ben out and about to find his breakfast.

One thing I like about the snow is that it makes everything very hushed and quiet until people come along and ruin the serenity of the place. It feels like winter to me and I have to work very hard not to sing christmas carols while my entire world is covered in snow and ice. I do love it. I can't wait for my lunch break in 4 hours so Cooper can go outside and run, jump and play in the snow. I love watching her enjoy the snow almost as much as she loves playing in the snow.

I wish I could find the battery charger to my camera so I could charge my batter and take pictures of this because it is just stunning.

And now that the sun is up and the world is probably waking and getting to work I have a lot of phone calls I need to make. Whenever our gate closes for any reason we have about 20 calls to make to let various people know that Sylvan Pass is closed for the forseable future. And then, when it opens again we have to call all those people back and let them know it's open again.

To be honest, I like it best when it's snowy like this and Sylvan is closed, we get so few people coming up and it's sort of like a celebration here.

Anyway, off to work I go.

Love you,

Ehm

Smarties... and the dog

I remember quite fondly as children we would get a host of Smarties candies in our Halloween bags (we used pillowcases as children) and be not a little dissapointed because who wanted Smarties when there were all sorts of other fun candies like chocolate bars and snickers and peanut butter cups and butterfingers? The same rule applied to all those boring and stupid things like wax teeth. What the heck am I supossed to do with wax vampire teeth? They went into the garbage, not like you can suck on them like a sucker. Comepletely useless.

But I am onlder now and enjoy the candy as I had only marginally in my youth. So much so that the last time I found myself in the Dollar Tree (should be renamed the most awesomest store) and found a bag of them and quite happily tossed it into the little carrying things stores have in lieu of a cart. They have a similar sweet and sour that one finds in Sweet Tarts, another candy that I do enjoy and one that was always welcome in our Halloween bags. But it appears as if I am not the only in my current family of 2 who enjoys them.

Indeed, on more than on occasion I would return home from work or for lunch to discover the little plastic wrappers that surround the small, round candies. Now, I am not exactly a neat-freak nor am I one who is overly concerned about consistent cleanliness, as my family would heartily agree. As a matter of fact, if one were being truly honest one might even call me a slob (and already my sister's head is bobbing like one of those stupid bobble heads you see in people's cars and, if I know my sister she has a huge shit-eating grin on her face (sorry mom) while she is trying hard not to laugh) and so I am not very surprised to see wrappers or paper towles or kleenex on the floor. To be fair I do get help in this regard as Cooper frequently takes such paper products out of my trash and delights in tearing them up.

But one day I had the bag of candy sitting open upon the couch and I was sitting next to it either reading or watching a movie when my attention is diverted by the sound of a plastic wrapper being manipulated. I paused and heard the crinkle of plastic again, got down on my knees and looked under the coffee table I have stuck in the corner upon which sits the computer my brother lent to me (it's still not turning on) and there lay Cooper with some Smarties in her paws as she was trying to undo the wrapper to eat the candy inside.

Now I had two emotions at this point. The first was the emotion she saw and that was the infuratied COOPER! BAD GIRL! I immediately took the candy away from her and smacked her on the nose when she dared to growl at me. But as I was throwing away her prize I thought it was quite funny that the likes Smarties so much she is willing to sneak in and steal some when my attention is otherwise diverted. And I have to say that I am mightly impressed that she snuck some candy out of the bag that was sitting right next to me so stealthily that I didn't even notice until she was eating it.

And so now, whenever I open a roll of Smarties Cooper is front and center silently begging me for some as if I had, in my hand, her favorite treat. Maybe they are.

But now I have just one question, one I am sure children who have ever gotten Smarties for Halloween have asked... does eating Smarties make her smarter??

Who knows.