Back to work after so much action

My stuff made it, somehow, in a very ghetto Budget moving truck from MI to my new apartment.

Phew.

Then my friend tells me she is renting out her place up here in Estes for the same price, everything included. Timing is impeccable.

Took Dad to the airport today. Tim, a trails guy, helped him and I unpack everything. What a lifesaver! We're going to the rodeo this weekend. Yeah, we're having fun.

BUT, I am tired. Going to grab a brew with Cisco now. Ahhh, relaxation! So much to type later... and to UNPACK... Staying in Estes for now.

By the way, did you know that in Oakland County, MI (where I used to live), the road commission found the bones of a Mastadon?!

How cool is that.

Whirlwind week/weekend!

I'm in MI right now! If you didn't go to 5th Avenue last night, SHAME ON YOU! We had fun without you! It was so great to see those guys that showed up, listen to Killer Flamingos and dance to my Killers song!! Even Linda got footloose, ha ha!

The past week with my parents in town in CO was just busy and I've been sick on and off so it's been nuts... Then our marathon drive back to MI so I can party and pack up everything and drive right back the way I came on Sunday... Stressed! So much to do and so many people to see! Pretty much the only way I will get to see anybody is if A. You help me load my truck or B. You come to Jess' Hawaiian BBQ on Saturday!

Time to get crackin'! No time for this hangover! :) Ha ha yeah it was good times last night!

Photos while I have a chance

Here are the photos from: Finch Lake Trail (not too exciting), Old Fall River Road, and other random stuff. A nice perk to working for the park is that we get to go places that aren't yet open to the public, like Old Fall River Road. They open the road around 4th of July weekend and keep it open until October. It's a beautiful 8 mile one-way drive up a steep winding dirt road, which means once it's open, it's always very busy. Cisco and I had to do our hazard tree survey and we almost had the whole road to ourselves, besides the roads guys that are preparing it for the weekend. I cut down all the immediate hazards and we were supposed to remove the lower priority ones today, but Cisco went home sick and I left early to go to the doctors! Ear infection! No insurance! Expensive!

I've got hot plans tonight so I figured I'd update while I have a chance! Photos of bighorn and baby elk! Everybody loves baby animals!

Adventure! Cross country travel! Family! Hawaiian BBQ! Flyfishing!

So many things are happening in my life right now, I don't even know where to begin!

First, we'll start with my rescue story of the week. Our poor volunteer Sam (23 yrs old) got lost this weekend! And I don't just mean sortof lost - he had to stay overnight without any gear in 30-40 degree weather and had 6 dog teams, a helicopter and a ton of people looking for him. Fortunately, he was not hurt and did the right thing - once he realized he lost his hiking partner (they were tracking bighorn), he stayed in one place. He said the only thing he had was a space blanket (one of those heat-insulating aluminum tarps). Needless to say we are AGAIN changing some backcountry protocols - for example, there will be random checks of backcountry traveling employees' bags, and if they are missing a radio or map, they could be FIRED. They take this very seriously. I don't think he'll be doing any more sheep surveys though!

The weekend was great - we went to the Hi Drive House for Bill's Going Away party... and Bill wasn't there! I guess he had to leave for family stuff?? (Bill, I know you read this - what happened?!) But that's ok, we had a great time in his honor anyway and eventually made it downtown to party some more. I just might have a new motorcycle riding buddy too! We'll see how that turns out.

My family will be here Thursday! I am so excited. I planned an exciting itinerary for us - flyfishing, camping in the best campsite in the entire campground (it pays to know campground rangers, ha ha!), golf for the boys, maybe a surprise for my Mom, downhill bike riding, fireworks, hiking - I am going to keep them busy! It is going to be so good to see them. Then I am riding back to MI with them so I can see everybody! Here's what I want to do: 5th Ave in Novi on Thurs (for Killer Flamingos!) if I am home/awake still, or on Friday night; Friday afternoon I'm hopefully going out with my Novi cityworker friends if they remember (they're getting old! Don't party like they used to! ha ha) and then Saturday Jess is throwing a Hawaiian BBQ!! Whip your grass skirts and coconuts out of the closet, we're roasting us a wild boar! ;)  Maybe not, but I'll make sure there are Mai Tais! At some point between all my social activites, I have to pack... Details, details!

Guess my dad is driving back to CO with me. Should be fun, he's never been out here before! I wonder how many times he will lecture me about hitting an elk or a deer, or getting bitten by snakes? ;)  I can't wait to see his face when we drive up Trail Ridge Road, with cliffs dropping off on both sides! Hee hee.

And somewhere in all this fun and excitement, I will move from Estes Park to my sweet apartment in the foothills and maybe get a dog! So much going on!

On top of all that, I've been daydreaming about what I am going to do this winter. I don't NEED a full time job with benefits - I am happy and live well making as much money as I do now, so hey why not work for a ski resort? Or maybe go on that trip to Hawaii with Doug and Sandy after all? Heck, I could volunteer at Haleakala and get free housing and a small stipend while doing turtle surveys! Mark wants to visit haunted places in Ireland, and Bronson is in Alaska for a little while longer... The possibilities are endless! In any case, I'll at least make it to Flagstaff to visit Maria, Seattle to see Brian and Melissa, and Montana to visit my wildlife refuge family! Plus, my new motorcycle buddy bought property in Wrangell  - St. Elias National Park in Alaska and is in the middle of building his own log cabin in McCarthy. Maybe I'll just have to stop up there and help cut down some trees or something. :)

I'm sure my mom is reading this and just thinking "Medical benefits! You NEED medical benefits!"

Anyway that's all for now, obviously lots going on and I'm super happy and excited for the next couple weeks!  I'm so excited, I even managed to force myself to go on a trail run... and eat a slice of cheesecake when I finished. ;)

Hope to see everybody at the Hawaiian BBQ or 5th Ave or something! If you don't know what/when it is, just drop me an email!

These photos are from last week - the clouds settled in the valleys and we drove through and then ABOVE them. I wish I had my good camera, because they would have made for amazing pictures!

Friendship ala Vixens

Jess sent me this this email and it's just too funny and a little bit too honest. ;)

"True Friendship - None of that Sissy Crap!

Are you tired of those sissy "friendship" poems that always sound good, but never actually come close to reality? Well, here is a series of promises that actually speak of true friendship. You will see no cutesy little smiley faces on this card - just the stone cold truth of our great friendship.


1. When you are sad -- I will help you get drunk and plot revenge against the sorry bastard who made you sad.


2. When you are blue -- I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.


3. When you smile -- I will know you finally got laid.


4. When you are scared -- I will rag on you about it every chance I get.


5. When you are worried -- I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining.


6. When you are confused -- I will use little words.


7. When you are sick -- Stay the hell away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever you have.


8. When you fall -- I will point and laugh at your clumsy ass.


9. This is my oath..... I pledge it to the end. "Why?" you may ask; "Because you are my friend".

Friendship is like peeing your pants, everyone can see it, but only you can feel the true warmth.
And always remember....when life hands you Lemons, ask for tequila and salt and call me over !!!!!"

What a friend! ;)