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 |   Theses are my thoughts and ramblings as I forge my way through this thing they call life. |
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These are my thoughts and ramblings as I forge my way through this thing they call Life. I blog with these groups:     "Blogging Circle of Friends "  [E] 
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Welcome To My Reality - Week EIGHTY-SEVEN August 17th - August 23rd, 2015 2.Where do you consider to be home? Is it the place you live now? The place you grew up? Where your heart longs to visit? Where is home? Home used to be my Grandparent's farm - I say 'used to be' because my aunt just recently sold it to a younger family. The people who were using the land have retired and decisions had to be made... Next week my mother and I will be going up for a 50th Wedding Anniversary and we plan on heading out to see the farm one last time... it will be sad. A neglected little homestead.... but when I was small, it was a place of unconditional love and acceptance. The place my Gramzie lived. It didn't matter how cruel or unsettling the rest of the world could be, the farm was off the grid - literally. No electricity, no indoor plumbing, no modern conveniences of any kind. It was wood stove and the little pink potty (I did not like using the big old outhouse - it was buggy and smelled horrid). I was free to be me and I was loved despite my little eccentricities. It will remain my home in my heart. My heart is still there in those memories... it will always be. If I really think about it home is my family. We are oddly similar despite our differences. And it is those odd similarities that make me feel 'normal'. My own house is not a home.... not with things going roughly, as of late. My childhood home burned down a couple of years after it was sold - the oil furnace gave up the ghost and took the house with it. Too many sad memories lived there. 3.Tell us about an issue or weakness that you have worked on or resolved. Maybe you were terrible with homework at school, but now you always meet deadlines. Maybe you always had trouble getting up in the morning but now bounce out of bed. Maybe you never ate your vegetables but now you do! Share something about yourself that you've improved over the years. As a child I was such a perfectionist that I would drive myself into a mad frenzy if I could not solve a particular math problem or do my homework just right. I would get so upset that my mother would ell me to leave it for a bit.... that would only make me more angry. Now, I am much more laid back.... Nanowrimo has helped. Writing without the inner editor there to foil your every word. I am not sure when I made the transition... maybe it was getting older and realizing that taking a break from something was a good idea. Maybe it was not being able to attain perfection and the realization that I was not capable of meeting certain standards. I never seemed to be able to make my mother happy when I was little.... what I did not realize was... it was not my job. I could make her laugh, but my Dad had made her very unhappy and only she could get over his betrayal. It was not my job. I think my perfection issues came to the surface around the time my parents separated... my eight year old brain internalized their separation as my concern.... something I had done. If I was perfect, they would be okay and get back together. Silly thinking, I know, but I also know children internalize their parents issues. Even this is a new revelation to me as I write this.... When did my perfection issues fade.... probably after those wounds imbedded themselves in my psyche.... or after my father died of cancer - no chance for reconciliation then. Now I take a healthier view of myself. I believe there is no such thing as normal or perfection. There are only varying degrees and doing a good job does not mean killing myself with anger issues. I let it go and reassess. Improvements can be made over time. I honestly believe I wrote myself into this view. When I was a child, my stories where about perfect children and families.... now my characters have flaws and eccentricities that make them human and still loveable. I have learned - a first draft is just that, the first draft - rubbish, with hopefully some redeeming qualities that can be refined and distilled into a good story.... over time and with loving attention. 4.Tell us about a teacher who has stayed in your memory, for good reasons or bad. Even better, tell us about one teacher you have good memories of, and one that you have bad memories of. This is easy. My favourite teacher was Mr. Key in grade 7 and 8. He had faith in me. Saw me as a vital member of his class. I felt special and important and worked to make sure I did not disappoint him. I am not sure what it was about him... he was just so real and approachable. He liked to tell jokes and often did at the beginning of class. He wrote in my yearbook that he could always count on me to let him know it was time to get on to the serious stuff. Another thing he did, and I am so glad of this, was he had us keep a journal. Given that my Dad had died the year before this was a great way for me to share my thoughts and ideas in a safe space. He respected my thoughts and read what I allowed him. He marked these, but only in how much he determined we put into them. I think this is what made him so special. He listened, he read and he understood... and for a t'ween going through a rough patch he was a guiding light. Many of my childhood friends name him as a favourite. Teachers I had issues with - also easy. Mrs. Moore. Grade 3. She once gave the whole class the punishment of writing out the first page of the dictionary because someone had disrupted class and nobody owned up to it. This did not sit with my sense of fairness. I don't know who it was but I doubt I would have said if I did, but I still thought it was unfair. I think she had hoped someone would confess if she did this. It only made me see her as a mean older lady. In my own teaching I want very much to shine like Mr. Key and let my students know they are all important to me. 5.Do you have a good luck charm? What is it? If not, have you ever found yourself doing something (like knocking on wood) regardless of whether you believe the superstition or not? I knock on wood. I avoid cracks at times - though when I was 13 I hit every crack because I was angry with my mother and her moving us to Guelph. I am not overly comfortable with the number 13 - if I look at a clock and it says 13 I will make sure I look again when it says 14 to feel better. Odd, yes, but what can I say. I also try to tell myself Friday the 13th is good luck, not bad. Before I answer question number 7 I want to do a back up just in case... |
30 Day Blogging Challenge – Day 20 Who would have guessed how much fun people would have creating their unique costumes, I radioed the ranger service and let them know we are staying one more night here. So you have more time to prepare your costumes and your stories for the fire ... I know I saw a couple really scary creations, one that could easily be mistaken for a sasquatch akaskeason. Now, I know they are grown adults but Charlie and Cinn went to gather what they needed for their costumes and it has been over 8 hours since they've been seen. What do you think... leave them to their own devices, contact the rangers, or should we form a search party? SEARCH PARTY! And I don't want to alarm anyone but the ranger service did say there are brush fires north of us, so we need to be aware of what is happening around us and take every precaution with our campfire. Has anyone seen a wildfire before? I don't think I have seen any first hand, but the after effects have been close. Close to my grandparents farm, a fire raged up to the road before it was contained. This would have been terrifying for her as she has lived through 2 huge forest fires - both when she was in elementary school. For them they carted all their belongings up onto a hill to make sure it did not burn with the house - luckily both were saved. In 1976, a forest fire cut through Cobalt taking out half the town - my gym teacher lost his house and belongings. I remember the school taking up a collection for him and his family. That started because some ass through a cigarette out their car window and it landed in dry brush at the side of the road. 30 Day Blogging Challenge – Day 21 Oops, I should have warned you there is a hotel at Mammoth Springs but it is not open at this time of year. It is only open during the winter months December thru March. Sorry, no hot shower yet. after that long bike ride to get here. We are only here for lunch so make sure if you are taking pictures of the ever changing Mammoth Terraces, We will be picked up by a bus at 3:00pm and taken to Roosevelt Lodge. Yes, you will be staying at the famous lodge for three days...hot showers, food cooked by some one else and a real bed. Does anyone know who Roosevelt is, and what his contributions to Yellowstone were? Make a choice for the best costume and let Charlie know, please and tell him why. Sorry I have been missing in action - job postings came out and I needed to get my applications in. I was not fit to do anything else... I hope the contest went well. On the virtual side of things, the bike ride would be good. Not as far as the last one, but no showers... we'll live; especially with three days to look forward to at Roosevelt Lodge. I will manage to take as many pictures as possible at the Mammoth Terraces. This is most definitely one of those unique places on earth. 30 Day Bloggging Challenge – Day 22 Wohoo, we are at Roosevelt Lodge... showers, awesome food and 61 degrees... sweet! We are going to Tower Falls and surrounding areas, Petrified trees at Specimen Ridge and Calcite Springs... over the next three days. http://www.yellowstonenationalpark.com/towerroosevelt.htm Tomorrow, we are going to work on a Buffalo Ranch because storm damage was done to the Ranger Training Center and in exchange for our labor we are going to participate in a study with the rangers tagging the bison. Work clothes, positive attitude... are you ready? What special ability do you bring to the table? Tell us about your contribution today. Saturday evening's agenda is Grab the saddles and hitch up the wagon for an evening you won’t soon forget. We are riding out to Yancy’s Hole on a horse or in a covered wagon. When we arrive we’ll find those cooks dishin’ up some real cowboy grub at their popular Old West Dinner Cookout. The coffee’s brewin’ over the open campfire, and the wranglers love talkin’ your ears off over a strong “cup o’ Joe!” When they ring the “dinner bell”,we’ll line up for real western beef steaks cooked to order, our signature Roosevelt Baked Beans, potato salad, coleslaw, cornbread muffins, and fruit crisp. And if all this is not enough, you’ll find your boots tappin’ to old western songs sung by our singin’ cowboy. You may have come here as a city slicker, but you’ll go back as a regular cowpoke! http://www.nps.gov/features/yell/interactivemap/toweroos.htm I opt for the horseback ride. I agree with Charlie ~   about not working on our vacation but I guess the experience may be worth it - even for a short bit. |
30 Day Blogging Challenge – Day 19 Last night here and we are going to have an interesting evening before moving on to our next location which is Mammoth Hot Springs Terrace. We will be leaving after a late breakfast, packing up our stuff so it can be transported for us. http://www.yellowstonenationalpark.com/mammoth.htm But we have a special request, and since I am a volunteer guide and getting fired is not an issue... I am going to take him up on his request. "Well... then what? I think we should have a costume contest. ~Aino Minako~ may beat us all because she has experience with making her own costumes for stuff like this, but I'm still willing to give it a go. Pretty please, Lyn 30 Day Camp Guide , can we have a costume contest party? I think we should have on where we have to dress up using only materials that you can find in nature. Doesn't that sound fun? I may or may not be trying to see everyone half naked. "Charlie & Cinn well, are you up to his challenge? It's in your ball park.... "We should totally do this and then have like a campfire where we dance around the fire and OHH we should do like a horror movie costume contest and tell ghost stories or something? The winner should get a prize of some sort. You wanna? Eh? Lyn? You wanna?" I am game. Though I never been much for dress up, but for you all.... sure, what the hey. To use items found in nature could be interesting.... should be fun just to see what everyone comes up with. I would try to come up with some kind of flower wreath for my hair. Smudgy black under my eyes like a football player. I would do my hair up in a braid and tuck in more wild flowers. Next I would create a swath of leaves and berries into a ribbon, like the women wear on the pageants. If I did two it would cover my chest - in a criss cross fashion - but I am still wearing clothes underneath (for modesty and the itch factor). Over my pants, I would find discarded bits of tree bark and attach them like armour - I am a wilderness warrior. Hear my roar. I am expecting this party to be a lot of fun and I doubt we will get to bed early. The animals will stay away... though I think we still need to adhere to the quiet hours even in this remote spot. Probably also depends on whether our neighbouring campers want to join in. It might be interesting to make up a story for my wilderness warrior... I come form a long line or wilderness warriors.... I understand our stuff is being transported.... are we biking or hiking the next trek. Could be pretty, either way. Glad to see we get another night here. I get to work more on my Wilderness Warrior and her story.... |
30 Day Blogging Challenge – Day 18 We will be staying put at Indian Creek for another day so we can do some exploring and our tender butts can rest from the ride before we continue on. Today it will be in the high fifties, perfect hiking weather. We are off to Sheepeaters Cliff. There are excellent examples of basalt for those who have an interest in geology. For those who are interested in native wildlife, marmots are native to this area. It is a great hiking experience for all levels, nothing strenuous today. http://www.nps.gov/media/video/view.htm?id=007BBFE1-155D-451F-6779FB37D3D5BC36 This video will show you what we will studying today on our adventure, lots of great photo opportunities. Well, once I open my eyes and resettle into my body I realize I need to do some serious stretching this morning. My butt is tender... I'll not be sitting much today, I tell ya. I pull on my clothes, while still in my sleeping bag - I am getting very good at this. I crawl out of my tent, careful to rezip that sucker so I don't come back to find any unwanted visitor or the bug or snake variety. Once I stand, slowly I might add, I stretch up and smile at the smile that is just cresting the horizon. It is a beautiful morning... chilly but nothing too bad. I am tempted to start the coffee, but I know a session of yoga is in order before I fold myself into a cup of java. Most of the yoga moves I do this morning are standing poses and it is not long before I am joined by a few other sore souls. We move from one pose to another with barely a word. Calm tranquility. After about half an hour I am ready for coffee. Lyn's a Witchy Woman  has already put the the coffee on and the aroma wafts through the campsite. It stirs the senses and draws a few more of our party out into the morning chill. Breakfast is a couple of packages of oatmeal with a banana mushed up into it. It doesn't look too appealing but it hits the spot. I am hungry. I barely remember eating last night I was so tired. Today will be more leisurely. Hiking the area. The Sheepeaters Cliff sounds intriguing. I have my camera, my notebook and sketch book ready to go, as well as a few power bars and my water backpack. Sunblock and a hat are also applied and I am ready to go. When men and women tell tales around evening campfire, a sure sign of success is when the audience says then what... Here's your opportunity for a then what moment.... Blog City – Day 531 Prompt: How do you begin each day? What is the best way for anyone to begin each day? View this from any angle that you wish. How I begin and how I want to begin are different... I begin with a slow drag out of bed, Followed by a weigh in on the bathroom scale, That has me cringing and grumbling. I move downstairs to weigh in on my Wii And do a tiny bit of activity Sometimes I do some yoga on my Wii I feel good when I do But I don't do that enough... Then it's a big drink of water Followed by coffee Before I settle in with my laptop on my lap. How do I wish my day began? Not so very different, I suppose Though I would prefer the scale to dip lower And my getting up to be more upbeat I would prefer to do at least 20 minutes of yoga As I take in that large drink of water. The coffee would follow Along with a healthy breakfast More protein than carbs Followed by a walk to get the juices flowing Upon my return, I would settle in to write First my 750 words - a form of Morning Pages And a chance to blog Then once my blogs are posted... |
30 Day Blogging Challenge – Day 17 Indian Creek, here we come... We are going by mountain bike to our next camp location. We will be having lunch at Beaver Creek but as you see on the map ( link I've given you ) we have quite a ride ahead of us so we will be leaving the lodge at daylight. What risks do you think we might encounter on our way. Have you ever done a mountain bike adventure before? http://www.yellowstonenationalpark.com/maps.htm I haven't done a mountain biking adventure before, though I do have a mountain bike. I prefer the main roads and paths and not the tiny, winding trails that cut too close to the trees. In Yellowstone, we need to stay off the walking trails for people and stay on the roads. At this time of year there will be a lot of traffic and RVs will be a little nerving when they pass us, but I am confident that we will be able to make it. Biking is a much more intimate way to see the sites. Maybe we will see a herd of bison cross the road, or a coyote at the edge of the bush. Starting early in the morning will be good. To bike in the coolness of the morning will be less busy and the sun coming up will be a treat. I have a backpack with one of those water bottles inside. It is hooked up in such a way that I can sip my water without having to stop - there is a plastic tube with a mouthpiece I just need to bite to release the water. This little pack will allow me to carry the essentials - as long as our big, heavy packs have been sent ahead to the next campsite. I would not really want to bike with my lumbering pack. We have 21 miles ahead of us.... I hope I can make it. When we get there I will be falling down tired, I am sure. Being in the mountains, I am expecting terrain that is not flat. I mapquested to see how far I would have to go and for me - it would be to Ayr Public School and home again. That is about 36 km. This trip is 2 km shorter. Indian Creek has vault toilets and no running water. Please make sure you have filled your water bottles. Norb and I have made arrangements to have water delivered to out site but while riding the twenty one miles you will want water. Indian Creek is one of the more primitive camp areas in Yellowstone. What do you think a vault toilet is? What is the difference between a vault and an outhouse? Okay, I actually looked this up. Both share similarities in that they are not flushable. With a vault toilet they seem to be constructed in cinder block style whereas outhouses are often wooden structures with a hole in a bench. The vault toilet has something resembling a toilet to sit on, in an outhouse there may be a toilet seat, but not always. My grandparents had no seat. I believe they just covered their hole with a newspaper. Outhouses are smellier, I think. Vault toilets might have a system to cut back on the vile smell. There also seems to be some kind of venting system in the vault toilet. An outhouse does not have that. We will be exploring the Gallatin mountain range with breathtaking views of Electric Peak to the north. Nearby Gardner's Hole offers great wildlife viewing opportunities. This campground offers easy access to great fishing and hiking. The campground is quiet, off the beaten path, with great view of the night sky. I expect to enjoy this area... but after a good long sleep. I doubt I will feel the hard ground. I bike trip will see to that. I would love a hot tub or hot spring, but I will survive. How did everyone else do? Did we all make it? I am thinking I will be in the best shape of my life if this was a real trip... I need to be more active in my day to day. |
30 Day Blogging Challenge – Day 16 I'm glad everyone is enjoying their time at the lodge, we will be leaving here on Monday morning so if you have laundry, mail to catch up, or shopping to finish... plus it may be helpful if you mail your things home so you don't have to lug them around. We are lucking out tonight 55 degrees... should be a great night outside to watch the rodeo. Have you ever seen a rodeo? Who gets the worse deal the horse or the rider in your opinion? I will watch a bit of the rodeo but may retire early so that I am ready for tomorrow's adventures. Have you ever imagined what a blade of grass feels like on a hot day? What kind of things would the grass be thinking about and why? What if torrential rain started, how would the grass feel and why? Let's see your creativity with this one. Blade of grass Withering in the oppressive heat Hanging on to any and all chorophyll In an attempt to stay vital And live Around it, the other blades Have began to wither And turn to brown. Life threatens To leave And never to return. Then clouds build Gathering dark and heavy With a crack of thunder The sky opens up And rain falls In torrential fervor The blade gasps As it is pummled But as the rain runs off It takes a relieved breath And smiles as the sun Comes back to shine. We will be wildlife viewing today on a guided tour with a ranger, another great camera opt in the morning, the afternoon will be yours until we get together for dinner and then the rodeo. No doubt I will have enjoyed the guided tour today with the ranger. The afternoon was getting things washed and back in order for tomorrow's get away. I am hoping to gather some interested folks together to go our sketching again. I find the area quite peaceful and restful. A little writing and sketching in the great outdoors is fabulous. There are more people hurt by bison than by bears each year in Yellowstone. Park regulations state that visitors must stay at least 25 yards away from bison or elk and 100 yards away from bears. I'd say, let us keep a healthy distance from all animals. I saw one YouTube video of a 'playful' bison. He was ramming at a tree with quite a force - if that is playful, I'd hate to |
30 Day Blogging Challenge – Day 15 Halfway through the month happily sleeping in a real bed , enjoying the lodge's menu seletions too! It will be a quiet evening in the lodge because of the thunder storms this evening. At least, we are dry! Tomorrow, we are going to the museum of the Park Ranger, a bookstore, Norris Geyser Basin and Steamboat Geyser on horseback, those that would rather ride in the wagon can because there will be several going. I suggest your cameras and comfy clothes. We will be having a bag lunch prepared for us by the lodge, If we have time we will be checking out Artist Paint Pots, too! What did you like best? The dog days of summer got the nickname because of Sirius, the dog star which rose and fell with the sun during the hottest days. What nickname do you have for the hottest day? Is there a nickname native to where you live? What activities do you avoid during this time? All this cooler weather makes jeans and boots comfortable gear, especially if we are on horseback. This sounds like an interesting and fun day... I am looking forward to seeing the Artist's Paint Pots. I am sure I will be a little camera happy and come back with a slew of shots. I am sure some of our gang will enjoy the wagon ride. It may be a lot smoother than the tractor pulling my grandpa's wagon. We had to hang on and got jerked around every time he had to change gears when goings over the little bridges he constructed. It was fun though. I appreciate the dry, covered and warm rooms to hole up in during all these storms. I don't look forward to a torrential downpour if we are tenting it in the back country. I also appreciate the meals - done without me burning anything or having to worry about the clean up afterward. No bears can get our stuff here. Dog days of summer have me thinking of being stretched out to hot or worn out to do much of anything. With the weather being a little cooler, it is comfortable. I am not pouring buckets of sweat whenever we go hiking. [The weather here at home has hit 31 degrees Celsius today - with a humidex of closer to 40 degrees Celsius (that is 88 to 100 F) - I am sticking to air conditioned venues and not venturing outside for too long - I am still drinking coffee though.] |
Welcome To My Reality - Week Eighty - Six 1. We all have different definitions of family and what it means to us. Share who makes up your family and what family means to you. Family is very important to me. Around my own family, I feel normal. The world feels right. There is acceptance of the strange things I do, because they do them too. Not like my husband's family - who I love as well, but they are different. His family has Polish and German descent, mine has English, Irish and Scottish. We are much more laid back than his family. I am not as close to my family as I once was and that is something I need to change. A lot of it has to do with my marrying. We spend a great deal of time doing things with my husband's family and not so much with mine - partially because I feel my husband is not as comfortable with my family. Odd really, because my family is more welcoming.... With the issues going on in my marriage right now, I am finding I am spending more time with my family and my friends that mean so much to me. I need to let them know they are special to me and I can do that by engaging more time to be out and about with them. My mother lives five minutes from me and my favourite aunt lives in Guelph - just a 30 to 40 minute drive away. My cousins are a bit more scattered now that they are all adults - but they come home. One lives right next door to my aunt and uncle. Another lives in Toronto... but she is around and Facebook helps keep me aware of her many activities. My other two cousins are younger - one has moved back in with my aunt and uncle, the other has recently moved out... but she is still in town. I usually only see them at Christmas for a few hours... but with weddings and new twins, I have been able to connect a bit more. Facebook keeps me in touch with my cousins up north and down in Virginia. 2. Share a memory of something/someone that made an impact on who you are today. My grandmother, Annie Proud was a wonderful woman. She loved me unconditionally and accepted me for who I am. Her love and acceptance was a balm when I was a child. An only child. A child whose parents were separated - living in a small town this was not the norm... not in the seventies. She was my soft place to land. I could always count on Gramzie's love and acceptance. Having lived in a family where she was not a favourite of her mother's and seeing and feeling the unfairness of it, I believe she felt compelled to support the underdog. I was a child caught in an adult's plight, and though my parents were civil towards each other, I was still coming from a broken home. How much my mother shared with her own mother about her situation, I don't know, but Gramzie supported and loved my mother in her time of need - whether words passed between them or not. 3. If you could go back and give advice to your sixteen year old self, what would it be? Get out there. Find part time work to balance out your world. Being busy allows me to get more done - learning to manage my time far more effectively. You appreciate the time off when you have it and you make a bit of money to be able to do something when you do have the time off. Volunteer as well. Build up your wealth of experience so that you can get into teacher's college sooner. Also do not give up on your writing. Stick with it. It is your power house and your salvation. 4. WDC's 15th Birthday is around the corner. Share with us the impact that WDC has had on your personally and on your writing. WDC is my virtual home. It is the place I come to everyday to connect with friends, blog and challenge myself to some writing for contests. I have met some really great people on this site and feel very accepted on this site. The support is wonderful. I feel I can take on writing challenges and know someone here a WDC will encourage me and cheer me on.... and I try to do the same to others. This will be my third birthday celebration here at WDC. I joined in March, but it was not until that first birthday celebration that I saw how active and vital this site really was... I was hooked and I haven't regretted a moment. I will be renewing my Premium membership at the end of the month and I am expecting another fabulous year that challenges me to reach out further with my own writing.... and reviewing. 7. Share one of your biggest regrets. Why do you regret it? What would you change if you could? What did you learn from it? I try not to live with regrets, but I wouldn't mind a do over. If I could go back to my last year of high school I would get a part time job and save my money up so that I could travel before going on to University. I would also volunteer more in classrooms. I would try to develop my work experiences so that when I went off to university I would be able to go to Teacher's College sooner. |
30 Day Blogging Challenge – Day 14 It's another beautiful night in Yellowstone in the mid 40's Fahrenheit and we are going to see a cowboy show at the amphitheater by Canyon Lodge. Dinner at the lodge with real tables and chairs, woohoo. My back was so ready, what about yours. Tomorrow a guide from Yellowstone is taking us to Upper and Lower Falls, bring your camera, lots of great photo opportunities. We will be picnicking there for lunch and swimming in the pools under the falls. It is going to be in the mid 80's, perfect for water activities. We are staying at the lodge until Monday. Post office, laundry, showers and nightly entertainment. Over lunch in this amazing setting and the delicious food from the lodge I thought I would pick your brains, you know how I am about questions... what do you think are the differences in food eaten in the summer time around the world? Share with us something specific from where you live? Is it easy to make or difficult? What about family traditions, do you have certain foods that only appear in the summer months? With out a doubt, the first thing that comes to mind is corn on the cob. I may have corn at other times of the year, but rarely do I venture an out of season cob. Fresh Ontario vegetables are also so much sweeter when they are in season - peaches, carrots, tomatoes. You know the romaine is local when it is not washed and its dark soil clings to its delicate leaves. We grew our own yellow wax beans this year, but they were not that great - the first picking were great - only 18 beans, but then they were awful. My tomatoes are not growing very well either, but we will see. So tonight is a cowboy show at the amphitheater by Canyon Lodge. Dinner at the lodge sounds like a wonderful idea. I expect I will venture out on one of the many trails in this area. Not to worry, I will not go alone. I am sure one of our group will go along or I will get in with another group willing to share their time. Sometimes the company of strangers can be just what you need. I'll take my camera, my sketch book and my notebook. I am sure there will be time to stop and take in all the area has to offer. I had to laugh when a few of us looked a little put out that there are no TV or A/C facilities in any of the rooms. No worries here, but I could see my husband balking at that. For him the TV is first thing on and last thing off. I would prefer to leave it off and read. Not sure about the cowboy show. I am not a huge Country and Western music person. I like a variety of music, but that honky tonk Western stuff is too much for me. My mother's boyfriend loves that stuff. I was sitting in the back seat of his car and I could not help letting out a howl when the music came on. He laughed and told me mother that he guessed I wouldn't be joining them out at the Maryhill hotel for a night of country music. He would be right. If I do pass on the show, I may find a place to hole up and write. Being in a new place always gets the creative juices flowing. |
30 Day Blogging Challenge - DAY 13 at Yellowstone http://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/promising-perseid-meteor-shower-peak... http://earthsky.org/tonight/watch-these-stars-while-watching-the-perseids?utm_so... Perseid Meteor Shower peaks tonight, it is going to be a spectacular night to watch the sky with no light pollution. We really are in for a great show especially at 2:00am, its going to be a short night sleeping, we'll rest tomorrow once we arrive at Canyon Village. You'll find this campground close to the breathtaking Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone near the center of the park. Offers stores, restaurants, pay showers, a coin laundry and a sanitary dump station, but no utility hookups. No camp cooking tonight, we are going to try one of the restaurants. What did you see? How did it make you feel? There are lots of videos out there to see this, I suggest you check it out. I posted two links but there are many others. If you feel inclined compose a poem to share with us at dinner tonight. Perseid Meteor Shower Quiet is the night that surrounds me, I lay down upon the cool, hard ground Feel the dampness Caress my skin and sink into my clothing. My eyes scan the sky waiting, waiting for the show to begin The peace and tranquility of the midnight hour descends and holds the world still Waiting, waiting for the show to begin. Then light streaks across the blackened depths Silent streams of bright, white Zinging across the celestial heavens Breathtakingly awesome I watch, transfixed As the streaks cut across the sky With an intensity that is beyond this world. I feel so small, Inconsequential, Yet also so connected I am part of this This great, wonderful Universe. |
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