I was tagged ages ago for my top five songs I'm listening to right now. I didn't do it at first, because I felt that most people would find my list ridiculous. But, as today I can't think of much else to blog about, I'll reveal my total lack of coolness.
Here goes, top 5 songs
1. Doesn't remind me by Audioslave
2. Sugar by System of a Down
3. Son of a Preacher Man by Dusty Springfield
4. Every song on the Flogging Molly Swagger C.D
5. Dragula by Rob Zombie
I know, many believe it is impossible to like Rob Zombie AND Dusty Springfield, but alas I like to sing, and Son of a Preacher Man is fun as hell to sing.
As a teenager, I listened to all those glam rockers like Tesla, Firehouse, Def Lepard. I loved that shit. And it was, truly, shit. I went to several crazy concerts. My first concert ever was the ....drum roll, Judas Priest/Raven concert, then came Bon Jovi/Cinderella at the Salt Palace. Then the largest and craziest concert I ever went to was the Kiss/Winger/Slaughter extravaganza. WHOOOOO HOOOOO. I was trying to get close to the stage when Slaughter was playing, cuz the lead singer was wicked hot, but with the masses of people pushing and shoving, I just managed to get felt up about a hundred times. Then, I enjoyed the Tesla/Firehouse concert on the lawn in Park City.
Now, I'm just too cheap to fork out tons of money to see mainstream musicians. I like to listen to them when I'm working out, and in the car. Good enough for me. Give me big bands on the radio, and local bands in the city park for free.
Kiri listens to 50 Cent, and Nelly, and Usher, and crap and crap and crap. I think it is in our DNA to hate the kind of music our parents listened to. One day she was playing 50 Cent's song "Candy shop" and I almost freaked out at how nasty the lyrics were. I mean, "She's my Cherry Pie" is pretty fucking tame compared to some of the shit she listens to. What do you do? You tell them you won't buy the C.D, so they get a friend to burn a copy for them and they listen to it any way. I think you can just hope at this point you've taught them enough, and they will not get pregnant immediately after listening to hip hop. I think that music forcibly causes a woman to ovulate. Just a theory.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Monday, September 26, 2005
Going Bananas
I walked out of the Visitor Center on Saturday, and I saw this tarantula. He was trying to get into the Women's restroom for some odd reason. I say he, because I am guessing it is a male wandering around looking for a girlfriend, as male tarantulas tend to do this time of year. Maybe he thought he would find his soul mate in the women's loo, but I was afraid his lust would get him squished. I took newspaper and carefully herded the spider out of the way and into the bushes, consequently getting my picture taken about 30 times by curious and fascinated tourists. It was kinda fun. The picture on the top left is of one of my favorite hikes. I have probably hiked this trail close to 50 times for my job, and I still love it. It is never the same, each time I hike it. Jennifer and I tried to hike it last February, but the footing was too slick with ice and snow. I, of course, slipped and fell right into the freezing cold creek, which thankfully was only a few inches deep.
I went up to central Utah on Friday to do a school program for 4th graders. I love doing school programs. The kids usually are pretty excited to see me, and some remember me years later. I usually take 2 live kingsnakes with me, but I didn't think it would be healthy for them driving in a car for hours there and back again. But I took a bunch of skulls, snake sheds, owl pellets, and raptor feathers. It was fun, yet draining, and I would have killed for a Mt. Dew by the end. I really admire teachers after visiting their classrooms. I'm only there for a few hours, and I'm physically drained by the end. Teachers do it every day. So, here is to all you wonderful teachers out there (especially Missuzj, Lonna, and Shawna) who inspire and educate. I raise my glass to you. I am in awe of your intelligence, patience, and skill. I admire you.
Monday, September 19, 2005
stupid mofo
I was going to upload some pictures, but they are all upside down and I can't figure out how to flip the som bitches. I'll keep trying. Stay tuned for pictures, one way or the other.
P.S. Can anyone help me with this?
P.S. Can anyone help me with this?
Much too much
I just returned from taking my dog, Lightning, to the dog groomer. She loves to go for rides, and was so excited to hop in the car. I felt a little sorry for her knowing I was taking my oblivious pet to a place that she loathes. We walked into the groomers, and as soon as she realized where she was, she started fighting against the leash. The collar promptly slipped up over her ears and we had a loose lightning dog running willy nilly, trying to find a place to hide. Poor thing. She is such a good dog, and I tried to not get angry as she avoided re-capture, but it was somewhat embarrassing. We finally trapped her and dragged her into the grooming area. Poor thing. But, I know she will be extra happy to see me when I pick her up.
The Sunday before Labor Day, my friends Jen and Paul and I went hiking down Ashdown Gorge. It was gorgeous. I've posted some pic's of us.
Kiri did a cheerleading clinic last week, and the did a dance/cheer during half time of the high school football game on Saturday. I paid $4.00 to watch her cheer for 5 minutes, but it was worth it. She did a great job. I was watching her and thinking how much I miss the elementary programs the kids used to do every year, dancing and singing. God, she was adorable. Now she is a young lady, and I have so much hope for her future. I would rather she pursue basketball, which she kicks ass in, than cheerleading, but whatever. I'll support her no matter what.
Kiri and I were watching this stupid show on MTV called "My Sweet 16", where these spoiled rich girls get lavish birthday parties thrown for them by their indulging parents with bands, and new cars, catering, and guest lists in the hundreds. Kiri told me she wished we were rich. I looked at these girls and thought, if that is how my daughter would behave if we were rich, I'm glad were not. What a bunch of brats.
Missuzj, Sophie, Jimmy and I all went to the park to play Saturday evening. Soph wanted me to exercise with her so we ran all over the grass. Then she had her mother play jack in the bean stalk, and I laughed my ass off. We threw Jimmy the pup's strange squirrel frizbee thing, then went home. It was a blast. Sunday we all went to see the horses, and Sophie went to feed my horse an apple, and the horse accidentally bit her finger. I felt so bad. I wanted Sophie to love my horses, and feel safe, and I fucking ruined it. I should've warned her to keep her fingers and her hand flat. I totally blame myself, and I hope she'll come with me again. I did, however, get missuzj on a horse. She rode around for a minute, and did incredibly well for someone who had never ridden a horse before. I told her she was a natural.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Of Mice and Me
I was reading Patrice and Nicole's blog about the mice, and it reminded me of a couple of funny mice stories of my own.
I used to live in a small town called Summit. It was in the middle of nowhere surrounded by fields, so there were mice-a-plenty. One day, about 6 years ago, Kiri and I decided to go into town. I can't remember why, but that is irrelevant. I decided to take my old stationwagon that had been sitting idle for a couple of months in the back yard. Kendall had been urging me to drive it, saying something about if it sits for too long the tires will rot into useless lumps, yada yada yada.
Kiri and I jumped into the wagon, which amazingly had almost a full tank of gas, and jumped on the freeway. We got about 3 miles out of town, going somewhere around 70 m.p.h, when I saw this little furry creature crawl out of the hood of the car and cling onto my windshield wiper. It was a mouse. And he was holding on for dear life, his little gray mousey fur blowing wildly in the wind. He turned and looked right at me through the windshield, and I swear I saw the fear and confusion on his face, just as if he was saying "my God, one minute I was sleeping peacefully, and the next I'm careening down the road on this god awful machine, and I don't know how to get off this ride!" He stayed on the hood the whole 15 minutes I was on the freeway, frozen with fear, or maybe exhilaration. When we got the the bank, and stopped the car, he ran back under the hood. I opened the hood, and the little monster had made a nest right on top of my battery. I looked around for him, and eventually saw him jump out of the bottom of the car and take off. I still crack up when I remember the look on that mouse's face, and his fur flying wildly around.
A different story, many years ago when I was only 6 years old or so, I was out playing with my cats (we had multitudes of cats, many of which were feral, but I was determined to tame them all, and spent many hours doing so. I cringe now when I think of all the diseases those poor cats had). I saw one of the cats had a mouse in his mouth, and it was still very much alive. My heart just broke when I looked at that poor mouse, and I stupidly tried to save it. I thought in my blind innocence that the mouse would know I was trying to save it, but of course it didn't, and the sucker bit me when I got it away from the cat. I told my mother what happened, and ended up in the hospital getting tetanus shots and crying hysterically. Not the greatest memory, though I do remember vividly my older brother making funny faces and telling me jokes while I was in the stupid hospital. What a great brother.
On a different note, I have to say I am destined to be a hobbit, methinks. I hiked and hiked last week and lost nary a pound. I just get muscle under my chub, making me think of a hobbit or Gimli the dwarf. I'm short with curly hair, so I think I must be related to one of little middle earth species. Maybe I'm an orc.
My new horse also ran into me yesterday and sent me spinning, the little hussy. She was just playing around, but it hurt, and I called her lots of nasty names, which bothered her not at all as she came over immediately and tried to sniff out the carrots I had in my pocket. I am soooo unappreciated.
I used to live in a small town called Summit. It was in the middle of nowhere surrounded by fields, so there were mice-a-plenty. One day, about 6 years ago, Kiri and I decided to go into town. I can't remember why, but that is irrelevant. I decided to take my old stationwagon that had been sitting idle for a couple of months in the back yard. Kendall had been urging me to drive it, saying something about if it sits for too long the tires will rot into useless lumps, yada yada yada.
Kiri and I jumped into the wagon, which amazingly had almost a full tank of gas, and jumped on the freeway. We got about 3 miles out of town, going somewhere around 70 m.p.h, when I saw this little furry creature crawl out of the hood of the car and cling onto my windshield wiper. It was a mouse. And he was holding on for dear life, his little gray mousey fur blowing wildly in the wind. He turned and looked right at me through the windshield, and I swear I saw the fear and confusion on his face, just as if he was saying "my God, one minute I was sleeping peacefully, and the next I'm careening down the road on this god awful machine, and I don't know how to get off this ride!" He stayed on the hood the whole 15 minutes I was on the freeway, frozen with fear, or maybe exhilaration. When we got the the bank, and stopped the car, he ran back under the hood. I opened the hood, and the little monster had made a nest right on top of my battery. I looked around for him, and eventually saw him jump out of the bottom of the car and take off. I still crack up when I remember the look on that mouse's face, and his fur flying wildly around.
A different story, many years ago when I was only 6 years old or so, I was out playing with my cats (we had multitudes of cats, many of which were feral, but I was determined to tame them all, and spent many hours doing so. I cringe now when I think of all the diseases those poor cats had). I saw one of the cats had a mouse in his mouth, and it was still very much alive. My heart just broke when I looked at that poor mouse, and I stupidly tried to save it. I thought in my blind innocence that the mouse would know I was trying to save it, but of course it didn't, and the sucker bit me when I got it away from the cat. I told my mother what happened, and ended up in the hospital getting tetanus shots and crying hysterically. Not the greatest memory, though I do remember vividly my older brother making funny faces and telling me jokes while I was in the stupid hospital. What a great brother.
On a different note, I have to say I am destined to be a hobbit, methinks. I hiked and hiked last week and lost nary a pound. I just get muscle under my chub, making me think of a hobbit or Gimli the dwarf. I'm short with curly hair, so I think I must be related to one of little middle earth species. Maybe I'm an orc.
My new horse also ran into me yesterday and sent me spinning, the little hussy. She was just playing around, but it hurt, and I called her lots of nasty names, which bothered her not at all as she came over immediately and tried to sniff out the carrots I had in my pocket. I am soooo unappreciated.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
And the Beat Goes On
Okay. I'm finally posting again. It has been a hectic week. I was laboring on Labor Day weekend, and it was busy as hell. In the midst of all the chaos, one visitor told me I was the most helpful ranger he had ever met. That made me feel good. It also made me re-evaluate my attitude. While I am always pleasant and polite on the outside, sometimes I am irritated and frustrated on the inside. I love my job. I love the people I work with, and I enjoy the many people who visit the Park. I love to share what I know about the Park with the visitors, and sometimes I loose sight of why I became a ranger. So, here is my list of why I love being a Park Ranger
1. Sharing my knowledge
2. Feeling pride in the system I work for
3. The sense that what I do makes a difference to the environment, and to visitor's attitudes towards the environment
4. Getting paid to hike is the biggest bonus
5. Being one of the few lucky individuals who get to work in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
6. Meeting all sorts of people from all over the world.
That really only touches the surface of what makes my job so wonderful. Here are some pictures of the Boy Scout jamboree I attended in Virginia this summer. I have to head to work, and I am super sore from hiking with Jen and Paul this Sunday, so it's a short one. I'll try to blog more often now that things are slowing down for the winter.
1. Sharing my knowledge
2. Feeling pride in the system I work for
3. The sense that what I do makes a difference to the environment, and to visitor's attitudes towards the environment
4. Getting paid to hike is the biggest bonus
5. Being one of the few lucky individuals who get to work in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
6. Meeting all sorts of people from all over the world.
That really only touches the surface of what makes my job so wonderful. Here are some pictures of the Boy Scout jamboree I attended in Virginia this summer. I have to head to work, and I am super sore from hiking with Jen and Paul this Sunday, so it's a short one. I'll try to blog more often now that things are slowing down for the winter.
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