Yearly Archives: 2010

September 6, 2010 · 2:54 am

Daemonelix


Not quite sure how to pronounce it, but that’s a picture of a Daemonelix. Tricia and I saw a few of these at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument in Nebraska.

After some debate, paleontologists have determined that Daemonelixes (proper plural?) were the creation of the Palaeocaster – a terrestrial beaver that lived like prairie dogs.

An interesting part of an interesting day that included a visit to Wind Cave National Park (the seventh area designated as a national park), lunch at the Hot Springs Gathering Place (where the portobello mushroom sandwich does not contain meat), views of Fall River, walking the streets of Hot Springs (the Blue Bison was closed, sadly), and dinner at Penny’s Diner.

A good day. 11,367 steps!

Tomorrow Scottsbluff.

See you along the trail.

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September 5, 2010 · 2:01 pm

Parallel to the sunset


Today’s travel heads south – more or less. The goal is a couple more parks and then overnight in Morrill, NE.

The picture was taken at the Fetterman Battlefied on the Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site in Wyoming.

Rain threatened – and actually happened on other parts of the field. We hightailed if to the car, stopping when we saw the double rainbow. The interior rainbow was actually a whole rainbow! First one I have seen in a long time.

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September 5, 2010 · 2:48 am

Turkeys and bison


A busy day. A good day.

Started at Mt. Rushmore National Memorial. Learned about how the memorial was made – absolutely amazing story. Walked around the Presidential Trail – looked up presidential nostrils, a humbling experience.

Then went to the Crazy Horse Memorial. A quick trip to Jewel Cave National Monument followed. Without reservations, we simply checked out the exhibits and did a trail on top of the cave.

We drove the wildlife loop – complete with one-lane tunnels, beaucoup curves, turkeys, and bison! – at Custer State Park.

Then back to Keystone and a walking tour of historic Keystone.

A good day topped off with good numbers – 13,100 steps and a good blood sugar reading in the morning – and a normal reading for the second evening in a row!

See you along the trail.

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September 4, 2010 · 2:33 pm

The old goat, er, sheep

Driving through the Badlands (9/3/10),

Tricia and I came across a number of creatures,

including some Bighorn Sheep.

Good stuff.

See you along the Trail.

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September 4, 2010 · 4:53 am

I’m back


I have been away for a while.

First came the 2010 Peacemaking Seminar. Now, Tricia and I are vacation on the upper Great Plains.

A number of National Parks have been picked up – Little Bighorn National Battlefield, Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, and today the Badlands National Park (incredible!).

Pictures have been posted on Facebook. I will get around to adding some pictures and posts from both events.

But here is the big news . . . I have been eating well and walking over 10,000 steps each day since we have been on the plains and this evening, I got a normal blood sugar reading. Let the rejoicing begin!

See you along the trail.

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August 22, 2010 · 2:32 pm

Morning, Menaul Avenue NE

As the sun climbs
the eastern side of the Sandias
illuminating the morning stillness,
cameras in hand,
they descend steel rungs
into a concrete arroyo
to photograph,
to document
shopping carts
pushed into,
washed into,
the arroyo bottom
left upturned, abandoned;
birds stop upon a telephone wire
to watch
and wander
and ponder dreams.

22 August 2010
Albuquerque, NM

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August 22, 2010 · 2:29 pm

Life

Into the crack
between pavement slabs
tender, tenacious, green tendrils
patiently, persistently push
emerging to burst
into glorious purple and gold.

22 August 2010
Albuquerque, NM

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August 16, 2010 · 3:59 am

The Shire is empty


Tricia and Eric headed for home today. It’s just me and assorted insects here at the Shire.

I had the great honor and wonderful joy of baptizing Ethan Alejandro Chan Craft, son of my friends Amanda Craft and Omar Chan. It was truly a blessing. He cried pretty much constantly – he’s 13 months. Of course, he was exhausted – he fell asleep very quickly when Amanda took him and walked with him. He had also bitten his lip when I first met him. He was standing by a church pew with his dad and I went to talk to them. He fell down and the rest is history.

Painting continued at the Shire upon my return. The kitchen is painted. It remains to be put back together but that will be tomorrow night’s task.

I ate out for breakfast (with Tricia and Eric – Panera’s – they put the calorie count on the wall – very helpful) and for lunch (Moe’s – they put the calorie count online and actually allow you to figure out the calories as you make your meal your way – helpful but one needs to know it in advance) as the kitchen is pretty disrupted.

Even with the eating out, my eating came in at the goal. I went to the gym and did 40 minutes on the treadmill. 10, 477 steps.

Movies – Three Kings and Tombstone. Neither are classics. Each has issues. But they are entertaining.

A good day.

See you along the trail.

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August 15, 2010 · 3:34 am

The Shire is abuzz

Tricia arrived at the Shire this evening. She had been unbinding the church. She came through Louisville to pick up Eric and take him back to Bowling Green. It is nice to have a fuller than normal Shire. But they leave in the morning. But Jessica and Ricky arrive on Tuesday.

The goals were met. Step count totaled 10,323; 35 minutes on the treadmill at the gym; and eating well.

Painting moved into the kitchen, thus making cooking a bit of a challenge. So eating took place in restaurants (except for an evening protein bar). That was accomplished within the goals. It is very helpful to have menus with nutritional information posted online.

Very helpful to have Eric as a co-painter.

Watched the Steelers play their first preseason game online. No movie today.

See you along the Trail.

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August 14, 2010 · 6:37 am

Shire renovations continue

With Eric’s help work began on the kitchen. We painted the stain on the ceiling. We also prepped the walls and painted the walls under the cabinet. Moving the refrigerator led to the discovery of some pretty disgusting dirt. But that is no longer there. Tomorrow we will try to finish.

The three goals were achieved with 30 minutes at the gym (got there a bit late) and 10 minutes walking outside. Steps totaled 10,259.

Star Trek was the movie after the painting. Good stuff.

See you along the Trail.

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