These Boots are Made for Walking

Back to Work

Well I spent my first full day at the ol' Glacier District since the end of April. I'm very grateful my plants were well taken care of, one of them was even re-potted. Thank you plant ferry. Most seem to like my new do, at least it's noticeable anyway.

Agatha is very happy I'm home, she won't leuyjhhgyave me alone (or the keyboard, no joke). My neighbors did an excellent job, nice to know she was left in good hands. Soon I hope she will let me sleep. Snow is melting, we have a lot compared to Anchorage which is mostly gone. This weekend Heather and I are doing a 5K HeartRun in Anchorage. We are hoping it will vanquish some of pre-triathlon jitters.

Some photos from the end of my trip...

CHICAGO

Hi I'm Hugo.

Pat and Jenny have a really cool condo, I loved the way they have it decorated, check out the dinning room.

Too much eating out, I broke one of their chairs :(

Green Festival

It happened to be going on the weekend I was in Chicago. I'm glad I went, it meshed nicely with my mindset of late. I tend to get overwhelmed with thoughts of global warming and just consumption in general, this festival helped put it all in perspective and focus on simple things one can do. Plus you can't beat an organic beer and wine garden!!

I hope all are well, I'm very happy and thankful I got to spend some time with the Family, especially the younger members!!

Family Time

Having fun In Minnesota. Birthday parties and more. This weekend we're off to Chicago to meet Hugo. Oh, I also got my hair cut.

HWY 50

An adventure on the Loneliest Road in America. Well, maybe because of the holiday weekend the loneliest road was well traveled. It's a nice drive through northern Nevada, in and out of mountain ranges. I found a tree covered with shoes, stopped at Spencer hot springs, and visited Great Basin National Park. I also took a tour in the Lehman Cave at Great Basin. Up to Logan tomorrow.

Pollen

The training course concluded today, I have to say it was one of the best I've been to. Very "touchy feely" for the Forest Service. This particular assemblage of folks worked really well together, sparked. There was even a skit last night at our group dinner, our professor was very impressed, then the karaoke started...I got a chance to prove just how well I know Bon Jovi songs. I may know the words, but ever since my second grade music teacher said I had no tone, I've never had much confidence in the actual signing part.

I'm coming away from this course with lots of new tools but the two biggest things I learned were - always assume positive intent from those you first judge to be hampering the process or well, stupid. and seek to understand before being understood. Things that can relate to the non-office world as well. I also had a great time learning about personality types.

On the road.

Drove through the Sierra's today to Lake Tahoe. Beautiful drive. Staying in Tahoe tonight and tomorrow starts my Hwy 50 adventure, the loneliest road in America. I've researched hot springs and hope to take a soak or two.

I've forgotten how bad allergies suck, excuse my french. I don't have any problems in AK. "They" say it's the worst it's been in years, but don't they always say that...warmest, wettest, buggiest, coldest. If they didn't say such things what we have to talk about?
At least I like the flowers so I won't complain anymore.


Photo of sunset on Lake Tahoe.

Sequence

I had time and an internet connection to update the Blog today. I put the date above the following posts so you know when the experience occured. Hope all are well, I'm really enjoying the California weather.

San Francisco

4/1/2007 We had the weekend off, so off to San Francisco for the weekend. Friday night I saw Son Volt play at the Filmore. Great show, they started off with a bunch of songs off their newest album and a variety of other tunes including some favorites. They played for an hour and a half and then came out for a 4 song encore (in Anchorage they played for only about an hour). Encore included Windfall, and a Rolling Stones song that I can’t remember the name of. Great venue to see music and a lot of history. I had wanted to see Dark Star Orchestra (grateful dead cover band) on Saturday night but the shows were sold out. I walked over to see if I could find a ticket but got overwhelmed by the amount of people “looking for a miracle” and just the scene in general…maybe I’m getting older. The good news…Donna is playing with them now, some of you may know how I feel about Donna, let’s just say I’m not sorry I missed her.

Saturday I played tourist and went on a walking tour. North Beach (little italy, tons of cool cafés and restaurants), China Town, & Fisherman’s Warf. The weather was beautiful, and it seemed a popular destination for many, especially Fisherman’s Warf. I took a Bay cruise that went out past GG Bridge and Alcatraz. Too many people at the Warf for me, so back to North Beach for some more coffee. Sunday…Time to let my freak flag fly and head to the Haight. There are some great shops along Haight St. and I had to resist spending money, nice shops too, not just tie dyes, ponchos, and pipes. There was a film crew in Golden Gate Park. I tried to figure out what/who it was but no luck, I’m just going to believe that it was some really famous people and maybe someone taking pictures for People magazine caught me in the background. Lots of dirty hippies hanging out in Golden Gate Park, I felt like I was at Forest Fair.

Davis

3/29/2007
The UC-Davis Arboretum is only a few blocks from the hotel where my training is at. It follows an aqueduct for about 2 miles and has a loop bike path. This arboretum represents all plant communities in California. California is incredibly diverse, botanically speaking and the arboretum is impressive. Sage lands to the red woods. The best are these things called leaves and flowers…I think I have a vague recollection of seeing things like these before…it’s been in the 70’s and SUNNY!!

"ISFP"

3/28/2007
Introvert, Sensor, Feeler, Perceiver
Sees much but shares little; that’s what Meyer’s Brigg’s Personality Type Indicator says about me. Also – Warm and sensitive, unassuming, short range planner, good team member, in touch with self and nature…Part of the Leadership and Communication training I’m currently taking in Davis, CA, includes an analysis of the Meyer’s Brigg’s personality types. It’s kinda like an intense horoscope reading. The whole science is very interesting, and what I think is cool is that my type (ISFP) is the seeker of harmony with people, animals, and plants…hmmm. My type also has a problem getting bored easily…