ramblings

I just read through everyone else's blogs.

I'm quite pitiful.

I think about things and people all the time but it doesn't transfer into words very well.

I also have the memories of childhood that I remember, some good some bad and some just strange. Riding bikes to the nearby (5 miles) dam to find frogs. Running through the dry river bed (our in the Mojave desert) across the rocks. Finding rattle snakes. (always better to find them before they find you ! That happened a few times. I'm surprised I didn't have a heart attack a few times. Like the time I stepped on one before seeing him)
Running through the field with our dog. Hiking through the Sierra Nevada mountains for week long periods. Scout camps. Hiding myself on May day after putting flowers on the porch for my mom, then ringing the doorbell. I hid for what seemed like hours but no one ever came to find me. 3 feet of snow in the deseret. (that only happened once) Stupid ex-friends who thought it was funny to put a firecracker in the but of a frog so it would blow up. (last time I hung out with John Moore) Playing in the water of a flash flood when the dry creek bed had water. Water rose over 20 feet and came out of the creek bed. It flooded the entire neighborhood and into our homes. But it was warm water and fun to go splashing in !

And as I think, the mind fills with memories I haven't thought of for a long time. My life is busy enough and interesting enough that I don't dwell on the past much. Except when my kids have struggles or problems and I have to think back to see where I screwed up and didn't give them the knowledge, skills or experience I could have (maybe). I'm sure all parents do this.

DO live in the here and now. Take photos. Don't get too busy to spend quality family time. Family is the only thing you can take with you after this life (ok, maybe knowledge also)

Wow has time gone by.

Here we are in October 2008. Since I last wrote:

Shar & I took a trip to Glacier National Park.

We got dropped off in Kingston, walked on the ferry to Edmonds and were supposed to catch the Amtrack train. But, as it turned out, because of construction in the tunnel under the Cascade mountains, the train was unable to get to seattle the day before. So they bussed us to Spokane instead. Busses are not the greatest anyway, but riding them through the night into the wee hours of the morning is worse. And knowing that you spent extra money to buy a sleeper cabin on the train that you didn't get to use is worse. We picked up the train in Spokane and the rest of the trip's travel plans went - well, according to plan.

We hopped off in Glacier, Montana, walked off the train, across the tracks and highway and picked up our rental car. We first drove up to Waterton Park in Alberta, Canada. Great scenery, bears in trees by the highway, all in all, a recommeded trip. We stayed in a B&B just north outside of the park. Tremendous views of the mountains. (photo on right)

The next day we went to the Cardston temple - beautiful woodwork and interesting to move between rooms.

From there, down to Glacier National Park where we hiked trails, drove all the roads that were open (late snow year) and just explored all over the place (including the reservation)

Then the Amtrack sleeper car back to Edmonds and home. Excellent trip and highly recommended.

Until next time.