Tetons

After Jackson, I continued on to the Tetons, which are indeed Grand. This picture was the only time I actually saw the Tetons because when I woke up the next morning, it was raining. Well, during my middle of the night pee break, I did see them in the moonlight, and they were stunning.

Jackson Hole

After leaving Rock Bottom, I headed up to the Grand Tetons via Jackson Hole. I'd heard a lot about how cool Jackson was, but was sorely disappointed to find the amusement park version of a wild west town. They had a Gap, Eddie Bauer and a Haagan Daas on the town square.

There are two factors that somewhat redeem Jackson from the depths of a touristy hell.

1 - The drive to get there is beautiful.


2 - They have three Thai food restaurants.

Notice the sign - "We do not except credit cards."

Home Sweet Home

I'm in California. In fact, I've been back a few days. And I'm happy to say it's good to be home. It was fairly tiring traveling and I missed Mark. San Francisco is tiring too, but only when I go outside. Not all of the time, like when traveling.

I've spent the last few days sorting myself and things around here out. I went grocery shopping first thing, as Mark didn't go the whole month I was gone. I've done five loads of laundry. (Mark did do some laundry while I was gone.) I've cleaned the bathroom. And we've generally straighted up the loft. Note the clean table!

I've also been going through my pictures. I will be posting pictures from the last week of my travels over the next few days. And I'll put ones on my photoblog even sooner!

Play Time

I've spent the last five days with Andi, Jake, Josie and Rambler. It has been so much fun and has gone by so quickly. So, apparently, this form of birth control (being with babies for days) does not work with me.


Rambler has the amazing ability to stick his ENTIRE fist in his mouth.


Josie LOVES to be upsidedown. It will be sooo much fun to take her on rollar coasters some day! You can see the moving boxes in the background. They move to Chicago in 7 days!

I leave tomorrow morning and head to Jackson to try one of the two thai restaurants in the state, after which I will camp in Grand Teton National Park before heading to Yellowstone.

Rock Springs

...or is it Bitter Creek or Sweet Water? All three phrases are used in this town. My guess is that it's really Bitter Creek and that Sweet Water is a marketing ploy.

I walked around downtown today - all eight blocks of it. People are friendly here, well, at least the older people. I exchanged greetings with a man with shocked white hair. As I took a picture of a sign, as I have been doing much of the last several weeks, he asked, "First time to Rock Springs?"




"Yes. And probably my last."

"That's a good idea," he replied as he returned to work at the State Farm Insurance office.

I will be posting more pictures of beautiful Rock Springs on my photoblog. They'll begin appearing later next week.

Dead Animals, really.

This is a picture from the town dump. We didn't take the time to investigate what kind of dead animals there were. I hope you understand.

"There are some wackos out there."

We just watched Bowling for Columbine. This was my first Michael Moore experience. Overall, it had the intended affect - shock and appall. He's very good at presenting stories and facts in a way that evokes emotions, and maybe could even get one to think.

But, as a Lakoffite, I wonder if his documentary could be more persuading if he did a little more with the framing. I guess I would like to see him draw a few more conclusions, not for me, but for the people who probably didn't even see the film.

I guess this is a great example of my cynacism coming out.
(1) A lot of people are too sheltered to be exposed to a documentary critiquing American culture and life.
(2) Even if they did, they wouldn't be smart enough to think for themselves and figure out that TV is bad, we don't have as much to fear as we think we do, and corporate culture doesn't care.

*Hypocrisy Alert*
Of course, his documentary fits my frame, so I understand it. And how many years has it taken for me to see it?

At least it's reminding me of my political interests.

Next up, Roger and Me.

Rock Bottom, Wyoming

Everyone out West, who heard that I was going to Rock Springs, WY asked, "Why?"

I'll tell you why - drive up windows for beer!

The Maak Resort

I'm currently staying with Carley's parents. They are the sweetest things! They have a grand house in the mountains (at about 7,000 feet) around Park City, Utah. Park City is about 20 miles east of Salt Lake City. It was the location of the last Winter Olympics because it has some of the best skiing there is. Yesterday, we walked out of the house and up the mountain. The picture above was taken at the top of the trail. I feel so lucky to be here when the trees are starting to turn. I haven't had a fall since I've moved to California. AND!!!! there's been a thunderstorm, with real thunder, lightning and downpours. Bliss.

Thomas Canyon

Thomas Canyon is a literal oasis in the desert. There is nothing for 300 miles on either side of this area except high desert. Outside of Elko, NV, tucked away up in some mountains are some glaciers. There are trees. And deer. And creeks. It is beautiful. Made more so, by how stark a contrast it is to the surrounding areas.



I camped in Thomas Canyon and had breakfast the next morning in Lamoille at the one of two restaurants and the only one open for breakfast. It's actually a bar and grill. And even at 9 in the morning there were people taking advantage of the bar. I learned from the locals that the area was experiencing tremendous growth. People were moving in at a tremendous rates and rents had nearly doubled in the last nine months. It's nearly impossible to buy a home. The real estate market isn't as expensive, but just as competitive, as San Francisco. The main employer is the mining industry - hard work, long hours, but good money. Anyone can get a job, even women. (That's a quote.) The locals like to hunt and fish. They love where they live. The people are friendly and helpful. One could say neighborly, even.

It's a place I would definitely go back and visit, if I ever passed through that part of Nevada again, which I admit, is the limiting factor.

Battle Mountain

There is no ice in Battle Mountain, Nevada. I passed through here a couple of days ago on my way to Thomas Canyon in Humboldt National Forest. About 30 miles before I reached Battle Mountain, I saw a billboard advertising for it. "Battle Mountain - Voted Armpit of America. We didn't know you were looking!" Really, there isn't much there except some interesting, old neon signs and a car graveyard.

Decompression

I made it. I survived. Which means Burning Man was a success. Not as magical as my first year, not as painful as last year. And, actually, it was a pretty good year. Different, as always.

I made it to the Playa last Tuesday, but didn't arrive until Saturday. Sometimes it takes a while to feel the flow. I'm trying to think of a non-corny way of saying this, but there isn't. So, it takes a while to get into the groove. I, and many others, have to journey through the emotional hiccups that are released. As someone at the Temple said this year, it's like a valve is opened and many emotions, happy and not, come pouring out. There's no way to resist them. It's better not to obstruct them. And sometimes they're not always understood.

The first year, my emotional hiccups were from being too open and allowing the slimey element to interact with me. So, I learned boundaries for men.

Last year, my emotional hiccups were from being too available to my camp and allowing myself to get run down. So, I learned boundaries for activity.

This year, my emotional hiccups were from being too guarded and protecting my self and health too much and then being frustrated by the result. Overcompensation for last year. I was frustrated by being tired, a natural result of elevation, sun, heat, and overstimulation. By being a day person and not being out in the sun. By not being a night person and able to keep up with Mark. It was on Saturday that I relaxed a little and allowed myself to open up to the unknown people around me.

If and when I go again, which may or may not be next year, my goal will be to come to balance sooner - between myself and others. Which when it comes down to it, has always been my lesson.

For more pictures, check out my photoblog over the next few weeks. I'm currently decompressing in Park City, Utah at Carley's parents house, which is basically a resort in the mountains. It has showers, clean sheets and coffee! Everything!

On Sunday, I'll be heading up to see Andi, who is moving to Chicago in two weeks. So, I'm glad I'm able to sneak in a visit! So far I've driven 1,077 miles and have at least that many to go before I reach home again in late September. Most of those miles are on my own, which I've never done before. So far, this is pretty ok.