And my first weekend back at Yellowstone is rolling to an end. Right now we are all on a Saturday/Sunday off type of schedule till about the 18th I think, then we go back to a seven day schedule where your days off can be whatever they need them to be, lol.
So Saturday, I got talked into helping out with a competition that was taking place at the Gardiner High School. This was a Speech/Drama/Debate competition and they were short on judges and were contemplating cancelling the event because of it. I friend of mine at work told me about the problem and I decided I'd help if I could.
Turned out pretty well I think. The competition was held, and I judged three events: Extemporaneous Speech, Spontaneous Oral Interpretation, and in the finals, Improvisational Speech. I stayed till the end so I could watch the kids get their awards and they are really enthusiastic about the whole thing. Very, very talented teens all the way around.
It was a long day so when it was done I treated myself to a nice steak at the Mine Restaurant in town. Didn't feel like heading to the employee dining room. Plus, there is a bar a the restaurant, not one at the EDR, lol.
Today was a routine day and I decided to head on out to get some supplies I'd neglected to get, and needed. Went to the store in Gardiner after a stop at the sandwich shop. Got my supplies and then, yup, you guessed it, went for a drive. Spent most of the afternoon either down Old Yellowstone Trail, Cinnibar Basin Road, or up above Gardiner on the mountainside. Great views and good weather for the most part.
I got plenty of photos of Elk, Bison, Deer, and Bighorn Sheep. Some of them were actually IN Gardiner, lol. Interesting place to live I think.
Now, back to the mundane tasks such as laundry and putting things away that I've finally lugged up from the Jeep. Trying to not have so much stuff in the room this season, just not necessary. It does seem to accumulate though.
Pack Rat that I am.
Mac
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
What a year it has been. I am just now returning to Yellowstone for my second Winter Season. I know, you are asking, "What happened to the first one, and what has happened since then?" And I don't blame you. I neglect this blog terribly.
Last winter went great. I love Yellowstone in Winter! Fewer people by several magnitudes, it is so beautiful it can take your breath away on a regular basis, and it is just beautiful. Did I say that already? Well, it is.
I had a great winter season last winter and then extended my contract to become a Master Reservations Agent which would have put me there till mid September, and I way would have, because I just couldn't stay that long and had to leave. I gave them three weeks notice that I was going to resign and head out to do stuff in the summer, like camp, and hike, and ride my motorcycle, and, well, lots of stuff, just not sit in an office all day five days a week, or more, doing reservations. It was my second summer season and I just couldn't do it.
So I left. I camped in the Black Hills of South Dakota for about 4 weeks, did Sturgis while I was there, the 75th anniversary of the rally, so it was crazy crowded, but I had fun. Then headed west to Washington, down through Oregon, into northern California, then across through Reno to Salt Lake City in September. My beautiful niece Bethany and her fiance Allan let me stay with them for as long as I needed to, so I was there till mid November and then I had to go to Texas to get a few things done, then I returned to SLC. From there I headed back up to Yellowstone and reported in December 1st to do it all over again. I have no made the mistake of doing more than five or six months on a contract though, with as long a break in between as I want. So I should be good to go for a while.
Salt Lake City turns out to be quite the eclectic community as it were. Lots of college age young people and everything that goes with being that young. My niece and Allen run with quite the tattooed 20 somethings crowd and it can be a very exciting place to be. I tried to keep up and hang with them as much as I could, but at times, it was challenging, lol. I learned, after 59 years, that I really like whiskey. And Guinness beer. Who knew. I'm usually a Tequila kind of guy. But I'll commit violence for a whiskey pickle back, yes I will, lol. I even got a new tattoo. A good one, too.
As for my niece Bethany, she's a true force of nature. She has the personality, wit, and intelligence to do any damned thing she wants to in life, and she's as beautiful as they come on top of all that. She is truly one of the smartest people I know. She's young and does not have as much experience, but she's sharp as a tack, and experience will come. If you're going to keep up with her you'd better be on your game. Big time. I love her like she's my own daughter. Her two little girls are going to be heartbreakers as well. Just darlin'. I do feel for Allen, he is going to be in for it!
Had an interesting Thanksgiving Day as well. Torn in about 13 different directions, was on the road coming back from Texas, needing to get to SLC in time to pick up my trailer with the motorcycle and head on north, so I wasn't really counting on having a Thanksgiving Dinner, per se. But I was in the vicinity of my fathers home, in Farmington, New Mexico, on that day, so I thought I'd just drop by and see everyone on my way through, especially since my brother Shawn and my gorgeous sister-in-law Julie were there with one of my other beautiful nieces, Eliza (cute as a bugs ear, one year old and already running the world, lol). To say the least, I would up having a GREAT Thanksgiving Dinner, but had to move on afterward due to, ahem, a misunderstanding, and hell, I needed to get on down the road anyway, so there's that.
And now, I'm back in Yellowstone. I'm not sure what it is, but I seem to get news of friends passing away more while I'm here than any other time of the year. Whether it is former brothers and sisters in arms, whether in police work of the military, or friends I've met in the motorcycling community over the years, people seem to wait till I pull in and report to Yellowstone, then POOF, they're gone. Two this week. I know I'm getting older (try hanging out with a totally 20 something crowd for three months to make you feel OOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLDDDDDDDDDD) and so my friends are all getting older as well, but man, it is coming in waves sometimes. Some I knew better than others, some I knew very, very well. But each one hurts and brings home my own inevitable time table to the end. How can you have people close to you, of your age, or even younger, pass away without thinking of your own mortality, at least a little bit.
When I was 20 something, the thought never entered my head. I was gonna live forever.
Mac
Last winter went great. I love Yellowstone in Winter! Fewer people by several magnitudes, it is so beautiful it can take your breath away on a regular basis, and it is just beautiful. Did I say that already? Well, it is.
I had a great winter season last winter and then extended my contract to become a Master Reservations Agent which would have put me there till mid September, and I way would have, because I just couldn't stay that long and had to leave. I gave them three weeks notice that I was going to resign and head out to do stuff in the summer, like camp, and hike, and ride my motorcycle, and, well, lots of stuff, just not sit in an office all day five days a week, or more, doing reservations. It was my second summer season and I just couldn't do it.
So I left. I camped in the Black Hills of South Dakota for about 4 weeks, did Sturgis while I was there, the 75th anniversary of the rally, so it was crazy crowded, but I had fun. Then headed west to Washington, down through Oregon, into northern California, then across through Reno to Salt Lake City in September. My beautiful niece Bethany and her fiance Allan let me stay with them for as long as I needed to, so I was there till mid November and then I had to go to Texas to get a few things done, then I returned to SLC. From there I headed back up to Yellowstone and reported in December 1st to do it all over again. I have no made the mistake of doing more than five or six months on a contract though, with as long a break in between as I want. So I should be good to go for a while.
Salt Lake City turns out to be quite the eclectic community as it were. Lots of college age young people and everything that goes with being that young. My niece and Allen run with quite the tattooed 20 somethings crowd and it can be a very exciting place to be. I tried to keep up and hang with them as much as I could, but at times, it was challenging, lol. I learned, after 59 years, that I really like whiskey. And Guinness beer. Who knew. I'm usually a Tequila kind of guy. But I'll commit violence for a whiskey pickle back, yes I will, lol. I even got a new tattoo. A good one, too.
As for my niece Bethany, she's a true force of nature. She has the personality, wit, and intelligence to do any damned thing she wants to in life, and she's as beautiful as they come on top of all that. She is truly one of the smartest people I know. She's young and does not have as much experience, but she's sharp as a tack, and experience will come. If you're going to keep up with her you'd better be on your game. Big time. I love her like she's my own daughter. Her two little girls are going to be heartbreakers as well. Just darlin'. I do feel for Allen, he is going to be in for it!
Had an interesting Thanksgiving Day as well. Torn in about 13 different directions, was on the road coming back from Texas, needing to get to SLC in time to pick up my trailer with the motorcycle and head on north, so I wasn't really counting on having a Thanksgiving Dinner, per se. But I was in the vicinity of my fathers home, in Farmington, New Mexico, on that day, so I thought I'd just drop by and see everyone on my way through, especially since my brother Shawn and my gorgeous sister-in-law Julie were there with one of my other beautiful nieces, Eliza (cute as a bugs ear, one year old and already running the world, lol). To say the least, I would up having a GREAT Thanksgiving Dinner, but had to move on afterward due to, ahem, a misunderstanding, and hell, I needed to get on down the road anyway, so there's that.
And now, I'm back in Yellowstone. I'm not sure what it is, but I seem to get news of friends passing away more while I'm here than any other time of the year. Whether it is former brothers and sisters in arms, whether in police work of the military, or friends I've met in the motorcycling community over the years, people seem to wait till I pull in and report to Yellowstone, then POOF, they're gone. Two this week. I know I'm getting older (try hanging out with a totally 20 something crowd for three months to make you feel OOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLDDDDDDDDDD) and so my friends are all getting older as well, but man, it is coming in waves sometimes. Some I knew better than others, some I knew very, very well. But each one hurts and brings home my own inevitable time table to the end. How can you have people close to you, of your age, or even younger, pass away without thinking of your own mortality, at least a little bit.
When I was 20 something, the thought never entered my head. I was gonna live forever.
Mac
Friday, January 9, 2015
Winter is coming. Well, actually, it's already here, and so am I. I am now back working at Yellowstone for my first winter season. It turns out that the winter season up here is quite nice. Yes, it's cold at times, in fact, it can be quite cold. So far I've experienced -19 degrees one fine day recently. So it does get cold but it's still really, really nice up here.
For one thing, it's almost as if you have the whole park to yourself. You don't, of course, but it sure seems that way some days. Plenty of snow and animals, but not very many people. I just love it. I've been driving around in the mountains of Montana just north of Gardiner and a little town called Jardine. Lots of snow up that way but, once again, few, if any, people. But talk about beautiful scenery! It is just almost too awesome for words. I just can't get enough of it.
Thus, my most recent decision. I have decided to just move up here and get it over with. I have to take my time and build up my finances a bit after the break from October 6th to December 16th because I spent WAY too much money. But once I'm all caught up, it's on. Just getting my stuff out of storage will pay a third of my rent around here. I've talked to the folks here in the park about a job that I more full time and year round and they seem to think it can be done, so there's that. Once my Army Retirement money kicks in I won't actually need this job and I can start thinking about doing other things. Till then, I'm still here.
It would be hard to describe my life at this point. For one, it might just make people mad at me, more out of jealousy than anything else I'd think. It is laid back and so relaxing here it is not even funny. I am meeting so many great people and having so many wonderful experiences that there is almost no way for folks to NOT be jealous. Hell, I'd be jealous if it weren't me!
I was sitting on the hood of my Jeep out in Lamar Valley the other night and the moon was so bright you could see almost like it was daylight. The moonlight reflecting off the snow just made it even brighter and I was able to actually take pictures without a flash. As I sat there I just couldn't help comparing my life just over a year ago to my life today.
Anyone driving by at that moment would only have seen a laughing madman, because they just couldn't know.
Mac
For one thing, it's almost as if you have the whole park to yourself. You don't, of course, but it sure seems that way some days. Plenty of snow and animals, but not very many people. I just love it. I've been driving around in the mountains of Montana just north of Gardiner and a little town called Jardine. Lots of snow up that way but, once again, few, if any, people. But talk about beautiful scenery! It is just almost too awesome for words. I just can't get enough of it.
Thus, my most recent decision. I have decided to just move up here and get it over with. I have to take my time and build up my finances a bit after the break from October 6th to December 16th because I spent WAY too much money. But once I'm all caught up, it's on. Just getting my stuff out of storage will pay a third of my rent around here. I've talked to the folks here in the park about a job that I more full time and year round and they seem to think it can be done, so there's that. Once my Army Retirement money kicks in I won't actually need this job and I can start thinking about doing other things. Till then, I'm still here.
It would be hard to describe my life at this point. For one, it might just make people mad at me, more out of jealousy than anything else I'd think. It is laid back and so relaxing here it is not even funny. I am meeting so many great people and having so many wonderful experiences that there is almost no way for folks to NOT be jealous. Hell, I'd be jealous if it weren't me!
I was sitting on the hood of my Jeep out in Lamar Valley the other night and the moon was so bright you could see almost like it was daylight. The moonlight reflecting off the snow just made it even brighter and I was able to actually take pictures without a flash. As I sat there I just couldn't help comparing my life just over a year ago to my life today.
Anyone driving by at that moment would only have seen a laughing madman, because they just couldn't know.
Mac
Saturday, August 30, 2014
Winding down......
It has been quite a while since I last posted anything and I'm no sure why that is. Many things have happened, I've gone places and done things, and life has just gotten better and better. So, why no new posts?
I'm not really sure. On the one hand it could be that I have been too busy and just having too much fun to mess with it. Then again, it could be the lousy internet connection we have here and the fact my laptop crapped out and I had to acquire a new one (or at least new to me, lol #pawnshopspecial) and that kept me from posting for a bit as well. But it all comes down to not really having a good excuse for such a long pause in the action.
The season is almost over as I have about thirty days left on my contract. I do not know where the summer went. It has flown by so quickly and I am hurtling toward October 1st in a headlong fall toward the end it seems. Soon I'll have to start packing things up, put the bike in my trailer, and start planning for some trip to take for a while.
Somehow, I've talked myself into coming back for a winter season. I've always wanted to see Yellowstone in the winter and now it seems I will. My new contract will last from December 16 of this year, till April 3rd of next year. By then I'll have either gotten a new summer contract, or made a decision to move on and do something else next summer.
So, on October 1st, I'll once again be in the wind. I'm thinking a ride down the coast highway. Head west from here to Seattle, then head up and around then down on highway 101 along the coast till it turns into highway 1, then on down to San Diego before heading to Las Vegas to my brothers place for a while. I have a new niece to meet and get to know, then maybe head east to see more friends and family all over.
It's a tough life, I know, but someone has to do it, LOL.
Mac
I'm not really sure. On the one hand it could be that I have been too busy and just having too much fun to mess with it. Then again, it could be the lousy internet connection we have here and the fact my laptop crapped out and I had to acquire a new one (or at least new to me, lol #pawnshopspecial) and that kept me from posting for a bit as well. But it all comes down to not really having a good excuse for such a long pause in the action.
The season is almost over as I have about thirty days left on my contract. I do not know where the summer went. It has flown by so quickly and I am hurtling toward October 1st in a headlong fall toward the end it seems. Soon I'll have to start packing things up, put the bike in my trailer, and start planning for some trip to take for a while.
Somehow, I've talked myself into coming back for a winter season. I've always wanted to see Yellowstone in the winter and now it seems I will. My new contract will last from December 16 of this year, till April 3rd of next year. By then I'll have either gotten a new summer contract, or made a decision to move on and do something else next summer.
So, on October 1st, I'll once again be in the wind. I'm thinking a ride down the coast highway. Head west from here to Seattle, then head up and around then down on highway 101 along the coast till it turns into highway 1, then on down to San Diego before heading to Las Vegas to my brothers place for a while. I have a new niece to meet and get to know, then maybe head east to see more friends and family all over.
It's a tough life, I know, but someone has to do it, LOL.
Mac
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Well, there comes a time in every mans life when you just have to admit that maybe you were wrong. It looks like this is going to be one of those times.
The whole last post about the Yellowstone experience - just never mind.
It turns out that once you get used to the altitude, and the attitude, it just isn't bad at all. Everything I hoped it would be, it now is.
It seems I was just having a great deal of trouble getting adapted to the altitude after all of the years down there near sea level. I just couldn't get very much sleep due to feeling like I just wasn't getting any air at night. Now it seems, that issue has resolved itself and I am sleeping much, much better.
Sleep will cure many ills. I've gotten to where the job doesn't bother me (except for the part where I'm in an office all day instead of out in the park), the food is actually tolerable and I am losing weight hand over fist, I finally got the motorcycle out of the trailer and that has helped, and I've started to take off on my days off and get out and about to see the countryside outside the park as well as inside.
This has resulted in a whole new attitude for me. I feel absolutely great. I probably feel better than I have in ten years. Since I have my diet under control and I'm starting to lose weight, I'm going to add some more physical activity and hiking to the agenda to speed it up even more.
As for the liberals, well, they're still liberals, but most of them are not bad people, just intolerable of any opinion than that they believe in. Some of them, like the kid and the star wars trooper shirt, turned out to just be a huge star wars fan, and liked the shirt, no hidden agenda whatsoever. So in my lack of sleep induced grumpiness, I may have been a bit overly sensitive in that arena.
None of this really came easy now, I had to make a few changes. I put up their lousy blankets and sheets and got myself a nice set from the Walmart with a set of twin sheets (with a fitted bottom sheet) and a nice comforter. In addition I got a foam pad that fits the twin bed which made it much more comfortable. It was way to stiff and caused me pain in my hip joints till I got the pad. All together it made sleeping a LOT better in addition to getting used to the altitude.
I rented a storage place in Livingston, Montana for all the stuff I had in the trailer so it's a lot lighter now. I got the bike out on a Saturday in the middle of a snow storm of all things, lol. So it was a few days before my first ride in the park. I may ride out the northeast entrance these upcoming two days off and ride over the Chief Joseph Highway to Cody. It is a spectacular ride, done it many times before.
So, things are looking up in most arenas. I even bought my roommate a six pack of his favorite beer and he's been pretty okay since. Okay, he's still a bit bitchy still, but he's much more tolerable than he was. So it's okay.
I'm living and working in Yellowstone National Park. And finally, it just doesn't get any better than that.
The whole last post about the Yellowstone experience - just never mind.
It turns out that once you get used to the altitude, and the attitude, it just isn't bad at all. Everything I hoped it would be, it now is.
It seems I was just having a great deal of trouble getting adapted to the altitude after all of the years down there near sea level. I just couldn't get very much sleep due to feeling like I just wasn't getting any air at night. Now it seems, that issue has resolved itself and I am sleeping much, much better.
Sleep will cure many ills. I've gotten to where the job doesn't bother me (except for the part where I'm in an office all day instead of out in the park), the food is actually tolerable and I am losing weight hand over fist, I finally got the motorcycle out of the trailer and that has helped, and I've started to take off on my days off and get out and about to see the countryside outside the park as well as inside.
This has resulted in a whole new attitude for me. I feel absolutely great. I probably feel better than I have in ten years. Since I have my diet under control and I'm starting to lose weight, I'm going to add some more physical activity and hiking to the agenda to speed it up even more.
As for the liberals, well, they're still liberals, but most of them are not bad people, just intolerable of any opinion than that they believe in. Some of them, like the kid and the star wars trooper shirt, turned out to just be a huge star wars fan, and liked the shirt, no hidden agenda whatsoever. So in my lack of sleep induced grumpiness, I may have been a bit overly sensitive in that arena.
None of this really came easy now, I had to make a few changes. I put up their lousy blankets and sheets and got myself a nice set from the Walmart with a set of twin sheets (with a fitted bottom sheet) and a nice comforter. In addition I got a foam pad that fits the twin bed which made it much more comfortable. It was way to stiff and caused me pain in my hip joints till I got the pad. All together it made sleeping a LOT better in addition to getting used to the altitude.
I rented a storage place in Livingston, Montana for all the stuff I had in the trailer so it's a lot lighter now. I got the bike out on a Saturday in the middle of a snow storm of all things, lol. So it was a few days before my first ride in the park. I may ride out the northeast entrance these upcoming two days off and ride over the Chief Joseph Highway to Cody. It is a spectacular ride, done it many times before.
So, things are looking up in most arenas. I even bought my roommate a six pack of his favorite beer and he's been pretty okay since. Okay, he's still a bit bitchy still, but he's much more tolerable than he was. So it's okay.
I'm living and working in Yellowstone National Park. And finally, it just doesn't get any better than that.
Monday, April 28, 2014
Disallusions, but what can you say?
It's been a while since I posted and several things have taken place since I did. Last time I was in here I was still in Henderson, Nevada at my brothers place and was about to head north to Yellowstone. So let's update, shall we?
Headed north and stopped off for the night in Salt Lake City to see my niece Bethany. She and her daughter Emma met me for breakfast and had a wonderful time. It was over all too soon as I needed to get back on the road and we parted ways. Bethany always gives me the best hugs ever, lol. You never doubt you are loved after one of those.
Heading north into ever increasing altitude began to take a toll on old you know who. After some 37 years at altitudes of no more than about 400 feet above sea level, at most, heading into thousands of feet was very telling. At first, not that bad, just noticeable as I found it harder to get enough air, lol.
I stopped in Bozeman, Montana for the night, at the Holiday Inn there, very interesting place, then the next morning headed to Gardiner, Montana, just outside the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park. I was scheduled to check in with Xanterra, the company who hired me, the next morning so I stayed the night at the Best Western in Gardiner. I got there pretty early so I unhooked my trailer from the Jeep and spent the rest of the day riding around inside Yellowstone, or at least the Mammoth Hot Springs area. It was good to be back.
I checked in the next morning and got all my job materials, headed on into the park and got a room assignment and found out where I was supposed to report for training the next day. I also met my roommate. I did not win the roommate lottery. That's all we'll say about that for now, more to come later.
Yellowstone was beautiful, as if I need to say that. It is just unbelievable. There was snow on the ground when I arrived, then it went away, then it snowed again, then it went away, and even up to today, that has been the pattern. No snow yesterday, then we woke up to a nice layer of snow on everything this morning. I have taken a series of pictures that I am going to name, "So you think the weather changes a lot where you're from???? HA!". It is something else every day. But beautiful nonetheless.
Lots, and lots, and lots of animals. Bison on the lawn right outside the window of my room in the dorm. Elk along the roads, with antelope in the fields beyond. Mule deer wandering here and there, with Bighorn Sheep up on the sides of cliffs between Gardiner and Mammoth. And it's every day. All the time. When we come out of buildings we have to look around to ensure there are no bison nearby before heading on. I detoured around two of them on the way to breakfast this morning, lol. I've seen fox, coyotes, prairie dogs, marmots and a couple of unidentifiable small varmints here and there. So far, no wolves or bears, but I'm sure that's coming. Or would be.
I say, or would be, for only one reason, I'm pretty sure I'm not going to stay for the entire season as originally planned. It's great and wonderful to be here at this location, but it seems the company treats employees pretty poorly with the excuse, "But you get to live in Yellowstone" for any policy that is not to the best interest of the people. If this is what working for a large corporation is like, I'm glad I stuck with military and police work, which was by no means huggy feely, lol. So there's that.
In addition, the "greenies", or "Eco-Nazis" have taken over here big time. I don't mind recycling, that's fine, I'm able to go along with that, even to the extreme degree they are taking it, I can do that. I don't mind people having different opinions that I do about some eco-issues, I know that's going to happen, but my having a differing opinion is not acceptable to them. This is an extremely liberal crowd. An example: One of the other employees, a male about 25-27 was walking toward me from the cafeteria the other day and on his shirt it said, "I support the troops", which as I approached was kind of surprising to me as I'd seen NO such thing since I'd arrived. As I got closer I saw that the "troops" on his shirt were Imperial Storm Troopers and this was a very sideways insult since these particular troops were mindless clones supporting the evil empire who's Emperor was a megalomaniac and ruled through the use of the dark force. So, this is what I've said all along. Liberals do not really support the troops, they just pay lip service.
Anyway, that's a mild example of the constant ranting of these greenie goons. My roommate, for another example, has made the comment, several times, that people should just be killed off and turn the earth back over to the animals. Which, of course, my reply to him is, "Okay, you first." He never seems to think that is very funny for some reason.
So, between the food being just okay, the beds being uncomfortable, the hours being long, the altitude kicking my ass, still, after two weeks or so, I am seriously considering heading on out and finding something else. I will probably wait till the end of May when I had a built in break anyway for a trip I needed to take, but after that I may just not come back. I don't know yet. While the location is certainly worth much trouble to be in, I'm not sure it's worth this much trouble. If I get two months out of it I will consider it time well spent just to be up here enjoying the locale. I really do like this area, I'm just not fond of what I've found here. There may be other alternatives and I'm looking into them, so maybe I'll find a way to stay up here and also do so in a more enjoyable way.
We'll just have to wait and see.
Headed north and stopped off for the night in Salt Lake City to see my niece Bethany. She and her daughter Emma met me for breakfast and had a wonderful time. It was over all too soon as I needed to get back on the road and we parted ways. Bethany always gives me the best hugs ever, lol. You never doubt you are loved after one of those.
Heading north into ever increasing altitude began to take a toll on old you know who. After some 37 years at altitudes of no more than about 400 feet above sea level, at most, heading into thousands of feet was very telling. At first, not that bad, just noticeable as I found it harder to get enough air, lol.
I stopped in Bozeman, Montana for the night, at the Holiday Inn there, very interesting place, then the next morning headed to Gardiner, Montana, just outside the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park. I was scheduled to check in with Xanterra, the company who hired me, the next morning so I stayed the night at the Best Western in Gardiner. I got there pretty early so I unhooked my trailer from the Jeep and spent the rest of the day riding around inside Yellowstone, or at least the Mammoth Hot Springs area. It was good to be back.
I checked in the next morning and got all my job materials, headed on into the park and got a room assignment and found out where I was supposed to report for training the next day. I also met my roommate. I did not win the roommate lottery. That's all we'll say about that for now, more to come later.
Yellowstone was beautiful, as if I need to say that. It is just unbelievable. There was snow on the ground when I arrived, then it went away, then it snowed again, then it went away, and even up to today, that has been the pattern. No snow yesterday, then we woke up to a nice layer of snow on everything this morning. I have taken a series of pictures that I am going to name, "So you think the weather changes a lot where you're from???? HA!". It is something else every day. But beautiful nonetheless.
Lots, and lots, and lots of animals. Bison on the lawn right outside the window of my room in the dorm. Elk along the roads, with antelope in the fields beyond. Mule deer wandering here and there, with Bighorn Sheep up on the sides of cliffs between Gardiner and Mammoth. And it's every day. All the time. When we come out of buildings we have to look around to ensure there are no bison nearby before heading on. I detoured around two of them on the way to breakfast this morning, lol. I've seen fox, coyotes, prairie dogs, marmots and a couple of unidentifiable small varmints here and there. So far, no wolves or bears, but I'm sure that's coming. Or would be.
I say, or would be, for only one reason, I'm pretty sure I'm not going to stay for the entire season as originally planned. It's great and wonderful to be here at this location, but it seems the company treats employees pretty poorly with the excuse, "But you get to live in Yellowstone" for any policy that is not to the best interest of the people. If this is what working for a large corporation is like, I'm glad I stuck with military and police work, which was by no means huggy feely, lol. So there's that.
In addition, the "greenies", or "Eco-Nazis" have taken over here big time. I don't mind recycling, that's fine, I'm able to go along with that, even to the extreme degree they are taking it, I can do that. I don't mind people having different opinions that I do about some eco-issues, I know that's going to happen, but my having a differing opinion is not acceptable to them. This is an extremely liberal crowd. An example: One of the other employees, a male about 25-27 was walking toward me from the cafeteria the other day and on his shirt it said, "I support the troops", which as I approached was kind of surprising to me as I'd seen NO such thing since I'd arrived. As I got closer I saw that the "troops" on his shirt were Imperial Storm Troopers and this was a very sideways insult since these particular troops were mindless clones supporting the evil empire who's Emperor was a megalomaniac and ruled through the use of the dark force. So, this is what I've said all along. Liberals do not really support the troops, they just pay lip service.
Anyway, that's a mild example of the constant ranting of these greenie goons. My roommate, for another example, has made the comment, several times, that people should just be killed off and turn the earth back over to the animals. Which, of course, my reply to him is, "Okay, you first." He never seems to think that is very funny for some reason.
So, between the food being just okay, the beds being uncomfortable, the hours being long, the altitude kicking my ass, still, after two weeks or so, I am seriously considering heading on out and finding something else. I will probably wait till the end of May when I had a built in break anyway for a trip I needed to take, but after that I may just not come back. I don't know yet. While the location is certainly worth much trouble to be in, I'm not sure it's worth this much trouble. If I get two months out of it I will consider it time well spent just to be up here enjoying the locale. I really do like this area, I'm just not fond of what I've found here. There may be other alternatives and I'm looking into them, so maybe I'll find a way to stay up here and also do so in a more enjoyable way.
We'll just have to wait and see.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
So, it's been a while since I last posted anything, and lots has happened. I headed out from Montgomery after putting everything in storage, and went to Shreveport to see the kids once more, then headed to Eminence, MO. Rented a cabin there for a month and had a very, very relaxing time just trying to get used to doing nothing really, lol.
After a month in the Ozarks, I headed once more to Houston to get some things taken care of and issued dealt with. once free of there I went back to Shreveport to see the kids one more time and pick up the trailer. I'd dropped it off before heading to the Ozarks as I didn't need it for that time period. Once I was out of Shreveport the long trip to Las Vegas began.
It's not really a long way to Las Vegas, not really, but it seemed there was this weird weather pattern that made sure I had a very, very heavy headwind all the way there. Much slower speeds, while also experiencing much, much lower gas mileage conspired to make it a longer, and more expensive, trip than planned. But, I made it and have been recovering here at my brothers house in Henderson, Nevada.
Altogether, it has been a great trip so far. I've reconnected with family, gotten to spend some time with nephews and nieces I'd not seen for a while, and just had some great laughs so far. My brother, Shawn, and my sister-in-law Julie, have been so welcoming and gracious, I can't thank them enough for letting me stay in their home and just get to be with family again. I have about 15 more days here till time to head north to Yellowstone, and I'm enjoying every minute of it.
The time is approaching though, when I'll have to get packed back up, hook the trailer onto the Jeep, and head north. I've been looking at the roads and trying to keep track of whether or not I'm going to have to buy tire chains before I take off, lol. But, it's looking pretty good at present, the roads are looking pretty clear already. Hopefully it will still be that way when it's time to go.
Off to plan a trip over to Death Valley now, take it easy.
Mac
After a month in the Ozarks, I headed once more to Houston to get some things taken care of and issued dealt with. once free of there I went back to Shreveport to see the kids one more time and pick up the trailer. I'd dropped it off before heading to the Ozarks as I didn't need it for that time period. Once I was out of Shreveport the long trip to Las Vegas began.
It's not really a long way to Las Vegas, not really, but it seemed there was this weird weather pattern that made sure I had a very, very heavy headwind all the way there. Much slower speeds, while also experiencing much, much lower gas mileage conspired to make it a longer, and more expensive, trip than planned. But, I made it and have been recovering here at my brothers house in Henderson, Nevada.
Altogether, it has been a great trip so far. I've reconnected with family, gotten to spend some time with nephews and nieces I'd not seen for a while, and just had some great laughs so far. My brother, Shawn, and my sister-in-law Julie, have been so welcoming and gracious, I can't thank them enough for letting me stay in their home and just get to be with family again. I have about 15 more days here till time to head north to Yellowstone, and I'm enjoying every minute of it.
The time is approaching though, when I'll have to get packed back up, hook the trailer onto the Jeep, and head north. I've been looking at the roads and trying to keep track of whether or not I'm going to have to buy tire chains before I take off, lol. But, it's looking pretty good at present, the roads are looking pretty clear already. Hopefully it will still be that way when it's time to go.
Off to plan a trip over to Death Valley now, take it easy.
Mac
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Had lunch today, or I should say, brunch, with some great folks from my Inmate Trust Fund days. Man, the stories they can tell. Love them to death but I am sooooo glad to be out of that whole mess. Looking forward to getting out of here in a few days.
Packers are coming on Wednesday, then the movers are scheduled for Thursday. Moving everything that isn't going with me into storage for the duration. Found a pretty reasonable place that even gave me a military discount for being retired Army Reserve. I thought that was nice of them.
Been looking at everything I can find on the internet about my new employer, Xanterra, Inc. This is the company that runs much of the concessions inside many of our National Parks. In Yellowstone they mainly run the lodging and activities, while another company, Delaware North, runs the general stores and such. I'm sure I'll learn more as I go.
There seem to be two different schools of thought on working as a seasonal employee, either it is absolutely the best thing ever, or it's the worst thing ever. I've not really found much in between. My thoughts on this are that the people in the middle didn't have any strong feelings either way, or at least not strong enough to cause them to go blog on the internet about their experience. There are forums and blogs by current and past employees and they run the gamut. They complain about the company, the hours, the pay, the food, the accommodations, and just about anything else you can imagine. Other, on the other hand, can't say enough good about the entire experience and only throw in little side notes about how the food could be better, or the dorms could be more roomy, etc.
Many, it seems, have never been in the Army. Nuff said.
You're in frickin' Yellowstone National Park for crying out loud!! Shut up!!!
Anyway, while I do hope that I find no reason to eat my words on this, it looks like it is going to be fantastic. If everything goes as planned, I'll have the Jeep, and the motorcycle, and my trailer full of junk with me, so I should be in good shape. I have to go buy some clothes though, as my particular area wears "business casual" attire, with blue jeans being acceptable on the weekends. Hey, I needed to update my wardrobe anyway, from between either a uniform, or jeans and a t-shirt, so this is a good thing.
All in all, it looks like life is taking an upturn.
Packers are coming on Wednesday, then the movers are scheduled for Thursday. Moving everything that isn't going with me into storage for the duration. Found a pretty reasonable place that even gave me a military discount for being retired Army Reserve. I thought that was nice of them.
Been looking at everything I can find on the internet about my new employer, Xanterra, Inc. This is the company that runs much of the concessions inside many of our National Parks. In Yellowstone they mainly run the lodging and activities, while another company, Delaware North, runs the general stores and such. I'm sure I'll learn more as I go.
There seem to be two different schools of thought on working as a seasonal employee, either it is absolutely the best thing ever, or it's the worst thing ever. I've not really found much in between. My thoughts on this are that the people in the middle didn't have any strong feelings either way, or at least not strong enough to cause them to go blog on the internet about their experience. There are forums and blogs by current and past employees and they run the gamut. They complain about the company, the hours, the pay, the food, the accommodations, and just about anything else you can imagine. Other, on the other hand, can't say enough good about the entire experience and only throw in little side notes about how the food could be better, or the dorms could be more roomy, etc.
Many, it seems, have never been in the Army. Nuff said.
You're in frickin' Yellowstone National Park for crying out loud!! Shut up!!!
Anyway, while I do hope that I find no reason to eat my words on this, it looks like it is going to be fantastic. If everything goes as planned, I'll have the Jeep, and the motorcycle, and my trailer full of junk with me, so I should be in good shape. I have to go buy some clothes though, as my particular area wears "business casual" attire, with blue jeans being acceptable on the weekends. Hey, I needed to update my wardrobe anyway, from between either a uniform, or jeans and a t-shirt, so this is a good thing.
All in all, it looks like life is taking an upturn.
Friday, January 24, 2014
Well, some time has now passed since my grandson passed away, and with time the pain eases. While still just a little bit in shock over it, I, as well as others, must move on and continue living till we're not.
With that in mind, I recently got a call from the folks at Yellowstone National Park and had to take a typing test. It was an online test and I still don't know what the exact requirements were, but I passed. After that there was a phone interview and at the end of the interview I was hired to work in the phone reservations section, which takes reservations over the phone for lodging and activities within the park. It seem I will be sitting before a computer, within a cubicle, talking to people over the phone. A lot. It is possible to have a schedule of 4 10 hour shifts, with three days off, which would be a great schedule to have. Then I would have 3 days each week in order to explore, hike, camp, fish, ride my motorcycle, ride the mountain roads in my Jeep, and Geocache to my hearts content.
I have yet to find the fly in this ointment. Yes, the lodging for employees is a dormitory setup, with roommates and shared bathroom facilities, but I've been there before while in the military. Not a deal killer. The meals are served in the employee dining facility, three meals a day, small deduction from your pay for the room and board. The pay is just a little more than minimum wage, but you can make more the better you do and the more you train to do more aspects of the job, so there's that. But it looks like there is little to no downside to this setup. I am to report in April and work till maybe the end of September, but there are full time year round jobs to be had if you can get one. Have to wait and see about that.
On top of everything else, the owner of my current residence is happy for me and willing to let me out of my lease early, with no damage done. Granted, he's keeping my security deposit, and I'm leaving a brand new washer and dryer, as well as a brand new refrigerator, to make up for breaking the lease, so I'd say we are all coming out ahead. In fact, I can't see how this could be going any better at this point. In one week and a few days, I'll be in the wind.
I'll have two and a half months to wander around before I have to report to work. Time enough to spend some time just relaxing and doing nothing, or something, or whatever I want to do.
I'm off to hunt for motorcycle trailers tomorrow, wish me luck!
Mac
With that in mind, I recently got a call from the folks at Yellowstone National Park and had to take a typing test. It was an online test and I still don't know what the exact requirements were, but I passed. After that there was a phone interview and at the end of the interview I was hired to work in the phone reservations section, which takes reservations over the phone for lodging and activities within the park. It seem I will be sitting before a computer, within a cubicle, talking to people over the phone. A lot. It is possible to have a schedule of 4 10 hour shifts, with three days off, which would be a great schedule to have. Then I would have 3 days each week in order to explore, hike, camp, fish, ride my motorcycle, ride the mountain roads in my Jeep, and Geocache to my hearts content.
I have yet to find the fly in this ointment. Yes, the lodging for employees is a dormitory setup, with roommates and shared bathroom facilities, but I've been there before while in the military. Not a deal killer. The meals are served in the employee dining facility, three meals a day, small deduction from your pay for the room and board. The pay is just a little more than minimum wage, but you can make more the better you do and the more you train to do more aspects of the job, so there's that. But it looks like there is little to no downside to this setup. I am to report in April and work till maybe the end of September, but there are full time year round jobs to be had if you can get one. Have to wait and see about that.
On top of everything else, the owner of my current residence is happy for me and willing to let me out of my lease early, with no damage done. Granted, he's keeping my security deposit, and I'm leaving a brand new washer and dryer, as well as a brand new refrigerator, to make up for breaking the lease, so I'd say we are all coming out ahead. In fact, I can't see how this could be going any better at this point. In one week and a few days, I'll be in the wind.
I'll have two and a half months to wander around before I have to report to work. Time enough to spend some time just relaxing and doing nothing, or something, or whatever I want to do.
I'm off to hunt for motorcycle trailers tomorrow, wish me luck!
Mac
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Just when you think that it's safe to go back in the water.........
It has been a few weeks since I last posted something up, which means there was all kinds of time for everything to go completely, and overwhelmingly wrong....
And so it did.
But the thing that topped it all, and made everything else that went wrong completely meaningless, was the death of my Grandson, Grayson Lee McKinney, after only nine days alive.
Nothing else matters.
My letter to him:
And so it did.
But the thing that topped it all, and made everything else that went wrong completely meaningless, was the death of my Grandson, Grayson Lee McKinney, after only nine days alive.
Nothing else matters.
My letter to him:
Hello Grayson Lee McKinney, this is your Grandpa. I have the distinct pleasure to be the daddy of your wonderful mother. I saw the pictures of you right after you were born and I must say, you were one handsome boy. I couldn't make the trip to see you right away, but you and I were supposed to meet tomorrow for the first time. You were born into quite the family grandson. We are quite the diverse and crazy lot. From the pictures I saw of you, with the expressions you were already showing on that little face of yours, you would have fit right in.
I am sure sorry now that things kept me from coming up sooner, but I figured we had a long time to get to know each other. But it looks like God needed you elsewhere and you can't argue with God, so here we are. It sounds like you were a trooper and hung in there as long as you could, but being so tiny and young, you could only fight for so long.
I would have loved to have met you my little one, it would have thrilled me no end to have held you and celebrate your birth. There is no greater joy in a grandfathers life than to make a grandchild smile and laugh. Oh yeah, and to buy you really noisy toys to aggravate your parents with. I was sure looking forward to that.
Well little Grayson, I'm sure God already has you on assignment as an Angel to help someone who really needs it somewhere. We will think of you often and pray for all those who suffer such a loss as we have had. Our loss is heavens gain.
Take care little angel, we will never forget you.
All our love forever,
Grandpa
I am sure sorry now that things kept me from coming up sooner, but I figured we had a long time to get to know each other. But it looks like God needed you elsewhere and you can't argue with God, so here we are. It sounds like you were a trooper and hung in there as long as you could, but being so tiny and young, you could only fight for so long.
I would have loved to have met you my little one, it would have thrilled me no end to have held you and celebrate your birth. There is no greater joy in a grandfathers life than to make a grandchild smile and laugh. Oh yeah, and to buy you really noisy toys to aggravate your parents with. I was sure looking forward to that.
Well little Grayson, I'm sure God already has you on assignment as an Angel to help someone who really needs it somewhere. We will think of you often and pray for all those who suffer such a loss as we have had. Our loss is heavens gain.
Take care little angel, we will never forget you.
All our love forever,
Grandpa
My poem for him:
Baby Lee and Me.
I feel drunk,
Tho no wine has passed my lip.
I feel pummeled,
Tho no fist has struck me yet.
I feel lost,
Tho there is nowhere I'm bound.
I feel helpless,
Tho there is caring all around....
I know that I will meet you in that good old "by-n-by",
That old time country singers say in songs that make us cry.
I know that I will shake your hand and pat you on the head,
And tell you of the many things I wish I could have said.
Being Grandpa now is really all that's left for me to do,
I really truly wish I could have been there just for you.
My life is winding down now as it's very plain to see,
But yours was just beginning and there was so, so much to be.
All the little things that go on through a grandsons head,
Will you be a policeman, or maybe a fireman dressed in red?
Maybe you'd be a doctor or a television star,
Or be a famous driver in a real fast motor car.
Ah, I guess we'll never know now what you might have gone and done,
For God had plans for you elsewhere my tiny cute grandson.
You have a task with angel wings that now needs to go on.
And someone waits for angels breath to bring them a new dawn.
Keep an eye on your mother baby, she wants to make you proud.
Your brother and your sister, too, in prayer their heads are bowed.
We all know you'll be watching us from an angels fluffy cloud,
And with a family oh so large you'll be watching quite a crowd.
I think that I will always think of you as baby Lee,
Grayson sounds too serious for all the fun there'd be,
If you and I had had the chance to just get out and see,
Just how much laughter that exists for baby Lee and me.
(Written for my Grandson, Grayson Lee McKinney. Born December 19, 2013, Died December 27, 2013.)
I feel drunk,
Tho no wine has passed my lip.
I feel pummeled,
Tho no fist has struck me yet.
I feel lost,
Tho there is nowhere I'm bound.
I feel helpless,
Tho there is caring all around....
I know that I will meet you in that good old "by-n-by",
That old time country singers say in songs that make us cry.
I know that I will shake your hand and pat you on the head,
And tell you of the many things I wish I could have said.
Being Grandpa now is really all that's left for me to do,
I really truly wish I could have been there just for you.
My life is winding down now as it's very plain to see,
But yours was just beginning and there was so, so much to be.
All the little things that go on through a grandsons head,
Will you be a policeman, or maybe a fireman dressed in red?
Maybe you'd be a doctor or a television star,
Or be a famous driver in a real fast motor car.
Ah, I guess we'll never know now what you might have gone and done,
For God had plans for you elsewhere my tiny cute grandson.
You have a task with angel wings that now needs to go on.
And someone waits for angels breath to bring them a new dawn.
Keep an eye on your mother baby, she wants to make you proud.
Your brother and your sister, too, in prayer their heads are bowed.
We all know you'll be watching us from an angels fluffy cloud,
And with a family oh so large you'll be watching quite a crowd.
I think that I will always think of you as baby Lee,
Grayson sounds too serious for all the fun there'd be,
If you and I had had the chance to just get out and see,
Just how much laughter that exists for baby Lee and me.
(Written for my Grandson, Grayson Lee McKinney. Born December 19, 2013, Died December 27, 2013.)
Monday, December 2, 2013
Turned in all my stuff today. All my uniforms, all my equipment, my badge, and my ID. I picked up my retirement badge and ID, and departed the Harris County Sheriff's Office at about 1330 hours. I am no longer a police officer. I am just a regular Joe now, with no authority to arrest and detain, nor any responsibility beyond that of a normal citizen. What I contribute now, and what I accomplish, I do for myself, not for others.
It was too easy. Almost nonchalant. Here is the symbol of my profession, my badge, from my hand to yours Sheriff (actually to a clerk who works for the Sheriff). I end my service as if I'm handing someone an apple. No pomp, no flourishes, just a quiet placing of the new retirement badge into my wallet in place of the former. Hand shakes with friends I happen upon as I leave the building. And then I'm outside. Really outside.
When I retired from the military it was very much the same. But with that retirement I maintain many privileges, such as being able to go to a military base and just hang out if I wish. I can shop at the PX, camp at the campgrounds, celebrate national holidays. I can maintain some kind of connection.
But with the Sheriffs Office, there is little connection once you end your term of service. Sure, I'll stay in touch with friends, call and get together with them from time to time. Check in to see how they are doing, let them know how I'm doing. But this was, after all, just a job.
The problem is, it was never "just a job" to me.
Mac
It was too easy. Almost nonchalant. Here is the symbol of my profession, my badge, from my hand to yours Sheriff (actually to a clerk who works for the Sheriff). I end my service as if I'm handing someone an apple. No pomp, no flourishes, just a quiet placing of the new retirement badge into my wallet in place of the former. Hand shakes with friends I happen upon as I leave the building. And then I'm outside. Really outside.
When I retired from the military it was very much the same. But with that retirement I maintain many privileges, such as being able to go to a military base and just hang out if I wish. I can shop at the PX, camp at the campgrounds, celebrate national holidays. I can maintain some kind of connection.
But with the Sheriffs Office, there is little connection once you end your term of service. Sure, I'll stay in touch with friends, call and get together with them from time to time. Check in to see how they are doing, let them know how I'm doing. But this was, after all, just a job.
The problem is, it was never "just a job" to me.
Mac
Saturday, November 30, 2013
It looks like, in about 2 hours, I'm going to be a civilian. This will be the first time ever that I've actually been a civilian completely.
I was born in a military hospital in San Diego, California, making me a military dependent. I stayed one till I joined the military myself at age 18. I stayed in the military reserve even after finishing my tour of active duty, and in the meantime, became a police officer and then a sheriff's deputy. I retired from the military reserve as well. So from birth to age 57 I've not been a civilian. At least to my way of thinking about it.
So now I'm actually going to be one, for real. A retired peace officer for certain, but a civilian to boot. I'm pretty sure there's no manual for that, no instruction booklet or list of items to follow as you move from one status to another. I know I won't get half price at the pizza place anymore, but that wasn't something I wanted to do anyway, so that's no big deal. I guess I'll have to be careful out there now to not involve myself in things that don't concern me, except perhaps, as a good witness.
I need to learn how to look at people differently. A few weeks ago, while in the food store, I was in street clothes and shopping for groceries. A couple who were also in there shopping nearby me were looking at some fruit or whatnot. I looked over at them, just glanced really, and the woman turned to the man and said, "That man just looked at me like he's a police officer!"
I have to admit, I was stunned. I had no idea that I had looked at them any differently than I might look at a can of beans sitting on a shelf in front of me, but it appears I was wrong. Police officers do, in fact, have a way of looking at people that is very, very different than most. Police look at you without the discomfort regular folks have when people catch you staring at them, because the Police have every right to stare at whomever they wish, and they know it. Part of what we do is to look at people while trying to determine just what they might be up to, or, to make sure they are not up to anything. So we look. And we stare. And our very look tells you that we know we can look and there's nothing you can do about it, and we are not uncomfortable in the least. This can be quite disconcerting to the general public at large.
So, I'm going to have to learn how to look at people in a whole new way. Any bets I'll be successful?
I certainly wouldn't bet the farm if I were you.....
Mac
I was born in a military hospital in San Diego, California, making me a military dependent. I stayed one till I joined the military myself at age 18. I stayed in the military reserve even after finishing my tour of active duty, and in the meantime, became a police officer and then a sheriff's deputy. I retired from the military reserve as well. So from birth to age 57 I've not been a civilian. At least to my way of thinking about it.
So now I'm actually going to be one, for real. A retired peace officer for certain, but a civilian to boot. I'm pretty sure there's no manual for that, no instruction booklet or list of items to follow as you move from one status to another. I know I won't get half price at the pizza place anymore, but that wasn't something I wanted to do anyway, so that's no big deal. I guess I'll have to be careful out there now to not involve myself in things that don't concern me, except perhaps, as a good witness.
I need to learn how to look at people differently. A few weeks ago, while in the food store, I was in street clothes and shopping for groceries. A couple who were also in there shopping nearby me were looking at some fruit or whatnot. I looked over at them, just glanced really, and the woman turned to the man and said, "That man just looked at me like he's a police officer!"
I have to admit, I was stunned. I had no idea that I had looked at them any differently than I might look at a can of beans sitting on a shelf in front of me, but it appears I was wrong. Police officers do, in fact, have a way of looking at people that is very, very different than most. Police look at you without the discomfort regular folks have when people catch you staring at them, because the Police have every right to stare at whomever they wish, and they know it. Part of what we do is to look at people while trying to determine just what they might be up to, or, to make sure they are not up to anything. So we look. And we stare. And our very look tells you that we know we can look and there's nothing you can do about it, and we are not uncomfortable in the least. This can be quite disconcerting to the general public at large.
So, I'm going to have to learn how to look at people in a whole new way. Any bets I'll be successful?
I certainly wouldn't bet the farm if I were you.....
Mac
Friday, November 29, 2013
Witnessed a bad motorcycle wreck this morning while on my way into town. Was the first one on the scene, stood by till the police, fire, and ambulance units arrived. When I walked up to the guy I just knew I was walking up to a dead man, but he was alive. Rode through the complete barrier system at the HOV lane entrance on southbound highway 45 approaching highway 1960. Went around me doing at least 90 mph, thought the HOV lane was open today (it wasn't), and hit the barriers at full speed. Broke through several barrier arms, a large, solid, metal gate, a cable mesh net, and another two barrier arms, leaving one last barrier arm untouched as the bike slid under it, and he flew over it. I parked my Jeep in the debris with the flashers on, got out and dialed 911 as I was walking up to where he was. He was still, motionless, and I couldn't hear anything until I knelt down by him and put my hand on his jacketed shoulder. He was saying over and over, "I though it was open, I thought it was open, I thought it was open." I was there for thirty minutes and when I left the ambulance crew was still working on him. His left leg is probably gone, I can't see how they'll save it. Other injuries were too well concealed by his leather gear so I'm not sure what else might have been wrong, but it has to be extensive. Full face helmet, heavy leather jacket, blue jeans, sneakers. On a sport bike. They don't call them zoom-splats for nothing.
And all on my next to last day in uniform.
Mac
And all on my next to last day in uniform.
Mac
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
I think I might have made a good actor. No, really. Why do I think that? Well, I can remember my lines. Really, really, really remember my lines.
An example you say? Okay, here's just one.
"I'm not very old, and I'm not very bold,
But I'm brave enough to say.
We wish you a merry Christmas,
And a Happy New Years Day."
That, my doubting friends, is from a Christmas program put on when I was in Kindergarten, and those were my lines. I was five years old and it was the first half of Kindergarten, in Odessa, Texas, as the second half of Kindergarten was in St. Louis, Missouri. No program in the second half.
All kidding aside, I'm not really sure why I've remembered that all my life. That was sometime around 1961 I believe, so it was quite some time ago. I remember rehearsing my lines with my mom when we lived at my grandmothers house in Odessa while dad was attending Army boot camp at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. At some point I remember my grandmother taking us three kids into a bedroom and asking us if we wanted to stay with her, or go with our parents when they left to go to dad's next assignment with the Army. The other two kids were really too little to know one way or the other what she was talking about, so she was essentially asking me. I told her I wanted to go with my mom and dad, and she never treated me well ever again after that. You only got one chance with my mom's mom, and if you didn't live up to what she wanted, you were pretty much personae non grata after that.
First grade in Austin, Texas after that, and then second grade in Eminence, Missouri while dad was in Greenland, of all places. I remember that year JFK was assassinated. I was too young to really understand what was going on, and the implications of it, but I knew folks around me were mightily upset and scared, so I was scared, too.
Seems like folks are still scared today.
Mac
An example you say? Okay, here's just one.
"I'm not very old, and I'm not very bold,
But I'm brave enough to say.
We wish you a merry Christmas,
And a Happy New Years Day."
That, my doubting friends, is from a Christmas program put on when I was in Kindergarten, and those were my lines. I was five years old and it was the first half of Kindergarten, in Odessa, Texas, as the second half of Kindergarten was in St. Louis, Missouri. No program in the second half.
All kidding aside, I'm not really sure why I've remembered that all my life. That was sometime around 1961 I believe, so it was quite some time ago. I remember rehearsing my lines with my mom when we lived at my grandmothers house in Odessa while dad was attending Army boot camp at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. At some point I remember my grandmother taking us three kids into a bedroom and asking us if we wanted to stay with her, or go with our parents when they left to go to dad's next assignment with the Army. The other two kids were really too little to know one way or the other what she was talking about, so she was essentially asking me. I told her I wanted to go with my mom and dad, and she never treated me well ever again after that. You only got one chance with my mom's mom, and if you didn't live up to what she wanted, you were pretty much personae non grata after that.
First grade in Austin, Texas after that, and then second grade in Eminence, Missouri while dad was in Greenland, of all places. I remember that year JFK was assassinated. I was too young to really understand what was going on, and the implications of it, but I knew folks around me were mightily upset and scared, so I was scared, too.
Seems like folks are still scared today.
Mac
Monday, November 25, 2013
It has been a while since I posted in here. I managed to stub my toe at work a while back and the penance came due last week. Have to admit, it was my own fault, can't blame it on anyone else, and I was quite depressed last week to say the least. So, I didn't post on this blog, didn't even leave the house, and kind of just waited it out. This particular incident was what caused me to realize I was done, and needed to retire, because my heart just wasn't in it anymore.
Then today came. All debts have been paid, all is forgiven, and today went exceptionally well. I attended the retirement ceremony the Sheriff has each month for those that are retiring that month and it was so well done. He read a bio of each deputy, sergeant, and the captain that are retiring this month. We were each awarded a Sheriffs challenge coin, a nice plaque, a signed copy of our bio, as well as the retirement badge and I.D. of a retired peace officer.
It was such a good day. Friends of mine were able to get to this particular ceremony, even though it was a last minute deal that I decided to attend. I wish I'd been able to give family enough time to be there, but it was not to be. But it was such a good day. Before the ceremony I took my badge to a jeweler I know and he cleaned it up and shined it a bit, and it looked spectacular. Got my uniform pressed and all ready and it looked really good. Hopefully the pictures they took will turn out well, I'll be glad to have them and display them.
6 more days and I'll be completely retired from the Sheriff's Office. I'm on vacation, comp time, or holiday time till the end, and then I'll technically be a civilian, for the first time in a long, long time.
Man, it was a really good day today.
Mac
Then today came. All debts have been paid, all is forgiven, and today went exceptionally well. I attended the retirement ceremony the Sheriff has each month for those that are retiring that month and it was so well done. He read a bio of each deputy, sergeant, and the captain that are retiring this month. We were each awarded a Sheriffs challenge coin, a nice plaque, a signed copy of our bio, as well as the retirement badge and I.D. of a retired peace officer.
It was such a good day. Friends of mine were able to get to this particular ceremony, even though it was a last minute deal that I decided to attend. I wish I'd been able to give family enough time to be there, but it was not to be. But it was such a good day. Before the ceremony I took my badge to a jeweler I know and he cleaned it up and shined it a bit, and it looked spectacular. Got my uniform pressed and all ready and it looked really good. Hopefully the pictures they took will turn out well, I'll be glad to have them and display them.
6 more days and I'll be completely retired from the Sheriff's Office. I'm on vacation, comp time, or holiday time till the end, and then I'll technically be a civilian, for the first time in a long, long time.
Man, it was a really good day today.
Mac
Sunday, November 17, 2013
In the morning I go to work for the last time I am scheduled to work a shift. I am still employed till November 30th, but tomorrow is my last scheduled work day. The rest is vacation, comp time and holidays.
Right at 35 years of wearing a badge and carrying a gun for a living. I'm afraid I'm not going to be very useful for anything else, but I'm going to go out there and see what I can find. 35 years of being expected to be more than human, always aware that more is expected of me than of others. Knowing that every single mistake, no matter how small, will be seen as an indictment of all police. Knowing that every single contact with a member of the public could result in a complaint, or a civil suite, or in a fight from low level wrestling with someone to get them into handcuffs, all the way up to fighting for my very life. Knowing that there are people out there that would love to kill a police officer, or harm his family, just to get back at the "system" they feel has treated them unfairly.
People always scoff at us when we explain how dangerous our job is. "Oh, but there are other, more dangerous, jobs out there" they'll say. "Loggers and fishermen, and others get killed all the time" they'll say. I always ask them, "Do the logs, or the fish, or the sea, come to them and try to kill them?" Their deaths are from mother nature, equipment failure, freezing seas they fall into, or chain saws that break or buck and kill.
Our deaths are from other human beings pointing weapons as us and pulling the triggers. Our deaths are on purpose, not on accident, although accidents do happen. People plot and plan to kill the police. People put pieces into place in order to kill a police officer if they are caught doing whatever it is they don't want to be caught doing. No log ever stalked a logger. No log ever hid behind a building in ambush for a logger. No summer storm ever waited just to sink a fishing boat.
Apples and oranges.
So far, I've never had to shoot anyone, nor to kill anyone, in any manner. Neither in my police career or my military career. I've come so close before that it still shakes me up even today to think about the instances where I was leaning into my shotgun and squeezing the trigger, anticipating the recoil and preparing for the consequences, when a suspect finally heeded my orders to drop their weapon at the last, possible, moment. Happened far too many times, with either shotgun, patrol rifle, or handgun, to suit me, but I never had to actually fire. I thank God for that. While always prepared to do so, I have never been one to wish it would happen. I've known those who did wish it to happen, and I found them to be no one I wanted to hang around. Trouble on the hoof. Disaster waiting for a place to happen.
I am happy I've never had to kill, especially when the general public sometimes seems to think that's all we want to do, get the opportunity to shoot someone. Far from it, we don't want to at all, if it can be helped.
My philosophy of police work was to be as nice to people as they would allow me to be. To be as respectful to people as they would allow me to be. To be as helpful to people as they would allow me to be. In other words, if you came in contact with me, YOU set the tone of how the encounter was going to go. If you were civil, I was civil. If you were an ass, I was much, much better at it that you were. Trust me on that.
Mac
Right at 35 years of wearing a badge and carrying a gun for a living. I'm afraid I'm not going to be very useful for anything else, but I'm going to go out there and see what I can find. 35 years of being expected to be more than human, always aware that more is expected of me than of others. Knowing that every single mistake, no matter how small, will be seen as an indictment of all police. Knowing that every single contact with a member of the public could result in a complaint, or a civil suite, or in a fight from low level wrestling with someone to get them into handcuffs, all the way up to fighting for my very life. Knowing that there are people out there that would love to kill a police officer, or harm his family, just to get back at the "system" they feel has treated them unfairly.
People always scoff at us when we explain how dangerous our job is. "Oh, but there are other, more dangerous, jobs out there" they'll say. "Loggers and fishermen, and others get killed all the time" they'll say. I always ask them, "Do the logs, or the fish, or the sea, come to them and try to kill them?" Their deaths are from mother nature, equipment failure, freezing seas they fall into, or chain saws that break or buck and kill.
Our deaths are from other human beings pointing weapons as us and pulling the triggers. Our deaths are on purpose, not on accident, although accidents do happen. People plot and plan to kill the police. People put pieces into place in order to kill a police officer if they are caught doing whatever it is they don't want to be caught doing. No log ever stalked a logger. No log ever hid behind a building in ambush for a logger. No summer storm ever waited just to sink a fishing boat.
Apples and oranges.
So far, I've never had to shoot anyone, nor to kill anyone, in any manner. Neither in my police career or my military career. I've come so close before that it still shakes me up even today to think about the instances where I was leaning into my shotgun and squeezing the trigger, anticipating the recoil and preparing for the consequences, when a suspect finally heeded my orders to drop their weapon at the last, possible, moment. Happened far too many times, with either shotgun, patrol rifle, or handgun, to suit me, but I never had to actually fire. I thank God for that. While always prepared to do so, I have never been one to wish it would happen. I've known those who did wish it to happen, and I found them to be no one I wanted to hang around. Trouble on the hoof. Disaster waiting for a place to happen.
I am happy I've never had to kill, especially when the general public sometimes seems to think that's all we want to do, get the opportunity to shoot someone. Far from it, we don't want to at all, if it can be helped.
My philosophy of police work was to be as nice to people as they would allow me to be. To be as respectful to people as they would allow me to be. To be as helpful to people as they would allow me to be. In other words, if you came in contact with me, YOU set the tone of how the encounter was going to go. If you were civil, I was civil. If you were an ass, I was much, much better at it that you were. Trust me on that.
Mac
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
It got a bit chilly today, and is supposed to be even cooler tonight. This area definitely goes kind of crazy when it gets anywhere around freezing, like they lose their minds is what. I don't know, I'm going to go visit some places where it actually gets cold, and gets snow, at least for a little while. I'm no huge fan of the cold, or of snow, but I like to visit it once in a while, lol.
The best snows I've ever seen were in Germany when we lived there, followed by New Jersey when we lived there. Those near three years in Europe definitely stand out as far as getting snow goes. We got so used to it in the Boy Scouts that we rarely even used tents, and I've woken up several times covered in a two inch layer of snow on my sleeping bag, and was still snug as a bug. Once we were camped out in an old castle and woke up to a tour walking through the area. Freaked them right out as we started to wake and sit up, still in our sleeping bags. That was one of the best laughs we had.
I remember the New Jersey snow because of the sledding I think. We lived in the housing area of a very small base and it was on a hill. It was great for sledding and we had those saucer sleds then. Nearly broke our damned necks but it was fun. The ONLY thing in New Jersey that was fun the whole year we were there. Hated that place for the most part. Oh well, you have to be somewhere, lol.
Mac
The best snows I've ever seen were in Germany when we lived there, followed by New Jersey when we lived there. Those near three years in Europe definitely stand out as far as getting snow goes. We got so used to it in the Boy Scouts that we rarely even used tents, and I've woken up several times covered in a two inch layer of snow on my sleeping bag, and was still snug as a bug. Once we were camped out in an old castle and woke up to a tour walking through the area. Freaked them right out as we started to wake and sit up, still in our sleeping bags. That was one of the best laughs we had.
I remember the New Jersey snow because of the sledding I think. We lived in the housing area of a very small base and it was on a hill. It was great for sledding and we had those saucer sleds then. Nearly broke our damned necks but it was fun. The ONLY thing in New Jersey that was fun the whole year we were there. Hated that place for the most part. Oh well, you have to be somewhere, lol.
Mac
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Finally feeling better. 18 days left after today before I am officially unemployed. Between something like 4 and 8 working days left. It is really getting down to the wire. So many things to plan, so many thing to get ready before heading out on the road.
I keep adding things I want to do on the way. Just thought of the Big Bend National Park for a few days of camping. Have wanted to do that for quite some time so why not since I'm going to have the time. Between spending a bit of time in Destin, Florida, Eminence, Missouri, Tennessee, Big Bend, visiting the kids and grand kids, and all the other things I've been thinking about, I may need several years worth of free time to do everything, lol.
Of course, I do have to remember I am not as young as I used to be. The camping, and hiking, and scuba diving, and sky diving, and all the other things I've done over the years have to be scaled back to a mild roar as I'm just not up to doing as much as I used to, and I surely don't heal as quickly, or as well, as I used to. So, camping will now include cots and chairs, instead of the ground, and hiking will consist of easy, leisurely trails that don't include a sharp upward incline. At least for a while till I get used to things again. Hotels and motels are certainly not out of the question either when appropriate, and they are much more appropriate at my current age, believe me.
But, on the other hand, there is no hurry. I don't have to be anywhere at any particular time, nor are any deadlines set for anything. Each day can be it's own agenda, with it's own schedule, and it's own activities, or none at all. Slowing down is the ultimate goal of my continuing adventures. Relaxation is what's for dinner.
Mac
I keep adding things I want to do on the way. Just thought of the Big Bend National Park for a few days of camping. Have wanted to do that for quite some time so why not since I'm going to have the time. Between spending a bit of time in Destin, Florida, Eminence, Missouri, Tennessee, Big Bend, visiting the kids and grand kids, and all the other things I've been thinking about, I may need several years worth of free time to do everything, lol.
Of course, I do have to remember I am not as young as I used to be. The camping, and hiking, and scuba diving, and sky diving, and all the other things I've done over the years have to be scaled back to a mild roar as I'm just not up to doing as much as I used to, and I surely don't heal as quickly, or as well, as I used to. So, camping will now include cots and chairs, instead of the ground, and hiking will consist of easy, leisurely trails that don't include a sharp upward incline. At least for a while till I get used to things again. Hotels and motels are certainly not out of the question either when appropriate, and they are much more appropriate at my current age, believe me.
But, on the other hand, there is no hurry. I don't have to be anywhere at any particular time, nor are any deadlines set for anything. Each day can be it's own agenda, with it's own schedule, and it's own activities, or none at all. Slowing down is the ultimate goal of my continuing adventures. Relaxation is what's for dinner.
Mac
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Yup, like I always say, the best laid plans of mice and men, eh? Out sick for several days now, not that great now but better, so planning to go back to work tomorrow. Was NOT planning to be sick but it never fails. Stayed home on Sunday because I felt like something was coming on, but Monday felt okay again, so I went to work. Silly me. By Monday night I was feeling MUCH worse and was sick Tuesday, Wednesday, and today. By this evening though I'm actually feeling better and will go back in the morning.
Just a few more days to go now. A little retirement get together on the 15th I believe, put on by the folks in the Inmate Trust Fund, where I was their sergeant for about 16 years before I moved to Courts. I figured they earned the right since they put up with me for so long, lol. That position was very good to me over the years, I have to admit. I wish I could have just stayed there till I retired, it would have been so much easier.
But, plans, then more plans, then plans within plans, change in plans, planning for change, it just goes on and on. Changes coming, big changes and little changes. Change.
Here comes the train of change. Hop on board, or get off the tracks, or get run over, it's our choice.
Mac
Just a few more days to go now. A little retirement get together on the 15th I believe, put on by the folks in the Inmate Trust Fund, where I was their sergeant for about 16 years before I moved to Courts. I figured they earned the right since they put up with me for so long, lol. That position was very good to me over the years, I have to admit. I wish I could have just stayed there till I retired, it would have been so much easier.
But, plans, then more plans, then plans within plans, change in plans, planning for change, it just goes on and on. Changes coming, big changes and little changes. Change.
Here comes the train of change. Hop on board, or get off the tracks, or get run over, it's our choice.
Mac
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Another pretty relaxing day. Needed it. Back to work tomorrow though, things to get done and finished with. 26 days to go. Makes for about 14 working days. I think I can tough it out, lol.
Getting colder out, especially at night. Got down to 40 degrees last night here, can't even imagine it after the heat we had this summer. It had warmed up by about 9am anyway. Didn't get to be out at all this weekend, lots to do here at home and then was so sore I couldn't move hardly. Much better now, so I'll head in tomorrow to work one day before my two days off. It's a great schedule if you can get it I suppose, hehehehe. The cats have been especially cuddly lately, not sure what's up with that. I figure it's because I'm warm, and it's chilly around here. But what the heck, I don't mind anyway.
Hopefully everything is going to go according to plan and I'll be free soon, to do what I want, when I can. Sure looking forward to it.
Mac
Getting colder out, especially at night. Got down to 40 degrees last night here, can't even imagine it after the heat we had this summer. It had warmed up by about 9am anyway. Didn't get to be out at all this weekend, lots to do here at home and then was so sore I couldn't move hardly. Much better now, so I'll head in tomorrow to work one day before my two days off. It's a great schedule if you can get it I suppose, hehehehe. The cats have been especially cuddly lately, not sure what's up with that. I figure it's because I'm warm, and it's chilly around here. But what the heck, I don't mind anyway.
Hopefully everything is going to go according to plan and I'll be free soon, to do what I want, when I can. Sure looking forward to it.
Mac
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