Meet Wily Coyote

I finally laid eyes on the resident Coyote-the one who sings close to the house. I think I saw him years ago when he was smaller. This guy is pretty big. He was sauntering across the pasture. He belongs to the landscape because he passed within ten feet of Pete-the buck Llama and they merely looked at each other and continued their business. Buster and I barked at him and he quickly turned toward us and hunkered down-virtually disappearing which gave me time to fetch the camera. He was pretty relaxed but when I wondered if he were tame and started calling him like a dog, he trotted off toward the copse down by the pond. He passed through the mama llamas and their babies as a trusted visitor-they didn't even get up. He ducked down into a creek bed to hide his departure.

I checked the National Geographic site about coyotes and learned that the singing is a territorial thing-just like the neighborhood dogs bark at night to signal their territory and to keep others away. Now when I hear him singing, I will know he is keeping the status quo. As he evidently has the approval of the cows and llamas, I wish him well and hope others do too. We could do so much worse with younger coyotes who don't know know the rules on this little patch. He could be Buster's grandpa. We'll treat him as a member of the family in any case.

I found a dark Calico Cat has taken up residence in the old chicken coop. Suits me. Also declines to come when called. The solar stuff I added to use the coop for a starter place for plants will keep it warm(er) in the winter. Eat them vermin, little kitty.

Jason called this evening-we had a good long chat. Things are good in Florida. Always makes me smile to talk with my kids.

Sun-Dogs at Sunrise

Sun-Dogs (Parhelia) have been associated with signs and portents since man first noticed them. Is it too fanciful to think that Tucker and Goodie are roaming the skies together today? The colors of the sunrise cast a warm glow on everything this morning. Sometimes this country is so beautiful it makes the spirit soar. You just have to smile.

The Plum trees bore little fruit due to the late frosts this spring. They are proving their worth even in a spare year, by displaying their frost tinged finery.

The large bales of the Northern Arapaho Farm in the middle ground, the Wind River Range in the back. A better picture full-sized. Did you know you can click on any of these pictures to enlarge them? Click and say "Embiggen."

What was I doing up so early? Not sleeping. Tell-tale grapes after a sensible dinner: (corned beef hash, poached egg, two pieces of toast) which were begging to be eaten before they turned mushy, shot the glucose over 240. It would appear the the highs and lows are related to the blood sugar. It was still 170 at 6:30 a.m. Coming down puts me right to sleep. That happened about 1:30 this afternoon.

Bought some humongous slippers at Wally World this morning. Very comfortable for the fat feet. Life is good.

Tribute to a Grand-Dog

Son Matt had to bid farewell to his faithful friend Tucker yesterday. He was having a hard time getting up and was distressed, not eating, and it was time. So hard. My eyes are leaking, Matt's heart must be lead. The kind thing to do is not easy. When I took this picture after sharing my steak with Tucker in May of this year, I could see he was slowing down. This dog was an athlete and playing fetch with him had become slow-motion. He and Matt had a great run-14 years, many of which he was the sole companion. He great heartedly took in Cheryl often lying between them on the big bed until he got too warm. Then he started trying to edge Matt out. Then Audrey came and there were four in the bed for awhile. He was a watchful companion for her. How dogs enrich our lives! How empty it seems when they are gone. But they live on in our hearts and memories-forever. You were a good boy Tucker. Love you.

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I will go to Oregon in a few weeks to see Matt, Cheryl Audrey and Eve. Meantime, I am getting things squared away-somewhat, around here. It has seemed a little spendy what with license tags and battery-tenders for the vehicles that must remain home in the cold whilst Buster and I bask in Florida sunshine. The battery tenders were obtained off the Internet-$13.00 apiece cheaper than locally. They are installed and being tested. Criteria: durable, cheap to operate, effective, not necessarily in that order. The green van needs some mechanical attention. The Service soon light came on and scared the bejabbers out of me-you never know how much that is going to cost. Brother Rich gave me some tips and they resulted in no more flashing lights but the rig is not running as smoothly as it should so it has an appointment with the mechanic. Better to "get 'er done" here than in Kansas or Mississippi.

Rich invited me down to a final go-around with the Russians yesterday but I decided to stay home. It was a new group and being one vehicle down makes you examine the margin for error. He and Val have had a wonderful time with them, marveled at their capacity to drink (and went right along with them) and I think have become a little more globally aware as have I.

I bought a glucose testing meter and have been taking my blood sugar readings which are high. I have been curious if the highs and lows and spontaneous sleep, and ankle swelling are sugar related. Diabetes is one of the scourges of our family. From what I can see so far, is I am high: pre-diabetic range but nothing over 200 yet. 100 is normal. I am hitting in the 160 range. The testing is negligibly painful. I will have data for my doc when I go for the annual in November. I like to leave town with prescriptions in hand and if not with a clean bill of health, at least a plan.

Snow Day!

It is September 24, it is Wyoming, I needed to drive 25 miles to the courthouse in Lander to renew my license plates and I only got in trouble once. The snow in the hills was pretty but I saw some snow covered cars coming toward me and I wondered if it was going to get icy or dicey. When I got to my clerk's window, I heard the clerk next door say "That will be $2700," to the, almost as big person as I, next to me. So I handed my five renewal slips to my clerk and said, "After hearing how much he has to pay, I guess I don't feel so bad." Then the person spoke and it seemed a little high pitched but sexual ambiguity in Wyoming is not uncommon especially from the rear view. Jeans and shirt, close cropped spiky hair: I still didn't know for sure but hoped I wasn't in the soup. Mine came to $800.00. The person next to me asked how much mine was and said " I'll show you mine if you show me yours." Yikes! She was a jovial woman and we left friends and the clerks had something to chat about I am sure. She could have cleaned my plow.

On the way to Lander, I called Sue to see if they needed anything and they did: a few things at the grocery. Sue said to come for dinner so I did. Rasty's son Dode and his girlfriend had brought dinner for them the other night and it was Hamburger Gravy, etc., which had only whetted Sue's appetite for this old "down home" recipe. So she did a repeat with Rasty mashed potatoes, fresh tomato salad and homemade rolls and peas and a cake. Soul Food for the westerner. Might fine vittles (victuals, to you).

We visited quite awhile. Rasty has memories of the olden days but not yesterday and sometimes not 3 minutes ago. So it was good to hear him talk about a few things: Hudson in its heyday and sneaking in the bars and gambling houses. He remembered the cathouses but was not a patron, according to him. I'm sure he would have remembered. We both miss some of the wild characters that abounded in older wild Wyoming. We used to laugh about things like the Mayor's wife calling in a fire at the Rawlins cathouse, The Ruby Rooms, and the whole fire department watching her husband, the Mayor, come out pulling up his pants. Now, that would cause an indictment and a Congressional Investigation, then, it was a hoot- further evidence of universal human foibles. Never made the newspaper but everybody knew. He was re-elected.

I spent the weekend putting the swamp cooler to bed for the season, (wasn't I a smart boy?) and winterizing a bit, getting the ankles smaller, and in Geekdom. I got a nifty Bluetooth program that makes my Motorola Q Smartphone a modem. I hope to operate a freebie Internet Cafe in the park this winter. Perhaps they will get a little looser about the length of stay as they tend to do for those who assist the community. It worked when I tended flowers two years ago but my site had no flower beds last year. All will be revealed in the fullness of time.

Had a good yuk with the Jehovah's about people who stand in the middle of their rubble after a tornado and thank God. See the September 2007 Watchtower coming soon to a doorstep near you. They know I will never become a Witness but they are nice people. Over eight years we have enjoyed some good talks.

Spontaneous Ingestion

Janet e-mailed yesterday saying she had found a new restaurant on the reservation, did I want to give it a try? I did, and she cracked the whip on her menfolk so we met at their place and convoyed to Los Palmas in suburban Fort Washakie. We passed through a cattle drive on the way. These are good people-just the kind you want to have on an adventure-gastronomical, or otherwise.
Las Palmas is kind of spartan. Their other kitchen can be hauled behind a truck and shows up at various powwows and festivals. The cuisine is Tex-Mex and is C+ or B-. Better than cooking for yourself but nothing to write home about.

Our waitress had pretty severe visual problems but the order taking went well. I had a hard time containing myself because Hollis and I both noticed her try to set a coke down where she thought a shelf should be and it hit the floor like a rock. This is not making fun of the handicapped but it was like slapstick. It really did look funny. When our plates were arriving I thought one was going to miss the table.


We visited about sundry-Guy unbent a little about his childhood -six kids and two adults living in a little log cabin down by the river on the old place. The swamp cooler that you had to throw water on to wet the cooling pads but you had to shut it off before or it would shock you-Guy learned this the hard way. He passed on this wisdom by getting one of his brothers to pee on it.

Their life this year has not always been smooth with a new house in progress, new crops, and the normal stuff of things breaking, prairie dogs eating the corn seed, and now the corn chopper stalled in Riverton. Guy's childhood prepared him for a little uncertainty. Janet's, not so much, but she is a good scout and soldiers on. Son Hollis has been a huge help and he is getting ready to go be a hunting guide in October. He likes it, and is good at it-he even traps, and he gets big tips from the hunters. Janet is so practical and down to earth-she is in charge of all accounts payable for the Lander School District- a big job. Good people.

They have fed me several times this year and since my cooking is practically non-existent these days, I tricked them on the check. I am still not even but there is some time left. Their company is more than worth it to me, anyway.

No close up of Janet this time-until the shiner goes away. She got hit in the face with a barstool- no kidding! (She was helping their insuror measure the new house and when she stood up she tried to lift the kitchen counter barstool with her cheekbone- that is her story and she's sticking to it!)


Alas! The food picture was forgotten at the pre-stage. Only an after picture of fine Chinette.

Friday night on the Wind River Reservation.

Buster is playing games tonight-he has wanted to go out three times. I missed a treat this evening and he is really working for it. He has invented an imminent emergency outside this time. Truth is, as sole dog, he is getting a little pudgy but I am about to give in. I created this monster.

Where Did This Week Go?

It was not spent in riotous dissipation, nor earth-shaking productivity, but it was spent. Took a meds vacation to try to straighten some things out and slim some things down without a whole lot of success. I am feeling OK but went through the old dozy/fat ankles, etc. Got some new shoes in the mail but even 14-D's are a close thing when the feet are fat. Mail order provides the Dr. Scholl Velcro fasteners that allow me to adjust. (Oh crap-Orthopedic Shoes, what f-ing next! In Florida it is going to have to go from "those old people," to "we old people")

I have to appreciate that I live in/near Riverton. I lost a ring somewhere between Wal-Mart and home. I searched the homestead carefully and thought, "Well, it won't hurt to call Wal-Mart." They had it- it had been turned in by unknown person(s). Pretty amazing for this day and age. I am impressed.

I have not been to town to be productive because of the construction but they are laying blacktop down this week and it is welcome. I have a list of to-do's and with a departure date that creeps up on me, I need to be doing them.

Susie thinks the puppies are a false alarm-they should have arrived by now. I still think Buster needs a buddy but he is a hoot. He tries to boss me sometimes and takes care of me. He is getting quite "chatty." He spent most of the day being a dog today. He let himself out after he had enough of nap time. Nothing gets past him when he is on guard.

Cousins and Russians on Sunday

Cousins Jim and Susie usually host a summer party for brother Rich and me- a kind of annual reunion/combined birthday party. Cousin Ann more often than not comes up from Saratoga where she summers. Rich has gained a "son" Carl who is a friend of real son Justin's and is an orphan who has not been doing too well on his own. Rich's girlfriend Valerie is a mover and shaker in Rotary. They are in the midst of a foreign exchange with Russia. So Alexandra, interpreter, and Sergei, a building contractor from Siberia were able to join us. Susie performed her usual kitchen magic: barbecued brisket, marinated turkey breast, corn casserole, dinner rolls, Tex-Mex salad and a fabulous frozen dessert.

We were well into the cocktails and sensational canape's when Valerie informed us that the Russian tradition requires three shots of Vodka- one before dinner, one during dinner, and one before dessert. I think we all enjoyed this tradition and agreed that it deserves repeating. It certainly provides more chatting and laughter. Alexandra is a very capable translator-impeccable English and apparently Russian although I can't vouch for that. She harbors an ambition to do "Dancing With the Stars" as her passion is ballroom dancing. Sergei was an affable man-good sense of humor, confident and well versed in all aspects of construction. They built 49 brick homes this year in Siberia. A skilled laborer makes between $700 to $1000.00 per month but it only takes $200 to have a minimal life. $1000.00 equals about 5200 Rubles.

Toasts are traded during the shot tradition. Sergei said (through Alexandra) if anybody had told him a year ago that he would be dining with a smiling American family he would not have believed them. He said their media make us out to be unfriendly but it had been nothing but smiles since Atlanta. We thought the same about our media. Folks are folks over a dinner table. Wonderful people to meet. We made a memory.


















It was good to see family and chat a bit after they made their goodbyes. We are getting OLD. Jimmy is 72 and after his bout with cancer several years ago is enjoying every day. They are building a two story garage where their old one used to be. Ann is 66 or 67, I am 64, Rich is 57. Susie is ageless. But we are mellowing nicely.

Buster was very well behaved though I think he did not have a very good time. He was edgy. It may have had something to do with the two cats.

More pix at the link:

Cousins and Russians

Noah, Audrey and Anna

Anna's mom is a professional photographer. They live next door to Eve and this Summer/Fall photograph is a keeper. Noah, Audrey, and Anna. (Audrey has her own bike now so Anna is much easier to get along with.)

Life on the rez is plodding along. Some days I feel great, some days not. Yesterday was a good one-I washed and waxed my Class C motorhome- the Lindy. The twenty year old cleaned up right nice. Then I developed some itchy lesions on my skin- so Dr. Internet was consulted. From pictures, I have spider bites or more likely drug/Sun reactions. Three of my meds caution about too much Sun. Guess I found out why. Itchy and draggy today. All meds ceased. My ankles were getting huge again anyway so it is time for a vacation from the blood pressure meds. I'll rely on aspirin to thin my blood for a couple of days- might have to toss the shoes and use the shoe boxes. Too bad there is not an alternative that works for me on that medication.

The XM radio has had a couple of nice surprises. The comedy channels, though profane are very funny. The quality of sound is excellent on the music channels. Very enjoyable. I'll see how it functions on my upcoming road trips.

Singing to the Dawgs -I know I am not the only one- Lori sings to Juneau, and I have talked to others who sing to their pets. Goody was so nervous when I got her from the pound that I sang songs to her on the way home from Casper. She had her own song- kind of an Icelandic Saga (Beo-woof?) that had her ever lengthening story. It had quite a few yips, and barks and her sounds-she was so vocal. She liked it but she was also a little embarrassed. Buster is just plain enthusiastic- he melts. He has started "talking" as Goody did. Mostly he bitches. Goody had a wider range and vocabulary. I was missing her yesterday. Susie's dog may have some pups in the oven. I may entertain getting one-Buster is so interested in his own kind. The other night he was frantic to go out. There was a great din in the neighborhood. The coyotes were concentrated in this area and dogs from every place in the area were raising hell. Buster and I joined them. I can do a pretty good Pyrenees imitation. We ran them off. (Or they were in the bushes laughing their asses off.)

Snug Sunday

It is a drizzly fall day, snowing in the Wind Rivers, 45 degrees outside, the Doncos are playing Buffalo, I am waiting for them to morph into the Broncos, stew is in the crockpot, Buster is dozing at my feet. Life is good. Yesterday was a dozy day. I didn't wake up where I went to bed, so I know I had a bad night and then drooping eyelids kept me close to home. Got a new lease on life about 2:00 pm, after a good nap. Matt called-his business was doing security at a big wedding in Ashland and it was uneventful so he had time on his hands. We had a good chat. Ditto with Donna who was on her way to the Nob.

Friday I had packages and other things to mail and I needed batteries so I went to Radio Shack. A heavily discounted XM radio and am/fm/CD/mp3/ boombox caught my eye. I had done the research and pretty much decided that Sirius had the better package in satellite radio but had not plunged. With my self-limited television I have been listening to the radio more. My kids, even when they were in radio, referred to this as "Radio Free Wyoming" for its lack of choice. It really suffers in comparison to southern Florida where choices are great and I listen all the time. XM won the day with discounts and rebates. There is heavy talk about XM and Sirius merging anyway. I am exploring 170 channels of mostly commercial free radio.

I have been reading Bandler and Grinder's Structure of Magic in review and expansion of the Neurolinguistic Programming training I took with Lori last year. It also fits with the intuitive surge I have going on.

Oh Great...a book review

The Harry Potter series is finished and I have finished it. Rowling kept faith with her readers-especially the young ones. This last volume had its great moments but it had its draggy parts. The author had some'splainin' to do. Throughout the series she had been dropping clues and she had two pretty lengthy sections to bring them together. Harry was also a bit of an ass at times-bits that I think were inserted for purposes of dramatic tension but which did not enhance the "boy wizard' concept which is of course the point of the series. She had to show his growth but it felt a little contrived.

I sometimes felt that more than any of the other books she was writing with the films in mind- either saying "this will be exciting on the screen" or "let's see them figure out how to do this!" There will be some swashbuckling moments- Lucas films needs to be at the ready, I think. I may miss here, not having seen a single one of the films.

The secret of the books' appeal? She can tell a story, she has some original twists to the old "questing form" e.g The Iliad and the Odyssey BUT, and this is the brilliant part. she empowered kids. In a worldwide culture that acts upon children, she had them rising above adult machinations- victimhood never took root in the victims. Heady stuff.

Pavarotti is dead. How lucky I was to live in his era. I like all kinds of music. Perhaps there is a bit of genetic stuff from my great grandpa Francisco Bosco who came to this country as harpist and even in his last days, as an Expressman at Union Station in Denver, would break into arias. Pavarotti could raise the hairs on my neck.

Speaking of music- Eve sent me some Audrey pix. Here is Audrey and her dad doing the funky chicken.

Reservations off the Reservation

Successfully made a reservation at John Prince Campground in Florida. I will be in on the 2nd of December and already my favored spaces were gone! There must be some fudging going on- or not,perhaps November holdovers because the office was closed yesterday for Labor Day-those would be December 1, reservations. I will be out March 12 and am now looking at how I can get another month. Apparently my whining last year was memorable because Lisa asked if I survived the winter in Wyoming. But, she admitted the pressure to even get into the park keeps reservations sliding to earlier and earlier dates. I will be across the field from my old haunts in 239. She said they would keep an eye out for cancellations for me. That just may be pacification, though. I will be hitting the road just after Thanksgiving.

There is a distinct fall feeling to the days here which I like. I like it even more because it does not portend the frigid winter for me. Fall has long been a favored season.

I hit the greeting card section-even with all the birthdays, the "sympathy cards" are outrunning the other greetings. People are tipping over at an alarming rate. Some sad early departures, some in the fullness of time. I hate the cards, I hate the word "sympathy" because it implies pity. I wish they made empathy cards. We aren't getting off the planet without experiencing loss-it is part and parcel of the experience. I don't pity anybody-that is condescending, but I do understand the pain of loss and want to be supportive. Hallmark needs me or I need to start my own greeting card business.

I had a dizzy weekend. Sometimes it is the meds, this time I think an inner ear infection. I upped the tetracycline and feel better today.

Happy Birthday Tye and McAye

What is there about the song "Happy Birthday" that makes a 3 year old girl bite her toes, a six year old boy bite his fingers, and my grandpuppy go bonkers? Whatever it is, it is amusing. McAye and Tye were feted by family and friends in a BIG event. Some carry-in and some provided food made for a great variety and quality of goodies to eat. Good to see some faces unseen for awhile and catch up on their doings. Lots of loot, too. At this age they are not all that interested in lots of toys. I scored with the "Noise Putty" (aka Fart Putty) as well as some nicer gifts. (Ever the subversive- I opt for laughs over decorum). Since I missed some birthdays, caught Camey and Macey up too. Cute kids. Tye is my buddy. We had a couple of good conversations.

Of course there is an album at the link:

Happy Birthday Tye and McAye