Picaresque

Picaresque is the adjective to describe writings about a common or low character who survives the pitfalls of life through luck or good fortune. My travels, interests, my animals, my photographs, my wonderful friends and family are featured.

Name:
Location: Arapahoe, Wyoming, United States

(Note: Blogs read from bottom to top; scroll down for beginnings, scroll up for most current.) After 30 years in public administration and four degrees, as well as numerous workshops with luminaries in Education and Public Policy, life in a slower lane became a goal. Most recently I have done policy writing and consulting for the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone Tribes. Mostly, I am just coasting slowly and gently downhill these days-seeking joy where I can find it before the glorious ride ends.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Back in the Saddle

I'm back in the saddle after having been unceremoniously dumped by Google. I was raving about Gustavo Dudamel, a Venezuelan who has become principal conductor of the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra. His inaugural concert received raves a couple of weeks ago and as if by magic it was on PBS. He conducted Mahler's 1st Symphony from memory! The lost post even had links to his music but you can find them at pbs.org if you are inclined.

I had a date with Guy, Janet, and Hollis for dinner at the Casino but Guy was off on the prairie with the cows and Hollis really needed to be on the tractor so I was able to keep Janet from fixing Friday dinner AND offload the digital frame and photos I had been working on. The pictures are still not right but I figured it will be nice going forward and if it doesn't work I don't want to hear about it. Talk about frustrated ambitions for a project!

Mr. and Mrs Ellis really raised a remarkable daughter. I enjoyed hearing of the gathering of the cows over by Lysite-Janet trying to flush some cows from a willow copse and flushing cow moose instead. She is as thrilled as I am by the Sandhill cranes and I guess they are gathering on their place. I haven't seen many of them, or geese, since the cows came home. Her old friend Norma (and my new friend) was at the casino for a birthday party. That place just makes me smile. It is a great success and success begets success and most of the employees are Native Americans and do a great job. The dining room clientele was colorful. The masses playing games run the gamut.

I started the day by going to Lander for my jab and blood tests. Wasn't I a good boy? Then I ended my fast with an orange juice and sausage McMuffin with egg which "gummed up the works" for the rest of the day. I was under high pressure for my dinner engagement. Always something. I made it through without any explosions but I was amused to watch a lobster eating lady lift a haunch.

Seattle Sooz shared her honor in being selected "Intern of the Year" for the Snohomish Master Gardeners. Her enthusiasm was apparent all year long. That outfit helps with a lot of community gardens which feed a lot of people fresh veggies. Pretty worthwhile thing to do.