My People

        We've been travelling about two months now.  Spent what I previously would have thought too much time in driveways as well as a smattering of nights in Walmart's.  Now I wouldn't trade it for the world.  We started off at Carl and Loris's.  An immensely pleasurable couple of weeks in Austin.  Then spent a couple of weeks in the Colorado Rocky mountains,waking up to the Arkansas River each morning. Then off to more relatives.  Linda and Summer in Wyoming.  Couple of days in Saratogs soaking in Hot sprngs. Then Dad's, then the rental in Twin. where we had an excellent visit with Jeff and the neighbor Lady Tiffany.  Got the place rented and then off to Farfield and three days there.  One at Soldier Mountain, and another in James Driveway.  Dinner with Matt, excellent conversations with James and Michelle and, as in every stop along the way, Lisa just needs a kid fix.  Eloise fit the bill.  We even ran into Ernie along the way.

Got to Boise and a fast trip to Moscow for Lisa to see Shannon.  A visit ten years overdue.  Grand views of the Salmon and Clearwater Rivers.  Fall foliage and awesome mountains.

                                    Could I get him to even give me a look.  Hell No.

And now we are in Boise parked, well not really on the driveway, looks more like a lawn. I'll see Mom this week but last night an absolute hoot with Lisa's sisters Sheila and Dana.  And it was good to See Scooter.  One of the little ones now Thirty years old.  Wow!  
     

   But the real standout here is these have been meaningful visits.  Not just the pleasant conversations and short visits I'd sort of envisioned, but honest to God, meaty get togethers consisting of mutual "damn I've missed your ugly face". Beers have been quaffed and Mattini's drunk.  Lies have been told  and decades old memorable life forming times unearthed that had been previously tucked into dusty drawers in the back of my mind.   Make no mistake, those were good times but also evidence of the character of ourselves.  Me in the company I kept and visibly observing with pride how these old friends have turned out. I certainly haven't been able to visit everybody I'd like to.  And along with that I also have the best of intentions to visit those I've missed.  Constraints of a mostly financial nature.  But, then I'm no spring chicken and a realist and life happens.  And some doors close.  But I gotta say, the last couple of months have been a good ride.

    I could kick myself the lack of pictures.   I've sure missed the clear streams, turning leaves and frosty temps.  It really is the best time of year best spent in this neck of the country.

               And Lastly, it looks like Trump has finally provided the "TRUMPGATE I'd predicted.  Yeah I'll take credit, er not really.  The real credit goes to the UNTAMED RANGTANG.  Like it was not going to happen.

  But I gotta say.  Was it the words Fuck and Pussy that turned it around.  Or was it the rightful images of economic crash.  Advent of major war against some other World Power and untold numbers of dead kids.  A government plunged into Dictatorship.  Not the imaginary one as described by  the ever present victim stance of  right ring Foxlings (You know, War on Christmas and What), But a real one. With real Martial Law.  A Militarized Police and loss of freedom and privancy and all the good stuff with having a unhinged leader who goes by the name of Mussolini.  Papa and Baby Doc, Vladimir Putin, Prez Assad and some INMAN named EYE A TOLLA.  So if we missed the bullet, AWESOME! (I appear to be shouting, sorry).  And I hope, nay pray the election is all but over and the Rangtang won't be able to buy a cup o coffee in a few months.  If not, then well, ......., then Fuck.  But damn it was good to see all my old friends.

   RangTang at his best in 2005

     Fuck Pussy and yknow, well I'm rich

Twin Falls from then til now

  After Dad's, we headed to Twin Falls in order to inspect the rental and make preparations for the new Renter's .  The last renter didn't trash the place.  But like a lot of them we've determined over the last several years, he treated living in it like a Motel.  Maybe a little worse.  It's unlikely a Motel would allow a ghetto television Antenna be mounted on the roof and wire strung through an open window.  That's class I tell you.  Also, to allow the total demise of a ceiling fan when all it required were the tightening of a few screws. So on top of the few improvements I'd decided on, once again we found ourselves cleaning somebody else's crap.  Literally. And after a few weeks on nonstop working on houses, I'm getting a bit burned out.

   So when the new renter's (supplied by the crafty next door neighbor  lady Tiffany who likes to choose who lives next door.  Lady Tiffany that's probably about right.) agreed to do the remaining work for a week of free rent, Let me think YES.YES YES (too many yes'sss?)  We are outta here day after tomorrow.  Heading to the mountains North of Fairfield.  But it make's me wonder how many more times I'll be here as life continues it's unstoppable course.  That's just an elegant way of saying, well the family one way or another is moving on and away from the old digs.

 

Camping out in the front yard.  Literally.

But really, that's not a bad thing.  We've hopefully encouraged them to go elsewhere.  Living in one spot one's entire life is just too limiting.

Not even going to stick around to paint this new railing I built.  That crooked part, just goes to show y'all I recycle.  Note the old woodpile next to it encompassing the old rail, or what was left of it..  We don't even have to clean up.  Looks like it'll be burned up in one of the local watering holes after the guy comes and gets it next weekend..

So now maybe it's the ambience of arriving here just as the leaves are turning but my mind has been awash with the clearest of memories of this place that I have been connected to now for more than a half a century.  Really awash. To the 5000 yard empty stare point awash.

That was probably only bad when passing the high school and observing the  footbal team out practicing.  The very same place we practiced some forty five years ago. Jesus, even the Coaches looked little older than the students now. Little more than children.

  

Still, the concept of thinking the monumental Denny Alquist, Al Busby or Coaches Stands, Burratto or Thomas of my day akin to these young guys in my just turned 62 year old mind is still stunningly incomprehensible. Monsters of my day.  Course it's not like those guys at that time did anything to dispell this notion as to a man they all scared the hell out of us.  And for good reason,  All College level standouts and pro prospects.  God if I could have just a half a cup of the special brew Testosterone that made these guys tick.   But maybe that's all for another day.   Still, I can visualize the yellow color of my practice jersey. Recall the stench of sweat from it after just one day of practice with five to ten to go before it might get washed again. And the clicking of our cleats walking down that long hallway to the field just outside the Stadium.  Where exhausting drills, bonecrushing blocking and endless Windsprints awaited. Nothing like the exhaustion that comes with the tenth fifty yards knowing some five or so hundreds are also coming due course in the ninety plus heat.  Feats of strength and stamina only seventeen year olds realize their body can withstand.    Course the exhaustion and the pain after each practice made one, well hardly be bothered whatsoever by the smell.  Being the least of our at hand issues.  As if yesterday I can feel the envy of looking at the late  Denny Blackwood's multi colred helmet adorned like scalps,  with the paint marks evidence of  the famous Blackwood Crash's  (umm Tackles) I'd witnessed from the sidelines gathered from the Helmets of hapless ball carriers from Schools called Borah, Boise, Minico, IF Poky and on and on. And despite my best,  my own Helmet adorned with less than half the paint of Denny's.  A Fourth quarter Huddle of some game on some weekend night under lights, either their stadium or ours.  QB Jerry Barbour calling some color or other right or left on two or three and the finality of the simutaneous clap with ten voices yelling "Break" as we moved to our positions. The faces of guys now equally as old as myself behind ancient facemasks.   And all these memories accompanied by sight sound and particularly smell, all coursed through my mind in less than a second.  Whew!

   Time to move on...... 

   Here's my daughter now 26 

Leya in front Yard about four

Dad's

    Back in Idaho after a year.  In the last two or so thousand miles, We've had two concerning incidents with the Chevy Truck.  The first a separated tire which I wrongly thought to be a bad U joint. But at three hundred bucks less spendy than could have been. (This is the third gawldamned set of tires I've had to buy the last three months.)  But it also necessitated a tow, thanks to Good Sam, and a couple of nights in a paid campground which virtually goes against every Cell in my body of my stick it to the Man and Camp  Naked   ( I meant Free) every chance I get

    And the second turned out to be a loose injector wire. Triggered on a bumpy road.  The "Service Engine Soon" light which should say instead "What's your credit limit again?" was blinking crazily  in the corner of my eye.  And, it was running like shit to boot.  I limped it back to Camp, where we are located ALONE some six or so miles out of town.   Thankfully I've an on board OBD reader that told me what to look for.  But we were going to have the campground to ourselves the following weekend and I was kind of looking forward to that.  Anyways.

     So I panicked and headed for Idaho.  Another four hundred mile day.  And that Old Chevy Truck ran like a dream the whole way at five or six miles to the gallon. Sorry, I'm exaggerating.  Sometimes only four. I'm starting to think this ole Travel Trailer is a bit heavier than it looks.  

     Anyway, I kind of wanted to get a few things done while we were at Dad's.   A few things turned out to be a little more, a little more and a little more.

     First on the list, we cleared out a huge pile of  Spider Habitat.

I mean pine branches that had been accumulating at the side of the house for years.  That was project one.  Three loads to the dump.  An all day affair.  I gave up in a huff at seven.  (Martini Hour which was damned near over).  Lisa soldiered on until eight which also included weed whacking and everything.  That was Day One.

This is what it looked like after the three loads of old pine branches.Then she removed the Monster in front  and this is what it looks like now.

`

This was an all day affair.

Next came changing out a broken light fixture on the Garage while Lisa attacked the Overgrowth.  All told, we had seven trips to the Dump. But I gotta admit.  Dad should enjoy not having to fight the vegetation every time he goes someplace.  Like out the front door. 

     Or try to get into his Car.  

So now he has a fighting chance.

We also tackled the fifty some year old Deck.  Had to replace a few steps and a Hand Rail.  We both walked on it some and I half enthused bounced up and down a bit.  So it'll handle a bit of weight.  I had a few plans to reinforce it though.  

After the first coat.

  
              A coat of paint turned out to be a little bit like putting lipstick on a pig.  There's only so much you can do for a fifty year old deck.  So I made a few changes.  This is what it looks like now

        Couple of new steps. Rebuilt the Handrail.  Reinforced the stairs and an extra brace under the Deck. Also cleared the trash from the back yard. First coat of paint in fifty years  That'll probably do for now.

        As for the old sliding door.  Hasn't worked in years.  Looked it over and I can tell that it has no intentions of ever working again.   So took Dad to HD and ordered a new French Door.   Should look nice with the new coat of paint.  Guys should get it installed this week.  

Also unusual about this trip, we had the pleasure of meeting a few cousins.  Gail, one of Jimmy's kids actually stopped by after spying our TT in the driveway, who were we and what the Hell did we want from Ralph. Damn if I wasn't a bit impressed Dad has long lost Cuz's looking out for him.  We talked for some forty or so minutes.  Like Cousins everywhere, I've learned the conversation has no problems flowing.  One tends to recognize family even if I haven't seen any of them for forty plus years.  Just something I learned meeting other lost relatives in Texas.  Uncle John swung by as did Linda, one of Dick's two girls.   And we picked up a couple of phone numbers of volunteers to check in on Dad on occasion.   

Looks like we'll finish here and head to Twin Shortly.

Black Canyon

Lisa was all about coming to see Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

But once there she wouldn't get out of the Truck.  Can't say as I blame her.  A couple of pics I've included here display one hell of a fall for the not so surefoot visitor.  Actually, one could lean out and look over a thousand feet down or so.  We made this trip last week before coming to Wyoming,

Is the Beauty of this place unmatched?  Probably not.  But it is amazing scenery.  And hey, if you've grown up within six hundred miles from here.  Yeah, it should be on a bucket list.  It's that God Awful Beautiful

Some of the following pics are taken in Panorama and work well with touch screens.  Some are black and white.  Either way, I'm impressed they seem to capture some of the beauty of this place.  

                                 Lisa not getting out of the Truck again. Woman just don't like heights.

I took this with a Telephoto and was pleasantly surprised that it was an overlook and people were present, not visible to the naked eye.  I then took another pic with the Telephoto backed off to show perspective of the amazing immensity of this place.. 

                                This one.  Try and spot the people.

Yeah, another people perspective shot.  The one after it is the Telephoto pulled back

Yeah, I just held the Camera out a bit.  Long ways down.

                     

Monarch Peak

I asked Lisa, what do you think of a Scenic Tram Ride up 12,000 foot Monarch Peak.  She said NO!  HELL NO!  "The height thing again huh?"  I muttered "Wimp" .  She said WHAT?  I said " Still got this damn LIMP".  Take pictures she said as I hopped into the Truck

So I had to go myself.  It's a 22 mile drive to the summit, itself around 11,000 feet climbing around 4000 feet. A big parking lot with a gift shop and the scenic gondola ride is located.  It's a bit of a climb to where the embarcation point is and at eleven thousand feet I was huffing and puffing.  The attendant guy looked at me a bit scared.  Something about my blue lips.  "It's nothing" I said.  "Just a snow cone I had before I got here". Then I  paid making damn sure I got that  Sr. discount I'd worked so hard to get in order to save myself three bucks.  "Paid for my gas up here I said".  The attendant, nice guy, looked at me a little funny.  I realized my mistake immediately but retained my composure and dignity.  There's just no way I got that Mayo completely off my Mustache from two days ago before coming up here.  That and the blue lips, I must look really funny.

Now in my youth I must have taken a thousand rides up the ski lift.  Many just as high and steep as this one.  But now I'm older.  And though I might yet still hop on a ski lift someday, should it malfunction in some manner, I like the option of lying broken and bloodied on the side of the Mountain rather than soupified by rolling to the bottom trapped in a rolling fiberglass ball.  Kind of like making the decision to jump or burn.  Few stay to burn.

Those were exactly my thoughts as he locked the door from the outside  But sweaty hands and all ,I weathered the trip completely in control of all my faculties until a couple of yards from the top.  Then the little gondola rocked to and fro as it was hit with a fifty plus MPH wind.  Even then I remained stone faced.  Just unsure where that shrilling sound was coming from.  So after all, nine out of ten faculties ain't bad.

.  

There's an observation bldg up top.  And amazing views of both sides of the Continental Divide.  It's cold and windy as hell and visitors only stay a short while.  But I did get awesome pictures.  There's even an imaginary line of the Continental Divide but in reality, it's the entire ridge.

I put a Panorama in that works nice if watched with a touch screen.  Still have not worked a viewer in.