welcome (gasp!) home

We left Bozeman yesterday morning on the 7:30 flight. It was cool, clear and bright as we lifted out of the lush, green Gallatin valley, over the snow-dusted mountains and into Salt Lake. From there we took an 11:00 flight to Sacramento. Cait had told us that getting seats would be dicey; there had been some slow-downs in Atlanta that then have a ripple effect for all Delta flights. But we did make it onto the plane, along with about 20 service men and women returning from duty in Iraq. The passengers and crew gave them a rousing round of applause, well deserved. Mr. C sat next to their sergeant; they were from a reserve unit and all came home safely. We landed in Sact'o at noon, stepped out of the terminal and were blasted by the heat. Thermometers registered at 103º! I feared for my newly planted garden which, alas, took a beating despite the sprinkler system. Heat is supposed to keep up ~ 106º today ~ for a few days, then cool off. Replanting is ahead.

Back to Bozeman. (Couldn't report in as trusty LapMac didn't like the connection and one day there was no internet at all, so I gave up. Obviously I am not a serious blogger!) We had great weather of all sorts; sunny, warm, cold, chilly, wet, dry. Let's start with the sunny. Faithful followers of this blog may remember this in October, 2008. Now, seven months later!


The meadow was green and lush, trees and shrubs in beautiful bloom. Spring/summer in Montana is not to be missed. Although we didn't get there, the word on the street was that the park ~ that would be Yellowstone ~ was exceptionally beautiful. After two days of warm sunshine, we got two good rain storms, both in the late afternoon. This is the view of the coming storm from the front deck.



These afternoon storms keep everything green and fresh. And speaking of storms, I got the word on Hurricane Andres that was threatening to hit the Colima coast. He didn't come ashore but cause a lot of havoc with water and wind. Here's a photo that I copied from over at the Beach Circus.

Message from Jack said over 3" of rain, heavy gale force winds, high tides that carved out parts of the beach. But no damage to our house. I was afraid that if the winds got too high our palapa might blow off. Looks like we dodged this one.

Friday night we went out to dinner to The Montana Grill. Owned by Ted Turner, it serves mostly bison meat raised on Turner's various ranches. Something I learned: he is the owner of the second largest land holdings in the US. First largest? The federal government. I had bison pot roast; sweet, tender, lean. Mr. C had bison meat loaf; it was a hit.

In fact, the whole trip was a hit. It's always good to know that your children are thriving.

from beautiful Bozeman

Out of the house at 4:30 AM to make a 6 AM flight. We made it onto a full flight, make the connection in Salt Lake and arrived here about 11. Weather absolutely gorgeous; blue skies, bright sunshine, everything very lush and green. The Ike dog is bigger and better (and funnier) than ever.

The only down side is that the laptop just doesn't like it here and won't work, so I can't upload photos until I get home. I have managed to get onto this PC to check email only to discover that the Colima coast of Mexico is girding up for a hurricane (Andres) due to hit today or tomorrow. I'll be watching the weather service for details. Our house faces the sea one block away, with nothing in between. We could get hit hard, depending on where the storm makes landfall. The watch is out between Lazaro Cardenas in Michoacan and Manzanillo, just 25 miles north of our little village. Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, it's lovely and dry here at the mile-high abode of Cait and Mike. Now its off for some sightseeing, and to check the schedule and displays at the fabulous museum just a few blocks away. And, of course, to take more pictures of the delightful Ike.

unpack

This gentleman is Alfred E. Smith, also known as Al Smith, the governor of New York and candidate for president in 1928. He was the first Catholic to run for that esteemed office. One of the bricks tossed his way was that, if elected, he would be taking his orders from the Pope. Heaven for fend! When he was defeated by Herbert Hoover, the apocryphal story was that he sent a telegram to the Pope saying, "Unpack!"

So it is with us. I spoke with Caitlin yesterday morning. All flights from Sacramento to Salt Lake City were full. The flights from SLC to Bozeman weren't much better. On her advice we have postponed our trip until Tuesday. Flight availability looks better. I should explain that we fly stand-by since she is a Delta employee and we get "non-rev" status; we don't pay. I firmly believe that every family needs at least four children: the lawyer, the doctor, the priest, and the airline employee.

Happy Father's Day

I copied this wonderful photograph from over at No More Commas. This dynamic duo are family friends. It captures the essence of Father's Day. Alike as two peas . . . I have been without my own father for 30 years and I miss him deeply. Not a day goes by when I don't think, "Daddy would have LOVED that!" Especially current politics. He was a deeply committed liberal and did not suffer fools gladly.

As for the action in this crib to celebrate the occasion, we are packing to leave early tomorrow for Bozeman to visit Cait and Mike. And Ike, of course. Mr. C hasn't unpacked since we got home from Mexico so for him it's just a matter of adding a turtleneck shirt and a tasteful selection of the new underwear I bought him as an FD gift. As for me, since unpacking is the first thing I do when I land, I have to start all over again. Message from Cait this morning warns of rain and cold for a couple of days, clearing to sunny and warm. Polar fleece and shorts. Or polar fleece shorts.

Welcome to summer.

The Lion King

I don't go to live theater very often so when I do it's a big deal. A big emotional deal. Mr. C. is not a fan of such entertainment. This afternoon I treated myself to "The Lion King." I thought I knew what to expect, but was completely overwhelmed when the lights went down, the curtain went up, and the music began. What appeared before me was magic; singing, dancing, costumes, lighting, strange animals, melodious languages (sounded like Xhosa and Swahili). The energy poured off the stage. My seat was transformed into a rocket that took me into another world conceived and brought to life by the fevered imaginations of Tim Rice and Elton John. I went willingly, joyously. I had a great view, made even better by the fact that the two patrons in front didn't show up (it was advertised as "SOLD OUT") so no tall gents (or ladies) with big hats to obscure the action on the stage. I laughed, I cried, I cheered. I left humming and happy.

Next to me was a little girl of perhaps 8 or so. Just as the show got underway she said to her Mom in a worried voice, "This isn't real, right Mom?" Well, yes and no.

cranky old man meets nerdy boy

I watched this splendid film yesterday. Funny, poignant, unbelievably irreverent. Three tissues. Clint Eastwood at 79 plays a lonely old curmudgeon who has every prejudice imaginable, and a word for each one. The story is that of the clash between generations, cultures and the sexes and the possibility of redemption. Don't miss it.

a license and a laugh

I have this eye problem and, as a result, I have to get a new driver's license every two years. Except that in this fair state, licenses are on a five year rotation. This is my one-year license period. That means that before we go back to Mexico I have to do this whole procedure all over again. Doctor's exam, paper work, drive test, all sometime after October 10 but before we leave. And if we should possibly leave earlier, that pushes it back into September. Practically next month! Every time I deal with this issue I remind the DMV that my "condition" has not changed in 20 years, and that up until five years ago I had the usual license period. Not interested. But this time I talked to the test-giver and pled my case again. He saw the logic of the argument but then looked in THE BOOK OF REGULATIONS. Not a chance of change.

To reward myself for putting up with this bureaucratic nonsense I watched one of my all-time favorite movies, "Hopscotch." Walter Matthau and Glenda Jackson are a fabulous pair. A very young Sam Waterston shows already his penchant for seeing something slightly ridiculous in the human condition. Every time I see it ~ and I've probably seen it five times ~ I laugh out loud. And I already know when the laughs are coming.