Horn Toad

Ok, I'm breaking with the theme.  This is a site where I'm suppose to capture various birds that I see in my world.  A couple of years ago I moved from the Midwest to the West.  Since them I have not been as active in my "birdwatching" as I was when I could attract these wonderful creatures to the habitat in the backyard.  So what that confession I post something that is NOT a bird - a Horn Toad.

I found this little horn toad in our storage location.  I think I surprised it as much as it surprised me.  I had never seen a horn toad before because they do not live in the Midwest. However, here was the toad.  I bent down to get a closer look and the toad just remained very, very still.  Upon learning a bit more about the toad I discovered it could have squirted a blood substance at me.  I concluded that since it did not squirt blood at me or puff up that it must not have felt too threatened.

The 9-11 Memorial

I remember while growing up that our family would often get together around the 4th of July for family reunions.  During those gatherings the adults would sit around and tell stories.  I remember as a kid that there were times I didn't feel like playing any longer and I would sit by the adults and often listen.  Some of the stories they told were interesting and they have stuck with me through adulthood.

I remember my father talking about where he was when he learned about the bombing of Peril Harbor.  A couple of years later he graduated from high school and enlisted, eventually serving in the Pacific Theater and subsequently as a member of the occupying force in Japan.  I also remember other family members recounting what they remember when they learned that John F. Kennedy had been shot or when Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy were shot.  I seemed to remember thinking that these adults only remembered "bad" things.

As I grew older I had similar moments like those recounted by my family members at reunions.  I remember vividly that March day in 1981 while driving down Monroe Avenue when I heard on the radio that Ronald Regan had been shot.  In January 1986 I was lying on the couch in my trailer because I had called in sick from teaching. I was watching the Challenger launch because Sally Ride, a fellow teacher was a member of the crew and would become the first teacher in space. As I watched the shuttle streaked toward then heavens, suddenly smoke trails appeared in the bright blue sky. I knew instantly that what I was watching was not normal.

The most seminial event I can vividly recall occurred on a bright blue fall day in September of 2001. Do you remember where you were when you learned about the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center Twin Towers?  I certainly do.  This event unlike the others I mentioned previously seemed to mark a seismic shift in the world.

Last week I had the opportunity to visit New York City for the first time.  Our dog, Mango, was chosen as the hero therapy dog by the American Humane and was flown to NY to appear on the Today Show.  We were in NY for only one day on business, but we were able to see a bit of the downtown.  Most importantly we were able to take two hours out of our day to visit the 9-11 Memorial and Museum.

We arrived at the Memorial and Museum later in the afternoon on a damp and rainy day.  The crowd to enter the Museum was not large.  There was an entry fee.  I toured with a small group of ten people on a special tour planned for our group of ten.  We had a tour guide who walked us through the Museum and provided some stories about the Museum and the items on display.

The Memorial was located on the ground where the original Twin Towers stood.  Each Tower is represented by a pool of water descending into the ground.  The waterfall like Memorial reminded me of the falling of the Towers.  Along the edge of the square waterfall was a framing wall that included the names of the individuals who were killed at that particular Tower. I was reminded of the influence of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC that when it was first built was controversial.  Since the unveiling of the Vietnam Memorial its design has been highly influential. Monuments built since that one has incorporated the names in the design.

I was struck by how well the Museum utilized the original footings from the Twin Towers and the underground parking and walking areas that were part of the original structures.  Because the Museum was located on the actual site it added to the awe of the Museum.  I was struck by how quiet and respectful everyone was as they toured the site.  It was clear that many of us felt the awe of the moment and the sacredness of the location.  One area of the Museum included dust and other debris that people felt might still contain the remains of those who lost their life that day, but had not yet been recovered.  The tour guide mentioned that the designers and builders felt it was important to keep the debris because they hoped technologies would develop in the future that might allow for any remains to be located and identified.  I was deeply moved by this idea.

The Museum contained a steel beam where a plane had struck.  You could see how the steel bent upon impact and it became very clear to me that the force with which the plane struck was beyond anything I could imagine.

The Museum also contained a wall filled with a variety of blue squares. This piece of art work was meant to symbolize the day from comments that almost everyone interviewed mentioned - the day was bright and the sky was very, very blue.  I vividly remember the same thing - the sky in Michigan that day was very, very blue.  That piece of artwork was very moving to me.  None of the blue squares duplicated another - consequently it represented every possible hue and shade of blue.  It also reminded me of the tremendous diversity of the individuals who died that day.

The Memorial also included a room that displayed the timeline of the events of September 11, 2001.  It also included displays identifying and remembering the individuals who lost their lives at the Towers that day.  Photography was not allowed in this area.  While I was struck by the respectful and quite manner in which individuals toured the main portion of the Museum, I was even more moved by the solemness that people displayed while touring this area.  The area containing the portraits of all of the individuals who died that day was particularly amazing.  Because the portraits were displayed side-by-side it was difficult to focus on only one portrait.  The manner in which the portraits were displayed drove home the overwhelming number - 2996 - of people who died that day at the Towers.

Our visit spanned about two hours.  I felt like I could have spend much more time at the Museum.  I am sure that I will visit New York again one day and I will be sure to devote more time to a visit to the Museum.  The Twin Towers footings would never again house a building, but remain a solemn memorial to that day.  New York replaced the Towers with the Freedom Tower.  This structure was build never the site of the original Twin Towers and stands as a wonderful building symbolizing New York City's rebuilding in the aftermath of the horrific events.  As I stood and gazed at the Freedom Tower I couldn't help be wonder how the families of those who were lost that day "rebuilt" their lives and whether or not rebuilding their lives was even possible.  The horrific events changed the New York City landscape and the landscape of the 2996 families who lost loved ones on that fateful September day.

Fifteen Minutes of Fame

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be on TV?  I never really gave it much thought until several years ago when my job required me to be interviewed by several of the local television stations.  After the experience, I realized that very few people even watch the news.  It really wasn't the "fifteen minutes of fame" that the cliche often promotes. 

Earlier this month our therapy dog, Mango, was named Therapy Dog of the Year by the American Humane. We flew to Hollywood, stayed at the Beverly Hills Hilton, and participated in a number of television productions surrounding the event, including a taping with Mango for a commercial for Chicken Soup for the Soul.  The signature event was the award show filmed at the Beverly Hills Hilton, in the very ballroom where the Golden Globe Awards Show is held.  The ballroom was exquisitely decorated and the event was lovely.  It was a great experience to see how an award show that will be aired in the future is orchestrated.  Through out the evening we got to meet a number of VIPs.  My favorite opportunity was meeting Greg Louganis the 1984 and 1988 gold medal Olympic diver .  He even introduced Judy and Mango and presented Mango with her award. 

One of the other next discoveries was so many of the people who appear on television shows, commercials or movies are just "normal" people.  I was at a disadvantage because I do not watch a lot of television.  Consequently, as many of the "stars" came up to talk to us and Mango, we just interacted with them as we would regular people that we meet in the course of our everyday lives. Hopefully we did not offend them by our lack of "awe". They did impress us with their "down-to-earth" behavior.  I suspect it was refreshing for them to talk with people who just treated them with the normal courtesy and respect due everyone. 

Tomorrow we travel to New York because Mango will be appearing on The Today Show.  How cool. I'm happy that I am not appearing with Mango for her fifteen minutes of fame, but it will be very fun to watch how The Today Show handles a live appearance by four of the Hero Dogs.  I have never been to New York so this is a wonderful opportunity for me.  I am looking forward to the brief trip. The irony is that I will be spending more time on the plane or in airports than I will in New York City. 

The Night Flight

As a very young child night time was scary for me.  I remember that I did not like going to bed without a nightlight on because I was afraid of the dark.  In time I out-grew my fear.  As an adult I prefer my house to be as dark as possible when I go to bed because it helps me fall asleep.  

I remember as a child laying in bed at night listening to the thunder and seeing the lightening through the window. Some nights I was afraid. On other nights I found the thunderstorm very peaceful. As an adult I enjoy falling asleep when it is raining and thundering. How paradoxical. 

Lightening Over Dallas 

Just over two years ago I moved to New Mexico.  Thunderstorms are rare where I live. We have 350 days of sunshine each year.  The West is generally in a drought. When it does rain it is a wonderful event.  It is also a scary event because the soil is so hard and flooding can occur rather easily. 

I was traveling home from Dallas via airplane the other night. While flying I could see the lightening in the distance.  There was no thunder, just the hum of the airplane.  It was so peaceful.  Often flying at night you can see very little out the window until you approach the next city and the airport that is to be your next stop.  But glancing out the window and seeing lightening afforded me the opportunity to see into the distance.  My camera phone could not capture the wonder of the site.  But it will be a picture forever imprinted on my memory and will continue to bring peace and remind me of the joy of living where you can see a long, long way into the distance.  I have come to appreciate thunderstorms and lightening because storms are more rare than when I lived in the Midwest. Perspective is everything and context defines perspective. 

Traveling east into Las Cruces

Another interesting feature of where I live is that you can see a long, long way.  When I travel back to the Midwest or east coast I find that I miss being able to see a long way into the horizon. The ability to see a long way at night is enhanced by the lack of light pollution.  Consequently, when you travel at night the city lights can be spectacular.  However, if you allow your eyes only to gaze at the horizon you miss an even more amazing sight - the stars in the sky.  The absence of light pollution also allows for a full moon to provide light as bright as daylight.  No camera can fully capture what I am attempting to describe.  So while I remember being afraid of the night as a child I am in awe of the night as an adult.  

Page - Lake Powell Campground

September in the Southwest is an ideal time to go camping. The destination was Page, Arizona near the eastern portion of Lake Powell.  This area of Lake Powell is near the south rim of the Grand Canyon.  Lake Powell is an extensive lake covering a large geographic area.  The camp ground we choose was the Page-Lake Powell Campground located on Navajo Nation land.  We planned to stay from Friday through Tuesday.  The campground was full each night. Given the popularity of the campground, reservations are recommended.  The campground accommodates a variety of different size campers and includes areas for tents. The sites are wide enough that you do not feel parked on top of each other. Most sites include shade.  The campground is pet friends and our Yorkie girls enjoyed their frequent walks through a pathway, the playground area and several sitting areas.  The park was clean and well kept.  The wifi signal was pretty good most of the time - something I have come to appreciate. The park has a little camp store, but sparse on items.  The campground also includes a laundry facility, shower facility and game room.

Generally if you are camping in this area you are not there for the amenities of the park.  Near by is The Point, a marina located on Lake Powell.  Here you can rent personal water craft, house boats, ski boats and kayaks.  Calling ahead to rent these items is recommended.  We walked up to the marina and only the kayaks were available.  We were able to take a boat cruse of the Antelope Canyon.  That was a beautiful cruse that lasted about an hour and 15 minutes.

Visiting Antelope Canyon was the main reason we selected this area and the campground.  There are two walking tours of the canyon.  A walking tour of the lower canyon and a walking tour of the upper canyon.  We were advised to take the lower canyon tour.  It was good advise.  It was a Saturday when we took the walking tour of the lower canyon.  It was a busy day.  We booked our tour on-line prior to that day.  On the day of our tour we checked into the main area and received our tickets.  The tour is a walking tour so having hiking boots was a good decision on my part.  It was not a far hike from the check in booth to the beginning of the tour.  The lower canyon is deep into the earth and to access the canyon you had to descend five short flights of stairs.  There is really no ADA access to the canyon.  The tour guide was knowledgeable and provided several helpful tips for taking great pictures of the canyon.  The walking tour lasted about two hours, generally longer than advertized, but most likely due to the heavy numbers of people taking a tour on a Saturday.  Words and pictures really can not capture the beauty of the canyon.

On Sunday we took the Antelope Canyon boat tour.  We book the tour on Saturday on our way back to the campground.  We arrived at The Point on Sunday and boarded the tour boot about 10:00 a.m.  The total trip took about an hour and fifteen minutes.  The boat made it way along the waters lined on both sides with the canyon walls.  The scenery was magnificent.  The gentle ride allowed for picture taking and casual conversation about the beauty.  Again, pictures and words do not begin to describe the beauty of the canyon.

On Monday we return to The Point and rented kayaks.  A half day rental was $25.00.  I felt this was extremely reasonable. Our two person kayak was more than adequate for us.  The time frame was plenty for exploring part of the shoreline of Lake Powell along the area leading into Antelope Canyon.  The water was familiar to us because we had traversed the area on the boot tour the day prior.  The day was hot and sunny.  SPF 80 suntan lotion was still not enough to keep all the sun rays away.  I was glad we took the kayak trip on Monday as there were fewer speed boats making the water rather calm and easy to navigate.

Stayed:  September 16-19, 2016
Rating:  4.5 out of 5

Casa Grande RV Resort - Arizona

On our way to Page, Arizona we left our house in the late afternoon and needed to stay one night along the way to break up the trip.  We decided to book a night at the Case Grande RV Resort. Getting into the park from I-10 took longer than I expected, but the roads leading to the park were easy to navigate.  We pulled in late at night and the paperwork was ready for us and in good order.  We found our lot with no difficulties as the park was well lit.   The park is rather large. The lots were spacious and there were not many trees or other obstacles to work around as we backed into our lot.  The amenities were outstanding even though we did not have an opportunity to take advantage of them.  They had two swimming pools, a "bark park" for the dogs, a fitness center, a billiard room, a computer lounge and much more.  The WiFi was very good - something that is a must for me.  We stayed during the "off" months so the park was exceptionally quiet.  I was disappointed that we could only stay one night.  This would be a park that I would consider staying at for a longer period of time.

Silver City RV Park & Cabins

At times I enjoy a three day weekend rather than a week long vacation.  These brief weekends allow me time to refresh without the pressure of preparing to be gone for an entire week.  This weekend we took a three day trip to Silver City, New Mexico.  A university town of just over 10,000 folks located in some beautiful foothills that include the Gila Cliff Dwellings and the City of Rocks.  While our weekend did not allow us to see these sites, we were able to get some rest, enjoy nature and walk the historic downtown area of Silver City.

We choose to stay at Silver City RV Park and Cabins.  The park is downtown, an easy walk to the historic area where you can eat and browse the shops.  We were there on a Saturday so we could also visit the Farmer's Market.  The Market was small, but a great place for fresh meat and vegetables.  The campground was rather small and the sites a bit closer and narrower than I would prefer.  Backing into the site took a bit more skill than the novice RV driver.  The campground was clean and well kept.  The WiFi was unreliable, disappointed to me as I do like to stay connected.  The campground was not very big so evening walks were short and the neighborhood around the park did not look like a place to walk at night.  The best walk was the one we took on Saturday to the historic down town area.  The park is located in an area of the city surrounded by homes, so the views were not memorable.  For a short weekend trip to Silver City I would recommend the park, but if you were going to spend a week in the area and visit the Cliff Dwellings and the City of Rocks I would recommend a different RV park outside of the city in the surrounding areas.

The historic downtown was quaint.  Several of the older buildings had been converted to art shops to displace the work of local artists and native Americans.  Several restaurants were available along with a coffee shop.  It was a great location to spend a day walking and looking at the various shops. An interesting exhibit that we past on our walk to the downtown area was an 1870 replica log cabin donated to the city by Ron Howard and place at the site of Billy the Kid's homestead from his childhood.  Silver City was also home to Anita Scott Coleman an author and poet who lived between 1890 and 1960.  Her mother was a slave and her father a Buffalo Solider.  I often find wonderful nuggets of history located in these little cities throughout the west.  I look forward to visiting the area again when I have time to visit the Gila Cliff Dwellings and the City of Rocks.

Stayed:  August 11-13, 2016
Rating:  2.5 out of 5 (5 being Excellent)

Distant Drums RV Resort: Northern Arizonia

Distant Drums RV Resort:  Camp Verde, AZ

583 West Middle Verde Rd., Camp Verde, AZ, 86322

Stayed:  March 5-9, 2016

Rating:  4.5 out of 5

I was looking forward to my first RV trip and the trip did not disappoint me despite a sick dog and two sick humans.  Our destination was Northern Arizona for a quick trip to Sedona and the red rocks.

The location we decided to stay at was Distant Drums RV Resort.  We pulled into the campground late at night and was able to get our spot without any problems.  The park was clean and quiet. The park included several nice amenities.  The park had a laundry facility, which we got to use because our Yorkie got sick in the middle of the night and we needed to do laundry.  Near the laundry facility was a dog play area - a nice perk when you have dogs who might want to romp around rather than just leach walk.  The park include a makeshift store in the main office area - it was below average, but if you had an emergency and needed paper plates or something it would be a nice perk.  

Despite a sick dog who visited the emergency pet hospital nearby, we were able to do some sight seeing.  We drove over to Sedona and along the way were able to stop at pull off areas to get pictures of the Red Rocks.  The locations were well identified with signs so you would know what you were looking at.  Once in Sedona we took a Pink Jeep tour.  They offered several types of tours.  We took a mild tour - one we could have taken with our own jeep.  However, the guide was nice as he was able to explain the various geographic formations we saw.

Our last night at the campground we drove to Cottonwood, AZ and ate at Nic's Italian Steak and Crab House.    The meal was outstanding.  The steak was well prepared.  Prices were on the high end,  but a good value for the wonderful atmosphere and well prepared meal.  

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