Archive for January 2015
On Friday, Yahoo! released a list of “The Nation’s Worst National Parks.” The National Park Service took some umbrage with any Park being designated “worst” … and released this photo response.
Death Valley National Park (located in California and Nevada) never disappoints with 3.4 million acres of desert and mountains — making it the largest national park in the lower 48 states. This gorgeous picture of the park was taken as a storm rolled in, giving more color and contrast to the Grapevine Mountains while churning sand creates the illusion of fog. Photo by Donna Fullerton. Posted on Tumbler by the US Department of the Interior, 1/30/15.
Swaying prairie grasses, forested hillsides and an array of wildlife — such as bison, elk, and prairie dogs — welcome visitors to one of our country’s oldest national parks and one of its few remaining intact prairies. Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota protects one of the world’s longest caves. Photo of the park’s Red Valley at dawn by Glen Fredlund. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 1/30/15.
The rugged beauty of the Badlands National Park in South Dakota draws visitors from around the world. The park’s striking geologic deposits contain one of the world’s richest fossil beds, and its 244,000 acres protect an expanse of mixed-grass prairie where bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs and black-footed ferrets live today. Photo by Harlan Humphrey. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior on 1/30/15.
At Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve in Alaska, wild rivers meander through glacier-carved valleys, caribou migrate along age-old trails and endless summer light fades into aurora-lit night skies of winter. Pictured here is a beautiful mountain vista near Anaktuvuk Pass in the Brooks Range. Photo by Carl Johnson, National Park Service. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 1/30/15.
A hidden gem on the East Coast, Congaree National Park in South Carolina preserves the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest in the southeastern United States. Congaree provides a sanctuary for plants and animals (including otters), a research site for scientists and a place for visitors to explore wilderness amidst giant hardwoods and towering pines. Photo courtesy of Jacob Frank. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 1/30/15.
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Badlands National Park
Congaree National Park
Death Valley National Park
Gates of the Arctic National Park
Wind Cave National Park
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Dark clouds & a blanket of snow created this dramatic shot at Great Sand Dunes National Park. Photo by David Paul Davie. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 1/29/15.
It was -26 degrees at Wrangelss-St Elias National Park. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 1/27/15.
Gorgeous winter scene from Joshua Tree National Park. Photo by by Juan Moreno. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 1/27/15.
An extremely rare Sierra Nevada red fox was recently photographed in Yosemite National Park. It’s the first sighting in 100 years … fewer than 50 of the foxes are believed to be alive. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 1/29/15.
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1. Plot revenge on Velda, who has infected me … twice this month. There is nothing good about that. I mean, what did I ever do to her?
2. Do a guy thing, and watch ESPN. Unfortunately, it proved to be unwatchable with wall-to-wall coverage of Sunday’s Superbowl … which just doesn’t interest me that much. The players seem to be thugs: millionaires that I could care less about. The coaches are proven cheaters. No UCLA fan could ever support Pete Carroll. I’ll watch the game, but could I watch hours of breathless coverage about what these league champions say or don’t say? No way.
3. Binge watch a TV series … I watched 10 episodes of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I thought the show was good … but since I could enjoy it in my condition, maybe I should reconsider.
4. Sleep.
5. Drink.
6. Take drugs.
7. Go to bed early, which I did … only to wake up at 2am. So, what to do?
8. Watch a romantic comedy, of course. The movie was About Time. As the movie poster says, from the creator of “Love Actually” and “Notting Hill.” The protagonist (Domhnall Gleeson, who you may remember as Bill Weasley) is described as a ginger, and he got the girl (Rachel McAdams). I remember having red hair, and anytime a guy with red hair gets a beautiful girl, that’s a good thing. I mean, it happened to me, so it could happen to anyone.
9. Go to bed late.
10. Sleep.
11. Unfortunately, prepare to repeat.
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Things To Do When Velda Is Sick
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1. Nag her to call in. She hasn’t seemed to connect the idea that she cares for SICK PEOPLE with the idea that it’s bad to do that when she IS a SICK PEOPLE.
2. Enjoy nagging her. It’s your only opportunity to do that.
3. Make her repeat everything she wants. Two reasons: 1) it is really annoying to her, and 2) she says everything wrong the first time, anyway. It’s really funny. When she’s running hot, the brain doesn’t connect names of things very well. Or, maybe, she really doesn’t know the name of anything in the first place. In any event, never rely on her first description of anything, from bottles of drugs to locations for the thermometer. And the TV remote. And her glass of water. And any thing else that’s now on her “Go Get Me…” list.
My little paid professional, when she graduated with her RN from the LA County School of Nursing. 1980.
4. Avoid her as much as possible. Clearly, she’s infectious. Ewwww.
5. While avoiding her, work in the garage woodshop and make a lot of noise. It’s best if she isn’t comfortable being sick. That’s just for her own good.
6. When you inevitably get sick, don’t allow her to care for you in any way. She won’t, anyway, because she always expects to be paid to care for sick people. Since you can’t afford her daily rate, just suffer. Publicly. Maybe you’ll get some sympathy, eventually. If not, at least you still haven’t had to pay her for medical care.
7. Don’t tell other people she is sick. After all, since she is a paid professional, this could serve to undermine her professional reputation.
8. Don’t do her household chores. If you do it and make it look so easy to keep up, it’ll be your job next week. She’s still making fun of your cooking after 15 years … so don’t go there.
In case you’re wondering, the flu bug has bitten Velda this week. She’s tried to hack up a lung, and nearly succeeded yesterday. Yes, she had her flu shot, and no, it did nothing good this year. Oh well. She got new drugs yesterday; I’m sure she’ll be better in a day or two. If I’m lucky, she’ll never see this top secret plan I have to, uh, care for her.
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First baby owl of the year spotted at Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge in Washington. Photo by Louise Whitehead. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 1/26/15.
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Happy 100th birthday, Rocky Mountain National Park! On this day in 1915, President Woodrow Wilson signed a law that established Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. Today, the park’s 415 square miles encompass and protect spectacular mountain environments. Visitors can experience the subalpine and alpine worlds on Trail Ridge Road and enjoy more than 300 miles of hiking trails, wildflowers, wildlife and starry nights. Photo of sunrise at Rocky Mountain’s Bear Lake by Ric Cederhold. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 1/26/15.
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Rocky Mountain National Park
Dream Lake
Fall Color
Hiking to Ouzel Falls
Prettier Than Fireworks
The Snow In The Pines
Welcome To Fall
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Check out this epic sunset from Zabriskie point, in Death Valley National Park. Photo by Mahendiran Mohan. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 1/24/15.
Death Valley National Park
Heat
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Located in the Gulf of Mexico on Florida’s barrier island Sanibel, the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States. The refuge is world famous for its spectacular migratory bird populations — providing an important habitat to over 230 species of birds. The best months to visit for birding are December through March during low tide when the birds are feeding on the exposed mud flats.
Sunset photo by Al Hoffacker. Posted on Tumblr by the US Department of the Interior, 1/23/15.
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Wonderful photo by Greg Owens. Tweeted by the US Department of the Interior, 1/21/15.
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I’ve spent the last few weeks toiling over my new website, which is dedicated to the wooden creations flowing out of my woodshop these days.
So, please, click on the picture below and visit Mr M’s Woodshop!
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