Sky Watch Friday - Mt Hood sunrise

Mt. Hood in Oregon 1996

Mt Hood, one of 15 volcanoes in the North Cascades of British Columbia, Canada, Washington, Oregon and Northern California. Named by European explorers on Captain George Vancouver's 1792 discovery expedition after a British Admiral, Samuel Hood.

Mt Hood was originally known by the native Klickitat, Cowlitz, and Multnomah people as Wyeast. His father, the Great Spirit, made him Chief of the people on the south side of the mighty river (today known as the Columbia River). His brother Pahtoe—who we know as Mt Adams—was made Chief of the people north of the river. For long times all the people traveled back and forth across the river on the stone Bridge of the Gods and they passed by the beautiful Loowit, Keeper of the Fire—now known as Mount Saint Helens. The brothers both came to love Loowit and both asked her to be his wife. She could not decide and the brothers began to quarrel. Thunder roared and lightning flashed as they threw hot rocks and spewed fire. The earth trembled and broke the bridge. When the Great Spirit saw this he smote the three lovers turning them into mountains of stone and ice.

Mt. Adams in Washington 1996

See Gypsy life of a seasonal park ranger – My World Tuesday further down the page for another photo of Mt St. Helens.

Mt. St. Helens in Washington 1996

Please visit Sky Watch Friday for more awesome photos from around the world.

New Teeth

Monday Berta drove me to Algodones Mexico to the dentist. On the way, we stopped for the big breakfast I’d been told to eat. Friends own the Cactus Café in Vicksburg, AZ and they filled me up. The last meal I’d chew for about a week.

Upon arriving at the dentist I was led through several sidewalk stalls to another office a couple blocks away for x-rays. I was very impressed with the new technology. A small wand placed against the gums and a picture of my teeth showed up on a computer screen. Ten minutes and $60 later I walked out with a page of teeth pictures to find my way back to Dr. Castro’s office.

Next I spent five hours in a very tiny room as Dr. Marie and her assistant removed 18 teeth. They were so gentle and I was so numb. I never felt a thing. After stitching me up, the dentures were put in and after a little grinding I have a new smile.

Picked up medications--antibiotic and pain pills for only $13--then waited in line about 20 minutes to cross the border back to the USA. On the three hour drive home, the Novocain wore off and I started to hurt so took a pain pill.

Yesterday and today I was very sore. Trying to eat a little something reularly—ensure, smoothie, soup, pudding, jello, yogurt, oatmeal. Yet I’m not in too terrible pain, and it’s just going to get better.

I return to Mexico next Tuesday to have the stitches removed. Then one more trip in five to six months for alignment, if needed. Not bad. Three trips, $1300. I’ll know in a week or two how it all works out.

And I look forward to more beautiful smiling now that Obama will be President. YEA!!!

My World Tuesday - The gypsy life of a seasonal park ranger

For the last 12 years my world has changed about every six months. As a seasonal park ranger I usually work only six months of the year during late spring, summer and early fall. And, I work in some of the most beautiful places in the world, still limited to U.S.A.

Mount Saint Helens 1992
I started my career as a park ranger naturalist while attending WWU during the early 1990s after I’d taken a class in Interpretation. My internship was a summer at Mount Saint Helens National Monument 12 years after the big eruption. After graduation, I returned for four more summers to learn and share the never ending stories of Mt St. Helens, a landscape in amazing recovery. I found it almost unbelievable to

see the subtle changes that occurred daily.

Spirit Lake

When the mountain blew on May 18, 1980 I was planning a wedding in Illinois. Where were you?

Please check out more of My World Tuesday for an incredible journey.

Next week, what I learned about salmon.

Off to Mexico

Wish I could say it’s for fun. Instead, it’s the dentist office again. Tomorrow they pull what’s left of 18 teeth and put in dentures. I’m told I’ll be in pain for a week, soft food and liquid diet. Yet I’m also told I’ll have a beautiful smile and will soon be able to chew again. It’s only a week.

Don’t forget to VOTE! I’m getting to the poles even if I have to crawl.

Oh Deer...Life is for the birds

Berta and I went to Prescott yesterday to buy birdseed at Cosco, 50 lbs at $12 each. So we bought 150 lbs, one bag for her, one for Dolores, and one bag for me. We all have so much fun watching the birds. Even Carson dog lies outside, stage left, within their reach, just watching.

Mr & Mrs Cardinal
The typical crowd includes: a brilliant cardinal couple; a scrub jay or two, or three, or four, shoveling seed to the ground for white-crowned sparrows too numerous to count, an occasional junco, and a clucking chorus line of bobble-topped quail. It’s like a ballroom complete with balconies and mezzanine. Brush oak and manzanitas offer cover nearby making a hedge along the dry wash.

Scrub Jay

Gambel's Quail

Plus the seed calls to others like the occasional deer and sometimes a javelina.

Help yourself

Javelinas—also called peccaries—usually travel at night in family groups of perhaps 15. They can be quite aggressive, although they don’t see or hear very well, and can also run up to 30mph. They are not pigs, but are related to the hippopotamus. Their noses are tough enough to eat cactus without getting stuck.

Once the javelina discovered the can I store seed in, tipped it over, the lid fell off and three of them crowded into the banquet like they were in hog heaven. (Oops, not pigs.) So now I store the seed in the shed. Lesson learned.