For anyone who is wondering/wanting to return correspondence:
Nevan Richard
1919 NE 73 Ave. Apt. 3
Portland, OR 97213
:-) ta ta for now
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Following my Personal Legend
I have just a day left here in Boulder, WY, before I again take to the road to the West.
This time, I will have a traveller with me, the Mama Llama. She will accompany North and West through Yellowstone, Bozeman, MT, Glacier Natl. Park, through to Washington. However, to continue my personal journey, I will drive the whole way. I'm going to make the entire drive from East Coast to West. Don't tell her though, ssh.
My time here in Wyoming has been life changing. I've learned a lot about myself, about others, about the world, and of course about llamas. I arrived here expecting a small, small, small Western town with a main street and some horse hitches and little else. Instead, I found a pleasant, civilized ;-) community of hospitable, polite, and reasonable folk who did everything to welcome me into the West. I cannot thank them enough, and they will be terribly missed. I have physical souvenirs to always remind me of my time here in Boulder, but of course the memories are the ones that will last the longest.
As I prepare for my final day of work, I'm packing my clothes and belongings into bags and boxes. I am also in the process of finishing 2 books- On the Road by Kerouac and the Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. OTR is a first time read, and contains language that is quite familiar to me, even if separated by time and culture. I love the way Jack capitalizes the W in West, as I do :-) It's not simply a direction to travel, it's a frontier to be explored, a world of unknown potential and adventure. The Alchemist was inspired by a dedication inside the cover written by a friend which makes mention of the boys travels and pursuit of his dreams. It is similarly akin to my train of mind currently, as I make ready to pick up and move again to an entirely new place and occupation.
The future is never certain, but I am certain that the adventures of the Llama Boy will continue in Portland, Oregon and be unexpected and thrilling. So shall they be recorded here, for your perusal as I see fit. So closes my final post from Boulder, Wyoming. Next time we talk, the tires'll be spinning and the setting sun at by back.
So long.
This time, I will have a traveller with me, the Mama Llama. She will accompany North and West through Yellowstone, Bozeman, MT, Glacier Natl. Park, through to Washington. However, to continue my personal journey, I will drive the whole way. I'm going to make the entire drive from East Coast to West. Don't tell her though, ssh.
My time here in Wyoming has been life changing. I've learned a lot about myself, about others, about the world, and of course about llamas. I arrived here expecting a small, small, small Western town with a main street and some horse hitches and little else. Instead, I found a pleasant, civilized ;-) community of hospitable, polite, and reasonable folk who did everything to welcome me into the West. I cannot thank them enough, and they will be terribly missed. I have physical souvenirs to always remind me of my time here in Boulder, but of course the memories are the ones that will last the longest.
As I prepare for my final day of work, I'm packing my clothes and belongings into bags and boxes. I am also in the process of finishing 2 books- On the Road by Kerouac and the Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. OTR is a first time read, and contains language that is quite familiar to me, even if separated by time and culture. I love the way Jack capitalizes the W in West, as I do :-) It's not simply a direction to travel, it's a frontier to be explored, a world of unknown potential and adventure. The Alchemist was inspired by a dedication inside the cover written by a friend which makes mention of the boys travels and pursuit of his dreams. It is similarly akin to my train of mind currently, as I make ready to pick up and move again to an entirely new place and occupation.
The future is never certain, but I am certain that the adventures of the Llama Boy will continue in Portland, Oregon and be unexpected and thrilling. So shall they be recorded here, for your perusal as I see fit. So closes my final post from Boulder, Wyoming. Next time we talk, the tires'll be spinning and the setting sun at by back.
So long.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
14 Days
14 days.
2 weeks.
The engine starts August 5th.
The third week leading up to these final 2 weeks has been largely spent alone at the llama ranch, as everyone else is out hiking/out and about. It's been an interesting week, including a Weeks Worth of new movies watched (see post below), the beginning of packing and cleaning of Llama Ranch Cabin D, and also the passing of my poor, dear Ima Bear :-(
It appears she had lymphoma, which for whatever reason decided to manifest in an ugly, pus-filled infection of her right third eyelid. Options were limited, and I decided to say goodbye. I've worked at a vet hospital, and seen many others pets off, but never one of my own. I didn't cry, but I certainly miss her. I suppose in teh grand scheme it was better for it to happen here at home, rather than on the road to Portland or in Portland. Perhaps some Portland pet-shelter could bear to part with a young, cute kitty, but until then...
Until then, the apartment and job searches continue. All I seem to have to go by is Craigslist :-\ which while a useful resource, doesn't seem as... legitimate? IDK. I've found some good leads on places to stay, but haven't really made any solid calls (they've all been answering machines up to this point.) Same with the job. Persistence is the key... It might appear, to the untrained eye, as if young Nevan may be growing up... Don't be fooled for a minute ;-)
Before then, there will be enjoyment and celebrating. The Boulder Olympics are fast approaching (what is it with me and organizing Olympic-events?) and should prove to allow me a solid chance to see most of my Why Oh friends together in slurred, joyous celebration... Maybe one more trip in the mountains? Not banking on it, but it'd be nice... Need to climb Freemont Butte... Need a rope (lasso for you East-coasters)... There's a Demolition Derby Saturday night I'd love to go see :-)... and other than that... just to enjoy my last couple weeks in the wide opens of Wyoming... for now.
Goodnight.
2 weeks.
The engine starts August 5th.
The third week leading up to these final 2 weeks has been largely spent alone at the llama ranch, as everyone else is out hiking/out and about. It's been an interesting week, including a Weeks Worth of new movies watched (see post below), the beginning of packing and cleaning of Llama Ranch Cabin D, and also the passing of my poor, dear Ima Bear :-(
It appears she had lymphoma, which for whatever reason decided to manifest in an ugly, pus-filled infection of her right third eyelid. Options were limited, and I decided to say goodbye. I've worked at a vet hospital, and seen many others pets off, but never one of my own. I didn't cry, but I certainly miss her. I suppose in teh grand scheme it was better for it to happen here at home, rather than on the road to Portland or in Portland. Perhaps some Portland pet-shelter could bear to part with a young, cute kitty, but until then...
Until then, the apartment and job searches continue. All I seem to have to go by is Craigslist :-\ which while a useful resource, doesn't seem as... legitimate? IDK. I've found some good leads on places to stay, but haven't really made any solid calls (they've all been answering machines up to this point.) Same with the job. Persistence is the key... It might appear, to the untrained eye, as if young Nevan may be growing up... Don't be fooled for a minute ;-)
Before then, there will be enjoyment and celebrating. The Boulder Olympics are fast approaching (what is it with me and organizing Olympic-events?) and should prove to allow me a solid chance to see most of my Why Oh friends together in slurred, joyous celebration... Maybe one more trip in the mountains? Not banking on it, but it'd be nice... Need to climb Freemont Butte... Need a rope (lasso for you East-coasters)... There's a Demolition Derby Saturday night I'd love to go see :-)... and other than that... just to enjoy my last couple weeks in the wide opens of Wyoming... for now.
Goodnight.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
New Movie Week
Friday: Napoleon Dynamite: 7.5/10
Saturday: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 7.8/10
Sunday: The Ghost and the Darkness, 7/10
Monday: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, 8.5/10
Tuesday: The Philadelphia Story, 8.5/10
Wednesday: Jarhead, 7.5/10
Thursday: The Hurt Locker, 6/10
after thursday, I took a little break from movies and returned to reading and packing and org.ing the Boulder Olympics.
Still in Q: 500 Days of Summer, A Bridge Too Far, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Saturday: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 7.8/10
Sunday: The Ghost and the Darkness, 7/10
Monday: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, 8.5/10
Tuesday: The Philadelphia Story, 8.5/10
Wednesday: Jarhead, 7.5/10
Thursday: The Hurt Locker, 6/10
after thursday, I took a little break from movies and returned to reading and packing and org.ing the Boulder Olympics.
Still in Q: 500 Days of Summer, A Bridge Too Far, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Monday, July 11, 2011
RE: The First Trip
Here is a photo album of my first journey up into the mountains. We went to Burnt Lake in the Winds . Again, it was only a short overnight trip, but def. a good intro to getting back into the outdoors and learning about camping etiquette/techniques. Enjoy!
Photos from the mountains
Photos from the mountains
Hot Dog Eating Results
1. Just because you like a food doesn't mean you can't eat it indefinitely. I ate peanut butter sandwiches every day from Kindergarden to 5th grade, then didn't touch them again 'til Senior Year of HS. Same goes for hot dogs. There is always a threshold were something stops being tasty or yummy and becomes nauseating. I must keep this in mind for the upcoming gallon challenge.
2. Competitive eaters are athletes. I don't care what you say- they have trained their muscles and body to do impressive feats that normal people cannot. As I was progressing, my jaw began to feel fatigued, and I could not chew as fast as normal. My jaw was out of shape.
3. Again, unlike competitive eaters, I have not trained my stomach or throat to handle large pieces of food. So even though it feels more impressive to take large chunks of hot dogs, I am bound to chew it more into manageable bites. Therefore, I have deduced that quicker, smaller bites are the way to go.
4. Sitting down is not the way to go- it contracts the esophagus, making swallowing and food passage longer and more difficult. I sat down for the benefit of the camera, but next time I will set the stage a little better.
5. And finally: Don't worry about the time. Just get the job done.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
The Eve of the First Trip
Tomorrow, I, Cathy, Kricket, Dan-the Llama folk- and 4 visitors from Ohio will venture out for the first guided trip of Highline Trail Llama's for the summer!
It will be just a brief, overnight excursion up into the Wind River Mountains, but I am so incredibly psyched for it! I spent at least 3 hours packing, unpacking, repacking, checking bag weights, aligning packed items for optimal distribution, etc., for some time now, obviously up into the early hours of the morning. That's ok, I'm use to working on little sleep :-)
Ah man... so excited. I was assigned my official HTL Gear today (2 panniers [special bags the llamas carry], a food tub, a tent, a sleeping mat, and my own mug!) and I started geeking out because it was actually happening.
For some time now, I've felt this draw to the outdoors and nature. I've talked about being a wildlife biologist, and loving the wild and all this jazz, but I hadn't really gotten to do much about it. Well, part of the reason I took this internship was becasue I'd get the chance to really get out there and live it. Real camping, hiking, everything... it's gonna be a blast. BE BACK LATE THURSDAY!!!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
The No-Shave Challenge, and New Photographs!
Well folks, you waited patiently, and after a month of not shaving, here are the results:
I know, I know... I still look like a pubescent boy trying to impress his friends. Alas. Not all of us were meant to have great big bushy beards. And in fact, I have been told many a time by more hairy ones that I am lucky in my lack of need of grooming and upkeep, and that taking care of them is actually a great hassle. Still, it would be nice to at least grow a shadow should the need arise for a role or something of that nature. Haha, oh well.
The top of my head, however, it a different story... more on that at a later time...
In case you want to see other, less embarassing, less awkward pictures, and more cute and fun ones, like this:
Or this:
Or this:
Follow this link to see my newest album of photos from Boulder, WY
The Llama Ranch, and Around Town(s)
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| Those eyes... do they betray anger? Confusion? Relief? Picture taken on June 3rd. |
I know, I know... I still look like a pubescent boy trying to impress his friends. Alas. Not all of us were meant to have great big bushy beards. And in fact, I have been told many a time by more hairy ones that I am lucky in my lack of need of grooming and upkeep, and that taking care of them is actually a great hassle. Still, it would be nice to at least grow a shadow should the need arise for a role or something of that nature. Haha, oh well.
The top of my head, however, it a different story... more on that at a later time...
In case you want to see other, less embarassing, less awkward pictures, and more cute and fun ones, like this:
Or this:
Follow this link to see my newest album of photos from Boulder, WY
The Llama Ranch, and Around Town(s)
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Manifest Destiny: Incomplete
I still need to check my phone to make sure I actually got the call, to see that it actually happened and I didn't just imagine it. When I first saw the 503 area code, I knew immediately who the call was from, but couldn't let myself think it was true, in case it wasn't. I still only have that 1 minute, 22 second phone call log to go by. I'm still waiting for the official confirmation e-mail with syllabus and all, but people- I'm moving West...er.
On Thursday, I got a call from the Portland Playhouse in Oregon and was told I was 1 of 9 people accepted into their yearlong Acting Apprenticeship Program! I had applied on a whim, not really expecting (partly because of my experience, partly because when I expect big I usually get dissapointed.) But, regardless, I got it! As I said, the full email with all the information on the classes I'll be taking, shows I'll be assisting, and all that good stuff will be coming soonly. The actual start date is the August 15th, meaning my time here in Wyoming is already (!) halfway done. I haven't even gotten into the mountains yet, but I do hear that when Summer comes it'll be strong and here to stay. Once I get more details on the Apprenticeship, I can start looking for a part time job (Vet-Clinic?), getting a living space, and possibly a roommate (hmm).
Until then, though, I am still working hard here at the ranch, and all is well. YAAAY!
On Thursday, I got a call from the Portland Playhouse in Oregon and was told I was 1 of 9 people accepted into their yearlong Acting Apprenticeship Program! I had applied on a whim, not really expecting (partly because of my experience, partly because when I expect big I usually get dissapointed.) But, regardless, I got it! As I said, the full email with all the information on the classes I'll be taking, shows I'll be assisting, and all that good stuff will be coming soonly. The actual start date is the August 15th, meaning my time here in Wyoming is already (!) halfway done. I haven't even gotten into the mountains yet, but I do hear that when Summer comes it'll be strong and here to stay. Once I get more details on the Apprenticeship, I can start looking for a part time job (Vet-Clinic?), getting a living space, and possibly a roommate (hmm).
Until then, though, I am still working hard here at the ranch, and all is well. YAAAY!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
29 Days Later (Part 2)(+3 days)
Life with the llamas itself is about what you'd expect of a medium-sized ranch.
Every morning, I feed my cabin boys Curzon Dax, Frisco, Dusty, Quigley, and Alejandro Jr., or A.J. I then usually join Cathy or Karen, the other 2 workers here, in either weighing the llamas (all the llamas get weighed once a week), feeding the llamas (certain groups get extra hay or grain, depending on the group), or moving llamas around. After that, it all depends upon the will of our boss, Al. Wonderful, brilliant man he is, he always has 20 ideas running through his head, and so we need to keep on our toes as to whats coming next. It may be digging a trench for a new telephone line, helping to chop hay/alfalfa, or the ever necessary shoveling of poop from the pastures and night paddocks. Other steady duties including shearing/trimming up some of the guys with heavier coats, practicing picking up feeds for toenail trimming, getting the young'ns use to wearing saddles again and taking them on short walks, or giving de-wormer medication.
We're in the middle of cria (baby) season. Thus far, we have 6 healthy crias (4 girls, 2 boys). Two of them were delivered following the correction of uterine torsions at Colorado State University Vet School. While normally it's not unusual for maidens (first time mothers) to go a little later than their due date (350 days), we still have about 6(?) mothers who are more than 5 days overdue, which is unusual. As a result, we are constantly taking breaks to take a walk/visually examine all the mamas who are still very preggers. 6 down, 16 more to come! Very exciting times. Llamas generally require very little help with delivery, other than occasional gentle pulling to help expedite the process. They usually deliver standing up, and we always try to be on hand to catch the cria before it hits the ground (!). We then lead mother and baby inside, where we dip the umbilical cord in iodine, use a hairdryer to dry off/warm up the baby, and will guide the baby to the teats if necessary. Crias are born precocial, and are usually up and walking within an hour. By the next day, they are walking with confidence, suckling like a fiend, and running around the pasture. I've been present for most of them, and usually get to do the fun stuff.
I've been a little over a month, and am still working pretty hard on learning all the names of the llamas, and which group they're in, and getting to know them personally. Llamas have pretty strong personalities, and especially on a ranch with as much interaction as this one, they are used to humans and aren't scared, which is nice for a change haha. There are about 180 llamas here on the ranch, broken up into groups of various sizes and designations (Cabin Boys, the Old Girls, Yearling Boys, Fat Boys, Middle Calfshed, Hayshed Girls, etc. etc.) As if there needed to be a further challenge, some of these groups have alternative names (ex. Fencehousee Boys=Old Boys=The Packers) or dishonest names (ex. The Yearling Boys are actually 2 years old now) AND some of these groups are co-ed (the Old Girls have 2 geldings with them). Despite what many of you may think (They're just llamas, how can you tell them apart?) there are differences. Aside from the obvious, such as coat colors, specific markings or the like, you quickly learn to look for more subtle differences, such as neck length, conformation, back length, space between legs, etc. Unfortunately, this is a process that takes quite some time, and it frustrates me to no end to not be as good as the people who have been here for 5 years. It's just the way I am. Not working with everyone every day, and sometimes only seeing a group 1ce a week (like all 40 of the Hayshed Girls) makes this an impressive task.
The weather has been less than ideal, and we are still getting flurries in May. We also have gotten several "blustery days" (aka- 30 mph gusts, 10-15 mph sustained), and have only just hit the high 50's in the past couple days. As a result, we haven't gotten to start conditioning any of the llamas. Just like a human athlete, our boys need to work out and practice carrying stuff before we have them hiking 10 miles carrying camping gear and equipment. When the weather finally allows (shouldn't be long now) we will load them up into a trailer and take them out into the surrounding "deserts," or public land that is flat and covered with sagebrush and not much else around. We will probably start heading out soon, as spring seems to finally be taking over, though snow will still not be totally unexpected. I can't wait to head up into those mountains :-)
Other than that... life on the ranch is pretty mellow. Llamas are generally low maintenance animals, and they pretty much take care of themselves. They have loads of pasture to graze on and have automatic water feeders, so they're generally all-around provided for. I'm having a great time working with them, and have already learned a ton about husbandry and general care (if only I had known when we first got Stooks! *shakes fist*) While sometimes the scooping of poop for hours can be tedious and non-educational, it still is an important facet of maintaining and looking after an animal facility. Therefore, I take every day as it comes, and know that I will have plenty of opportunities to work with and learn about these awesome critters.
That about wraps us my big one month+ updates. I hope all is well with you, and as always am open to letters, emails, comments, or questions. I'll try to put up some new pictures every couple days as they appear, especially with the babies starting to pop out. Take care, and goodnight. You all are missed.
Every morning, I feed my cabin boys Curzon Dax, Frisco, Dusty, Quigley, and Alejandro Jr., or A.J. I then usually join Cathy or Karen, the other 2 workers here, in either weighing the llamas (all the llamas get weighed once a week), feeding the llamas (certain groups get extra hay or grain, depending on the group), or moving llamas around. After that, it all depends upon the will of our boss, Al. Wonderful, brilliant man he is, he always has 20 ideas running through his head, and so we need to keep on our toes as to whats coming next. It may be digging a trench for a new telephone line, helping to chop hay/alfalfa, or the ever necessary shoveling of poop from the pastures and night paddocks. Other steady duties including shearing/trimming up some of the guys with heavier coats, practicing picking up feeds for toenail trimming, getting the young'ns use to wearing saddles again and taking them on short walks, or giving de-wormer medication.
We're in the middle of cria (baby) season. Thus far, we have 6 healthy crias (4 girls, 2 boys). Two of them were delivered following the correction of uterine torsions at Colorado State University Vet School. While normally it's not unusual for maidens (first time mothers) to go a little later than their due date (350 days), we still have about 6(?) mothers who are more than 5 days overdue, which is unusual. As a result, we are constantly taking breaks to take a walk/visually examine all the mamas who are still very preggers. 6 down, 16 more to come! Very exciting times. Llamas generally require very little help with delivery, other than occasional gentle pulling to help expedite the process. They usually deliver standing up, and we always try to be on hand to catch the cria before it hits the ground (!). We then lead mother and baby inside, where we dip the umbilical cord in iodine, use a hairdryer to dry off/warm up the baby, and will guide the baby to the teats if necessary. Crias are born precocial, and are usually up and walking within an hour. By the next day, they are walking with confidence, suckling like a fiend, and running around the pasture. I've been present for most of them, and usually get to do the fun stuff.
I've been a little over a month, and am still working pretty hard on learning all the names of the llamas, and which group they're in, and getting to know them personally. Llamas have pretty strong personalities, and especially on a ranch with as much interaction as this one, they are used to humans and aren't scared, which is nice for a change haha. There are about 180 llamas here on the ranch, broken up into groups of various sizes and designations (Cabin Boys, the Old Girls, Yearling Boys, Fat Boys, Middle Calfshed, Hayshed Girls, etc. etc.) As if there needed to be a further challenge, some of these groups have alternative names (ex. Fencehousee Boys=Old Boys=The Packers) or dishonest names (ex. The Yearling Boys are actually 2 years old now) AND some of these groups are co-ed (the Old Girls have 2 geldings with them). Despite what many of you may think (They're just llamas, how can you tell them apart?) there are differences. Aside from the obvious, such as coat colors, specific markings or the like, you quickly learn to look for more subtle differences, such as neck length, conformation, back length, space between legs, etc. Unfortunately, this is a process that takes quite some time, and it frustrates me to no end to not be as good as the people who have been here for 5 years. It's just the way I am. Not working with everyone every day, and sometimes only seeing a group 1ce a week (like all 40 of the Hayshed Girls) makes this an impressive task.
The weather has been less than ideal, and we are still getting flurries in May. We also have gotten several "blustery days" (aka- 30 mph gusts, 10-15 mph sustained), and have only just hit the high 50's in the past couple days. As a result, we haven't gotten to start conditioning any of the llamas. Just like a human athlete, our boys need to work out and practice carrying stuff before we have them hiking 10 miles carrying camping gear and equipment. When the weather finally allows (shouldn't be long now) we will load them up into a trailer and take them out into the surrounding "deserts," or public land that is flat and covered with sagebrush and not much else around. We will probably start heading out soon, as spring seems to finally be taking over, though snow will still not be totally unexpected. I can't wait to head up into those mountains :-)
Other than that... life on the ranch is pretty mellow. Llamas are generally low maintenance animals, and they pretty much take care of themselves. They have loads of pasture to graze on and have automatic water feeders, so they're generally all-around provided for. I'm having a great time working with them, and have already learned a ton about husbandry and general care (if only I had known when we first got Stooks! *shakes fist*) While sometimes the scooping of poop for hours can be tedious and non-educational, it still is an important facet of maintaining and looking after an animal facility. Therefore, I take every day as it comes, and know that I will have plenty of opportunities to work with and learn about these awesome critters.
That about wraps us my big one month+ updates. I hope all is well with you, and as always am open to letters, emails, comments, or questions. I'll try to put up some new pictures every couple days as they appear, especially with the babies starting to pop out. Take care, and goodnight. You all are missed.
Monday, May 2, 2011
29 Days Later (Part 1)
I'm not use to blogging, as I've mentioned before, and rather than overwhelm the blog with tons of smaller updates, I've been saving up my recent developments for a larger anniversaryesque blog :-)
Every night, as I lay in bed, I am able to look out my window and see a small city in the distance. This city is actually a natural gas refinery. In the area around Boulder and Pinedale (the next closest "major" town), deposits of natural gas and oil have been found in the past several decades, and has provided for a boom of income and growth for the communities. These facilities run round the clock, and as a result when driving down the highway at night, you see several of these refineries literally glowing in the distant fields.
About 29 days ago, I arrived here at Highline Trail Llamas. Lots of happenings have occurred since then. First, I will update y'all on my day to day sorts of things, followed up by a Post about life working on the ranch later today.
On Sunday evening, May 1st, I began an experiment after shaving my face. I will not shave for a month, and will repost a picture of my mug at that time to show the results. I expect interesting results :-) What are YOUR predictions loyal readers? Haha
One of the previous interns at HTL had gotten himself a cat but donated it upon leaving. Cathy, thinking that I may get lonely whilst in my cabin by myself for the summer, thought wise to offer me some company in the form of Miss Ima Bear. While having little cat experience (i.e- only restraining ferocious beasts at OSVS and petting the occasional house pet) I took Ima for my own. While I have been a cloudy, and gotten several headaches which I cannot directly attribute to Miss Ima, I can say that we are happily enjoying each others company. Ima wakes me up every morning at 5:45 and then 6:30. I usualyl inform her, politely and respectfully, that I am not ready to wake up at this first alarm, but usually will uprouse myself at the snooze alarm, thereby allowing myself time to accomplish various chores and tasks before my day begins. I'm very happy to have such as cute and affectionate a cat as Ima :)
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| she's a sweetie |
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| Miss Ima Bear |
Speaking of, returning from my shopping trip in the early morning hours, I took the unique opportunity to pull off the highway and turn off my lights. In an absolute void of light- no highway lights, no moon, no cars coming in the distance, nothing, I was absolutely alone- I looked up. On some nights in the East, you might be lucky to trace the Milky Way star clusters, or see many of the little dot stars between the larger constellations, but man... I could see everything. I got dizzy after looking up for too long, simply due to the enormity and impressive might of the night sky out here. With no clouds, and on the night of a new moon, the stars were spectacular. My camera wouldn't do it justice. I will try and find a way to record it in the months I still have to enjoy here.
I have not officially begun my cooking education, but have taken several steps to start. A few days ago I went on a large shopping spree at Wal-Mart (at Rock Springs, an hour 1/2 south, but it's the only affordable place to go shopping for this much stuff for a guy like me.) There, I bought spices, meats, cooking utensils, and confidence :-) I also have a new crock-pot on the way to help me along, and hopefully very soon you'll get to hear (and see!) some of my culinary efforts. As always, I welcome any recipe or cooking suggestions from you, my thousands of loyal readers. I do participate in a pleasant weekly Wednesday Night dinner with my coworkers, and plan on contributing this week with a special surprise :-)
My creative tendencies have taken a bit of a backseat, as I try to focus on more scientific pursuits. April still was a record month for reading. I do have a package of colored pencils coming in, so I'm sure once I get those I'll probably open them with the zeal of a 2nd grader and start doodling. A visit to the Fine Arts Center in Rock Springs the other day inspired me with their paintings, and I moan over my lack of interest in paint. I saw an original Grandma Moses and Norman Rockwell, as well as dozens of amazing pieces by other local artists. It was inspiring, and as I said, with the colored pencils arrival and a new idea, I will probably start going at that a little more.
My days off are Thursday, and up til this last break, I have spent them sleeping in and rolling around the cabin from this to that. No more! I plan on utilizing and taking advantage of my surrounding and going on trips on my days off (as available). For example, this week I plan on heading north to Jackson, where I am told the pre-tourist season atmosphere is quite calm, and will allow me unhastled time to explore and appreciate the beauty of this world famous ski/resort town. In the future, I'm planning trips north to Yellowstone, south to Dinosaur National Monument, and other exotic locales! :-D
Um...That's all of the exciting things to talk about right now, or at least all I can think of. I'm eating eggs right now with ham and cheese for breakfast (that I made!) before running off to work, so I think I'll end it at that. As always, I always love updates and gossip from all of you, so please feel free to email, txt, or message me too. Hope all is well around the world. So... foobamagoo.
love and hugs,
=nev
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
New Resolutions!
So, in addition to learning about llama husbandry/management, learning about camping/hiking/survival, researching vet school and the like, and reading/watching the dozens of books and plays/movies I already possess, I have added 2 new goals to this summer/year-
The First- To begin cooking for myself. A lifestyle of frozen foods and PBnJ is unsustainable. Therefore, I am going to start experimenting in the kitchen this summer while I have the means to. I have already messaged a whole bunch of people for recipes and easy starts to the the kitchen. I've never honestly tried to do anything in the kitchen, and have in the past needed walk throughs on pancakes, eggs, and... popcorn. I did not know how to pop popcorn in a microwave... IT WAS A ROUGH TIME IN MY LIFE, OK!? BACK OFF... anyways... I'ma start seeing what I can whip up :-)
The Second- To start writing again. For whatever reason, (again- blame my stress-addict, racing creative mind), I have this compelling urge to start writing again. I've done it on and off over the years, in various forms and levels. Perhaps it is my recent reading streak of quality literature that has inspired me to take up the pen again. I am taking requests to topics, storylines, or themes, so if anyone out there hasn't already seen my posts on facebook or been asked directly, if you have an idea for a story, poem, play, etc.- lemme hear it! I can't promise I'll do it, but it might help me get started on something else equally as neat.
Now... to bed.
The First- To begin cooking for myself. A lifestyle of frozen foods and PBnJ is unsustainable. Therefore, I am going to start experimenting in the kitchen this summer while I have the means to. I have already messaged a whole bunch of people for recipes and easy starts to the the kitchen. I've never honestly tried to do anything in the kitchen, and have in the past needed walk throughs on pancakes, eggs, and... popcorn. I did not know how to pop popcorn in a microwave... IT WAS A ROUGH TIME IN MY LIFE, OK!? BACK OFF... anyways... I'ma start seeing what I can whip up :-)
The Second- To start writing again. For whatever reason, (again- blame my stress-addict, racing creative mind), I have this compelling urge to start writing again. I've done it on and off over the years, in various forms and levels. Perhaps it is my recent reading streak of quality literature that has inspired me to take up the pen again. I am taking requests to topics, storylines, or themes, so if anyone out there hasn't already seen my posts on facebook or been asked directly, if you have an idea for a story, poem, play, etc.- lemme hear it! I can't promise I'll do it, but it might help me get started on something else equally as neat.
Now... to bed.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
It's been One Week
It's Saturday Night, here in Llama Farm Cabin D, and I'm relaxing in my jammies with my itunes jamming. I arrived here at Highline Trail Llamas just nearly about 1 week ago, and man has it been a fun week.
It started off with a rainy drive from Big Piney to Boulder. Lacking an exact address for the ranch, I just plugged in randomly to my GPS, hoping it would lead me somewhere close. By the time I arrived at the closest spot my GPS could pick, I had not yet seen a sign for Pinedale, let alone Boulder (Pinedale is the next closest town... about 20-25 minutes awayish) While driving down the dark road with no signs or streetlights, it began to rain. Great. Then, an electric warning sign alerted me to the fact that Elk might be on the road... for the next 10 miles. Little Nissan Altima vs. Elk/Moose/Llama any other large mammal was not a fight I wanted to pick, and so I drove eyes wide and knuckles white. Finally, after a couple phone calls and some wrong turns, I arrived.
I spent the first couple nights in Al and Sondie's (the llama ranch owners) BEAUTIFUL custom built log house, where I was treated to exquisite meals as I became acclimated and slept soundly. Having driven across the country in a little under a week, crossed 2 time zones, and risen over 7,000 feet in elevation, those first couple days were pretty rough. I slept a lot. And ate a lot. Times were good.
Work on the ranch included daily feedings of the nearly 200 llamas (OMGSOMANYLLAMAS!), as well as cleaning up after them. Haha. "Sure, llamas have communal dung piles, but sometimes there are several communities." There was a lot of poop to be shoveled, and after several hours of shoveling wet poop, hay, dirt, and snow into the back of the wagon, I sure was feeling it.
But of course, I did not come to Wyoming just to scoop poop! (Though that certainly is a factor- hey, if you wanna work with llamas, or any livestock, you need to be versed in ALL aspects of husbandry and management, ye?) I have gotten to brush out several llamas, teasing out their undercoats with special combs. Depending on their wool type, this could take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour! Some appreciate the brushing/back scratching more than others. I have also gotten the chance to learn some handling techniques and giving directions, gotten to practice putting on halters (a face-harness specifically made for llamas, attached to a rope to allow you to lead them around), and de-worming.
And of course, llamas are smart, and so me, being the new guy, would sometimes test my constitution. Fortunately, most of the llamas have been kind, and not too difficult to deal with. I have YET to be spit on! Hah! I also have two excellent teachers at the ranch who have been very helpful. Today, actually, Karen took me on a tour of two of the paddocks with the pregnant moms (whom we had brushed out earlier) and tested me on their names. With several hints, and a near aneurysm, I was able to remember most of the ladies, who are due to start having crias (babies) in just a couple weeks! Very exciting!
I also got the chance to head into town with Karen and Cathy (the other farm worker). For future reference, when I say "town," I am refering to Pinedale. The "town" of Boulder is made up of a gas station/bar/restaurant, and a post office... there you have it. While in Pinedale, we took a scenic mountain drive to examine the amazing, snowy view from 8,000 feet up in the mountains. We then got dinner at the local brewery, where I got to meet some of the locals, who were good-natured in their ribbing of the Connecticut boy wearing a North Carolina shirt lost in Wyoming. I also picked up some kitchen essentials from the local grocer, and would like to venture into town more often to do some more exploring.
I have set up camp in Llama Farm Cabin D, and have created a rough, loosely applied daily schedule for myself. From my kitchen window I can see the Wind Peak Mountains (when the view isn't obscured by snow or clouds!) I also am on the lookout for a family of moose, who inhabit the area and apparently like to chillax by my place, haha. I've read several books/plays already, and begun writing again! I also get to ride an ATV (4 wheeler/quad) to work every day- how many people get to say that! In my meantime, I'm also doing research- reading up on camelid management and articles on llama health. The work is rough, but not killer, and allows me time in the evenings to myself :-) I am very happy thusfar, and cannot wait for the weather to clear up (we've gotten snow the past 3 days), so that we may begin conditioning the llamas in the surrounding desert areas for the pack season.
ta ta (for now)
It started off with a rainy drive from Big Piney to Boulder. Lacking an exact address for the ranch, I just plugged in randomly to my GPS, hoping it would lead me somewhere close. By the time I arrived at the closest spot my GPS could pick, I had not yet seen a sign for Pinedale, let alone Boulder (Pinedale is the next closest town... about 20-25 minutes awayish) While driving down the dark road with no signs or streetlights, it began to rain. Great. Then, an electric warning sign alerted me to the fact that Elk might be on the road... for the next 10 miles. Little Nissan Altima vs. Elk/Moose/Llama any other large mammal was not a fight I wanted to pick, and so I drove eyes wide and knuckles white. Finally, after a couple phone calls and some wrong turns, I arrived.
I spent the first couple nights in Al and Sondie's (the llama ranch owners) BEAUTIFUL custom built log house, where I was treated to exquisite meals as I became acclimated and slept soundly. Having driven across the country in a little under a week, crossed 2 time zones, and risen over 7,000 feet in elevation, those first couple days were pretty rough. I slept a lot. And ate a lot. Times were good.
Work on the ranch included daily feedings of the nearly 200 llamas (OMGSOMANYLLAMAS!), as well as cleaning up after them. Haha. "Sure, llamas have communal dung piles, but sometimes there are several communities." There was a lot of poop to be shoveled, and after several hours of shoveling wet poop, hay, dirt, and snow into the back of the wagon, I sure was feeling it.
But of course, I did not come to Wyoming just to scoop poop! (Though that certainly is a factor- hey, if you wanna work with llamas, or any livestock, you need to be versed in ALL aspects of husbandry and management, ye?) I have gotten to brush out several llamas, teasing out their undercoats with special combs. Depending on their wool type, this could take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour! Some appreciate the brushing/back scratching more than others. I have also gotten the chance to learn some handling techniques and giving directions, gotten to practice putting on halters (a face-harness specifically made for llamas, attached to a rope to allow you to lead them around), and de-worming.
And of course, llamas are smart, and so me, being the new guy, would sometimes test my constitution. Fortunately, most of the llamas have been kind, and not too difficult to deal with. I have YET to be spit on! Hah! I also have two excellent teachers at the ranch who have been very helpful. Today, actually, Karen took me on a tour of two of the paddocks with the pregnant moms (whom we had brushed out earlier) and tested me on their names. With several hints, and a near aneurysm, I was able to remember most of the ladies, who are due to start having crias (babies) in just a couple weeks! Very exciting!
I also got the chance to head into town with Karen and Cathy (the other farm worker). For future reference, when I say "town," I am refering to Pinedale. The "town" of Boulder is made up of a gas station/bar/restaurant, and a post office... there you have it. While in Pinedale, we took a scenic mountain drive to examine the amazing, snowy view from 8,000 feet up in the mountains. We then got dinner at the local brewery, where I got to meet some of the locals, who were good-natured in their ribbing of the Connecticut boy wearing a North Carolina shirt lost in Wyoming. I also picked up some kitchen essentials from the local grocer, and would like to venture into town more often to do some more exploring.
I have set up camp in Llama Farm Cabin D, and have created a rough, loosely applied daily schedule for myself. From my kitchen window I can see the Wind Peak Mountains (when the view isn't obscured by snow or clouds!) I also am on the lookout for a family of moose, who inhabit the area and apparently like to chillax by my place, haha. I've read several books/plays already, and begun writing again! I also get to ride an ATV (4 wheeler/quad) to work every day- how many people get to say that! In my meantime, I'm also doing research- reading up on camelid management and articles on llama health. The work is rough, but not killer, and allows me time in the evenings to myself :-) I am very happy thusfar, and cannot wait for the weather to clear up (we've gotten snow the past 3 days), so that we may begin conditioning the llamas in the surrounding desert areas for the pack season.
ta ta (for now)
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
License Plate Game Results!
Below is a map of the United States. While driving across said States of Unity, I played a game where I looked for a license plate from each of the 50 states. In addition, I recorded in WHICH STATE that license plate was first found. So, for example,
Kentucky is PINK because it was first seen in... Indiana!
New Mexico and Nevada are LIME GREEN becasue they were seen in... Minnesota!
Comprende? Apparently this concept is hard to comprehend. But oh well...
Some interesting stats (to me at least :-P)
State with most license plates seen- Pennsylvania (17)
State with no license US plates seen- Illinois, Iowa, and Wyoming (yet)
States not seen- Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawai'i, Kansas, South Carolina, West Virginia
Canadian Plates seen/Location- Quebec, Ontario (Ohio), Alberta (Illinois), Manitoba, Saskatchewan (Wisconsin), British Columbia (South Dakota)
Here are the results!
Kentucky is PINK because it was first seen in... Indiana!
New Mexico and Nevada are LIME GREEN becasue they were seen in... Minnesota!
Comprende? Apparently this concept is hard to comprehend. But oh well...
Some interesting stats (to me at least :-P)
State with most license plates seen- Pennsylvania (17)
State with no license US plates seen- Illinois, Iowa, and Wyoming (yet)
States not seen- Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawai'i, Kansas, South Carolina, West Virginia
Canadian Plates seen/Location- Quebec, Ontario (Ohio), Alberta (Illinois), Manitoba, Saskatchewan (Wisconsin), British Columbia (South Dakota)
Here are the results!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
The End of the Line
Since posting last, I've travelled another 1,300 miles. From Michigan, I set off to Minneapolis, Minnesota. If I had to define a "boring" day, this was probably it. The lack of identity and seeming nothingness of Illinois was offset by the rush of entering the suburbs of Chicago and then the city proper. However, after leaving the windy city, the rest of Illinois was similarly barren and uninteresting. Give me open plains or rolling hills like South Dakota or Pennsylvania, but when all I see are unidentifiable neighborhoods and towns, I get really bored. Even though Lansing to Minneapolis was a shorter drive than Cheshire to Lansing (by about 3 hours), I was much skittier and restless. It wasn't my favorite day :-(
Minneapolis was a great city, I'm so sad I only had a day to explore it. Fortunately, I had a great host in Katrin and list of attractions to follow, and I made the most of my day exploring the various campuses of U of M at St. Paul and the West Bank along with other attractions, such as the Guthrie Theater and the Mississippi River!
After wandering downtown for a bit, I ended up at Club Jager, a recommendation, where I met up with Katrin's sister Alex and her friends. We proceeded to dance the night away to 80's pop. I had a friggin blast!
Leaving Minnesota, I travelled briefly through Iowa into South Dakota. What started off as a lame long day drive (ala Day 2) quickly became an awesome experience. I was literally talking on the phone when my life changed as I came over a hill top and saw the start of the Black Mountain Hills of Dakota. From that point on, I was transfixed by the imagery of SD which I can say was unlike any state I'd seen before.
Along the highway as well were hundreds of billboards for various attractions, including the infamous Wall Drug, whose atypical billboard advertisements had me mesmerized for over 300 miles. The rest stops were fun, the rolling hills were beautiful, and the rainstorm was enjoyable thanks to the wide open views and a little Jack Johnson to keep me smiling. The Badlands were beautiful, vaguely reminiscent of my trip to the Grand Canyon, but much more barren and isolated. They were a sight to see.
South Dakota was a poetic journey that culminated with a prolonged drive to Mt. Rushmore. I got to visit Mt. Rush by myself, with no around me, and so I got to bask in the glory of one our great national monuments by myself.
Me tapdancing alone in front of Rushmore. In a Good Shirt, no less!
I then detoured down to Fort Collins to visit some friends there, and have spent the last day 1/2 here. It is Saturday morning, Mountain Time, 9:49am, and in a few short hours I will take my final extended drive (about 5 hours) north, to Boulder, Wyoming, where the real adventure begins. I'm not sure when my next post will be, as I may not have internet for awhile, but thanks for following along thus far.
Minneapolis was a great city, I'm so sad I only had a day to explore it. Fortunately, I had a great host in Katrin and list of attractions to follow, and I made the most of my day exploring the various campuses of U of M at St. Paul and the West Bank along with other attractions, such as the Guthrie Theater and the Mississippi River!
Downtown Minneapolis.
My awesomesauce sleeping teepee, complete with Chandalier, dinosuar themed blankets, and octopus pillow.
The world famous Guthrie Theater, whereI talked shop with some students, bought some discount scripts, and learned former URI'er Matt Rodgers is working as a student!
After wandering downtown for a bit, I ended up at Club Jager, a recommendation, where I met up with Katrin's sister Alex and her friends. We proceeded to dance the night away to 80's pop. I had a friggin blast!
Leaving Minnesota, I travelled briefly through Iowa into South Dakota. What started off as a lame long day drive (ala Day 2) quickly became an awesome experience. I was literally talking on the phone when my life changed as I came over a hill top and saw the start of the Black Mountain Hills of Dakota. From that point on, I was transfixed by the imagery of SD which I can say was unlike any state I'd seen before.
Only one of a dozen shots I took of beautiful South Dakota.
An 80 ft. apatosaurus guards the entrance to Wall Drug.
Along the highway as well were hundreds of billboards for various attractions, including the infamous Wall Drug, whose atypical billboard advertisements had me mesmerized for over 300 miles. The rest stops were fun, the rolling hills were beautiful, and the rainstorm was enjoyable thanks to the wide open views and a little Jack Johnson to keep me smiling. The Badlands were beautiful, vaguely reminiscent of my trip to the Grand Canyon, but much more barren and isolated. They were a sight to see.
Bruce of the Badlands
South Dakota was a poetic journey that culminated with a prolonged drive to Mt. Rushmore. I got to visit Mt. Rush by myself, with no around me, and so I got to bask in the glory of one our great national monuments by myself.
Me tapdancing alone in front of Rushmore. In a Good Shirt, no less!
There IS room for a 5th dramatic face up there...
I then detoured down to Fort Collins to visit some friends there, and have spent the last day 1/2 here. It is Saturday morning, Mountain Time, 9:49am, and in a few short hours I will take my final extended drive (about 5 hours) north, to Boulder, Wyoming, where the real adventure begins. I'm not sure when my next post will be, as I may not have internet for awhile, but thanks for following along thus far.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
An Oasis in the North
As I write this, I'm chowing down on pizza at the Bellevue "Oasis", basically a pit stop, which happens to rest over the highway. Looking out, I see cars approaching from the horizon, gradually increasing in size and detail, until they roar beneath my feet and those of everyone else here. Pretty neat view. It's nice and flat out here, as expected, and the sky is big and wide. Very sunny, with cumulo-cirrus clouds making cool alternating patterns throughout.
When I arrived in Michigan, around 8:30 at night on Sunday, I came to Jess' apartment and set up shop. After sitting for a while, (a short while, as I crashed through one of her chairs :X), catching up and reminiscing (You're drunk/You're sexy!) we had dinner, a freshly made meat loaf with so not so freshly processed meat, despite the assurances of the label. For the rest of the night, both of us were constantly fearing every rumble of our revolting tummies, but we made it through. We slept it off and went to Michigan State University (The Spartans!) the next morning. After performing a mock-patient meeting with an actor/pet owner (cool!), Jess took me to the main Vet building.
While there I was able to hang out at some classes, the most exciting of which was the anatomy lab where we examined the skeletal structure of animals limbs. I was happy with the amount of information I had retained from Deej's A+P, but also learned a ton more, as the amount of information required of a vet student is clearly at a level higher than of an undergrad. Fortunately, Jess has access to several wonderful teachers and classmates. I caught up with/remet Kate H from RI, and she and I spent a lot of time reviewing the differences of the carpus and tarsus bones in both the hind and forelimbs. It was enjoyable to talk with her about Rhode Island and life after college, and about vet school in general.
After getting lunch, where I was able to play table tennis and pool with Vig and Jeremy, Jess and I sat for a bit and did some work, then attended Pharmacology and Anatomy lectures (not terribly exciting, but still valuable experience). After that, we both went home and freshened up, watched the first half of The Departed *Maybe. Maybe Not. Maybe-* We then went to downtown Lansing, meeting up with some more friends, including the super chill/awesome couple of Cassie and Kevin. We relaxed at a bar with live blues/jazz, which created a mellow kinda mood for the evening, where I got to listen in and get to know some of MSUVS's best and brightest. Following some rocking drum solos (Kevin) and some open miking (Cassie), we all headed home. Tired from a day of meeting new people and making good impressions, I quickly crashed under a lovely down blanket.
This morning, Tuesday, we woke up a bit later than expected. Despite this, I decided to return to MSU where I got myself a morning breakfast from the Dairy Store, including milk, grilled cheese, and ice cream. After saying goodbye, I filled up my tank, put in my eyes, and settled in for the drive ahead.
It's 4pm now. I should be in Minneapolis by 8, at which point I will meet up with my next gracious host, Katrin. Until then, avid readers...
When I arrived in Michigan, around 8:30 at night on Sunday, I came to Jess' apartment and set up shop. After sitting for a while, (a short while, as I crashed through one of her chairs :X), catching up and reminiscing (You're drunk/You're sexy!) we had dinner, a freshly made meat loaf with so not so freshly processed meat, despite the assurances of the label. For the rest of the night, both of us were constantly fearing every rumble of our revolting tummies, but we made it through. We slept it off and went to Michigan State University (The Spartans!) the next morning. After performing a mock-patient meeting with an actor/pet owner (cool!), Jess took me to the main Vet building.
While there I was able to hang out at some classes, the most exciting of which was the anatomy lab where we examined the skeletal structure of animals limbs. I was happy with the amount of information I had retained from Deej's A+P, but also learned a ton more, as the amount of information required of a vet student is clearly at a level higher than of an undergrad. Fortunately, Jess has access to several wonderful teachers and classmates. I caught up with/remet Kate H from RI, and she and I spent a lot of time reviewing the differences of the carpus and tarsus bones in both the hind and forelimbs. It was enjoyable to talk with her about Rhode Island and life after college, and about vet school in general.
After getting lunch, where I was able to play table tennis and pool with Vig and Jeremy, Jess and I sat for a bit and did some work, then attended Pharmacology and Anatomy lectures (not terribly exciting, but still valuable experience). After that, we both went home and freshened up, watched the first half of The Departed *Maybe. Maybe Not. Maybe-* We then went to downtown Lansing, meeting up with some more friends, including the super chill/awesome couple of Cassie and Kevin. We relaxed at a bar with live blues/jazz, which created a mellow kinda mood for the evening, where I got to listen in and get to know some of MSUVS's best and brightest. Following some rocking drum solos (Kevin) and some open miking (Cassie), we all headed home. Tired from a day of meeting new people and making good impressions, I quickly crashed under a lovely down blanket.
This morning, Tuesday, we woke up a bit later than expected. Despite this, I decided to return to MSU where I got myself a morning breakfast from the Dairy Store, including milk, grilled cheese, and ice cream. After saying goodbye, I filled up my tank, put in my eyes, and settled in for the drive ahead.
It's 4pm now. I should be in Minneapolis by 8, at which point I will meet up with my next gracious host, Katrin. Until then, avid readers...
I'm On My Way
Upon leaving on Sunday, I was invariably delayed by lack of sleep, needing to fill up gas, last minute-packings, and of course saying my final goodbyes. While I made a significant effort to be on the road by 6am, as the revised plan stated, I did not actually start driving until 8:09am. Regardless, I was on my way. (Of course, it would not be a trip without some mishaps- my newly bought camera refused my memory card, I still could not locate a friend's lost camera amongst all my luggage, and I had forgotten my new phone's wall charger AND phone charger, necessitating the purchase of one along the way.)
Using my voice recorder, as suggested by my Father, I began to record my thoughts and recollections and ideas about my trip, my drive, and my life as they occurred to me. Rather than post on some of them now, I will create a "best of road observations by nevan michael patrick richard" post when I have gathered enough exhaustion driven postulations to create an entry of entertaining length and worth. I did get choked up, and my intestines did seize every now and then as I repeatedly was seized by the understanding that I wasn't driving to Rhode Island, or that this was a vacation, but rather that I was driving far away by myself to lands I had never seen and to stay with people I did not know. It was hard, but truly, it was the music that kept me going, and the understanding and truth that arose from within- that I had been wanting to make this type of journey for years. And so despite some misgivings, and a fear of the unknown, I drove on.
Highlights of my drive to Michigan-
-The ever changing landscape: Moving west brought me through various landscapes and geographical locations. From suburban Connecticut to rural New York to isolated Pennsylvania to the farmlands of Ohio and back to quiet suburbs of Michigan. Unfortunately, the landscapes were mostly dominated by barren brown/yellowness of post-snow Winter land, though occasional outcroppings of green grass and tress could be seen amongst the dead forests. For one stretch of trees in some portion of Pennsylvania, there was actually ice amongst the highest branches of the tress, creating a wonderful "crown effect," where each of the trees possessed it's own shimmering cap of ice. When these forests of crowns were blown by the wind, it created a really cool effect. Speaking of, despite it's length, Pennsylvania did have some of the most exciting portions of my drive the first day. Namely, the sections where after miles of driving through tight portions of road where densely wooded hills encapsulated your trip which suddenly opened up to reveal sprawling valleys with minute houses on distant ledges giving scale to the absolutely massive open areas within the heart of Pennsylvania. It was really exciting to be taking a long steady curve around a mountain and to suddenly be on a bridge, many hundreds of feet above a river within a hidden valley, and then to drive back into the woods. Fun.
-The License Plate Game (with a twist!): Everyone is familiar with the tried and true game of trying to find unique license plates from states unseen before. Well, in my version, I am recording novel license plates from states not yet seen, but ALSO where they occur! For example, in Connecticut, I only saw cars with plates from Connecticut, Massachusetts, or New York. Typical, ye? And in larger states, such as Pennsylvania, the extended distance and time spent there granted time to find more exotic plates, such as Florida, Texas, and California. But then Michigan, I saw my first Rhode Island plate! I am keeping a record of these occurrences, and will post a map with these findings upon arrival in Wyoming.
-The Lack of Obstacles: I had initially given myself 15 hours to go from Cheshire, CT to Holt, MI (my first pit stop on the journey.) Mapquest had allotted 12 1/2 hours for my journey. I added 2 1/2 hours for traffic, bathroom and food breaks, and misc. stop time. However, following a short but solid nights sleep, and a steady stream of tunes from my wonderful donated mix CD's, I ended up only not driving for ~35 minutes the whole days. As a result, I ended up in Michigan no more than 12 hours/15 minutes after I had departed. Following New York, I saw no more than 6 cops between Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan, which also certainly helped with my expediency.
And thus did I arrive in Holt, where I met up with my good friend Jess (with whom I graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a degree in Animal Science in May 2010). Our adventures around Holt, and MSUVS and elsewhere, are the subject for another post. Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 29, I will set out again to my next stop- Minneapolis, Minnesota! Hopefully I will be able to find a rest stop with internet service to send emails, check my facebook, and check back in with y'all.
=G'night.
Using my voice recorder, as suggested by my Father, I began to record my thoughts and recollections and ideas about my trip, my drive, and my life as they occurred to me. Rather than post on some of them now, I will create a "best of road observations by nevan michael patrick richard" post when I have gathered enough exhaustion driven postulations to create an entry of entertaining length and worth. I did get choked up, and my intestines did seize every now and then as I repeatedly was seized by the understanding that I wasn't driving to Rhode Island, or that this was a vacation, but rather that I was driving far away by myself to lands I had never seen and to stay with people I did not know. It was hard, but truly, it was the music that kept me going, and the understanding and truth that arose from within- that I had been wanting to make this type of journey for years. And so despite some misgivings, and a fear of the unknown, I drove on.
Highlights of my drive to Michigan-
-The ever changing landscape: Moving west brought me through various landscapes and geographical locations. From suburban Connecticut to rural New York to isolated Pennsylvania to the farmlands of Ohio and back to quiet suburbs of Michigan. Unfortunately, the landscapes were mostly dominated by barren brown/yellowness of post-snow Winter land, though occasional outcroppings of green grass and tress could be seen amongst the dead forests. For one stretch of trees in some portion of Pennsylvania, there was actually ice amongst the highest branches of the tress, creating a wonderful "crown effect," where each of the trees possessed it's own shimmering cap of ice. When these forests of crowns were blown by the wind, it created a really cool effect. Speaking of, despite it's length, Pennsylvania did have some of the most exciting portions of my drive the first day. Namely, the sections where after miles of driving through tight portions of road where densely wooded hills encapsulated your trip which suddenly opened up to reveal sprawling valleys with minute houses on distant ledges giving scale to the absolutely massive open areas within the heart of Pennsylvania. It was really exciting to be taking a long steady curve around a mountain and to suddenly be on a bridge, many hundreds of feet above a river within a hidden valley, and then to drive back into the woods. Fun.
-The License Plate Game (with a twist!): Everyone is familiar with the tried and true game of trying to find unique license plates from states unseen before. Well, in my version, I am recording novel license plates from states not yet seen, but ALSO where they occur! For example, in Connecticut, I only saw cars with plates from Connecticut, Massachusetts, or New York. Typical, ye? And in larger states, such as Pennsylvania, the extended distance and time spent there granted time to find more exotic plates, such as Florida, Texas, and California. But then Michigan, I saw my first Rhode Island plate! I am keeping a record of these occurrences, and will post a map with these findings upon arrival in Wyoming.
-The Lack of Obstacles: I had initially given myself 15 hours to go from Cheshire, CT to Holt, MI (my first pit stop on the journey.) Mapquest had allotted 12 1/2 hours for my journey. I added 2 1/2 hours for traffic, bathroom and food breaks, and misc. stop time. However, following a short but solid nights sleep, and a steady stream of tunes from my wonderful donated mix CD's, I ended up only not driving for ~35 minutes the whole days. As a result, I ended up in Michigan no more than 12 hours/15 minutes after I had departed. Following New York, I saw no more than 6 cops between Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan, which also certainly helped with my expediency.
And thus did I arrive in Holt, where I met up with my good friend Jess (with whom I graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a degree in Animal Science in May 2010). Our adventures around Holt, and MSUVS and elsewhere, are the subject for another post. Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 29, I will set out again to my next stop- Minneapolis, Minnesota! Hopefully I will be able to find a rest stop with internet service to send emails, check my facebook, and check back in with y'all.
=G'night.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Send Me on My Way
Hello and welcome to my blog.
I've never had a blog before.
This will be my first time trying to keep one.
This will serve as an occasional update with funny pictures, anecdotes, and details about my journey West and Beyond :-)
I will keep a journal as well, with more detailed accounts of my life, the best and most interesting of which should appear here.
Feel free to leave comments, suggestions for stories, questions about the West, or messages of love. I'll never know if anyone is reading this if you don't. Ha.
That is all. Thank you for being my friends and family. Here we go!
I've never had a blog before.
This will be my first time trying to keep one.
This will serve as an occasional update with funny pictures, anecdotes, and details about my journey West and Beyond :-)
I will keep a journal as well, with more detailed accounts of my life, the best and most interesting of which should appear here.
Feel free to leave comments, suggestions for stories, questions about the West, or messages of love. I'll never know if anyone is reading this if you don't. Ha.
That is all. Thank you for being my friends and family. Here we go!
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