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.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
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.
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