"Utah" is Indian for "ironic"?

I drove through Utah this past weekend. There were ‘Open Range’ warning signs on the highway; the periodic horse, cow, or sheep on the highway or near by; and, get this, fences! Yes, fences! Just like driving across any rural country, there were fences. I would think that these fences would be used to keep animals off the road. Apparently, this is not the case in Utah. In UT, it seems that ‘Open Range’ means, ‘We are going to put up this fence so that the animals do not come on the reservation property. We want them in the road so that passersby can hit them with their cars. (take heart, no animal was actually harmed emotionally or physically on the duration of this excursion nor during the story's re-dramatization herein). I was just laughing at the irony of the ‘open range’ and fence combination.

Things that make me say ‘hummm’.

ps. I went to Monument Valley, fun!

Poll

Today I worked with a guy that is VERY skeptical of my profession. It was good because I got to see the other side of some issues.

I need to take a poll:

I went camping my first weekend here. I found some hotdogs in the fridge from this event. They were drenched in water (from the ice originally in the cooler) and in a Gladware® re-sealable container. They still look/smell good. Should I eat one???

Listing (corrected)

I have realized a few things this week.

In about 5-6 months I will need to be able to shoot the breeze with people I do not know. I guess I need to start practicing.

From start to finish, the sun can disappear on the horizon in about 2.5 minutes.

Gas is cheaper in Flagstaff, AZ.

The guy that towed my car looks like my brother-in-law.

I love peanut butter and bologna sandwiches.

My time is soon coming to a close here.

Girl was HOT!

I learned about the inner workings of a radiator!

On the way ‘home’ through the Arizona desert, Betsy (my car) started getting a fever. Not long into the trip she was downright HOT. I had to stop for a while on the side of the road to let her cool down. There was only one problem: high noon in the middle of the dessert is not a good place to cool down. So I gave ol’ girl one more chance to make it to the next town. She made it! Then I had phone reception and I was able to call a tow truck. Fortunately the tow was covered by the dealer. Unfortunately the maintenance was not.

Come to find out, Betsy did not have a simple low-grade fever. She was overheating secondary to a ka-put hypothalamus (I think the automotive term is thermostat). The ‘gland’ was sticking so that the coolant was unable to flow properly.

After a hypothalamectomy and subsequent transplant, Betsy is functioning as well as before. And now I have my A/C back too!!

Today I fell in love.

Today I am waiting for the work to be completed on my car so I would like to take this time to tell you more about my weekend travels.

The Grand Canyon was GREAT; turns out it is pretty big too. I learned that in the desert the nights are cold and the days are hot. It is funny because you start the day in many layers of clothes and by mid day you are wearing only a t-shirt and shorts. While there I hiked 3-5 miles along the Southern Rim, visited a watch tower, watched the sun set on canyon and then attended an astronomy talk. There was a group in ‘town’ that gave a short talk about space and then about 24-ish high powered telescopes were available for public viewing. I saw lots of stuff, including planets; they all just looked like stars to me.

Now for the love story.

This morning, while waiting on the car, I went for a walk downtown. Minding my own business, doing the usual touristy march through town I saw a store of interest. I walked in, started to look around and then I saw her; ordinary in every outward appearance but extraordinarily unique when I heard her. She is a Taylor 314 CE cut-a-way guitar. By far the best sounding guitar I have ever played. As I took it off the display and started to play, I was in awe. It was ‘love at first sound’. Like many out of town love stories there was a problem however: price. $1500 of a problem to be exact. For a product this great, you are going to have to pay but this is about $1499 out of my price range. So I said a quick farewell to cut-away Taylor 314 CE. Though it was short, we had a treat time.

Special Edition

On location: Flagstaff, AZ

This weekend has been mostly great so far. I went to the Grand Canyon, camped 2 nights, and now I am stuck in Flagstaff. On the way home (5-6 hour drive) my car almost overheated. I was 'stranded' in the middle of a desert in AZ. After waiting a while I decided to give it one more try and make a run for the next town (<10 miles away). Yea!! I made it! Long story short, I was towed 1.5 hours and now I am awaiting the morning when I can go to the auto shop. (I am about 7-8 hours away from 'home')

I have seen some cool stuff this weekend, I hope it ends quickly!

Long, Short Week

Overall this week has been a little slow. I was at the hospital for 11+ hours everyday but nothing really exciting has happened. This is good for the patient population but it made my week seem long. Tomorrow is a short day though! I am headed off to the Grand Canyon. It will be a drive but I am sure that it will be worth the time invested.

Also, since last we spoke, I have purchased a flute (recorder) and will be adding it to my repertoire of musical instruments! I set on the porch and play it in the evenings!

Finally, I am reading Dr. D. Jeremiah’s book very slowly so I am still working my way through it. As I have mentioned before, I am simultaneously reading the book of Acts. Spectacular combination! Again, I recommend them both.

Have a good weekend,
OS Hopper

Ps. I discovered today that sheep come with long tails. You have to lop off the tail to get the typical short style.

Weekend Wrap-Up

This weekend was great! If you were trying to guess as to the nature of the side job of the individual at the hospital, I am sure you guessed correctly. I went sheep herding! There was horse riding, sheep penning, sheep feeding and much more involved. I have never seen sheep up close and in person (or at least I cannot remember such an event).

I was a little concerned at the beginning because every time I would walk up to a group of sheep they would run away. They did not know me. So, if I wanted to touch/pet one I had to pen her down (grab 2 legs, force her on her side and then grab the other 2 legs). This was really funny because one sheep continued eating even after I penned her on the ground. I am not sure if she was trying to calm herself from the experience of being held or if she just did not care what I was doing. Either way, after I penned her down, she just kept eating! (I have some good pictures!)

Also, I went driving through the mountains of CO. I went through Durango, Silverton, Ouray, Ridgeway, Telluride, and Cortez. I started to forget what green looks like outdoors; everything is brown here. The trip was VERY pretty and there was still snow on the tops of the mountain and tons of green Aspen and Spruce trees! If you ever get the opportunity to drive the Million Dollar Highway and see this part of the country, I recommend it.

That was my weekend, lots of fun!
Hopper

Weekend!!

This week has been interesting. I spent way to much time at the hospital for starters. But there was some good that came out of it! First, a Black Hawk helicopter had to come and perform a med. evac. I got to see the chopper and take a picture! Second, I met a guy that has a 'special' side job. I am going with him this weekend and it promises to be a great time (way out of the norm but lots of fun nonetheless.) Provided that my anticipations are met with actualization I should have a great weekend to blog about on Monday or early next week. Finally, I hope to visit a village in the mountains. No I will not be taking a car to this village. I will be parking in one town and taking a gondala to the 'village in the mountains'. This too sounds cool.

Day 17!

Hello again,
I have discovered a public library that is hidden away in a building across the street from the hospital! This is the reason for the second weekly blog. There are a couple of items I would like to discuss today.

First, the icon which must be double clicked for internet access is titled, “Enternet Explorer”. Ummmmm.

Second, the cable guy came yesterday and I now have many channels to pick from on the TV. They are all in English, save CNN-China. This is a blessing and a curse. It is good because I now have TV. It is a curse because I now have something to waste my time.

Third, I have been reading Romans as well as Dr. David Jeremiah’s book, Captured by Grace. I really like the way Jeremiah points out the intellectual challenges that Saul had to deal with as he was forced to come face to face with the one he had been unknowingly persecuting while trying to drive ‘blasphemers’ out of the synagogue and the state. I recommend Dr. Jeremiah’s book.

Good evening,
Hopper

Day 16!

1. People that walk slowly on rounds bug me.
2. In New Mexico, it is not called a ‘speed trap’ it is called a ‘safety corridor’.
3. I went 13 days without purchasing gasoline!!
4. TV is overrated. Not having a tv can be a good thing. (ok, I have CNN China but I do not speak Chinese)
5. Having 2 fighter jets ‘buzz’ the field clinic may not be normal but it is surly not abnormal.
6. I am down to only 1 light in the bathroom with the A/C in the shower.
7. Placing the central A/C on the roof is a good idea when you are surrounded by dirt.
8. I went walking yesterday around my ‘neighborhood’. Out of approximately 150 – 200 domiciles, 1 had grass. I bet their water bill is HUGE!
And finally,
9. I am not sure if Prairie Dogs are cute, funny or scary looking but I cannot stop staring at them every time I see one.