prune picker

This is the blog of a prune picker. (Native born Californian) Retired oilfield. I am an old man. I blog a lot about my body and getting old. As I approach death life gets more interesting. More interesting is not good. I still drive. I attend sports, music, and civic events. I am writing my memoirs. I attend swim class three times a week. Some of my blogs might be interesting. A lot of my blogs are silly and trivial. None are very long.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Tree Hugger Weather

I am getting tired of the weather here. Look at the forecast. Only
two of the next five days have a temp higher than 67! I sure miss the
nice weather in Ruston.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Chad and Corrie

Chad and Corrie are members of my Wyoming Family. They live a couple of blocks from Mark, the Log Cabin Computer Programmer. Corrie is the youngest daughter of my daughter, Nancy. She is Mark's younger sister. She is a pastry chief at the Four Seasons in Teton Village. Chad is a lift mechanic for the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. They make a cute couple.

Chad works a ten hour day and then rides a bike for 14 miles home! Corrie does the same after her duties as a pastry chief. They only ride bikes one way. If they were in condition they could ride bikes both ways!

They put in time in on a cooperative farm over the pass in Idaho. Chad cooked hamburgers one night and the beef was raised grass fed on the farm. The burgers were delicious. Chad told me that they try to eat real food. They also get milk and veggies from the farm.

Before I clicked the top picture I asked them to look heroic. They did a good job.

I really enjoyed my visit with my Wyoming Family. Mark, Corrie, and Chad were so gracious. This was my fifth visit to Jackson Hole. Jackie and I visited there in the early nineties. I have a big soft spot in my heart for Jackson Hole.

The bottom pic is of sister and brother, Corrie and Mark.
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Monday, June 28, 2010

Washington Family

I am in Sammamish Washington with a family about to move to
Woodenville. They are Matt, Janelle, Winter, and Holly. Matt is the
oldest child of my daughter Nancy.

300 miles today. 2752 for trip.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Road to the Sun 4

What a day! The Road to the Sun was only 50 miles but it took me 3 1/2 hours. Every turnout said "stop and take a picture". I posted 43 pictures on my Facebook page. I have not figured out to do that on my blog. The three blogs before this one each have four pictures.

The road was first completed in 1932. It is named after a mountain with the same name. It is quite an engineering feat. They are improving it all the time.

I am in Spokane tonight. Will be in Sammanish tomorrow.

Today 320 miles. Trip 2452.


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Road to the Sun 3




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Road to the Sun 2




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Road to the Sun !




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Wyoming Family, especially Mark.

Joshua Mark (better known as Mark) Wright is the youngest son of my oldest daughter, Nancy. Like Nancy, he is delightful and interesting. He is a computer programmer and works in a log cabin. The log cabin is 3 or 4 blocks from the city square in Jackson. A dozen people work in the cabin.

A summer job in the Tetons National Park a long time ago has led to a permanent residency in Jackson Hole. He is an avid hiker. He once walked a good bit of the Pacific Crest Trail. The trail goes from the Mexican border to the Canadian border. I have never once thought of doing that!

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Saturday, June 26, 2010

Glacier Park

It was a pretty ride from Jackson Hole to Glacier Park. Lots of trout streams, green soft rolling hills, blue sky, and snow capped mountains to my west.

Will ride the "going to the sun highway" tomorrow.

481 miles today, 2132 for trip.

Picture is of a friend I met in Jackson Hole.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Jackson Scenes

The elk antler arches are at each corner of the town square. Thousands of elk winter just outside of town and they lose their antlers every year.

Notice that the street car is pulled by horses. The last picture is of a city policeman on his trusty mount. The horse is having a snack of city grass.

I leave in the morning for Glacier Park. I expect to see more mountains.


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Thursday, June 24, 2010

Tram ride and Jackson Farmers Market

I arrived in Jackson almost mid after noon. After a short visit Chad Graham, my significant other grandson, suggested a ride on the Jackson Hole Tram. Corrie and I said ok. The first thing Chad did was to put the doors on his jeep. He retrieved them from the jeep door storage area on the porch. That is pretty thoughtful huh? He did not want to see me fall out!

Chad, who is a lift mechanic for the lift and tram company, got us free rides. The rides are expensive. Each tram can carry 100 people. The lift is over 4000 feet and the elevation at the tram top is 10,450 feet. A tremendous view of the Tetons. Yes that is a bank of snow behind me. It snowed at the tram top the day before. Chad and Corrie know all the peaks by name. A big book in their library is titled PEAKS. The book has a lot of info on the Wyoming peaks.

On the way home we stopped at the Jackson Farmers Market.



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Wednesday, June 23, 2010

I made it to Jackson!

Short day, just six hours.

288 miles. Trip 1651.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

701 miles Salina, Kansas to Casper, Wyoming

Another 14 hour day in the car. I am glad the trips will be shorter now. I should make it to Jackson Hole in 6 hours tomorrow.

Casper is in the middle of Wyoming. The Teton fifth wheel trailer is manufactured here. It is built for severe weather in an area with severe weather. I have always wanted to see Casper. A stop here fit in with my trip to Jackson Hole. The drive from Cheyenne to Casper is through beautiful country. I am really looking forward to the drive from here to Jackson Hole. I know that there will be some great views of the Tetons.

The picture is of Casper from my motel parking lot.

701 miles today, 1363 miles trip total.
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Monday, June 21, 2010

662 miles to Salina

I really tore the blanket. I am on the road again. Believe it or not I
had a thirty minute nap in Paris!

About 14 hours on the road.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Fathers Day 2010

I spent Fathers Day 2010 in Ruston Louisiana. I was blessed to see all of my beloved Louisiana relatives. God love them! They are so sweet to me and I love them a whole lot!

The top picture is of the David Newberry family. Ethan, Christian, Joy, Ross, and David. Joy is my youngest daughter's oldest daughter. She is the mother of my three Louisiana great grandsons. They live in West Monroe, Lousiana. About 45 minutes from Ruston.

The next picture is of my Louisiana great granddaughter, Johnny Lynn Miller. The old geezer is me.

The third picture is of the Justin Miller family. Justin, Johnny Lynn, and Katie. Katie is daughter number two my daughter Kerry. The Millers live in Franklinton, Louisiana which about four hours from Ruston.

The bottom picture is of Mr and Mrs John Adams with their grand daughter Johnny Lynn. Mrs John Adams is my daughter Kerry.

These ten people make up my Louisiana family. I will really miss them while I am visiting the West Coast. I will drive away in the morning and be gone for 2 to 3 months. I am looking forward to getting back home to Ruston. But I am excited about my trip. I plan to visit many friends and relatives. I will visit many places that were involved in my life. I plan to blog many pictures and memories. The trip is sort of a grand farewell visit to the West Coast by an old Prune Picker.




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Wednesday, June 16, 2010

8 Weeks with Crew Chief Akers

Stephanie -Ann Thibodeux Akers was my crew chief for the eight weeks that I worked for the Census. She is a good citizen and a hard worker. It has been a pleasant eight weeks thanks to her and her supervisors. She has two adolescent children, is working on a Master Degree in Counseling/Psychology, and has worked up to fifty hours a week for the Census. I wish Stephanie the best luck in her future!

It has been interesting and at times fun working for the Census. Lately it has been hot. The thermometer in my car is accurate. This after noon it read 99 degrees at one time. It was always reading 95 or more. I would leave the motor and ac running in my car when I went up to ring door bells, then I would hurry back and get in the car and shut the door.
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