Hi Sweetliberty! It was so fun to get back and see all of your guys' pings. The desert was COLD! What should have been a six hour drive back through the Navajo Reservation took about 13. We were only able to go about 25 mph through all the snow. I've never been so cold in my life as at the Grand Canyon on Saturday. But, it was so beautiful and all the little towns and lodges were decorated for CHRISTMAS. Die ACLU.
I love small town America - people still wish each other Merry Christmas and have wreaths all over. Now I am back in lib-ville where we don't even get a "Holiday Party" this year.
I heard the funniest stories from my ranger friends about Lurch's visit there and how Terrayzzza kept dissing the Canyon. Lurch's visit cost the NPS $138K!!! And, they've had to cut ranger positions the last few years - that money could have funded at least three positions. Iceman and I couldn't understand why the NPS had to pay for Lurch. My friends tried to stay away from working with the visit until they received direct orders to assist.
Apparently, the NPS has been highly damaged by Bubba policies and initiatives... I couldn't believe - they get Fox News up at the Canyon. We did see some leftover Lurch signs in front of govt. housing, but it was good to hear there are some conservatives left working for the agency.
Housing is as bad as ever. My one friend has a small shack, built in 1920s, non-insulated. Her rent is nearly $400 a month, she is a required occupant, and no work is ever done on the house. Plus utilities. So, clearly she can't afford a house anywhere else. She is a GS-9, after 17 years in the Service... I wouldn't be able to put up with the politics and all anymore.
More to tell, but I have a meeting and this is a long enough post. Thank you so much for all the pings. More later :)
Good to see ya safely home.
Welcome back. I sure don't miss all the snow and ice driving I left behind in Colorado.