Hi everyone,
It's September now, Labor Day in fact, and I'm back in school. I'd like to welcome Jeremy Basse and Wendy Young as new members of Scott's blogospere. Jeremy and Wendy are good friends from Boise who have moved to Garden Valley while Jeremy studies to be a Nurse Practitioner through Gonzaga's online courses, and heap plenty practical work up there and in Boise. Here's a bit of news that shouldn't surprise anyone: Al and Jane, whom I added last time, cannot get these insightful postings because, like I mentioned, they're in China. I don't know how to handle that. Are these things really a threat to the revolution andChineese stability? If so, I'd be flattered. More of a highlighting of man's fearful shortcomings I'm afraid. Pathetic really. Speaking of pathos -
Senator Larry Craig resigns
About a week ago, Jeremy and I were enjoying a beer in the afternoon shade and called Amy to come join us. She said she couldn't, big news coming up - Larry Craig was arrested for soliciting sex in the men's in a Minnesota airport. For those of you non-Idahoans, rumors have been around for years that Craig was a closet flamer. Well here we are a week later, and he's out (in more way's than one?). I went up to the press conference yesterday morning with camera in hand to see the doin's. There were about 300 people and reporters (althought I understand that they are people too) milling around. Craig came, spoke for about 3 minutes, thanked some folks, and apologized for the negative focus Idaho has received. Not much else.
Here he is, with a shot of the media circus after he left.
Larry Craig is a skilled career politician, who I would have prefered to see leave from a rejection of his policies or his arrogant bullying rather than as a victim of a scandal-sensitive republican party. This man will be remembered as the individual most responsible for the extinction of the Snake River salmon runs, which encompasses all rivers east of Lewiston. He never met an extractive resource industry he didn't like or a resorce protection law he didn't change. This is the politician who consitantly overrode science, public opinion, and good land stewardship practices in order to cut more timber or loose more cattle on the land. He's a bastard, and I am glad to see him gone. Good riddance.
The event, however, was a solemn affair and I found myself at odds with the hecklers and celebrators in the crowd ( as well as the faithful supporters). I had a moment where I felt for the man. It must have been exceedingly difficult and embarrasing.
On to the next right-wing ideolog, to be chosen from our playboy governor's speed dial.
Wild Horse Auction
Here's some light-hearted news. The BLM held a public auction of wild mustangs, mares and colts a week ago. Sounded cool, so I hopped on the KLR and headed out. There were about 500 horses of various ages corraled roughly by age, and about as many people milling around the corrals. They'd write in a bid on a clipboard for a horse and wait. If nobody bid higher when the BLM came by and called out bids, you won the horse. There was then another round where all the bid winners confirmed that they still wanted the horse. See the photo of the folks in front of the flatbed. Most of the 1-3 year olds went for about $100-$300. Some bigger stallions and mare/colt pairs went for more.
Last Epic Fishing This Summer
So, I had the excavator and concrete guys all lined out at the house, it was Monday afternoon, and school started the next week. Good time to head off and do some fishing. I hadn't been to Silver Creek in June, so Silver Creek and the Big Wood were naturally my desitnation. This wasn't a hard decision, seeing as they are my two favorite rivers and are located in the most beautiful place in the world. I spent 3 days working my way up, starting day 2 early in Silver Creek amid hatches and the sound of gurgling water. I didn't move 10 feet until 1pm. Silver Creek is spring fed with a flat gravel bed. The water level never changes, the bugs and the fish get big ( and smart) in the constant temperature water, and the experience is sublime.
I worked my way up the Big Wood, spending the rest of the day there along a stretch uninterupted by roads or mansions. I stayed that night above Ketchum in the Sawtooth NRA, which is undeveloped forest land boasting meadows, sage, spruce and aspens. And big mountains. I headed out early the next day, over the pass and into the Salmon River drainage. Had breakfast at Smiley Creek, which is a little store/cafe/cabin outpost where they sell gas from a single pump and charge $3.65/gal. It was another amazing day, complete with some fishing in the Salmon. The SNRA really is an amazing place. The only photos I took (that are worth anything) are:
The hay fields along Silver Creek, a place called the Point of Rocks.
A pair of shots near Bull Trout Lake, an the drive home at the divide between the Salmon and Payette.
School Begins
Amy and I are back in school now. Amy is teaching high school English and American Government at Boise High. I predict she will enjoy it quite a bit more than she is letting on right now, if she can eventually get a room. The commute is certainly agreeable - 5 minutes on bike.
I have moved all of my tools and office out to the job site and had kids there on Thursday and Firday after 3 dull days of rosters, rules, and tools. We're starting the year building sawhorses and stroage bins for the their tools, and will get into the floor frame this week. Here's a photo of the site with the foundation in and ready. It's hot out there now, if you were wondering.
I have been in contact with some prople at BSU and we have begun working on the preliminary parts of a potential future project I am interested in. I'd like to see if there is support from BSU engineers and the CM department, Architects, Idaho Power, and other Green building consultants to build a model green home ( net-zero energy use, LEED certification, Energy Star, etc). There has been positive feedback so far, so we'll see what evolves there.
The Course of Empire
I'd like to leave you all with a link to a 5 painting series by Thomas Cole (American) titled- The Course of Empire
Caio.
