Yellowstone Musings

Went to Yellowstone this month and I am totally surprised by how much fun I had on my mini-national parks tour. I thoroughly enjoyed myself seeing lots of animals and some cool features and I also enjoyed seeing the geologic features every where and it is a good thing that I had my environmental classes because it helped make me learn what I needed to do well on the trip. There was no one I would have liked to go on the trip more than my Mom and getting to go on the BUS tour in the yellow old-school BUS and doing the ranger talks and at my count over or close to 30 miles of hiking I was so grateful to have gone there. My favorite things were the license plates from all over, the continual language appreciation for everyone and the diversity of both staff and visitors other than elk causing a lot of inconvenience in Mammoth there was not a lot of strange things happening from a visiting perspective. I enjoyed the falls the most out of any geologic feature and I also enjoyed the mud pots and the pools and springs. Some people like the geysers- outside of Old Faithful I didn't because otherwise it was  like seen one seen them all and Norris Geysers were my least favorite hike too crowded and too much of the same thing. Regardless of all the various things that were off including one time after a long day where I needed time alone to not melt down I was able to stay composed and learn a lot and use my words- my Mom is a very solid travel companion and this is not the first long trip we have been on. Sleeping in a different place every night was fine and I didn't have too many horses go into the night- actually I slept great because I was exhausted. Continuing to learn about the features and listening to the ranger talks was great and some of the history like the trinkets and feeding the bears that were able to be done in the distant past as well as Leonard Nimoy sitting in the hot spring for a filming of his Star Trek movie- all these things were impressive and I think that there is a lot of disconnect in how the overall lessons of how the park was and is now continue to amaze me and I continue to learn why things are the way they are after a lot of reinvention and lessons. Regardless of what I can continue to discern and ascertain from this time I continue to see impressive lessons in the overall schemata of Yellowstone and I look forward to going again. There were 4 bison herds and 3 elk herds I saw in addition to a coyote, 2 bald eagles, 2 trumpeter swans, an osprey, an otter, 2 hawks, and a host of seagulls other birds and bugs and 3 other elk and about 8 other bison. Apparently I wasn't the only animal there and that was kind of a good thing I get tired of when that happens. I hope to go back in several years but then my Mom will be in her mid-70s so maybe I will go with my sisters so that they can have implicit memories or some friends. Either way I look forward to getting back to Yellowstone and I look forward to continuing to travel more this next little bit because traveling is loads of fun. Tiring yes but also loads of fun.

People Who Have Made A Big Impact: Part 6 of 6: My Mother

Some men who are successful have their mother as a huge influence some have their dads some have both. While my Dad and I have an icy relationship that even at its best is complicated, my Mom and I have been working together since day one in making sure that I create the best life that I can while having integrity and never compromising. The best moments I had recently was the car time talking about current events in our lives and talking about challenges and triumphs and ideas for improvement in our lives and in how we conduct ourselves. She told the truth the whole time and we were so composed on the trip to Yellowstone and when I pay my phone camera developing and see a movie the week of the 9th I will have used all of my graduation celebration items which was encouraged to be extended by my mother. My Mom has spent thousands of hours supporting me in everything from plays to sports to advocacy to seeing movies together to playing cards to taking walks to transportation to trike rides to vacations and anything else you can think of. She takes special trips to drop me off food when I am low on money and takes special trips to sign sheets to be corrected and continue to create a loving atmosphere where she is so giving that she volunteers for several church things throughout the past few years while being on staff as an organist and creating an arena of positive change for not only her children and the church community but also the arts community and everyone else who is someone that she supports greatly. While my Mom is a bit apprehensive towards things that she doesn't understand sometimes that are outside of the norm she has embraced her children's quirks and oddities- my ever changing hair color and different identities than the status quo, my sister and her adventurous ways that have brought her pain but which she is reluctant to change, my other sister and her love for books that is almost on par with mine and all of our ability to be involved with sports for a lot of our adult life and not be musically inclined even though she would probably prefer for us to be musically inclined more than I am with my voice and my sisters different forays into attempts to play instruments. She is kind, genuine, thoughtful, has a great sense of humor, is caring, and one of the wisest people I have ever met. I am so grateful to have been raised by such a wonderful parent and when I told a customer the other day that I was a terrible liar and that my Mom doesn't lie they said she must have raised you right. Debatable since I have a lot of other quirks but yeah you become the people you spend the most time with. I haven't seen my Dad in a few months and even he has conceded that I would have bad habits spending time with him and that he hasn't always been a good parent. My Mom never sees our relationship as strained and except for some brief bouts when I have outbursts has always trusted me and has unconditional love for her children. My Mom is love and genuine kindness and I am appreciative to have been raised by such a wonderful light of a woman and human being. Thanks for being you mother have a great week.

People Who Have Made An Influence Part 5: Alexis Traxinger

Sometimes you meet someone totally randomly in an immature way and you click immediately. Sometimes you feel like you can trust someone in life super well immediately and you feel like you can become a beacon in their light right away. And sometimes you are still friends with them in a close way years later. There are only four people I felt this way about that I have met in my adult life: Zech Wendt (already been covered), Alex Krabiel, Danica Rhoades (both will be covered next year), and the subject of this expose Alexis Traxinger. I met Alexis trying to tackle her like a Boise State linebacker on the Quad at Boise State. I don't know why I tried to tackle her but I think I was so excited to meet someone I could connect with right away. She probably thought "who is this goofball" and despite that she followed me like glue the rest of the day. And we became best friends. She invited me to the dinner that fall and I was the only non-first year invited to that and we have traveled several times including Alaska and Oregon and Sun Valley and a few other fun jaunts we have been to the grocery store together a few times we have gone to the Corn Maize we have gotten numerous morning walks and coffee and numerous workout classes and numerous beers and a margarita or two and we have throughout all of that stayed best friends. She is not a super affectionate person but gave me a hug right away and over time has allowed me to kiss her on the cheek and hold her hand and actually enjoys it. We have 20 minute phone conversations when we are stressed and we have continued to build a solid rapport that while not professional has been such a great friend beacon that we feel like we could fit in in any event with each other and she might be on staff at my nonprofit in the future. She is funny, smart, kind, adventurous, creative, fit, wise beyond her years but still goofy, and a true spitfire and full of energy. It seems like we will be friends until we are ghosts and I will always care for her in a way that no one can understand and that I have a hard time explaining to others. Through all the insults, all the nicknames, all the laughter, all the fun events, all the exercise, and all the drinks we are capable of serious conversations sometimes about our families, things we have in common, life goals and dreams, and other topics that we have discussed although it is rare that we are. Lexi Baby is one of my favorite people ever and a true luxury model car (A Lexis) just had to throw that in there. I am so proud of her and can't wait to see her soon. She is my best friend.

People Who Have Made An Influence: Part 4: Christine Pisani

My Council boss is a one-of-a-kind stellar boss, advocate, leader, and hero. She has helped me so much with not only the Council but legislative items, listening, going on trips, and she has been nothing but an encouragement for me and lots of other people. She is very knowledgeable about various things and is an amazing beacon of importance in Idaho and beyond. She has helped me create an advocacy pool state wide and further and is one of my biggest fans. Christine Pisani is her name and she is one of my favorite people ever. I met Christine at a cooking club thing and we became fast friends. I appreciate her willingness to be involved in everything whether it is disability related or not and I appreciate her kindness and loving heart towards plenty of people whether they are people with developmental disabilities or people of other marginalized groups. I am not only impressed and awed by all her commitment but it helps make me wish to keep myself informed and trying to do a lot more in the next little bit before I move to Portland. Christine is a total inspiration and is a great friend, colleague, and advocate. Ever since we met I have continued to see growth in both of us and have done numerous non-work things with Christine which have continued to see growth in both of our colleague relationship. I am always grateful for Christine and I to be such great friends and colleagues and I can't wait for two more years on the Council and many more years being in touch and backpacking and plenty of other things in the near future. I am proud to call her a great friend and if there was an animal that was like Christine I would say that it would be a tiger because she is ferocious on how she lives for others and doesn't back down from a challenge. I am beyond grateful for Christine's influence and her willingness to talk to me about tough things and try to realize my potential which will always be one of the biggest things I appreciate about her as well trying to realize her potential in the great way of life as well. I am beyond thankful for all that Christine and I have done together and I look forward to many more. I have known her 7 and a half years and I couldn't be prouder than to be stuck with such a beacon of light that she is in my life.