Seattle's Longest Play of the Season

"I went out there and lined up, and I knew it was man to man right away. They had all the defensive backs over, and I just kept shaking my head, yes... give me a chance, and he did."  ~ Doug Baldwin, Wide Receiver, Seattle Seahawks

It was stated back in Week 12 of the 2015-16 NFL season. The game: Pitsburg at Seattle. Everything seemed on the line that day. Both teams really needed the W. The lead had gone back and forth almost all game, particularly in the last quarter. 

Then, with a little over 2 minutes left on the clock, the Hawks slammed the door on Pittsburg. At 3rd and 9, the Hawks on Pittsburg's 20 yardline, Baldwin ran a route towards the middle - just past the 30. He caught Wilson's pass that was thrown through the blitz like a gunshot, and ran it roughly 70 yards for a touchdown. His teammate, Tyler Lockett ran the distance along side him, providing the perfect shove at around the 10 yardline, keeping the path clear.

It was epic for so many reasons, but most of all, because the Hawks as a team had finally taken down a Goliath, of sorts. I'm not confident about their success afterward if they had lost that game. It contributed to a momentum shift in the season, not only providing a recollection of their greatness (and possibly the greatness to come), but also was reported as one of the NFL's best plays of the week. I believe it will mark the point where the season began to take on a championship look once again.

November

November was a noteworthy month. I celebrated my birthday with immediate family in Yosemite. I figured if I paid for a room that could house us all, we'd be ok. There was a total of five of us. Dawn said that anyone who thought there wouldn't be any drama under those circumstances had too high of an expectation. She was correct that there was some drama, but I'm proud to state that it subsided rather easily. There was simply too much love to go around.

Fall in Yosemite is a photographer's dream. A storm had recently passed through, and had left several inches of snow on the ground. We brought our bicycles, and the ground was icy. It was difficult to stay warm on them, and I didn't experience any problems with it - until I tried to cross the plank walkway in Cook's meadow early in the morning. As I applied the brakes to deal with the slippery frost, my bike glided to the side. I lost my footing too, and slithered onto the ground. After I was down, I laughed and laughed. It was delightful outdoors with hardly anyone out - save for the photographers. That was the morning when I captured the images of Frosty Half Dome, Quiet Mirror Lake, and Yosemite Falls Rainbow (my prior 3 posts). 

The hiking was spectacular. I rejoiced when I made it to the bridge on the way to Vernal Fall and Emerald Pool. It was a goal of mine the last time we came, but we bailed when the trail was so darn crowded this past June. This time on the trail the people provided hope that getting to the top of the falls was possible. So we did. The stairway was icy and treacherous, yet I am happy to report that no one was injured despite our novice attire. I wore a pair of sturdy "yard duty" walking shoes, and was told that I made it look easy from a fellow hiker. It was not, but it was worth every step.

I also went on a nature walk with Ranger Christine from the visitor center where I learned a lot about bears. For example, did you know that that the Park Rangers have a nightshift devoted to chasing away the bears? She said that if you see a tired Ranger, they probably had just done the nightshift. On that walk, Dawn spotted a Coyote in the meadow, and I spotted an Acorn woodpecker, as well as a Great Blue heron. I've still never seen a bear, and Ranger Christine said that was a good thing. Maybe it will happen in the Winter. I hear it IS a wonderland.

On the drive home, we listened to a CD titled, Classically Disney, String Quartet Interpretations of Disney Standards. When You Wish Upon a Star brought me to tears, and we listened to The Bare Neccessities twice because we liked it so much. The CD finished with There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow. A fitting end to my newest favorite destination. 

Plaque at Mirror Lake

Mirror Lake

Rainbow at Yosemite Falls

Half Dome

How NFL Conference Brackets are Formed

Only 1 team will represent a conference in the Super Bowl. This article explains why it is WAY TOO EARLY TO KNOW who will be in it.

First, the 4 division winners from the conference are "seeded" 1 through 4 (North, South, East, and West). The 2 teams with the best records of each division are "seeded" as 1 and 2 - they get home field advantage, and they don't play on "wild card weekend."

Then, the 2 "wild card" teams are identified - based on the best overall record in the whole conference, excluding the division winners. These teams are "seeded" 5 and 6. 

On "Wild Card Weekend" Team 3 plays Team 6 (the 2nd best record in the conference, excluding division winners), and Team 4 plays Team 5 (the 1st best record in the conference, excluding division winners). These "wild card" teams could be stronger than the division leaders and could be considered as the leftover conference leaders (5 and 6, that is). Note: This is how the Giants came up to beat the Patriots, back in the day.

Finally, the two winning teams from "Wild Card Weekend" plays 1 or 2 at THEIR home field.

For example:
As of this moment before Monday Night Football here is the NFC situation in the divisions...

North is Packers

South is Falcons and Panthers

East is Giants (but is up for grabs)

West is Cardinals

Notes:

1.  If we selected today the Panthers or the Falcons would be a wild card in the NFC (because they are tied with the same number of wins). Stats break the tie.

2.  There is NO clear winner to be team 6.
3.  The winner of the AFC and NFC meet in the Super Bowl, so it follows that no conference (AFC or NFC) has to worry about the other until the Super Bowl - other than to improve the W/L record.
4. When you are seeded at 1 or 2 you have a great record, like this year's Packers, Falcons, or Panthers.

Finally, if your team has a lousy record right now, they need to start WINNING (Thursday would be good).

Reading and Writing with Ms. K.

Two important aspects of literacy are reading and writing because great readers become skilled writers and excellent writers know how to analyze literature.  

Reading

Our program promotes reading comprehension by focusing on specific reading strategies that have been shown to improve understanding and recall. The following the five strategies are the foundation of our reading comprehension program: making personal and meaningful connections, developing question and answer relationships, using mental imagery, recognizing when inference is needed for better understanding, and summarizing or retelling what has been read. These strategies are reviewed during our daily reading routine. Specific lessons are also presented, which are aligned with what is being taught in our students classes. 

Writing 

Our writing program fosuses specifically on what is expected at each individual grade level based on the common core requirements for grade levels K-8. Because each grade level has benchmarks and requirements that expand over time, our teachers design lessons and writing assignments that focus on promoting writing skills that meet these requirements. These lessons and assignments are directly related not only to what is being instructed inside the student's classroom, but also to meet the required common core curriculum benchmarks.

Enrichment with Ms. K - Week 4

Monday's focus was homework. Many students were prepping for exams. We went over a math, "check for understanding" page. The students were told to write their own definition for the commutative property.  Most of them paraphrased the glossary definition. I made a mental note to revisit this. We then reviewed vocab terms and major topics from the ancient civilizations segment in the Social Studies text. This part was a review of the first 3 chapters of the text to prep for exams.

Tuesday's focus was math.  I gave a mini lesson about the commutative property.  It is an easy concept to understand, when using the root word "commute".  Think about the analogy of commuting to school or work, and then commuting back home.  In math, the property applies to addition and multiplication in an equation where  a + b = b + a  or  xy = yx. Basically when adding or multiplying, the answer will remain the same even if the variables are reversed.  Try it out!  The property does NOT work with subtraction and division.  If asked to show an example of how it would not work, subtraction and/or division should be used. 

On this day I left the quote, "Be a voice, not an echo." on the whiteboard.

Wednesday's focus was engineering and design. We used TP rolls to design objects. Some of the objects that were designed were: a couple of cars, several minions, a mermaid, and a hula dancer. 

Thursday's focus was watercolor painting.  I gave a mini lesson about Vincent Van Gogh's interesting life.  The students learned about how he did not become a painter until late in his life.  They also learned about his letters to his brother Theo, and how the letters are one of the ways we know about his life. They learned about his work with dark colors, and his beginning to use brighter colors when studying Japaneese Art.  They learned about his use of thick application of paint, a little about his time in Arles with Paul Gauguin, and how his paintings were not well received until long after his passing.  

Yellowstone National Park

Now is the perfect time to visit Yellowstone National Park.  It is filled with wildlife viewing opportunities and the landscape is, at times, like visiting another planet.  Here are a few photos, some were shot from the safety of our car. The first one is of Bison (also known as Buffalo).

This next photo was taken from the deck above the Old Faithful Lodge. It was taken when the geyser was erupting during early afternoon. The geyser eruption lasts for about 30 - 60 seconds.  The wait time between is about an hour and fifteen minutes.

This photo of a Bull Elk was also taken from my car window.  There were several females in the surrounding area, but they were spread out to wide for my measly phone to capture. I liked it when the birds flew around him and one landed on his antlers.

Enrichment with Ms. K - Week Three

Day One:

Today's focus was homework review and analysis, with a brainstorming session for making a snappy title.  Some students had math homework, but they needed very little assistance.  A fifth grader was preparing for a test so once eveyone completed their HW, we collaborated to help her study for her test.  In general, we quizzed her on using decimals to the thousandths place.  We also reviewed the metric system and converting centimeters to meters, meters to kilometers, kilograms to grams, and milliliters to liters. After that, we discussed the meaning of foreshadowing in literature.  Finally, we brainstormed a title for an essay about the 9/11 tragedy... Serious Lack of Kindness. 

Day Two:

There was a focus on Marh and Science.  Because the Science experiment involved money, I used this opportunity to review decimals to the hundredths place.  We had approximately $14.32 in change ($6.00 in quarters, $6.00 in dimes, $1.80 nickels, $0.52 in pennies). The students were asked to count and write out the amounts in dollars, in hundredths, and to round to tenths.  They were also asked to tell what they would purchase if they had that amount to spend. 

The Science experiment was one that demonstrated water surface tension.  First we filled an ordinary glass of water to the brim. Next, we carefully dropped dimes into the water, one at a time, to try to see how many coins it would take for the water to drip over the side of the glass.  Everyone underestimated the amount of coins it would take.  In he end, it took all $6.00 (or 60) dimes, and 14 pennies.  Here is a photo of the experiment.

Enrichment with Ms. K - Week Two

Please note: Monday was a day off from school because of the Labor Day holiday, so Writing enrichment was presented on Wednesday (Day Three).

Day Two

This was the first day back to school after a 3 day weekend. It was also the second week of school, so the students needed to focus the entire period on doing homework. 

Day Three

The writing prompt was to tell about a time when you or someone you know was bullied. There was a focus on great beginnings and titles today. The technique for the beginning of the writing piece was to use the "lights, camera, action" method.  A discussion about the difference between people being mean, rude, or downright bullies was discussed. Next we brainstormed ideas about potential topics.  Each student was then given about 15-20 minutes to do a "quick write" about their topic. Afterwards, we shared our writing, and brainstormed ideas about adding a snappy title. My title was, Cruella de Rude.  Other titles were, The Unfair Foursquare, Basketball Bullies, and The Terrible Tormenter. 

Day Four

The assignment for Engineering and Design was to create a 3D object prototype. The final goal was to create a poster we can hang on the wall that tells how the prototype was created. Parameters were that we may only use materials that were here in the classroom.  We brainstormed what to create, and researched possible outcomes. Here is a photo of one of the completed objects.

After School Enrichment with Ms. K - My Reaction Piece

I wrote this piece when I instructed a mini-lesson about good beginnings and endings.  More information about the lesson is discussed in Enrichment with Ms. K - Week One.

Just Say No

by Ms. K

I mouthed the word, help, to the woman standing at the counter of the grocery store.  The man who had followed me inside finally let go of my arm.  Relief flooded through by body as the urge to run away began to build.  

"Is he harassing you?" the woman asked.

"Kinda." I said, as the man began to walk away.  "Yes!  I'm afraid."

"Do you want me to call security?" 

"Please." I answered. "He asked me for a hug, and then he wouldn't let go of me."

The next thing I knew a security officer was following the man down the isle toward the back of the store. It was at this moment that I decided to flee. The flight response had kicked in fully, and I ran out the double doors and across the street, choosing a dress shop in which to hide.  Once inside, the kind saleswoman listened to what had happened and immediately called "hospitality."  I wasn't sure what that meant, but I watched the man come out of the store, followed by the security officer.

I watched him cross the street and sit on a motorcycle.  Then he ducked into an alley.  I never saw him again after that.  I waited inside the dress shop until I felt sure he was gone.  I don't know where he went or what happened to him.  It wasn't until the doors were locked inside my car that I noticed the street was now swarming with police cars.  One of them escorted me out of the area. For awhile, the pungent scent of his body and the smell of alcohol on his breath seemed to linger everywhere.  It took two or three days before I felt free of it.

Enrichment with Ms. K - Week One

Day One:

We discussed each of the students' schedules, curriculum requirements, and challenges at their school(s). Using the students' assignment planners as a starting point, a couple of lessons were presented: tips and tricks about how to use a combination lock, and a writing assignment that required the students to produce a piece about a time when they had a profound reaction to something that happened to them.  The reaction could have been positive or negative, but the event had to cause them to have to respond in some way.  The students were given 15 minutes to produce their piece, and then we shared/critiqued our stories.  There was an emphasis on creating a great beginning and ending.  Three techniques were presented for beginnings: a noisy word (anomatopia), a question, or a descriptive sentence, sometimes called, "Lights, camera, action." Ending techniques were: a dream, hope, wish, and/or a sentence that describes a moral or what was learned.  Students were then given time to finish any uncomplicated homework in small groups, such as math or computer time, with instructional assistance.

Day Two:

Science was the focus. The students tested a hypothesis using the scientific method using the following model:

Ask a question

Do background research

Construct a hypothesis

Test your hypothesis by doing an experiment

Analyze your data and draw a conclusion

Report your results

The science of physics was discussed and students brainstormed a working definition of physics.  The following assignment was posed:

Using one pink pearl eraser and one unsharpened pencil, form an experiment that produces movement but without physically touching either object.  The other parameter that was presented was that the movement must produce a similar or same outcome every time.  The students were given time to work following the scientific method, designing their testable experiment, writing up a report about their findings, and then presenting their findings to their peers.  Students used a personal journal that was provided by the after school center.  This journal will be theirs to keep as a record of their learning once it is completed.  Personal journaling will be used throughout the year for this purpose.

Day Three

Today's focus was Ancient Civilizations. Students watched a video about Mesopotamia and learned that it was also known as The Ferrile Crescent. We discussed various parts of geography that included both the ancient period as well as how the area is considered modern Iraq.  Students created the following vocabulary list:

Nomads

Civilization

Archaeologist

The Fertile Crescent

River

Sumerian

Babylonians

They also created a list of the Ancient Civilizations from Mesopotamia

Sumerians

Babylonians

Amorites

Lassiter

Hittites

Assyrians

Finally, they generated a list of "burning questions."  These are questions that promoted further thinking about what they learned.

Day Four

Today's focus was Enjineering and Design.  Students researched and created a working model for the Emjineering and Design Process.  The following list was generated:

Define the problem

Do background research

Specify requirements

Brainstorm, evaluate, and choose a solution

Develope prototype or solution

Test the design

Determine if the prototype or design met requirements or needs improvelment

Communicate results

Using our model, the students created their own tangram puzzle and made shapes for the puzzle tone solved. 

 

A Simple Hug Gone Wrong

I was recently harassed when I was out of town visiting my daughter, Dawn. While she was at work and I was walking around downtown, I was harassed by a homeless man. He started by asking for a hug. I thought it couldn't do any harm, and I felt sorry for him, so I obliged. Then it got weird. He started reciting strange apologetic statements in my ear, as if to make amends for a past wrongdoing. I was startled by this, and tried move away, but he wouldn't let go of me. He kept calling me his angel and telling me that he was in love with me. Somehow I convinced him to go inside the nearest grocery store, where I wrestled free and got help. Security was called, and the police escorted me out of there. I have a small bruise on my arm from his grip.

I used to think, because I'm not a young, hot woman, that I wouldn't be a target for this type of act. But today I see things differently. Harassment isn't about desire. It's about power, and lack of self control mixed in with a little bit of crazy. There is nothing normal or logical attached to the behavior, because it is not rational. A normal person wouldn't even consider it.  When I reflect on what happened today, it doesn't sit well with me that a simple hug could turn into something so violating and unreasonable. All I remember today is how awful it was. The memory of scent is the most powerful.  His breath reeked of booze, and his body odor, like his grip, was strong. I think the man was arrested for drunk and disorderly behavior. 

Horse Critique

As we continued our journey around what was the shady side of Mirror Lake, we started encountering more people headed towards us. The obvious presence of horses was becoming more and more annoying, to the point that we actually considered going back the way we came. Because people were headed toward us, we assumed it would get better.  It did not. I am still uncertain which was worse: The plethora of novice riders that followed in a line through our path, or the droppings that we encountered before and after we had to stop to let them pass.  

When we finally reached the end of the horse trail, to say we were relieved would be an understatement. The air was fresh again. We were free from the stench!  The pavement became a welcome space where we no longer had to focus on our foot placement. Ironically, we noticed an older Golden Retriever eliminate near the side of the road, where thankfully, the owner was picking up after the animal. Why anyone would have been coming toward us on that particular trail still puzzles me, and I continue to question - How can there be no environmental impact from these trail rides?  

I can understand how the National Park system would want to provide experiences for folks to enjoy when visiting, however, it is my view that this practice of taking tourists out on horseback is a little like when people were allowed to feed the bears. These types of excursions, ones that involve human acts that work against nature, are a mistake. At Yosemite, there is a careful balance between what will be allowed so that humans may enjoy the park, and what will be prohibited, both to keep humans safe, and to conserve the natural habitat of the wildlife there.  I believe allowing the horseback/mule rides would be better considered as one of the activities that hinder their goal of conservancy, and I hope someday the non-profit that makes these sorts of decisions comes to the exact same conclusion.

Mirror Lake on Foot

It was difficult to leave the incredible rock climber sighting area, but we both felt compelled to continue our journey to Mirror Lake on foot. Our goal was to go around the lake in a counter clockwise direction, and once we got to the foot path that led us away from the pavement.  Once we got down a little way the path, we realized we would be sharing the trail with others, but it wasn't as crowded as the first time.  We chose to take an upland route through what is called The Cemetery for a bit more privacy.  We also wanted to be upland so we could see the correct path that would lead us around since we hadn't found it the first time.

When we finally reached Mirror Lake, we were alone.  I was inspired by the Ansel Adams photo I had purchased the day before, and I desired to take a photo of the place from the same vantage point as a comparison.  I didn't have to search long and this time snapped what I thought (and still think) was the prettiest photo from the trip.  I imagined Ansel Adams with his box camera taking photos, and wished for the millionth time that I had better than an iPhone 3 to take photos.  Here is the result.

At some point it was becoming evident that horses had been on this trail, and like trackers we followed their hoof prints to the rim of the lake.  The horse tracks lead us to a private gravel beach that was shallow enough to pass through.  Feeling adventurous, we decided to cross through the cool glassy water to the other side.  We took off our shoes, and waded our way across the gravel floor at the shallowest part of the lake.  We felt invigorated once on the other side where we sat and rested - taking in the beauty that surrounded us.  I felt awash with what John Muir must have felt when he first discovered that Yosemite could restore the soul.

A Small Plank

It was our last morning in Yosemite, and even though we knew it was far too late to sight a bear, I was still curious about why that trail leading to Vernal Falls was so darned crowded. I posed this question to our new friend, “Do you have any idea why there were so many hikers headed out this morning on the trail to Vernal Falls?”

He explained that the trail leading to Vernal Falls, was one of many other destinations, namely, the trailhead hike to Half Dome. He added that hikers need a permit to make that trek, and said that it took about 8-10 hours round trip. My “aha” light bulb went off.  His explanation was satisfying to hear. I thanked him and queried about how he came to live here in the Yosemite Valley. He offered up more information from that question than I had expected. He said that he came to Yosemite to live, leaving Chicago many years ago. But it was the way he disclosed his age that charmed me the most. “I’m 3 quarters and 4 pennies,” he said with a devilish grin.

As he got up from the patio table to go back to work, I felt like I had made a new friend – one that I would truly want to meet up with again. We waved to him from the beginning of the trail he had so expertly pointed out to us, and we walked into the forest, thankful for the shade, the good company, and the brisk valley air. We meandered on a dirt path through a parking lot, past the North Pines Campground (which was fairly empty), and along a paved footpath that we weren’t allowed to use when we were on the bikes. There were towering Sequoia’s on both sides with occasional openings that allowed us to view the granite rock formations on our left.  

Our conversation, like our hike, was simple and uncomplicated. But at one point I had to stop and point out what looked like a foot long plank attached to the side of a massive column embedded in the rock. It was nestled in an opening to the left of shortest tree we could see. Brad pulled out his binoculars to get a better look, “I think it’s a rock climber,” he mumbled handing them to me. I looked closely at the “plank.” It WAS a rock climber! Upon closer inspection with the binoculars, it looked like he was standing or kneeling on a red hammock that was attached on the opposite side of a towering rock column. I handed the binoculars back to Brad, who noticed another climber above him, while I snapped a photo of the gutsy duo.

Washington Column, Yosemite Valley

Close-up of the Rock Climbers

Figures on the Rocks

As I sat on the rim of the meadow at The Ahwahnee, I perused a map of the park, looking for inspiration. I was seated about 100 yards in front of the massive granite face of Glacier Point, trying to see if there was something that would motivate us to get back out there on another adventure, instead of packing up our stuff and heading home.  The air was still crisp and I was practically alone, save for several Stellar's jays chattering around in the tall Sequoia trees, when I looked over my shoulder and saw an elderly gentleman quietly tidying up the patio area.

He was dressed in khaki from head to toe and on his chest was a name tag with his name and city of origin, just like all of the other Ahwahnee employees. Realizing I didn't have a lot of time to make up my mind about what to do, I began chatting with him about our failed attempt at finding bears, and questioning him about what would be a nice alternative.  At this point, Brad came up with a couple of cups of coffee, and he asked us what, other than bears, we might like to see.  We threw out several ideas... Bridalveil Falls, bus to Glacier Point, rock climbers.  He nodded and began talking about looking closely at the granite before us for faces, an eagle, a clock, and other items of interest. 

Brad was the first one of us to identify the clock, and even though I said I could see it, I wasn't telling the truth. I would be more adept at both identifying and describing the location of the interesting shapes on the granite walls after the hike he recommended we take: heading toward Mirror Lake and then around its perimeter.

Without A Computer

I am currently only using my iPad and am forced again to write inside this blasted app.  I just had an excellent post that is now lost. I'm so sad right now. I've lost my inspiration.  Sorry!

There really should be some sort of undo button or something!

Lookin' for Bears in all the Wrong Places

          I awoke around 5 o’clock in the morning thinking it was surely early enough to spot something wild outside.  Over the course of our trip, I had gone from extremely frightened of spotting a bear to longing to witness one of nature’s rarest wonders.  I had seen at an information kiosk the day before that some folks had spotted a mother bear and her cubs someplace near Glacier point. But I figured that getting there and back in time to check out of our room would be next to impossible.  What we decided to do was take the car over to the trailhead that leads to Vernal Falls, and then follow the trail to the falls, back down the John Muir Trail, and back to the room. Our thinking was that our early start might yield our highly coveted bear sighting and we would also enjoy a refreshing morning hike.

          We were becoming more adept at figuring out where we were going in Yosemite on foot, but we were lost in the car!  It took us about 30 minutes to get to the trail head, and we had to park some distance from it in the first place.  What was worse, however, was the sad reality that the closer we got to the trail head, the number of experienced hikers sharing the trail with us was increasing exponentially.  I knew there wouldn’t possibly be any bear sightings on this hike.  There were simply too many people.  It seemed surreal hiking with this many people headed in the same direction on the exact same trail, and my resolve began to shrink down to a fizzle.   This was not how I wanted to spend my last morning in Yosemite.  We stopped to discuss our strategy and decided, regretfully, that this was not the time to embark on this particular journey.

          By now, we had wasted about an hour or so, and we were both frustrated and disappointed, but once we found a short, paved, empty trail that led us to Happy Isles we perked up a bit.  It had the quiet serenity that we desired, yet became stimulating when we both decided to work our way across a fallen log over some threatening rapids below.  As we hiked around the isle, there were a few times I thought I’d spotted a bear, but upon closer inspection I was disappointed every time.  As we walked back to our parked car, it felt like we were going the wrong way on a one way street as we watched hiker after hiker heading toward the trail head.  Once we were driving back towards the hotel, the park became peacefully quiet and secluded again. We even noticed deer grazing in the meadow and when we stopped the car to snap a photo, they just kept on grazing as if we weren’t intruding on their breakfast at all.

            It was our last morning in Yosemite, and by now we knew it was far too late to sight a bear.  We opted to take a seat (like we had seen so many tourists before us do) outside the Awhahnee next to the meadow and just take in the beauty.  We wanted to do something fun before our time was up.  Fortunately for us, we met a staff worker who was outside the lodge and would help us make it happen.

Photos Along the Way

The gloss on the granite wall above was caused by glacier activity long ago.

The road to the Ahwahnee.

A river or stream is always either heard or seen.

The granite walls and waterfalls are mesmerizing!

All of these photographs were taken with my iPhone!

Afternoon in the Park

After a little rest in the room, we were out again on our bikes heading towards El Capitan. We rode amidst the shady redwoods along the somewhat crowded paths past Yosemite Village, past the Falls, past the Lodge, and found ourselves stopping on the Swinging Bridge to watch the swimmers.  The calm breeze and shade while riding kept us cool, but as we stood in full sun on the bridge we realized: it was hot!  Just as I was about to put my feet back on the pedals, a person jumped into the water.  He yelled up to his daughter, and she smiled a wicked little smile. She looked about 7 years old, and was wearing a life vest over her bathing suit. She had all of the onlookers attention, some of them yelling out encouraging remarks. Another man hurled his body into the water, and that was all it took. Off she jumped into the refreshing pool of water below.  This all happened so quickly that I wasn’t able to snap a photo.  On the other side of the bridge rafters were passing through, and thinking the activity inspirational, I decided to snap a picture of that instead.  I love how Yosemite Falls is depicted in the background.

When we realized that we had cycled around the entire Valley Loop Trail twice, we decided that it was about time to return them.  By now it was early evening, and we were both tired and wanted to relax in our beautiful room.  My legs ached, especially the gimpy one.  I longed for a nice cold beverage, and a baggie of ice resting on my injured, and now somewhat swollen shin.  Before we left the bicycle rental place, I noticed a bulletin board titled, “I Saw a Bear!”  Fascinated, I stopped and read some of the slips that were neatly tacked on small pieces of paper, listing the date and place where hikers had spotted bears.  Glacier Point was the most recent sighting.  It was of a mother and her two cubs.  The people noted that the sighting made them very happy and they’d drawn a smiley face on their posting at the bottom.  I was intrigued.

We sauntered back to The Ahwahnee and I picked up the most delicious truffle at the Sweet Shoppe asking the merchant about bears.  Up until this point, I had no desire to see one, but now I had changed my mind.  I remarked that it might be wonderful to see one from a distance in the wild.  The guy recollected that he’d seen a single bear on a  couple of occasions.  He said that the best times were either in the early morning or sometime in the evening.  Knowing that the next day would be our last opportunity before having to head home, we decided to go to bed early, and also to rise early to make an attempt at sighting one for ourselves. 

             
 That evening, out of our picture window, we watched a wedding in the nearby meadow.  It was a good thing we had decided to go to bed early because their party went on until the wee hours of the morning.  One would think that it would have kept us awake, but no.  We were far too exhausted to be kept awake by a little partying.  Also, we discovered that running the fan in our room went a long way toward drowning out the raucous.  At first light, and after a restful, rejuvenating slumber, my very first thought was to raise the window blinds and begin the day by watching for a bear.  So I did.

Mirror Lake on Bikes

          With full stomachs we pointed our cruisers toward Mirror Lake and began pedaling.  We didn’t get very far, because once I noticed the Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite Village, I had to stop.  My usual browsing technique in this sort of place is to locate a piece that is not too expensive and not too large (for easy transport home).  I located a stack of unsigned, matted reproductions and began flipping through them, placing the ones I thought were the most beautiful in front. I had placed about ten in my review area, and after throwing out the ones I didn’t want to own, I had narrowed down to images of Half Dome and Mirror Lake. I made my purchase as I left the building, asking the man to hold it for me until I wasn’t touring the park on a bicycle, and now, I wanted to go and see Mirror Lake in person.

           We rode through the shade of the towering Sequoias, over the bridge near The Awhwanee, passed the North Pines backpacker’s camp, and onward in the direction of Mirror Lake, parking our bicycles when they were no longer allowed on the trail.  The bike rack was situated next to a crackling stream, and we began our hike on the paved trail toward the lake. By now it was fairly crowded, and kids were hooting and hollering as they waded in the cool water or climbed on the rocks that were positioned around and through the natural pools that flowed there.  My goal was to obtain a comparison photo of my new purchase, Mirror Lake and Mount Watkins, which was taken in 1935.

 I wasn’t extremely happy with my depiction, but thought I had made a good effort, keeping in mind my current philosophy: enjoy the place and have a lovely memory rather than waste a lot of time trying to get the perfect photo. 
          By now my leg was begging for a rest, and so we reluctantly worked our way back to the hotel.  Once inside, we realized there was a tour of the hotel we could attend, so we both got cleaned up, and went on the tour, where we learned a lot about The Ahwahnee, Steven Mather, and the history of our National Parks. The tour took about an hour and was an enjoyable break from the heat during midday.  After that, we stopped at the restaurant and devoured a late lunch just before the kitchen was closing, scoring what the hostess said was, “The best table in the room.”  The table was situated next to a massive picture window that faced what I believe was El Capitan, and was absolutely breathtaking, but try as I might, I could not capture its beauty. I did, however, get a decent pic of the dining room from the vantage point where all the actors sit during their Christmas dinner. 

Yosemite Morning

        The picture window in our room at The Awhahnee had been darkened for the night, but upon awakening, we decided to raise the blinds and leisurely lie in bed gawking at the massive, granite walls that reached high into the sky. The knowledge that the bicycle rental place wouldn’t open until 9 a.m. gave me permission to ice and elevate my leg – even though it felt like it was on the mend.  After that, we took a quick shower, munched a granola bar with a cup of coffee, and took off on foot to begin our adventure.

            We followed the same path along the river to Curry Village to rent bicycles for the day.  It took some time adjusting to the “cruiser” style bicycle!  There were no hand brakes, no gear shifts, and large handle bars, all of this making it difficult to maneuver the bulky two wheeler. The morning air was crisp and cool, and it smelled of oak, pine, and earth.  I could hear the gentle wind as it whispered through the trees, opting to follow the Valley Loop Trail to Yosemite Village, where we picked up a picnic lunch at the Deli.  As Brad ordered up the sandwiches, I shopped in the trinket shop next door where I picked up a small token of my affection (a pair of golf socks) for my man.

            Our next destination was Yosemite Falls.  We parked our bicycles and repeated our hike to the falls, taking time to thoroughly enjoy the extraordinary splendor of the place.  There were very few people here on this occasion, save for a mute man dressed as a monk who took our photo (I believe he had taken a vow of silence), and we hiked around, eventually selecting a beautiful picnic spot on a log next to a small bridge near a river.  We quickly discovered that were not alone, because a single Steller’s Jay had decided we were its best opportunity for a noontime meal. Knowing full well that we should not feed the animals, we couldn’t resist its ceaseless begging.

It's Hard Out Here for a Gimp

My leg hurt a little when my foot met the pavement, but I was oblivious to the discomfort. The air was still quite warm, but not as hot as when we arrived, and the sky a deep shade of blue. I moved away from the shuttle and looked up until my head wouldn't drop back anymore. I saw huge granite peaks towering above me and down the midst of them were two massive waterfalls, one atop the other. We walked through a tiny crowd of people and across a dirt path with a sign that pointed the way to Upper Yosemite Falls. We headed towards the paved path that lead towards Lower Yosemite Falls. The sheer majesty of the place compelled me to stop chatting about the beauty, but I know I gasped in awe a couple of times.

It seemed to take about 15 minutes for us to reach the end of the paved walking trail. There were about 10 people and a couple of leashed dogs in this viewing area of the Lower Yosemite Falls. One of the dogs was barking, and the sound seemed out of place. At first I thought the dog was barking at the loud splashing of the waterfall, but upon closer inspection, I realized it was because of the other larger dog a few feet away. I felt grateful that I left my two dogs at home, and I think the dog owners wished they had too. Their body language looked stressed and uncomfortable, and both of them didn't linger for very long, which was unfortunate for them. I understood how John Muir could call this place one of, "the special temples of Nature I was every permitted to enter." In the quiet majesty we stood in awe observing this massive creation.

I have no idea how long this took, because neither of us left the room with anything except the clothes on our bodies - no map, no camera, no phone, no time piece. I was most disappointed that I had neglected to bring a camera, because after our waterfall encounter the light was slowly dimming and the visual effect from it was stunning. I silently decided that one should never be without a camera once inside the Yosemite Valley.

As the sun began to sink between El Capitan and Eagle Peak, and thinking we would be without light in a short while, we decided we best make an attempt at finding a shuttle stop to take us back to The Ahwahnee. Not wanting to hurry, we ended up taking the path that lead through Cook's Meadow, thinking there would be a shuttle stop over on the other side. When we reached someplace near the middle, we stopped, taking in a 360 degree view of the place. The sun had now dropped behind the ridges of the granite peaks, and there was a massive dark orange, boa cloud floating amidst a pale blue sky. When I turned to look in the opposite direction Half Dome was illuminated. It was at this point that I cursed myself for not having a brought my camera, and I vowed to come back the very next day to capture this spectacular sight.

We continued on our journey trying to locate a shuttle stop, as twilight fell upon us. Eventually we found a young family to inquire about the time. It was their youngest who answered us. Two hours had passed! I was disappointed, because I didn't want to stop exploring this valley wonderland. I became acutely aware of the discomfort in my leg. I realized that it was tired and sore, and I needed to sit down and rest. This was the longest walk I had taken for two weeks! I made a mental note about what time tomorrow that we should return for a photo of this lovely sight. As it turned out, we got off at shuttle stop eight, and had worked our way all the way back to stop two. It was a very short ride back to our beautiful room (one stop later), but my leg was done for the day. I can still feel the soothing coolness of the ice my caring husband applied to it upon our return.

Room with a View

After spending several hours driving into the mountains in the hot sun, we arrived at The Ahwahnee, a National Park Lodge that sits in the heart of the spectacular Yosemite Valley. We were so excited to arrive here that we were 2 hours early. Fortunately for us, our room was ready. Mind you, the drive here was stunning and had impressed us already, but this being our first visit, we had no idea what was in store. We walked inside the lodge, which had been built some 80+ years ago, and took in its rustic charm. By the time we peered out our window, we realized that this was not going to be an ordinary trip. I pulled out my ancient camera phone, and snapped the photograph above. 

We uncorked the bottle of Dom Perignon we had been saving, and several hours later (it was our anniversary after all), we decided to take in the great outdoors. I had been recovering from a minor leg injury, and knew that I couldn't hike too much. In fact, we had considered canceling the trip because of the injury, thinking it may be too much of a hindrance. Earlier, when we checked in, we noticed there were bicycle rentals, and thinking it might be a solution, we got the details from the concierge about how that might be accomplished. Now we wanted to figure out the location on foot so that we would know where to go in the a.m.  

We meandered along the river above and over a couple of bridges (one of them in the picture) to Curry Village, the location for bicycle and raft rentals. The leg was working great with a couple of layers of compression, not to mention a couple of glasses of bubbly (for medicinal purposes, of course). The rental place was easy to locate, and just as we went walking away, a hybrid shuttle bus pulled up nearby. We decided to get on the bus and ride it for awhile. About three stops later we discovered ourselves at Yosemite Falls deciding we absolutely HAD to get off. The splendor of Yosemite was simply too beautiful to look at through the windows of a bus. Our adventure had begun!

Being MJ; Season 2, Episode 12: Signing Off

The show opens with MJ at home and the burglar alarm goes off. She calls the police, who suggest that she call the alarm company. She calls Sheldon, afraid, and he says she can come over. He pours them a drink. She discovers that he has a collection of slave love letters and that he may allow the Smithsonian to exhibit them. He tucks her into bed, and stays up to read the love letters that he recently won at an auction. When she wakes up, she discovers he is not sleeping next to her. She gets up looking for him. She brushes her teeth with a new tooth brush Sheldon has left next to the sink with a note. She leaves her new tooth brush in the container at the sink. They don't have sex, and he teases her about sleeping in. He says he usually naps. He makes her breakfast and she discovers he considers them in a relationship. He suggests going back to bed, but she has to go to work. After work, back at Sheldon's, she notices her new toothbrush isn't where she left it. When she asks Sheldon, he says she should use one from his large stash of them. Val calls and tells MJ that David had to put his dog, Monk, to sleep. MJ is worried about David. Sheldon says she should call, but MJ thinks that strange. She doesn't think it's the right thing to do. Cynthia stops by MJ's desk to ask for help getting her a live sign off. Fame costs, she warns. She really wants the live sign off, and MJ begins negotiating for her new contract also including a live sign off for herself and Cynthia while at party at her parents' home for Paul's graduate architecture degree. Paul thanks his mom and dad for their support, proud for no student loan debt. He sincerely gives them thanks. Patrick's daughter, Nai, announces that she is moving to North Carolina with her new fiancé, Kenny, and their daughters. She says she doesn't want a ring she wants a house. Patrick and Niecy are obviously upset by the news. MJ continues her negotiations with her agent over the phone. She thanks Lisa for picking up the cake. She goes to Sheldon's place; they discuss how she got in. Kara calls and she takes the call in the yard, Sheldon picks up after her obviously disappointed. That night, she wets the bed at Sheldon's house. She lies about it being the first time and attributes it to David. Sheldon convinces her to call him. Meanwhile, a melancholy Niecy is breastfeeding Belle, when Helen comes in the room and provides some much needed encouragement. MJ and Sheldon celebrate the contract - and Cynthia's live sign off that was part of MJ's negotiations. Back at Sheldon's, they argue, and it turns into a discussion about how he doesn't believe in cohabitation, marriage, nor having children. Eventually she admits to wanting a baby. She says what he wants is too different and leaves. She goes home, calls David, and several times re-records her message, which expresses her sympathy for his loss. The camera shows the fish she threw from episode 1 safely in its fishbowl. Cynthia delivers a classy live sign off as MJ and Kara toast. Lisa, who has dog sat for David, goes to his place to return some of Monk's things. Lisa discloses that David is a trigger for her depression - because she is in love with him. Sheldon calls MJ at work to congratulate her and apologize, but it's obvious the relationship is over. As Lisa and David talk, MJ calls David from her car. He doesn't realize he has picked it up, and MJ overhears their conversation. Lisa is telling David about her feelings, recounting some very personal information. He denies their relationship as ever being romantic, and she calls him out on keeping all of this secret from MJ. They hear a car honk, and realize MJ was listening the whole time. She speeds up her car and gets into a serious car wreck. The camera closes in on the car and no movement. Everything is still except for the blinking of her left turn signal in the night.

Being MJ; Season 2, Episode 11: Reading the Signs

The show opens with Mary Jane being interviewed on CNN. She is discussing her analysis of the "ugly black woman" show, which had gone viral. The CNN anchorman gets on MJ's case for becoming the news instead of simply reporting it. MJ says she was trying I make a point. That being an ugly black woman is really about people who have been stifled by society, regardless of race, or gender, or sexual orientation. She makes a point to reiterate the rebranding of her show. Her brother, Paul, calls afterward and plays her an auto tune version of the show. A crowd awaits as she pulls her car into the station lot. Cynthia is waiting for her when she arrives at her office, who discloses that the station has asked her to take some time off. She suspects they are getting ready to make a change. Later, Kara comes to MJ's anchor desk to talk about Cynthia's visit. They are asked to meet with the station big wigs. At the meeting, they share their plans to use MJ and Kara for the prime time slot. MJ is told to follow the orders of the producers, and stop the all black agenda. Greg is told to keep a close watch on MJ, work with the momentum, but let MJ go after the dust settles if she doesn't comply. Kara is waiting for MJ in her office, and they discuss fitting in during prime time. MJ doesn't want to give up her new brand direction. Kara says it would be ok to mix things up, but gets called away on a family matter. After that, MJ goes to Sheldon's to share the news. He has a romantic dinner planned for them, which comes off as corny to her. Later at Mark's, they discuss the dinner, and Mark thinks MJ was too harsh on Sheldon. He tells a story about his first seduction of a man, and how it went awry. He advises her to reach out to him. Kara's family is introduced. Hector, her father, is watching television at their family home. Kara heads to the kitchen with her mom, who tells her that her dad want to sell the house. Kara's sister, Lily, comes downstairs. Lily agrees that it is a good time, which brings about an arguement, but mom says there is no way they will go through with the sale. When Kara offers to help financially, she learns that her father lost the house to some loan sharks, and it's too late to help. Meanwhile, MJ asks Mark to help with an apology text to Sheldon. In the bathroom, MJ bumps into Cynthia, who says she knows about the changes that are coming, but doesn't ask MJ to provide any details. Kara is there too, and she and tells MJ she will be paying her parents' rent. MJ holds back celebrating the prime time slot until it is finalized. She and Kara are impressed with Cynthia's poise. She gets a brief text from Sheldon, which makes her freak out, so she talks to Mark about it. As the show closes, MJ is at Sheldon's place to apologize personally, and he says he will call her the next day. 

Being MJ; Season 2, Episode 10: Primetime

The show opens with a super hot scene involving Mary Jane and Brandon (aka Cutty Buddy) at her place. He calls Sheldon an "old cat." Later, when MJ goes shopping for clothes, she hears some gossip about Sheldon from the sales girl, Natalie, because they dated in the past. There is a segment with Ron Finley on talkBACK, he is a man who got the law changed in LA so people could grow food on city owned land. Kara criticizes MJ for being more of an advocate rather than asking a few hard hitting questions. Paul Jr. meets with Barbara Ling Cho, and she pitches a real estate bid rigging plan to him. She tells him to decide quickly. Kara has a serious conversation about breaking up with MJ. At a dinner with Sheldon, MJ confronts him about his past dating practices. Val and Lisa have lunch, and Lisa talks about having personal secrets about David. Kara springs the news on MJ that the regular prime time anchor woman, Cynthia, needs someone to fill in for her, and the station executives plan to use Mary Jane. Cut to MJ anchoring the prime time news show doing nicely, until she "goes rogue" during her interview with charter school co author, Elizabeth Foy, who says she feels ambushed. The production room gets frantic and Kara sticks up for Mary Jane. Paul Sr. talks to Paul Jr. about a personal friend's real estate deal called Coral Gables. Paul Sr. encourages his son to follow up, but Paul Jr. doesn't like that it's a base salary. After the show, and once at home, MJ calls Kara in a panic, worried about a potential backlash from the prime time show with Elizabeth Foy. Kara encourages MJ to sleep on it, and tells her they will deal with the repercussions together in the morning. Mary Jane seems relieved. She is quickly distracted by Sheldon, who calls in an attempt to move the relationship forward. Brandon stops by for a booty call, but she turns him away to focus on Sheldon's call continuing with her theme of taking things slowly. 

I loved: How Kara influences MJ to ask harder hitting questions that ultimately lead her to "going rogue." Honorable mention: The gardening in public places story on talkBACK. It reminded me of a book I read titled, Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer, by Novella Carpenter. 

Being MJ; Season 2, Episode 9: Line in the Sand

The show opens with Mary Jane watching a show she did about human trafficking on her television as she bakes what looks like a beautiful cake. Former victim, Leah Albright-Bird of Bridget's Dream is the guest. They discuss California's Prop 35, which brought about harsher sentencing for sex traffickers, among other things. She warns about how social media gets used by sex traffickers for recruitment purposes. This is contrasted with an Emmy nomination celebration for a different show on talkBACK because it becomes the low ratings for the trafficking story becomes a topic for conversation. At a brainstorming meeting MJ suggests bringing back the ugly black woman story. MJ shows up at Val's to celebrate the Emmy nomination, but they just talk in the car. Cut to MJ at home in bed with Cutty Buddy. There is a cute conversation afterward in bed with him. MJ goes to her mom and dad's to share the news. A friend comes over to Tracy's place while Patrick is there taking care of Dazia. She brings food for Dazia, and tells about Tracy being arrested for shoplifting. Patrick gives the friend money that is owed to her by Tracy. Co-workers, Greg and Kara, chat in the company kitchen. Greg is mouthing off about Mary Jane's attitude at work. Kara walks out on him. Patrick walks Dazia to school due to car trouble. He is informed by the principal about a $488 debt for school lunches. MJ gets into a parking lot altercation with a jerk who calls her despicable names before driving off. MJ goes home and cries. Val comes over with wine, cake, and a gift for celebration. Tracy calls Patrick collect from the county jail and tells him bail is set for $3000. MJ gives Patrick the money right away when he asks. On talkBack, there is a black women's beauty show that brings up Psychology Today's briefly published "Ugly Black Woman" article. India Arie, Mark Anthony Neal, and Michaela Angela Davis are guests on her show. Patrick visits Tracy in jail, but he lies to her about obtaining the bail money. Instead, he goes to Dazia's school to pay off the lunch debt. At home, MJ is watching TV, when Sheldon calls to ask her for dinner, and she accepts. The show closes as they enter a small place on the streets of Atlanta. 

I absolutely love how the stories on talkBACK are legitimate stories. It makes for quality television that makes a difference. I recommend checking them out for more information using a search engine. Honorable mention: MJ's monologue to Val about how nobody reaches out to her to say good job despite her best efforts to be a supportive influence to others.