Day 2 Comment

Obviously, a few photos can’t do this amazing place justice. Suffice it to say that our second day in Utah was equally spectacular to the first, and we were now developing a lot of enthusiasm to see the other two sections of Canyonlands, called “The Needles” and “The Maze.”

Explanation on Layout

FYI. You need to scroll down to start at the beginning of Jim and Wayne's trip. There is no easy way on this set up to cut and past and move around. Since I'm getting the trip in different emails, I'm posting them as I get them so the most recent is in the beginning. dld

Day 2 Photos continued

Day 2 continued ...

hiking the rim

We weren’t sure what would top these views, but after driving a few more miles we entered Island in the Sky, which certainly lives up to its name. In this area of Utah, the Colorado Plateau has pushed itself up particularly high, leaving visitors on a figurative “island” that is almost inaccessible from the vast canyonlands below. As you enter the park, you drive across a narrow neck of the plateau with sheer dropoffs on either side. The land then widens out, and the roads take you to a wide variety of overlooks, many of which have good rim hikes associated with them. The day became a succession of short drives and interesting walks to see the attractions on all sides of the “island,” places like Mesa Arch, where the drop off was over 1000 feet, Grand View Point, which provides a view to the South and East over most of Canyonlands, and the Upheaval Dome, a strange, circular depression that some believe may be an ancient meteor crater. Here are some highlights:

Day 2 of Utah Trip with Jim and Wayne

Dead Horse Point State Park

Day #2:

Still fresh with the enthusiasm of our day exploring Arches, we rose early again and headed for “Island in the Sky,” one of the three major divisions of Canyonlands National Park, about 30 miles from Moab. On the advice of one of the Moab park rangers, we took a slight detour along the way into a fantastic Utah state park called “Deadhorse Point.” Like most of you, I’m sure, we had never heard of it, but as we drove across ordinary looking pastureland for a few miles we were amazed when the ground suddenly fell away revealing a 60-mile view across what looked very much like the Grand Canyon. There were only a few souls about as we entered the Visitor Center to get our bearings, and that remained the case when we took the two-mile “rim hike,” most of which was along sheer canyon walls that dropped more than a thousand feet straight down, with no railings or restraining fences. The sun was just beginning to rise over the canyon rim and fill the formations with light as we shot the following photos. The water you can see is part of the Green River, which joins the Colorado a bit downstream in Canyonlands.

Pictures from Moab, Utah

#1 Devil's Garden Trail

#2 Delicate Arch

#3 Double O Arch

#4 Wayne at Navajo Arch

#5 Landscape Arch

Jim Myers and Wayne Trivelpiece

Around the end of May this year I took a little time away from the desk and the computer and the microphones and the recording studios and the clients and the commerce and joined my old buddy Wayne Trivelpiece for a guys-only road trip up to the area around Moab, Utah. We wanted to do some hiking and photography in Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, two of the several amazing government owned nature preserves that form southern Utah’s famed “Grand Circle.”

We chose late May on purpose for the weather. Spring and Fall are the times to explore this area if you have the inclination. At altitudes of 5 to 6000 feet, winter and even early spring can often include snow and very low temps, but by mid-June the area begins heating up to 100° or more daily… too hot and dry to enjoy being out in mid-day. Wayne and I also decided that, even though we have both spent our share of nights camped out on the ground over the years, we’re getting a little too creaky now to bother taking an hour every day just to get our bodies moving again. (Although our wives still think we’re pretty hot). So we took a double room with a kitchenette in Moab and made day-trips from there, opting for real beds, a hot shower, and a refrigerator for our hiking provisions. (The old ice machine down the hall also worked wonders on the aching joints after many miles of walking over rock every day!)

By the time we had driven the 450 miles north to Moab from my home in Phoenix, there wasn’t much day left to do more than check in, talk to the rangers in the local visitor center, plan out the next few days of activity, and grab some grub at the local micro-brew. The town of Moab is not much to look at, having been founded originally as a phosphate mining community, but it has the advantage of sitting right on the Colorado River and is surrounded on all sides by huge rock formations. In the last 20 years or so it’s become a big center for mountain biking and 4-wheel off-road activity. The “Slick Rock” trail is there, probably the most famous mountain bike trail in the world, and people from all over come to amuse the local orthopedists with newer and ever more creative fractures, abrasions, and contusions as they tumble and dive from their bikes on the highly challenging trail. The local rangers advised us that, unless we were already experienced mountain biking aficionados, we should avoid it and stick to hiking.

more to com ...

Happy First Days of Summer

Surfaced

Maria Pulos Levy has surfaced
As has Vivan Bender Munson

News to follow I hope. :)

5 Reasons I Hope Classmates.com Gets Sued Into Oblivion

5 Reasons I Hope Classmates.com Gets Sued Into Oblivion

Posted using ShareThis

How Facebook Is Affecting School Reunions

How Facebook Is Affecting School Reunions

Camilla Zankowski Daniels

Like Penny, I lost my mother when I was 37 and she was 61. I now have been diagnosed with the same condition. Hers was missed for a long period. My father died earlier this year and being there to second the moment of ending life support was not easy. His second wife is our age. You can imagine what a hornet's nest was stirred in his final days. Three siblings made it to his bedside. NO funeral has made closure difficult.

With so many siblings all over the country: IA, VA, MO, PA, CO, CA, AZ,NY and CT, much work is necessary to maintain communication with all. No one can be close to each sibling. Like friends we are closer to some than others. Chip has just put his wife in a nursing home, since she can no longer take care of herself with the Parkinson's. Emily is dealing with her Mast Cell and I have just begun to deal with Shojren's Syndrome. Yes, Debby, I am having success losing weight.

Just like the rest of us we have welcomed our first grandchild. I watch her during the school year. Our second grandchild is due early 2010.

It isn't easier, but, we have each other. We can be thankful for these messages of similarity. Now, keep writing and remember there are friends from your childhood that not only remember you, but, love and encourage you on your journey every day.

Camilla Zankowski Daniels

Linda Craig Cummings

I have three more days before I get vacation. It will be partially filled with getting my 88 year old father to his various doctor's appointment. He lives in an independent/assisted living home about a mile from my house. It is a blessing that they will take him to four appointments a month but we have already used them up this month and he still has many appointments to come. He is basically healthy but has bad knees and has difficulty walking. When he falls, it is hard to get him back up again. In a week and a half, my daughter and I (plus the two grandchildren) will fly to Colorado to do the Avon Breast Cancer walk. As you know, my daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer last July and is doing well after the bilateral mastectomy. We are on the five year watch at this point. I recently did an art show with other art teachers whose lives have been touched by breast cancer. It is amazing the stories that come out as we have raised money for the walk. On the plus size, it has been fun to see six of my paintings hanging in a gallery. On the positive side also, I am thankful to have a job. With the budget cuts in Florida to education, art and music have been on the cutting block. We are fortunate in our district to have kept art and music fairly strong. We did lose a few art positions. As the Fine Arts Coordinator, it was important to advocate for the arts with the community and with the school. Life has been very busy. Linda

Gerry Phillips

Just got back from a cruise to Vancouver and then 9 days in Alaska. The weather was like Maui, go figure. We never ever saw a rain cloud, the locals were saying it was the hottest week in history. Did the tourist things glacier and ice climbing, whale watching and even a glacier fly over in a float plane. Anybody considering a cruise I highly recommend Celebrity they treat you like a king and queen.

Going to Syracuse next month to see all the kids and grandkid children. Leaving in November to a 14 day cruise to the Caribbean, wanted to go to Europe again but too much turmoil.

Health is real good along with our lives.

Gerry & Denise

Diane Dorn Nelson

Hi Everyone,

Life is certainly an amazing journey. We are definitely the sandwich generation. We just begin to finish with helping children and now parents are in need. I have been helping my parents for ten years. Most of their parents did not live into their nineties so they are not quite sure what the rules are. Technology is changing so fast for them, it causes a lot of confusion. I am constantly amazed at services that are needed by the elderly and expect them to go on line to get help. My mother does not have a clue how to work a computer nor does she have one. I am fiercely protective of my parents just like my children, it is just part of the job.
I am learning many things as I watch her age ( my father died in March 2008) so hopefully I will have a better idea of life when I reach my nineties. One thing I know for sure and most important you have got to keep active.

Have a great summer
Diane Dorn Nelson

Kirsten Mackey Fleisher

Hello, everyone! I am caught in the same squeeze as many of you....Dad passed away almost five years ago, after a ten month, terrible battle with cancer. Mom (who will be 86 next month) did very well on her own, managing a condo in Florida and a summer cottage in Ohio - until she fell last June and broke her hip. I have so much admiration for her ability to fight back and make an almost full recovery...almost full. However, she has not yet tried living on her own again. I spent last summer in Florida helping her through rehabilitation, and then she came to live with me for the Fall. She spent the winter at her condo with a caregiver, and is now back with me until school wraps up and we can make our way to the cottage. Now, I don't want to mislead any of you by thinking that we never have irritations - or even minor conflict! That said, my bottom line is that I am blessed to have the opportunity to take care of my mother while she needs the help and companionship. I've learned a lot about her, and myself throughout this time. I am hoping that I will be able to look back at this period of my life with few regrets.

Dan Sheedy

My eldest son Ben has been home from school for 3 weeks, so I have been spending as much time as possible with him. My younger son Jonathan graduates from high school later this month.

Penny Zimmerman Jackson

Hi, All ...

Being born to "older" parents and then being an only child had its negatives: parents without peers to support them (it was the 50's when most people had kids early), having parents age when I was still under fifty (lost my mother when I was 36, Dad at 45), and not having a sibling or two to share the responsibilities certainly filled up the minus side of the ledger. On the plus side, I've not been burdened with aging parent needs and responsibilities and have been free to continue to pursue my career and to "be there" for my husband, his four kids, and now seven grand kids.

I'm working with folks who live with the kinds of challenges Debby and Terri express and it's a long, hard haul; very best wishes and "courage" to you all.

Penrose (nee Penny Zimmerman)

Sandra Veator Sears

Hello all,

Yes, we share in the good and the bad throughout life, but this is a unique time in our lives. My mother suffers from Alzheimer’s and is in the care of my sister, distant from many of the rest of the family. Before she got to the late stages, I shared in the care, but now she can’t be moved out of familiar surroundings without great panic, and so she stays in one place. We have said farewell to my Dad, my cousin, and my nephew.

On the positive side, I have two great daughters, each having a child graduating from high school this year. Trae already graduated, as they graduate earlier here in Texas . I am planning a trip back to NY to see my granddaughter graduate in Georgetown . They are so young and so excited to have gotten to this point. They have their whole life ahead of them. They both will be attending college in the fall.

Terri’s comments are well spoken about accepting the fact that we can’t do it all. We just do what we can and that is enough.

Sandra Sears
Windsong Enterprises
sandys@windsng.com
www.windsng.com

Terry Infantine Doe

Hello One and All-
Debby’s comments struck a nerve because my folks are struggling to manage their home and get to appt.s but I don’t help much. Sometimes I’m sure that Joyce Neveldine knows their ups and downs better than I do because Joyce does my mother’s hair each week. It is tough to be a long-distance oldest child of parents who are very resistant to change, even when it seems to be a big improvement. We are expecting another granddaughter in late July in Sacramento , so we are planning to spend a month there enjoying the zoo and other thrills for 3 yr. olds, as well as helping out with a newborn. I have 2 more years before retirement from teaching, so summers mean a lot! We all need to find ways to manage and renew ourselves.
Here’s to accepting the fact that we can’t do it all…and for our own sakes, we shouldn’t even try!
Terry Infantine Doe

Sandy Jackson Epoch

Hi Everyone,

I have been retired from NYS Parks and Recreation since 2005. Both my parents died before I retired and I remember balancing work and sharing the care they both needed. I wish my parents could have met this wonderful grandchild I have. My retirement plans changed when Dylan was born. That's why I am in Texas and not in Wilmington, NC, where I originally wanted to retire. Dylan and I have become so close that my trips to San Diego get shorter and shorter. He will be 4 in September and will need major surgery before he enters kindergarden. SO until he recovers and enters kindergarden, I will be here for him and his mom. He has pectus excavatum . He has an indented chest line where the upper chest was not totally developed and the severity will increase so that he will have trouble running, playing sports, etc. He has so much energy right now, it is difficult to believe he will run out of it little by little. We were at the park the other day and he met a 35 year old father who shared his chest view with Dylan. He did not have surgery because it wasn't available 30 years ago and wished that it was. Dylan's surgeon is very positive and Scott and White Children's Hospital is one of the best. My biggest concern is that the heart area is better protected after surgery. The one thing that will be very difficult after the Surgery is keeping him down for several weeks during his recovery. Thank you for listening and I wish those of you who are helping with parents or other family members all the best whatever the situation.

Anyway the rest of my summer is quite busy. San Diego for 2 weeks in July, Syracuse for a wedding in September and back to San Diego for 3 weeks in October. Then it is Austin until at least May or June after Dylan's recovery.

Have a great summer and keep on posting!!!!!!

Sandy Jackson Epoch

Jim Myers

Amen, Dyke! (Had a little Grey Goose myself last night, actually!)

Recently I’ve been helping a friend and colleague, Dr. Bernard Harris, write a book about his experiences. You may have heard of him. He’s an endocrinologist educated at the Mayo Clinic, a former Air Force pilot, flight surgeon, and a NASA Astronaut with two space shuttle missions to his credit. He was also the first African American to “walk in space.” These days he is a popular public speaker, venture capitalist, and philanthropist, who spends a lot of time talking to high school kids on something he calls the “Dream Tour,” a kind of traveling motivational show that he’s put together for disadvantaged youth. (Yes, he has also established his own youth foundation with the help of Exxon Mobil.)

Bernard told me he’s a fan of the philosopher Eckhart Tolle, and asked me to include something about his work in the book. Here’s what I wrote:

One of my favorite authors is the contemporary philosopher and spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle. His book The Power of Now has made a lasting impression on my life, and his most basic teaching is, I believe, something everyone, and certainly every astronaut, can use to improve their daily lives and their ability to achieve success, particularly in complex, daunting endeavors. It’s simply this: Live in the present. Remember that the past is over and done. The future has not yet happened and is certainly not under your control. All you have, and all you will ever have, is the moment you are living right now.

A quote from this excellent book helps to drive the point home:
“Accept – then act. Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it. Make it your friend and ally, not your enemy. This will miraculously transform your whole life.”

When you really think about it, this is wonderful advice. All daily living, whether it’s conducting a business meeting, driving your car from your home to your job, managing your personal finances, even surviving the cold in outer space, is all about accepting what happens at any given moment and working with it to produce the best outcome. Late because you’re stuck in a traffic jam? Relax… listen to some music or the news, call your appointment and re-schedule, smile and sing your favorite song out loud and remind yourself how good it is to be alive in this moment on this day. When you learn to react to adversity by always accepting it and moving forward toward a solution, you will never get “stuck” in a loop of self-defeating fear and pain.

Best to all ‘66-ers for a great summer!

Jim Myers

Terry Steenburg VonSneidern

I'm in the same place as you. My mom is 92. Her memory is fading, but I don't want her in a nursing home as long as I can physically take care of her. She and my dad took care of me when I needed help. It's my turn now.

My fiance is fighting cancer. I battle finding time for both of them, plus working. Work may be what eventually has to go. I would still be able to continue to do volunteer work as I do now and have more time for mom and Mike.

Getting older sucks ! lol

Terry

Dyke Chapman

Who said life is supposed to get easier? :):) Seriously though, I think we all are facing different challenges...not necessarily fewer. Ronnee's mother is struggling with Alzheimers, Michael and Sarah in college, and dealing with the economy on a family level day to day keeps us all very busy. The trick is to remember that all we have is today and to make the most of it. Don't waste a minute feeling sorry for ourselves...the glass is half full...and if the half that is full happens to be Grey Goose...all the better!!

Our life is great in spite of the challenges...life is a beautiful thing...and the Chapmans will keep on keepin' on...

My best to all of the class of '66 in 2009 and beyond...

Dyke

Monthly email to class

How is your summer going? Mine is divided up between my 89 year old mother, my dogs, my house and yard and a little exercise at the Y. Life was supposed to get easier for us at this age -- instead it's gotten harder. How do you feel about this turn of events. Please let me hear from you with comments, concerns, reactions to life in 2009.

Just putting in my 2 cents

Sort of expected this to happen eventually, but it's hard to believe that no one is sending emails to me so the blog is in sort of a slump. I need fresh input from YOU. If you read this, please send me some news. I would really appreciate it.
Debby

Finally Magazine -- June

Finally Magazine
the online magazine for BabyBoomers
http://www.finallymagazine.net/

click on this link and check out the magazine

Tom Weller -- Back from Yosemite

Got back from Yosemite Saturday. The park was really great. Did a lot of hiking around, had bears in the campsite( female bear with three tiny cubs, it was really neat to see them), had some really great thunderstorms (I really miss them, San Diego has whimpy thunderstorms), heard a large rockfall Monday night, pretty scary. All in all a great trip. Yosemite has become one of my favorite places. I'll add a couple of pictures to this.

Frank Carroll

Dave V. and I went to the induction... Eck was the first in line (among three other inductees from other classes). I do believe (tho haven't researched it) that our class leads all years in the number of inductees with four). BTW, we need some female members from our class! Although the program for feting retired teachers (like Platt Wheeler, Ruth Parker-5th grade!) has gone by the wayside, the dinner served was gourmet class...
But I got some pics (will send), including Gordy Webb and Eddie Schmidt. After the ceremony, we went over to Eck's sister's place on Mott Rd, myself hanging out there until 2 am or thereabouts. Dave's kids and wife were there too, but they're heading back to Uganda pretty soon.

Frank Carroll

Just heard from Frank that he and Dave Vermilya attended Dave Eckerson's induction at FM -- am waiting for his eyewitness account with some photos.

Black Snake rescue

I was digging out our run off ditch down by the road. I looked up the drive and saw a large black thing. Not sure what it was. Walked up and it turned out to be about a four foot black snake caught in some bird netting. I went up to the house and got John and a pair of scissors and got ready for the rescue.
John picked him up and I did the cutting. The netting was pretty tight so I had to be careful about the skin surface. It was starting to cut into him. It took a few minutes but we got him free and John released him into a safe part of the garden.
Black snakes eat rodents and are good snakes.

Deborah Larus Doolittle -- my address

Wildwood Announced as Missouri’s Top Wealth Center


Wildwood, MO—When a recent study was done of the relative affluence of 2,065 U.S. cities, towns and unincorporated urban areas with populations of 15,000 or more, Wildwood ranked 68 in the nation and first in Missouri. The study, which was conducted by Bizjournals, was reported in the May 22-28 edition of the St. Louis Business Journal. The only other Missouri city in the study to make the nation’s top-100 list was Chesterfield , with a ranking of 97. The Washington D.C. suburb of McLean , Virginia ranked number one.

The Business Journal article stated that the purpose of the study was to “…identify the nation’s wealth centers, defined as places blessed with high incomes, expensive homes, strong educational levels and widespread ownership of stocks, rental properties and motor vehicles.” Bizjournals reportedly used raw data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2005-2007 American Community Survey to derive the results of the study.

According to the Census Bureau, Wildwood’s median household income is $113,270, with 17.7 percent of the city’s households enjoying an income of more than $200,000. The median household income for the U.S. is $50,000. The median value of owner-occupied homes in Wildwood is $348,200, compared to a national median value of $181,800. In addition, 63.8 percent of Wildwood’s population age 25 and over has attained a bachelor degree or higher. Nationally, only 27 percent of the population has attained that level of education.

When presented with the findings of the study, Wildwood’s Mayor Tim Woerther said, “One only has to drive through our neighborhoods and talk to our citizens to know we are a very blessed community, but this study provides us a deeper appreciation for our greatest commodity—our residents. We are a community filled with high achievers. They are what make us continually strive to achieve more.”

The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2005-2007 American Community Survey is available online at http://www.census.gov/. From the Census Bureau’s home page, enter Wildwood, Missouri in the “Population Finder” search field in the right column. Once you’re on the main page for Wildwood, pull up the “Fact Sheet” option in the left column.

The full Bizjournal report is obtainable online by going to http://www.bizjournals.com/ and entering “wealth center” in the search field. The article appears under the heading, “D.C. suburb ranks as top wealth center.”

-end-