|
Post by rogesgallery on Dec 22, 2009 0:15:30 GMT -5
Badlands — The final chapter
|
|
|
Post by gailkate on Dec 22, 2009 0:17:02 GMT -5
The first one was the video I told you about. What you see behind the truck is the golf course I've mentioned before. The golf course was essential to Roges' plan. He'd prepared 4 snowballs so we could have 4 'takes' of the dramatic good-bye. You hear him ask Jerry whether we got much winter golf in, and Jerry was to shout prankishly,"Sure -snow golf!" before beaning me with the snowball.
Did I mention roges prepared 4 snowballs - presumably all to connect with my head? As it turned out, he domonstrated on himself with one snowball (did it very well, too - I wish we had tape of that) and then we did our first take. What rog didn't know and I'd sort of forgotten, is that Jerry was the QB on his high school football team. He scored with the first try and rog was satisfied - thank goodness.
Meanwhile, DrK offered expert medical assistance, but I guess that didn't get filmed.
I have a couple of pics I'll post tomorrow.
|
|
|
Post by BoatBabe on Dec 22, 2009 0:42:40 GMT -5
Man, roges! Those are hysterical!
Mama! Them are bad!
Gail, you done good. I'm glad you didn't have to get beaned 4 times for the take. It's perfect.
|
|
|
Post by rogesgallery on Dec 22, 2009 3:31:16 GMT -5
A little background here— TomPalm is a palm tree sculpture that seems to have manifested ...to some degree, the physical characteristics of a travel agent (now deceased) that was used by a labor broker that I worked for. The several times that I had the misfortune to have her book with my flights she sent me to the wrong plane. Well loe.... and be hold she seems to have returne in this persona to right the errors of he past life. Thank you TomPalm for your expert guidance
|
|
|
Post by jspnrvr on Dec 22, 2009 6:32:14 GMT -5
Those "Y' shaped things are the "boots", the casings that palm branches emerge from as they grow from the center of the cabbage palm. The tree grows and gets older and they are gradually shucked off. They're a fun, easy craft item for Brownie scouts, for instance; a little glue, some "googly" eyes, a fuzzy ball and some ribbon and you have a "Rudolph" to take home to the folks for Christmas! It's great that a Southern craft item made it all the way to the great PNW and was able to guide you along. Thanks, Tom Palm.
|
|
|
Post by doctork on Dec 22, 2009 9:05:51 GMT -5
I knew you would have the proper Floridian botanical knowledge, Jay! My mother lived in Florida and she made a bunch of those "Rudolph's" for a church bazaar. And that was one of the Christmas items I wanted to be sure I have in our new home.
So TomPalm not only made it to the PNW, he made it all the way across the upper edge of the country, guiding us with that red nose of his.
|
|
|
Post by liriodendron on Dec 22, 2009 10:02:53 GMT -5
I must watch the videos later, when I'm not, um, supposed to be doing something more research oriented.
|
|
|
Post by BoatBabe on Dec 23, 2009 1:00:27 GMT -5
Lirio! Just wrinkle your brow and lean close to the computer screen. Look Very intense. And when you type, type hard into the keyboard and quickly. No One will approach.
Anyways, that seems to work for those people who don't have Upper People who monitor their internet access like me.
I just saw this on a movie once, and it seemed to work!
;D
|
|
|
Post by rogesgallery on Dec 23, 2009 8:50:59 GMT -5
TomPalm in assessment mode TomPalm in Adviser mode
|
|
|
Post by rogesgallery on Dec 23, 2009 9:35:35 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by rogesgallery on Dec 23, 2009 9:38:13 GMT -5
Teddy's Dog
|
|
|
Post by gailkate on Dec 23, 2009 10:03:08 GMT -5
Heh- I bought that dog bit for a second. Isn't the horse amazing? The bones and muscles are so perfect you expect it to start walking. I have a couple of pics to share (our camera card was almost full) and don't know where to fit them in. This is The Arrival. My first shot was of roges' posterior as he tried to dig out the gear from that cramped cab. These two could pack for professionsal.
|
|
|
Post by rogesgallery on Dec 23, 2009 12:37:40 GMT -5
Hey, you nicely center pieced the air conditioner hole in my forehead
|
|
|
Post by rogesgallery on Dec 23, 2009 13:51:21 GMT -5
Chicago was a blur Unlike the some of the other large cities Chicago goes on and on with cities in cities in cities. The 5-6 separate toll roads longer than the span of the main freeway's which run the length of cities like Seattle or San Francisco and then there are suburbs. For me it was an eye opening reminder of the immensity of the problems we face in trying to live up to the root form of the term by which we are called— Humanity. How do we become civilized in a hmane manner. And then there is the rest of the world... Does this inner city toll taker have a concept of that which she is a part? Does she vote and if she does what are the origins of her decision making— has the argument she had with her significant other momentarily effected the intelligent information which formed her original decision. Does she vote on the advice of a comic artist radio talk show host? Hmm. I feel a dangerous swelling in my cranium.
|
|
|
Post by gailkate on Dec 23, 2009 16:09:27 GMT -5
It's good to see into the reality of people's lives. Remember "There are eight million stories in the Naked City"? We need to look at every toll-taker, every driver we're contending with on the crowded freeways, as a human being headed from somewhere and going somewhere. How many of them even dream of the adventure that the U-Haul in the next lane represents? How could they know what special people were in that cab and the world their lives touch?
I like such imagining but sometimes it makes me feel spooked. So much to acknowledge and respect - and love, as all the religions ask us to do.
|
|
|
Post by brutus on Dec 23, 2009 21:25:15 GMT -5
It's good to see into the reality of people's lives. Remember "There are eight million stories in the Naked City"? We need to look at every toll-taker, every driver we're contending with on the crowded freeways, as a human being headed from somewhere and going somewhere. How many of them even dream of the adventure that the U-Haul in the next lane represents? How could they know what special people were in that cab and the world their lives touch? I like such imagining but sometimes it makes me feel spooked. So much to acknowledge and respect - and love, as all the religions ask us to do. Hummm...........perhaps we could start a thread where we take a person who is engaged in such an occupation, as toll taker, and create story of their life. ~B~
|
|
|
Post by BoatBabe on Dec 24, 2009 0:44:38 GMT -5
roges, so where were the "horse" and "dog" of Teddy Roosevelt located? They are cool!
~B~, I think we can start any thread we want. Go For It!
|
|
|
Post by gailkate on Dec 24, 2009 0:45:20 GMT -5
Interesting idea, Brutus. You mean make things up the way we used to do but in a more serious way? Not just pouring on sterotypes, but imagining their real lives?
|
|
|
Post by brutus on Dec 24, 2009 6:32:01 GMT -5
Interesting idea, Brutus. You mean make things up the way we used to do but in a more serious way? Not just pouring on sterotypes, but imagining their real lives? Yup! That's what I had in mind.' Sorta in the way GK tells his Tales from Lake Woebegone. ~B~
|
|
|
Post by doctork on Dec 24, 2009 10:10:19 GMT -5
BB, the horse and the "dog" were located in the TR Museum at the Visitor's Center in the Teddy Roosevelt National Park in the North Dakota Badlands. It's near where TR had his ranch, to which he liked to escape to find peace out in the wilderness. He sought refuge there when his wife and mother died on the same day. When he saw the damage caused by the encroachment of man on the wilderness, he was inspired to thoughts of starting the National Park system to protect America's wilderness areas.
The park is about 30 miles into ND from the Montana border. Due to time constraints, roges and I had not intended to stop there, even though brutus had told me it was one of the "must see" highlights of a visit to ND. This was the first time I'd been in ND, and it was one of my 4 "missing states." Now I have only 3 missing states (ME, NH and OK).
However, when we caught that beautiful Badlands vista as we drove past the exit, and the lecturer on the "Visitor's Information" channel was talking about the Park, we decided we had made a mistake to pass it by, so we turned around at the next exit and drove back. We were the only people in the Visitor's Center parking lot, and in the Center itself. The ranger opened the museum and turned on the lights just for us, and was very nice, filling us in with lots of information. He also gave us advice on where to get the best late day pictures of the Badlands - the videos were taken at the Painted Canyon Visitor's Center, which was actually closed. We drove the truck up to the gate and walked through to the edge of the bluff.
That is why we didn't get to meet brutus until 9 pm, but the Badlands and park visit were a highlight of the trip for us. So was seeing brutus of course!
|
|
|
Post by gailkate on Dec 24, 2009 10:38:07 GMT -5
Such a sad story about Teddy. I don't know why I didn't know that, because he's one of my favorite Republicans. It's a wonder he didn't just collapse from grief. Ok, here's something to cheer us. You recall I mentioned roges' avowed talent for sleeping while sitting up? that's how they managed to catch cab-naps K curled on her seat and the middle half-seat, Rog sitting straight up. I rather doubted that he got much sleep until I saw him in action - er, inaction. We'd been looking at pics on the couch, rog narrating happily, some desultory chit chat.....so I asked Jerry to use our last shot on a picture of the three merry Chatterers. Here's what he got: Typically, I looked down at the exactly wrong moment, but that improves the effect - only Kristin is bright-eyed and chipper! Rog can apparently zone out like that in the blink of an eye - literally. We talked over him for awhile and I swear he truly was asleep.
|
|
|
Post by BoatBabe on Dec 24, 2009 10:38:36 GMT -5
Thanks, doc! I'm so glad you turned around and went back. We, of course, wondered where the heck you were, but that was definitely a Must See. It's been years since I was in that neck of the woods, but I've put in on my list to see, too.
|
|
|
Post by doctork on Dec 24, 2009 10:49:25 GMT -5
It's good to see into the reality of people's lives. Remember "There are eight million stories in the Naked City"? We need to look at every toll-taker, every driver we're contending with on the crowded freeways, as a human being headed from somewhere and going somewhere. How many of them even dream of the adventure that the U-Haul in the next lane represents? How could they know what special people were in that cab and the world their lives touch?I like such imagining but sometimes it makes me feel spooked. So much to acknowledge and respect - and love, as all the religions ask us to do. I bet every person feels their life is special, and touches many other lives. Our adventure was very special to Roger and me, and to those in our online group of friends who follow it here. And I would have to grant that it is atypical or different from many cross-country trips: rather short notice, a man and a woman who met online (but never in person before the trip) traveling together - the woman married but not to the man she is traveling with, and via the northerly route in winter, meeting up along the way with other people they met online. In fact, many people never do a cross-country trip at all; our waitress in the Jamestown diner had never been out of North Dakota. As a few details of our travels leaked out, we stirred interest from the other diner guests. As a family doctor, I've been struck by how rare is the "stereotypical patient." No matter the first impression when the patient walks in the door, when we start to chat, the picture rounds out to a very full one, never just a thin "type." Also, I wind up liking almost every patient, since each is unique and has some likable features. My position in life as a family doc is a privileged one, one that permits me to acknowledge, respect and love each person I encounter. I'm trying to remember an exception among the tens of thousands of my patients, but I can't. Eight million stories indeed!
|
|
|
Post by doctork on Dec 24, 2009 11:05:41 GMT -5
I re-read my post and it looks like I implied that only seeing brutus and the park was a highlight of the trip. Not so! I was thinking North Dakota highlights in that sentence. seeing Gail & Jerry was also a highlight too. As were many other points and events.
The whole trip was quite stellar, and I am still "integrating" it all, as it was a meaty and full experience in so many dimensions. I consider myself a fairly experienced traveler, but this trip offered many new learning opportunities. Silly me, I was surprised by that! A mundane domestic road trip in a U-Haul - what has that to offer an avowed aviation enthusiast? Eight million stories of course...
|
|
|
Post by gailkate on Dec 24, 2009 11:17:58 GMT -5
Sweet K, I exalt you.
|
|
|
Post by brutus on Dec 24, 2009 16:59:28 GMT -5
I re-read my post and it looks like I implied that only seeing brutus and the park was a highlight of the trip. Not so! I was thinking North Dakota highlights in that sentence. seeing Gail & Jerry was also a highlight too. As were many other points and events. The whole trip was quite stellar, and I am still "integrating" it all, as it was a meaty and full experience in so many dimensions. I consider myself a fairly experienced traveler, but this trip offered many new learning opportunities. Silly me, I was surprised by that! A mundane domestic road trip in a U-Haul - what has that to offer an avowed aviation enthusiast? Eight million stories of course... <Sniffle> Y-y-y-y-ou m-m-m-ean...it wasn't?? ~B~
|
|
|
Post by doctork on Dec 24, 2009 17:25:38 GMT -5
Of course seeing you was a highlight ~B~ - just not the only highlight. You recommended the TR Park - that was a highlight. We stopped and saw gk and jerry, and that was a highlight too!
|
|
|
Post by brutus on Dec 24, 2009 17:29:49 GMT -5
I know, Doc, I just couldn't help whining a little.
~B~
|
|
|
Post by gailkate on Dec 24, 2009 17:54:25 GMT -5
Am I the only one who can see the picture I posted on #170?
|
|
|
Post by doctork on Dec 24, 2009 19:14:21 GMT -5
Am I the only one who can see the picture I posted on #170? I can see it! Hey those people look familiar....
|
|