WiFi Nomad: medical update and National Parks

Well, if you want cute pictures - scroll down. Being subservient to free wifi, I'm now on my second coffee lounge (starbucks tucked into the "other" safeway) to get some working wifi.

My leg is getting stronger, walking without the air cast, and actually doing normal activities such as: walking up and down stairs, working 8 hour days (2/3 of my normal 12.5), holding my son standing up, changing diaper (no plural - about 1/day), driving a stick shift, making dinner, emptying the dishwasher, and I've even managed to complete some preliminary wood work in my shop.

My recovering is going well, but I've got another 4 weeks or so before I'm back to work full-duty and full-time. Mrs. Cool is ever patient and supportive - which means I'd better start saving up for our 10th Aniversary trip to where-ever she wants to go.

On a side note, while resting my leg after work - I've been able to catch most of Ken Burn's new documentary on the U.S. National Park System - and am enjoying it thoroughly. Well worth your time, and "free" on your local PBS. I've been to a few National Parks: Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone, Sand Dunes (although not since it bacame a park - it was only a lowly nat'l momument at the time), Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, the Lincolm Memorial and the various other national monuments such as Capulin, Mt. Rushmore, Devil's Tower, and mulitple natinoal battlefields and historical sights that are covered under the park service. I've loved them all, and appreciated them enough at a young age to want to return again at an age when I will really appreciated what they now represent.

My shame in failing to know about Black Canyon of the Gunnison Nat'l Park in my own home state of Colorado was guickly overcome with my desire to soon enjoy the beauty that is God's creation as soon as I can get there. I've never been to the Tetons either (at least I don't remember being there although my dad may disagree), Glacier, or Yosemite - but I will get there someday. It's amazing how many I have bypassed by driving by or through and never game them a second thought. I've driven through Utah 5 or 6 times and never stopped at any one of the many Parks. I've bisected Petrified Forrestion NP 3 times on the I-40, but never ventured 5 miles off the interstated.

When I was young, my dad and mom bought my brothers and I NP Passports - I still have mine. My oldest brother has kept this tradition alive with his 7 year old son with gusto and enthousiasm, and I look forward to doing the same with Lincoln. I've never been disappointed by the parks or momuments and I plan to visit 4 in the next 12 months - the American Haj (spl?) to the natural temples celebrating God's creation.

Want to come with?