Yellowstone in Winter
We spent the last two days skiing in Big Sky, Montana. A highlight of the trip is the drive through Yellowstone and Island Park, made all the more beautiful by the abundant snow.
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February 23, 2008
February 21, 2008
Seattle
If I didn't live in Idaho, one of my first choices of where to live would be Seattle. One reason I like Seattle is most of its residents have actually heard of Idaho, know it has mountains and that it isn't a flat Midwestern farming state. In fact, the bellman at the hotel I stayed at called it by its official nickname, the Gem State. I was impressed, because I couldn't return the favor and call Washington by its nickname. I just looked it up, "The Evergreen State." Very fitting.
The college campus where I held my meeting was shrouded in fog this morning. It was good to see some green grass and crabapple blossoms in February. Sometimes I get tired of looking at snow.
As long as we are talking about "ifs", one of the jobs I would choose to do if I didn't do what I do now is own a grocery store. And if I owned a store, I'd model it like Seattle's Metropolitan Market. Not only are their produce and prepared dishes amazing, but their organized shelves are works of art.
Seattle is known for its rain and clouds, but I've been fortunate to have sunshine for most of my visits. Mt. Rainier looked stunning as always.
February 18, 2008
Presidents Day 2008
Only six more weeks of winter.
February 17, 2008
Presidents Day Gift
For those feeling patriotic on Presidents Day, I found this helpful address on the U.S. Treasury website:
"How do you make a contribution to reduce the national debt?
Make your check payable to the Bureau of the Public Debt, and in the memo section, notate that it is a Gift to reduce the Debt Held by the Public. Mail your check to:
Attn Dept G
Bureau Of the Public Debt
P. O. Box 2188
Parkersburg, WV 26106-2188"
As of February 14, 2008, the National Debt was $9,291,899,089,252.55 so a gift of $2.56 will get it back under $9,291,899,089,250.
February 5, 2008
Is it really possible MCI's customer service can be this bad?
I got a notice in the mail today that MCI, my residential long distance company, was going to charge a $5.99 monthly minimum fee. Because we already have long distance on my office lines and our cell phones, we kept the MCI long distance service on our home line for emergencies. But we won't for $5.99 a month so I quickly decided to cancel the service.
I've now been on hold for 45 minutes because MCI won't let me cancel the service through their automated phone system nor can I do it on my account page on their website. Why have an online presence if you can't do something simple like cancel? I'm actually on hold on two different phone lines because I thought I might have better success calling their business line number, but to no avail.
I'm afraid to give up because I know I'll waste another hour if I try tomorrow.
UPDATE: After 90 minutes I gave up, but tried again this morning. Hold time was 30 minutes but finally an MCI rep in the Philippines picked up. She actually tried to sell me on an alternative MCI phone plan before I convinced her that after 2 hours of aggregate hold time I wouldn't dare purchase anything else from MCI for fear I'd never be able to cancel it. She finally let me cancel.
February 3, 2008
Partridge Family
A small flock of partridges lives in the canyon above my house. Lately, they have gathered on the hill outside my office window, where I watch them make tracks in the virgin snow and glide down the slope on their bellies.
