Fred

As I write this, our mailman has just received our annual tribute Christmas gift from us.

See, getting the mail around here isn't quite the same as getting the mail in the 'burbs. In the burbs, you have the mailman like Mr. McFeelly from Mr. Roger's Neighborhood.

Out here, it's a little more like Funny Farm.

Captain Crazy Crunch

I consider myself a fairly capable person, able to handle a rather good deal of "stuff" that comes my way. And by "stuff," I mean managing my job, where I get random calls and emails from all over the world, help keep a house surrounded by animals upright, and generally make it through the day without necessitating my arrest or hospitalization.

One thing, however, gets me every time.

And that one thing, folks is...

The cereal aisle of the grocery store.

What if #MeToo Isn't Enough?

This morning, Time named the #MeToo movement as it's Person of the Year, as "The Silence Breakers." For some, this seems a little strange as the idea of "person," taken literally, is singular, and this is a movement, which is necessarily plural. It's important to remember that Time does this fairly regularly - "The Protester," "The Whistleblower," "The Good Samaritans" and "The American Solider" have all been past persons of the year. The #MeToo movement seems a stark contrast and perhaps stands in purposeful opposition to last year's Person of the Year, the man holding the highest elected office in the US, who has been accused of sexual assault and harassment by at least 12 women.

Griswold Family Christmas

It's skinnier than last year, right?

I always thought I was Ellen. You know, the one keeping everything together, hacking the cabbage in half instead of smoking her cigarette in the back?

I realized this weekend that I might be Clark.

Open Comments (For Sharing) to the National Park Service

As I think most of you know, we love the National Parks. As in, LOVE. THEM. Want to see them all. We are highly invested in the National Park System, buy an annual pass every year, the whole outdoor kit-and-caboodle. 

RMNP

The National Park Service is currently accepting comments for their proposed rate hike plan, which would implement dynamic pricing at the most well-traveled parks that would double entrance fees (or in some cases, more than double) during peak seasons. This would not affect annual park pass fees, just single entries. 

Breaking Up with Bono

Dear Bono,


I think we can both agree that I have been very loyal in this relationship. I've followed your work. I've supported your causes. We've been in this together, right? I mean, I even followed you across the globe this summer.


So, it pains me to say this, but, we need a break. And...


It's not me.


It's U2.

I Heart Paris

In June, I did a sixteen day trip for work. I took a team to the Netherlands, and then went on to Togo for a week with another team there.

But for a day and a half, I had a layover in Paris.

If you don't know, and I don't know how you couldn't, because I still talk about it all the time, I lived in Strasbourg, France for 6 months in college. I loved that time. I loved living in France, I loved the culture, and I loved travelling around Europe.

And I love Paris. I went a number of times to the City of Lights when I lived in France, and returned once with Eric since. But it had been 12 years since the last time I was there.