I just read Scott Herring's blog post "Indoor Nation" and wanted to make sure that members of My CoolWorks read it too. He mentions Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv, which is one of my favorite books about getting children outside and why it's so important.… Continue
Well the winter season here in Arizona is just about over. Actually I would have said winter here ended about mid-February, but officially, when Mother's Day comes around, we will be checking everyone out of the Ranch and locking the doors behind them. YEE-HAW!!! This was a long season, compared to others that we have worked - from the beginning of October to the middle of May. That's 7 1/2 months. The usual length of jobs that we have done usually last upwards of 5 months, and my body knows thi… Continue
Posted by Begee on May 6, 2008 at 10:41pm —
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So I have been home for a week now and living under my parents roof. It's SO BORING and time seems to be going by much too slow. I leave on the 15th for Alaska and it feels like a lifetime away. I have no job and most of my friends work full time here, so I sit at home all day. I have to say I have watched more tv than I ever have. It's also hotter than hell in Orlando already, I went to the beach yestersday and it was well into the 90's. The tourists are starting to swarm towards the parks agai… Continue
Sylvan Pass and Avalanche Peak, in Yellowstone, can be a spring treat. The road over Sylvan Pass and out to Cody opened up on May 2nd and we got up early to take a look at Avalanche Peak on the 3rd. We left Gardiner at 6ish, found PLENTY of snow at the trailhead (about 6 feet), started up at about 8:30, grunted to the summit in 3 hours and enjoyed some recreational gravity on the way back.
the day is getting closer till we leave for Mount Rushmore. Getting more excited each day. Just hope the weather is nice and warm. I hear that they are getting snow up north. No matter what I plan to have a fun and exciting time in the Black Hills. Continue
Posted by Margie H on May 4, 2008 at 1:07pm —
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Today I've got some family comin over to my moms where ive been stayin the last couple nights for a little going away get together. People should be arriving in about an hour or two and i'm just trying to think of things i've missed as far as preparation. I've sprayed down my duffel bag which used to smell a bit like kitty urine (I'm gonna miss that little bastard!). I've hosed off my hiking shoes which i got a little muddy yesterday hoofin it around brown county park, crossing slippery beaver d… Continue
Posted by Jacob Goodner on May 3, 2008 at 11:18am —
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As the countdown has reached the less than a week stage I have to say, I'm so excited I can hardly sleep!
I'm almost completely packed, which was no small feat, let me tell you. I'm staying in Alaska after the season so I had to pack EVERYTHING. I've also looked up shipping costs for my myriad of heavy ass boxes and it's going to be expensive. I guess it's good that I should be saving a ton of money this summer, eh?
Moral of the story, I can't wait! Here's to Alaska!
Shift comma three. Continue
Posted by Sara Victoria on May 2, 2008 at 6:04pm —
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Well it's now the 2nd, which leaves me with 3 more nights in good ol' Green Bay. I am extremely excited to arrive in Alaska and kick off the summer. On the other hand, i feel like an idiot after yesterday... I somehow managed to lose my brand new digital camera i bought for the trip. Although it was nearly 400 dollars, it's not so much about the money. I'm just furious that I may not have any means to document the beginning of my trip before that whole economic stimulus rebate thing hits my acco… Continue
Where can you go and have so much fun...we worked all day till 530pm and then had dinner.....We had planned on playing cards but we weren't sure but it all came through....it came down to me and Bob at 130am to decide who won and i caved so he won.....i was tired and so was he after playin for five hours....but we both won..it was fun.....had a great day working on the salmon bake pavillion.....met Emily, shes a great gal,......dont ask her about someone running into the glass door...ok enough f… Continue
Posted by John on May 2, 2008 at 4:00am —
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I received a postcard in the mail yesterday. It was a picture taken of Summit Lake. Granted, the entire picture resembles a serene watercolor of white and blue, washing together, with hints of spring on the way. You can't see the lake, it's completely covered by snow. You can't see the lodge either. But in some way, it's nice to get a "glimpse" of what will be home for the next four months. I put it on my fridge, to remind me for the next two weeks that this will all be worth it.
I started revi… Continue
ok, I got up here...18 hours of flight and driving....."IT WAS WORTH IT"...... Scenery is incredible, met new friends, thanks to all to get me started...I'm looking forward to all that will come in front of me...when you're off work, join whomever is off and get to know them......great diversity and great backgrounds....Brian, thanks.... Continue
Posted by John on May 1, 2008 at 12:22am —
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i realize my first pic may not be exactly the kind of picture you were expecting me to take of the wilds of iowa. i've got more (the vast majority of them not significantly wilder than this, but whatever), and i'll put them up slowly over the next few weeks when i can. at least, that's the plan, especially if i go mushroom hunting for morels OMGSOGOOD. plus, 'shrooms are nicely graphic. come to think of it, a yellow morel picture would be a lovely counterpoint to the cave background on this page… Continue
Found this in Russell, New Zealand back in 1995.....
If the Earth were only a few feet in diameter, floating a few feet above a field somewhere, people would come from everywhere to marvel at it. People would walk around it, marveling at its big pools of water, its little pools and the water flowing between the pools. People would marvel at the bumps on it, and the holes in it and they would marvel at the very thin layer of gas surrounding it and the water suspended in the gas. The people would… Continue
In just a few days, this Friday to be exact, I will graduate college! I am so relieved and excited to have graduated in four years, however it's bittersweet. I have made some great friends here at school and leaving them behind will be difficult. Although it's all very scary too because my life is about to make some drastic changes. I will be on my own for quite some time, something I am only half way used to. Most of my friends are gearing up for the real world. My room mate is moving to San Di… Continue
As I was driving down Highway 89 the other day to Jackson, I saw an amazing sight. Something that I've not seen since August 2007... it was a golden belly marmot, commonly known as a Whistlepig. Now for those of you who have never seen a whistlepig or a gold belly marmot - this varmit looks like a cross between a prairie dog and a Texas Whampus Cat. Of course, the poor thing was starving as it was sitting on about three feet of snow and not a green blade of anything in site. I'm thinking it got… Continue
Posted by Ann Carr on April 21, 2008 at 4:17pm —
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So there's only two weeks left down here in sunny Wickenburg. Our last guest day is on May 1, but we'll have a few days of clean up after. I've pretty much decided what I'll keep and what I'll shed...now working on what I'll mail ahead, what I'll carry, and this time what I'll leave here. I'm definitely coming back to the Kay El Bar next season. I'm thinking about making it my winter base...I wasn't all too thrilled with the ski resort life...and I loved missing out on the real COLD.
I'm not mo… Continue
Alaska is crazy. It is huge and wild and continues to amaze me daily. Been here almost two weeks now and have mostly just been working. We have been building this pavilion for a salmon bake down here in Cooper Landing, and have now moved on to the stage. Which required us to put the footings down about 19 inches in the ground. However there is three feet of snow covering two feet of ice covering an undetermined amount of granite that we have had to dig, burn, blast, heat, whack, and anything els… Continue
A while back I wrote a blog entitled, "The Top 5 Mistakes Seasonal Workers Make." I was sledding and building a snowman with my wife today when I realized I needed to tell the other side of the equation. So I thought I would write about mistakes that managers make as well. Now, by managers I really mean ME, or what I have seen personally, but I figure that I cannot be that different from other managers in this industry. Plus, a blog entitled, "The Top 5 Mistakes I Make" just didn't seem like som… Continue
The interior roads of Yellowstone started to open up for the 2008 summer season on Friday -- April 18. The roads from Mammoth to Canyon to West Yellowstone and into Old Faithful are now open to the public. Stay tuned though, it’s snowing pretty hard in Gardiner right now, on April 20th.
I was in West Yellowstone Friday night and drove out for a look around on Saturday and – well – Yellowstone does not disappoint.
I headed to Old Faithful and parked over towards the Lodge then walked by Old Fai… Continue
well we will start with i have to horable sisters......sorry but they are crazzy!
my mom is soooooo nice u would totally like to meet her
my dad.........well u dont want to know about my dad
i have a kind of nice familly but not that nice?
well im a big fan of hannah montana/miley cyrus........
i have a dog his name is tiny ..............he is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cute!
well that my life! Continue
Posted by emily on April 18, 2008 at 8:48pm —
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Well I have been up in Alaska now for a full week. It started late in Anchorage at a great little place, and progressed the next day south down to Cooper Landing. The drive down here was beyond belief. Mountains surround you as you drive parallel to the Turnagain arm. The hiway snakes around the canyons. Several times we stopped to take pictures of the snow that was over my head in depth, as the day I arrived in Alaska a late snow shower dumped about a foot of snow into the area. Temperatures we… Continue
So why did I decide to go to Alaska? well i have a friend named Jeremy who went to MPL last year and we (Darren, Felisha, Jeremy, and Me) were sitting around hanging out and Jeremy mentioned he was leaving to go to Alaska. Jeremy started to tell us about it and it sounded really cool so he made me think about going but i didnt ask enough to say i wanted to go until I found out all of my closest friends in Utah were going. thats when i really started to ask Jeremy questions and he started to give… Continue
Posted by Matt on April 15, 2008 at 10:26pm —
2 Comments
......I don't know why and I don't know where. All I have wanted
was to fit in, to contribute, to be accepted. I have tried in so
many ways to figure out this life on my own-and I just can't make
sense of so many things. I'm heading out of Shreveport, Louisiana
either Sunday or Monday and I haven't a clue where I'm going-but
I do know I'm heading West. I have no idea why, it's just a feeling
....like having gas :)
There's a window of opportunity each spring when some of the roads have been mostly plowed out but they aren't open for cars yet but they ARE open for bikes. No cars, great roads, lots of snow, scenery and the occasional wildlife-obstacle.
Four of us rode from Mammoth to Obsidian Cliff and back on April 12 - 20ish miles with a CRUISIN' downhill at the end. The road from Mammoth over to West, over to Canyon and down to Old Faithful opens to cars on the 18th.… Continue
Posted by Bill Berg on April 12, 2008 at 7:34pm —
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For those who are nervous about their upcoming adventures, I copied, modified, and pasted this from a note I wrote a friend the other day.
One day I was somewhere near Imperial, MO. at a fruit orchard with a friend and talking about our various travels. The owner, who seemed to have everything one could ever want, started crying. I thought I had upset her somehow, but I hadn't. Why was she crying? She had never left Imperial, not even to go to St. Louis. So she had a lot of THINGS, but had not y… Continue
Posted by akscootr on April 12, 2008 at 8:29am —
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Hey All,
I am proud to say that we have crested 900 members (904 to be exact) and I cannot believe that it was just March 13th when I posted another blog that said we had reached 700. Keep telling your friends, family, neighbors, about this cool thing we've got started. : )
Last night, I was talking to a guy I know who has worked up in Alaska and the Yukon for several years about the feeling I get at this tim… Continue
So I arrived at the Hostel last night around 1030pm. Just a short cab ride over from the airport on the snowy, icy streets of anchorage. You have to love a place like this, very nice artwork on the outside of the building, walk inside to the sounds of RadioHead being played in the office. A very nice gal got me checked in and showed me around the building. They have free WiFi to use, about 5 bunk rooms both male and female and one Co-Ed. Two big living rooms to hang out in with computers if you… Continue
I decided to check out the park and enjoy some of the snow falling there yesterday. I saw deer so I stopped the car & turned it off to watch them... They were completely unafraid. Two approached the car so closely I could have reached through the window and touch them if I wanted to. I could see curiosity in their eyes as they looked me over. I softly spoke to them and it seemed as if they were listening.
It was magical... this is why I have remained a coolworker for so long. It is why I int… Continue
Posted by akscootr on April 10, 2008 at 11:00am —
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I make lists. All the time. MY INTENSELY LONG LIFE LIST: (in no specific order)
Fall in true love.
Birth/Adopt/Foster a child.
Build my own home.
Conquer my fears.
Learn how to ride a bicycle.
Shower in a waterfall.
Ride a roller coaster and not vomit.
Go to another country.
Have a star named after me.
Donate blood.
Have one of those movie kisses in the rain.
Climb a mountain.
Change the world in some way.
Hang out with the bums and the under belly of civilization.
Tell my…
Well in 23 hours and 36 minutes I will be landing in Anchorage. I have packed, unpacked, and repacked about 4 times now, and then after reviewing the baggage limits on the United Airlines website I realized that one of my bags was waaay too big!!! So a frantic trip to the goodwill provided me with an appropriate sized piece of luggage circa 1974 for a mere 6 bucks. And after a fifth repacking session and another resort I finally got everything I could possibly stuff into my two bags and stay wit… Continue
I missed the photo contest! I've been really busy with work, school and some freelance stuff and I just forgot to upload my pictures here. Oh well.
I'll be going to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon this summer - I was going to go to Alaska but a family member has had some serious health problems and I decided I needed to be within driving distance if - Heaven forbid - something major happens and I need to come home. Hopefully that won't happen but better safe than sorry. In any case I'm lookin… Continue
Posted by Lea on April 8, 2008 at 3:00pm —
2 Comments
So, I had decided circa 2005 that I was going to move to Alaska. Everyone asks me why. The answer is pretty simple; I had a dream. No really. I dreamt I was living in Alaska, woke up, and decided I was doing it. It was kind of a big deal. My friend's didn't believe me. My father was ready to pack my bags and ship me out so he could come visit, and had I not been in school he probably really would have.
Then in September 2007 I met a boy at work who had just gotten back from MPL. He didn't have… Continue
I am starting to get a little anxious, now, with less than a full month remaining before we set out cross-country en route to JLL. Time was dragging by and then one day I realized I really only have about 3 weeks left after factoring in a visit/trip with a friend and the cross-country drive.
ZOIKS!
So now I am trying to clean up my room where I've been staying here in FL, make a list of anything I still need (without going overboard!), and thinking it may be time to start packing (which is alway… Continue
I was inspired today to blog on a previous blog that yours truly wrote called Instant Classics. I had to tape Sense and Sensibility on Masterpiece Theater for my wife tonight. As I perused my pile of video tapes (why is it so hard to keep VHS tapes organized?) I found a prospect for recording. It had an old episode of Heroes on it. Just as I was about to switch it off and set up the timer I saw a blurb across the bottom of Heroes for the Series Premiere of Journeyman. This caught my atten… Continue
I dunno if you guys have seen this or not. If you haven't seen it it's deffinately worth a look, if you have then just pass it along. For the record I didn't write this, it was actually passed to me from a friend.
“I am a Front Desk Agent”
I have advanced degrees in Accounting, Public Relations, Marketing, Business, Computer Science, Civil Engineering, and Swahili. I can also read minds.
Of course I have the reservation that you booked six years ago even though you don’t have the confirmation… Continue
Posted by Johnathan on April 4, 2008 at 11:06pm —
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So as I ease into the last weekend of my vacation, I am taking the time to do and see all the things I wont get to do again for the next six or seven months. Going out to my favorite restaurant, going to see my GrandMa in the nursing home, stocking up on the great organic espresso from my fav. coffee house. Fishing with my dad. Taking my niece out for a happy meal, against my better judgment but hey she is only 6 and it's hard to say no to her! Spending some quality time with my new best friend,… Continue
The stonecutter was unappreciative of who he was. Seeing a wealthy merchant, he desired to be such. When he became one, he realized that with all this power, he still had to bow before the king; of course, he now wished to be king. And so it was, until he noticed how much the sun could make him uncomfortable with its heat. How powerful the sun is, he thought, so he became the sun until the cloud showed its power by covering up the sun. He then became the powerful cloud until, one day, the mighty… Continue
I post blogs in numerous other places, so I figure why not post one here.
The following are reasons road trips reign supreme, and why mine rocked.
1. The music. Be it your favorite mixed CD, your road trip buddy's shitty death metal that he just happens to see an autographed photo for in a random Czech bakery, or even local radio (video did not kill my radio stars) the music involved in a 3,800 mile road trip is most definitely epic.
I have taken 3 CoolWorks widgets and stacked them
vertically for posting on pages-below is how these would
appear. I have posted the code in a text file for downloading
at the link below. I will be available to assist in editing for
your pages as needed-especially for the second widget :).
Enjoy
-John
Link to download Code file…Continue
And that means only one thing....BASEBALL IS BACK!!! And here I sit scratching my head as to what happened tonight to my Beloved Cardinal's. Yesterday was opening day, We were up 5-1 in the third and then the rain that had been a threat came down in a rage and washed the game away. Tonight Yadi hit a single homer to put us in the lead in the fifth, but unfortunately then in the 7th he missed a throw my grandmother could have caught to give up a run. And it was downhill from there. Oh even though… Continue
THANKS to everyone who contributed to our first My CoolWorks Photo Contest! We LOVE to see where you are working out there and were thrilled with the response.
Now that the contest is over, please help us pick the winner.
Photo Contest Entries
Please add comments and rate your favorites. We’ll take your input into consideration when we do our final voting.
Bill, Kathi, Patty, Eric and I will be reviewing all of… Continue
Posted by Kari Quaas on April 1, 2008 at 3:36pm —
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I was inspired by a new MyCoolworks friend to write this tonight. She just went on a rocking road trip in her Cobalt and it got me thinking about two road trips that I have done, driving from Wisconsin to Alaska. The first time I was in a wicked rush. Please pardon the "wicked" comment, I have been reading a book about the Boston Red Sox and I guess am feeling a little New England-ish tonight. Back to the point, first trip of 3600 miles was done in 4 days, leaving Friday morning and arriving Mon… Continue
I am telling myself to not compare this park to Yellowstone. With a whole new adventure ahead of me I am looking forward to this summer. New park, new job, New state. In just a few short weeks I will be in a wonderous local that I am sure is breath taking. And the best part is unlike years past, no greyhound bus to have to get there. I live right in the same state several hours away and my family has decided to make a mini vacation of it so there going to drive me all the way to the north gat…Continue
I've recently watched this movie and i really enjoyed, i found it inspirational, and heartbraking at the same time, Have you seen it? Did you enjoy it? I did not liked the way it ends, but this is a true story, Couldn't ask for more! - This is the story of Christopher McCandless.Into The Wild
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 8 wins & 29 nominations - Directed by Sean Penn
INTO THE WILD is based on a true story and the best selling book by Jon… Continue
it is Saturday, March 29 and it's a beautiful day, I just hope it sticks. for the last couple of months we were pounded with snow, while great for snowboarding and snowshoeing was murder for travelling. So, I didn't get to go snowboarding much because I was shoveling out my driveway most of the time. I live in the city and I have to drive 2 hours west to go snowboarding. But, now that the snow is melting I can go hiking at grant park tommorrow. YEAH!!!!!! Continue
Posted by B_monkey on March 29, 2008 at 3:16pm —
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I thought I would write another random blog post that had nothing to do with work. I want to thank everyone for their feedback and comments on my blogs. I love getting it. I had a lot of great feedback from my "Odds and Ends" blog so I thought I would do a listing of some things that I feel are very underappreciated. At the end of this, let me know what you think are some underappreciated things.
1. The Cow -- I really think the cow is underappreciated. Without this animal we would have no hamb… Continue
I'm a man of God and have been for sometime now, one who has chosen to listen to his requests. The request of following his will.
This is something I dont talk about often nor do I often share such feelings with others, however I find it time to share what I have been doing out here in Montana.
I have had several promotions with-in the company starting in a lowly postion of pure hatred and depression to a postion that was fun and joyful with a good boss, though the job was still not what I wan… Continue
Posted by Dave on March 25, 2008 at 2:40am —
1 Comment
When we first came to Arizona and the Sonoran desert, I can definitely say I never expected to see this much beauty, color, and life. With all the rain we got in January and February, the wildflowers are starting to bloom. The Mexican Golden Poppies are definitely the brightest, with their orange and gold petals. The Lupine is always a favorite, growing taller each day, and adding a touch of purple to the landscape. I can't wait to see the cactus blooms. They should start blooming in April.
Spi… Continue
Posted by Begee on March 24, 2008 at 10:45pm —
1 Comment
If you've never heard the song by Barenaked Ladies, well, you must listen to it, so here it is...
If I had a million dollars by BNL
Why is this on my brain? Well, we're in the middle of a kitchen remodel and if I had a million dollars we would have either:
1) Gone to Hawaii.
I interview many people who think they should get the job because they have experience. I hire many people because they are enthusiastic about their jobs. So there in lies the Battle of the E's, what is more valuable: Experience or Enthusiasm? I hope you noticed the italics in the first two sentences. Experience may get you an interview, enthusiasm will get you hired.
Seasonal jobs by their very nature require constant training. The jobs start and end each year, and new employees… Continue
Having been born two feet from the ocean, I have had close ties to the water all my life. The Atlantic Ocean is not only a majestic sight when the swells crash onto the shore, it's also a way of life for coastal Maine towns. My upbringing was no exception with my father being a lobster fisherman. Well, having said this, I have also always had a fondness for boats of all types. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to ride aboard the "Katahdin" on Moosehead Lake and I wanted to tell you a little… Continue
Posted by Jeremiah on March 22, 2008 at 1:49pm —
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I thought I would take a moment and briefly mention one of the things that separates Acadia National Park from others. That is, the Island Explorer bus system. After reading about other National Parks and how secluded they are from civilization, I began to be thankful for the accessiblity of where I work. The Island Explorer, through several grants and donations from big companies like L.L. Bean, runs all over Mount Desert Island. So, even though you are living and working inside a National Park… Continue
Why do you go to work every day? This seems to be a question that is becoming increasingly more complex as the world around us changes. It used to be the answers to this were very straightforward. They included money to pay bills, respect of peers, good benefits (health insurance) etc. But with the shrinking of the world, people are becoming much more aware of their individual impact on the global community. With this awareness comes the desire to change that impact. A recent survey found that i… Continue
Read "Indoor Nation" on Cool Works' Blogging the Dream
waiting
2 weeks away
Party party party
.so very ready.
May first, second day, I'm blessed!!!!!!!!!
Postcard Picture
what. it's a picture of chocolate, back off.
Snow, Whistlepigs and Spring Again!
Rocks, snow, ice and whiskey.
Top 5 Mistakes Seasonal Managers Make
Why
John is heading West......
Gung Ho
One month to go...
Lookin for a laugh?
love yourself.
A new Beginning
"Into the Wild" A great adventure on Alaska
whoa!! winter is over, I think!
Life can be funny.
Growing up on the water.
