This Week’s Recap…

I think I’m winding down my tour of Jackson, Wyoming. The plan in to catch a plane first thing in the morning to Cincinnati to Atlanta to Charlotte… a few more connections than I’m all comfortable with when flying Delta being that I’ve seen their track record lately.  The latest in Delta’s string of headlines happens to be one of their pilots careening off the runway coming into Jackson this week, luckily, I’m going out and not in having seen this.

 

All in all, I must admit it has been a great trip and the extension for a vacation was more needed than I realized. Here’s the rundown of most of the activities encountered on this trip:

 

Thursday: flew in late (Delta Airlines remember?); the rental car company was supposed to be waiting for me at baggage claim wasn’t there. I called them 30 minutes later and three calls later they still weren’t there (Have I ever mentioned I get pissed off with bad customer service and further pissed when they out and out lie to me?) so I called and told the person on the other end what I thought of their company and where they could insert their rental car. The resort I was being housed in sent the shuttle out to pick me up; arriving promptly in the 10-15 minute time frame I was quoted!!

 

Friday: I woke with plenty of time to get ready for the visit with the public health folks. The meetings started out over breakfast with the Local Health Director and the County Manager. We then toured Jackson Hole so I would know a bit more about the community and region. We then proceeded to the Local Health Department where I met the Nursing Staff and Environmental Health Staff with a round robin battery of questions from both them and I. By Three O’clock that Afternoon I was dropped back off at the ski resort had dinner and wine then off to bed.

 

Saturday: I woke up ready to ski! I quickly learned that indeed the powder for skiing here is much much nicer than that which we have back in North Carolina. The Green (easy) slopes here are closer to the double black diamonds (difficult) slopes back in North Carolina. Of course the trade off is it wasn’t a solid sheet of ice I was skiing on here in Wyoming. So all in all maybe it’s a fair trade of difficulty, just a matter of what one is accustomed to. It wasn’t until much later when I went back in to get a glass of vino at the bar that I was told two tidbits that I reason to be my sensible fear of these slopes: 1) it’s the steepest slope in North America; and 2) It’s one of the Olympic Training Sites. Overall, I think I did ok on these slopes having never been out before, and had a great time falling and sliding down the mountain.

 

Sunday: I woke up as previously posted to discover the airport was closing down. I had my typical mental anguish over whether or not I will be able to get home and how Bella is feeling all abandoned and lonely without her pack being there. They passed with dinner and wine of course! Plus, I finally found some new shoes that actually have traction, grabbed a swim suite and hit the hot tub. (Rare for me to hit a hot tub as I can sense the pseudomonas just sitting there stalking people coming into the water.

 

Monday: Woke up resigned to the fact I am here until Thursday!!! It is still snowing and piling up in spots!!! I do love winter!!! Went on  Snow Mobile Tour to Granite Hot Springs where we unloaded the sleds and took off down the trail for a few hours to the hot springs where we all changed into bathing attire and took a dip for about an hour in the pool and then the tour guide fed us steak and mushrooms! The afternoon entailed playing in a slow field with the sleds and catching some air from the moguls in the area! It may be as much or more fun than skiing at this point. Dinner and more wine followed!

 

Tuesday: I woke up with a serious headache, but was undeterred to have a blast! I went across town to Albertsons Grocery to get some meds for the head and lunch. Then it was back across town to the visitors’ center and a sleigh ride onto the National Elk Refuge. They have huge numbers of Elk, Buffalo, and Bison wintering over in the refuge this year it seems. We were treated to sights of Elk, Bald Eagles, Coyotes, mountain sheep, goat, and all manner of other critters. That evening a return trip to the National Wildlife Art Museum across the road from the Elk Refuge for a Tapas and Wine Dinner; which was spectacular and helps a wonderful cause.  The exhibits were amazing and tantalizing as the courses they served at the table; if ever in the Teton Region, make sure to go to Tapas Tuesday at the museum; it’s a double reward.

 

 

Wednesday: Winding down and relaxing a bit more to prepare for the flight home in the morning; provided we do not get bumped. I just found out Delta over booked this flight in an attempt to get back on track. Damn Delta, Damn Delta!! But, intent on making the best of a great situation went for a massage this morning and it was far better than the previous massage I had. I’m’ still not all that great at having my space invaded by other people who want to play with my feet and be all touchy feely. Guess I’m just a classical case of “Type A”; take me and love me, or leave me alone. Afterwards, grabbed lunch, strolled around town browsing galleries, and shops and came back in to nap for a few. The evening dinner plans are set, the wake up cll is set for Thursday Morning and I’ve got the bags about packed up to hit the skies back east where I will have to meet up with the sullen neglected beast of Bella, who will for week s remind me how she was abandoned  without regard to her desires to travel.

 

So, rewards do sometimes come to the weary… especially when we don’t realize how weary we are. If nothing else, this week has taught me to slow down and feel the cold, feel the warmth, to feel.