Inner Bedouin Day 3 -- Big Bad Day

...literally and figuratively as to the title above.   Big refers to the concrete fauna we observed; bad meaning good, describes the beauty of the Badlands National Park.  We drove from Jackson MN to the Badlands in South Dakota.

The day began at Ace hardware however, where we tried a variety of pins to hook up the sway bar.  Found two that worked, bought 6 of them.  While Ace might not be a big tourist attraction for most, we thought it warranted a picture because it allowed us to drive on in comfort.  No more bouncing.  Please note my macho big mirrors, which make seeing around the travel trailer MUCH easier.  I've since added small convex mirrors as well and now have a clear shot of much of the road behind me.

At our first gas stop was uneventful till we noticed three HUGE tractor trailers pulling the blades used on the giant wind turbines.  Pretty cool.

This was only the first of many "giant" things spotted during the course of the day.  The first caught us off guard, hadn't fully done our Roadside America homework.   Suddenly, we saw a giant steer head sitting on the plains.  The first picture below shows the scale compared to passing cars.   The second shot gives it an Easter Island-esque quality.   We've since found that it is part of Porter Sculpture Park in Montrose, South Dakota -- the bovine head is that of an Egyptian cow.

At a gas stop, we caught a view of a giant buffalo.  Can't find anything about it tho', and have no recollection of where we took the picture.

As we drove along, we saw so many billboards for "The Corn Palace", that I was lured in by the siren song.  So, we went in search of it.  Jaime questioned the wisdom, and rightly so.  But, I've spent too much time around Mike Homan listening to Nebraska corn stories to pass it by.  And for any of you who may have wanted to go, but a stronger traveling partner convinced you of your foolishness - here it is:

About the only plus to going to it, was finding another large bovine next to a hotel:

By far the prettiest thing we saw on the drive were the huge fields of sunflowers.  Yellow as far as the eye could see.

But the  piece de restance of the day was for sure the human skeleton walking a Trex skeleton on a leash.   Set a bit off the road, if you didn't know it was there, you would be hard pressed to describe it.   Jaime and I realized that as the passenger, had she not know it was there and suddenly saw the ironwork, either her brain wouldn't have been able to register it as the ridiculous sculpture that it is, or, she wouldn't have mentioned it because really, who would believe it?   So, should you be driving along this stretch of i-90, you'll see a billboard for the art and finally (and quickly) the sculpture.

We ended the day at the Badlands KOA, you had to drive thru the Badlands National Park to get to it.  Just gorgeous.  We caught it as the sun was setting, making the red rocks even more vibrant.  I'll wait for pictures of that leg till tomorrow's post.   Instead I'll leave you with this giant prairie dog statue we found somewhere nearby:

Inner Bedouin Day 2 -- Jackhammer ride to Jackson

Today we drove from Madison, WI to Jackson, MN.  Right near our KOA, we saw our first "big cow", as per Roadside America's "Big Bovines" list.  Jaime noted the injustice of the Burger King/McDonalds backdrop.

We also passed a huge windmill farm.  Kinda pretty, not sure I understand the hub-ub about how they 'disrupt the landscape' as is often noted.  Jaime pointed out that they seem no "uglier" than power lines.

We stopped for gas at a Superamerica station which fascinated Jaime, leading her to sing a "Team America"-like song with each one we passed from that point on.  It also held enough fascination for her that she took a picture of it, so I include it here.

We later unduly pondered a sign that advertised a "4-D Movie Experience."   Since the 4th dimension is time, we concluded that all movies are 4D since about 2 hours pass.  But we doubt that's what they meant.

We crossed the Mississippi river today.  Surprisingly long climb back out the valley, first real test of the Jeep's towing ability.

Our "growth opportunity" for today came after we parked in the Jackson, MN KOA (a GREAT campground).  As I was getting the camper set up, I noticed the sway bar was hanging on by one hook.  Apparently the pin that held the other end in place had fallen out.   Which suddenly made our very bouncy ride for many many miles make sense.  It was ridiculously bouncy at times, which caused many a chuckle on the drive.  But not so funny when we realized the reason.   And even less so when we found that no one had the pin we needed to fix it.   So, RV-lesson #2 -- carry along extra parts.

Fortunately RV-lesson #3 -- people camped nearby are very very friendly - also occurred as a result.  Had some super nice folks next to us.

The cats grew accustomed to their Road Warrior status pretty quickly.  The first picture is of Wiley checking out the campground while we registered, the second is of my Lounge Lemur, comfortably ensconced on the windowsill next to Jaime's foot.

Inner Bedouin Day 1 -- We Learn by Doing

Since I'm on leave this Fall, I decided to drive out to Seattle with the 'kids' and visit with my family while I write.  Jaime has never been to Seattle, so I offered to cover all costs if she would co-pilot.  We're driving a travel trailer that we camp in at night.  Jaime's husband didn't quite get the idea of driving around with your 'house' hooked to your car, until someone made an analogy to Bedouins.  They subsequently observed that we were simply getting in touch with our inner Bedouin, which gave us our trip name.

Wiley and Lemur. ride in the Jeep with us during the day, and are adorable.   Either snuggled up between us on the arm rest, sitting on a box to watch the world go by, or trying by every stealth means possible to get Jaime to let them lay in the foot well between her feet/under her seat.

Day 1 did not go down as a particularly good start.  It's been a learning experience, should be a pro by the time we get there.   The first day we were delayed because I slept thru my alarm and Jaime didn't have the heart to wake me up.   Then, when I finally got my lazy arse out of bed and we were hooking up the trailer, we realized that the cable that controlled the lights and brakes was sliced.  Must've happened when I was practicing backing up and turning. So, I called one of my new pals in the RVing business and asked if he could sneak us in right away to rewire it.   He did and off we went.

Right into Chicago traffic, even tho we went 80 to 39 up to 90.  That was fun, for the first real time driving the travel trailer.  I had no feeling in my hands about halfway thru it.

Finaly we turned onto 39.  At one point I thought it has started raining hard, then realized that in reality we were committing bug genocide.  Unreal number of flying insects on that road, it was not fun cleaning up afterwards.

We had considered  stopping at the worlds largest museum dedicated to angels, and/or Circus World and the International Clown Hall of Fame - but the soul-sucking properties of highway 39 hot the better of us.

We finally pulled into the KOA Jaime found us, but well after the office closed.  They had left us a great space.  Setting up the camper at midnight with a flashlight while those flying insects we didn't manage to kill on 39 took out their revenge was 'fun', but the camper was quite comfy.

Only made it as far as Madison, WI that night.  'Twas far enough.

Matzel

Sad day last week when we lost Matzel.  He's been suffering from kidney failure for some time, which required 3 pills a day and a subcutaneous IV every 36 hours.  Although he still had a good appetite, he pretty much just snuggled with me, went to the bathroom, then back to sleep.  On shakier and shakier legs.  I finally had to decide if he could make the long drive out to Seattle with us, and it just seemed too stressful.  He was good for at most a few more months, and those months would have been spent driving and moving to a new house, etc.   So, the vet came to the house to put him to sleep.

Definitely shed many a tear of the last week.  He was a pretty constant little companion for 17 years, and much loved.  I miss him.

Wine Tasting

Alica came in for the weekend as part of our new "Alumni Day" with the field school. One of the activities Jaime planned for us and the TAs was a trip to a local winery. Tiny place, but fun way to spend the afternoon. Came home, made a tasty dinner.

The Librarian

I've got to confess, I just love "The Librarian" movies.  Might be goofy, but you gotta laugh at lines like "Yay Newton!!" after his 3rd law of thermodynamics saves the day, and "I think it's only fair to warn you I AM in fact, a librarian!" as Noah Wyle fights Vlad the Impaler.

I just watched the newest one "The Curse of the Judas Chalice" - New Orleans, vampires, Bible curse, Bob Newhart as a 2000 year old "Scholar" who fights the forces of evil -- really, what's not to love?! Giggled away, as I have with the previous two.

I had it on as "background noise" as I did some number crunching...didn't work.

Upright Citizen's Brigade Parody of the BP Oil Spill

Anthro majors change the world!

This is pretty cool - one of our majors was pivotal in getting a bill signed by President Obama last week.  He's the Executive Director of a program called "Resolve Uganda", a project he started while a student at Notre Dame.  Michael is second from the right (red tie) in the picture below.

The bill, titled the "Lord's Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009," commits the US "to help bring an end to the brutality and destruction that have been a hallmark of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) across several countries for two decades, and to pursue a future of greater security and hope for the people of central Africa."

Here's a link to an article about the legislation:
A Future of Greater Security and Hope for the People of Central Africa

50 FIRSTS: Atlantic Char (Yawn)

Okay, this is boring. But it's a first, so dammit, I'm counting it.

We went to Bonefish Grill to celebrate Jaime's new PhD-ness, and I had Atlantic char.  Quite tasty, tho' a bit oily (perhaps due to preparation rather than type of fish).

That's about it.  Dull, but counted.

iPad: Fun AND Useful

I am using a wireless keyboard with my iPad for the first time, and have to admit, this became not just a fun toy, but a useful tool. With the AV adapter, it allows me to show my lectures (translating from PPT to Keynote pretty easily) in class without having to lug my laptop around. The bluetooth keyboard weighs nothing, so even carrying that is still a substantial net gain in portability.

While it won't replace a laptop or desktop for extended work (or adding skeleton action figures, of prime importance ;-), it will be great in the classroom, for travel, and for my old eyes when searching the web in the evening or Facebooking while petting a cat or two and watching TV.

Yep, total and complete and utter decadence. I fully admit it.

(action figure to be added later ;-)

Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill(s) - 1979, 2010

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Oil Spill Ticker

Virtual Committee Member

Jaime had her dissertation defense today.  I was there...virtually.  I Skyped in - which meant I was sitting in my study.  And with me were all three cats.  Lemur lying across the back of the chair, Wiley laying on one arm, and Maz curled up in the windowsill.   I think their attention was a combination of missing me for the past several days (I was in Seattle), and because they could hear the voice of one of their favorite people.

Apparently no-one noticed the feline participants.  I thought about dipping their little paws in ink so they could "sign" the approval form  ;-)

PS -- if you try this for a defense, consider getting an external microphone (if they exist) for Skype, because it is VERY difficult to hear much of what is said by those a few seats from the the computer.

The gods must be angry

A few weeks ago I posted an article about skeletons found in a remote mountain region who were recently diagnosed as having been killed by a massive hail storm.  I didn't really buy it, till I saw this tonight on the news:

Almost TOO cute!

Pretty adorable (even for a non-primate, non-cat ;-) --


Meet the sloths from Amphibian Avenger on Vimeo.

Probably Not...

 I wonder if Wiley would be willing to get a 'lion cut' to help the people of the Gulf Coast?? :-)

Sopping Up An Oil Slick With Castaway Hair
NPR.org
May 6, 2010

I can't decide if this counts as a 'green' alternative...or just a drain clogger.

BP - Broken Promises

BP - worst saftey record in the country.  BP -  the cause of more than one leak.  Now, BP has created an underwater oil volcano that threatens to destroy some of the most delicate marine habitats in the world.

Limbaugh tells us that "ecology takes care itself" and "seawater is tough stuff."  I say we coat him in the stuff and float him out there for a few days/weeks to do first hand "journalism."  Sadly, embryonic shrimp are not, bones and wings and fins are not tough stuff.  Thus far they've criminally underestimated the amount of oil spewing forth (by an order of magnitude),  told us it is the fault of the company that owned the oil rig, and claim that they are working as hard as they can.   Time will tell.  The time now?  To send them back to the UK with a fond farewell.

50 FIRSTS #21 -- Tweet(le) Dumb

I sent my first tweet today.  Not quite sure what I'll use Twitter for other than to update my Facebook status occasionally (can't change my 'skeleton action figure' profile pic to match the status using it, so only of limited utility).

Nevertheless, it brings me into 21st century media more fully (Skype, Twitter, Facebook, and a blog), so I guess by definition I'm much more 'cool' now.   Right??  ;-)

If you're on Twitter, let me know your ID.  I'm "primatebonz" and my ID picture is the one to the right.

50 FIRSTS #20 -- 20th Century, Here I Come!!

This almost counts as 2 new 50 FIRSTS -- tonight I Skyped for the first time AND it was part of a conference call. Yep, Lesley and Jaime ushered me into the previous century, as we spent an hour or two making the final decisions about this summer's NSF-REU Fellows. It was a painful process (choosing, not Skyping) - but in a good way - lots of exceptionally qualified applicants! Occasionally Matzel contributed to the 'conversation'.

Brings a Smile, Every Time

I was in a crumby mood Thursday/Friday, so fell back on a few of my favorite you tube videos for a smile: