Memorial Day Weekend Blues

I hope everyone's enjoying the long Memorial Day weekend! Please enjoy it for my sake, and for the sake of everyone who has to work harder and longer so other folks can have a fun and safe break. One of the hazards of working in parks - everyone else's vacation time is my work-harder/longer-than-ever weekend. Also there is the joyous task of being at the mercy of some overly grouchy members of the public. I've already explained why you can't pick the wildflowers (especially since the cold snap last month did most of them in), why you can't just park your truck anywhere you want, and why there is a two-tent maximum per campsite. Each of these lovely folks conveyed to me in such sweet terms that they thought those rules were just "stupid." Luckily, all decided to comply with the "stupid" rules, but taking flak is getting old.

I talked Mr. Hooter into taking advantage of his long weekend by visiting his family - no use in him sharing my misery!


Instead of wallowing further into the pit of self-pity, I'll share this photo I snapped the other day of my pot of snapdragons. This particular plant just exploded with these really pretty pink and yellow blooms!

Thought for the Day

Maxine must have worked in a state park sometime in her life...

The Funniest/Weirdest Commercial Ever

Have you seen that Berries and Creme Starburst commercial? I've only seen it once, and I don't know anyone else who has! Well, except for the people who's seen it on my TiVo. Yes. I taped it...then we watched it at least 22 times. Apparently, while it makes no sense, it accomplishes the purpose...I've been craving Berries and Creme Starburst ever since.

www.berriesandcreme.com

Mullethunt 2007

Mullethunt 2007 has been heavily underway for awhile now for me and my fellow mullet hunters, and we're off to what looks like a VERY productive season, even more so than Mullethunt 2006. I thought it would be nice to share some of our most noteworthy catches:

This is a distance shot of a SuperFemmullet from the end of the '06 season. We had to be wary with this one, as she appeared highly irratible and a bit agitated. We decided to keep our distance and use the zoom.

We also utilized the team approach, using Marden as a decoy while I steadied the camera on nearby clothes rack.

Unfortunately the sight of the Superfemmullet and the resulting adrenaline rush had an adverse effect Mr. Hooter's brain. I found him in the Christmas section posing as a Potbellied Conehead.
After proper treatment, most notably food, he was deemed fit for more mullet hunting.

This was a very interesting specimen, and our most recent, caught by Travis at a nearby public event, which I like to refer to as "local doings" (pronounced "local do-in's"). Local doin's attract a wide variety of sometimes scantily clothed natives, and mullet sightings are rampant. This possibly one-of-a-kind mullet Travis dubbed "The Possum."


Here's another good mullet of note...yes, this is a RECENT photo, not one from 1986. I believe this is also a Travis catch, and if i remember right, while you can't tell from the photo, in real life it was actually TWO-TONED. What you can see is that this mullet-wearer takes his 'do seriously, going through the meticulous trouble of perming the "business" end.

ALETA put us a little behind on mullethunting, however, we're catching up quick and look to have a banner year. If you'd like to join our mullethunt, or need any tips, let me know! (Please remember to treat all mullets humanely, as many species are endangered.)

Happy Mother's Day...and general musings

A big Happy Mother's Day (late) this past Sunday to all the mothers out there, especially my own, and to several celebrating their first - Maria with Jett, Amber with little Gino, and Cheryl with one week old Benjamin. Seems everyone is just popping them out left and right. Don't look at me just yet. :)

So again I've been MIA - this time I had some in-service law enforcement training to replace some of the sub-par teachings of ALETA with some sound common-sense practices of State Parks. While the two weeks were exhausting, I did learn more in the last two weeks than in the whole three months of ALETA. Also, we got to see a bird poop on Kendra's head...I'd give my left big toe to have a picture of that.

Lots of things have happened since my last post! First of all, Cheryl finally had that kid. Marden and I visited Cheryl, BJ, and little Ben weekend before last when he was brand spankin' new at the hospital. They've got lots of good pics up on their blog, so go check him out - he's a cutie pie...and check out those feet!!!

There as been a new, but temporary, addition to the Hooter household. It's pretty common in the spring for me to take care of some orphaned critter, and for the second year in a row I'm caring for a baby coon. This is Rudy peeping over my shoulder...I've had him for a couple of weeks now, and he's just about doubled in size.

Some of you might remember Rascal from last year. Despite his scrawny, kind of pathetic beginnings, especially with a broken leg, Rascal grew up to be a big burly coon, and finally went off on his own. Not before he made

a nuisance of himself on a regular basis, especially while we were getting our engagement photos taken...he had quite an affinity for Marden's ears. I'll never forget Mom and Dad taking those photos - Mom holding a shade umbrella over our heads while trying desperately to keep a coon out of the picture with one foot! I'm pretty sure Rascal is the guilty party who's been raiding the trash cans in the park, though I couldn't prove it unless I got close enough...and I have no desire to walk up on a coon that *might* remember me, or just might try to tear my face off. In any case, I miss Rascal and hope he's doing well, but Rudy is becomming a character all his own.

And Sally is finally "fixed." She was NOT preggers with the muttpups after all, and now I can put her outside without holding my breath.

I got this picture from Tye, who's currently stationed in Guam as a navigator on a B-52. Apparently he got bored, because in addition to snorkeling and kite-surfing, he joined a scuba-diving club.

It's nice to see our soldiers and airmen hard at work defending our country, haha. So far he's sent some pretty awesome photos of fish...a much bigger variety than what I saw in Australia. I'm looking forward to him coming home at the end of this month...I'm eager to hear about Guam and all the stuff he got to do. Man...I should've joined the Air Force...