88 days and counting.........

 It has been a week of extremes here.  One day it is warm and the next cold and stormy.  Luckily our Tuesday, Wednesday weekend was reasonable weather.  On Tuesday we drove down to Bozeman about 300 miles round trip for a Costco run.  Luckily there was a Target, PetSmart, Radio Shack and Great Clips all in the same mall area.  We were able to do all our shopping in basically one stop.  Unfortunately, we forgot "the list" so a number of things will have to be purchased next time.  How did the pioneers do it??  I can't imagine only getting to "town" a couple of times a year.

I got my first "Great Clips' haircut.  It is shorter than I had wanted, but I guess a $12 haircut is a $12 haircut.   I shouldn't need another one for about 6 months.  It will take that long for my hair to come back.  Bill has been kind.  His only suggestion was to try and push the wee bit of hair I have in the back over the nick I am now sporting.

We had a terrific ride yesterday through the Firehole area.  There is a small swimming hole that was packed with folks.  It was a perfect day for taking a dip.

Evidently our grizzly has returned to the campground.  We heard yesterday that he had been spotted near the entrance to the campground.  It is amazing to me the number of tents we have camping in this area.  We have to tell them that they can leave nothing out at their campsite, everything must be in their hard sided vehicles. AND when they bed down for the night, they should have nothing but themselves and their sleeping bags in the tent.  No water (especially water bottles), no lip balm NOTHING.  Just hearing that would be enough to send me to a motel....... 

Today, it is back to work for us and we have been told that the "bigwigs" (whoever they are) will be doing an inspection.  Let's hope they have done their inspecting and are on their way back to Mammoth before our shift starts at 2:30.  Bill is hoping they ask him how he likes working here... and I would like to avoid that conversation.  Bill has a countdown calendar going... 88 days before we leave Grant.  This is a lot more work that we had envisioned...  with an archaic computer system that makes everything harder.   But at least on our days off, once we get our chores done, we have a beautiful area to explore.

We have also discovered we have allergies....  in fact everyone here has allergies.  There is so much pollen in the air keeping the vehicles clear of the yellow stuff is impossible.  My new bedtime friend is Benedryl ( or its generic equal).  Everyone is sniffing, snorting and coughing.  One would think the H1N1 has revisited us in Wyoming, but it is just the pollen.  One gal in West Yellowstone told me that this is the worst she has seen it in years....  wouldn't you know it!!!  We get to set records where ever we go.  

The mosquitoes are still here despite the daily killings of hundreds by Bill.  The cooler temps slowed them down some but today they are back with a vengeance.  Bill has his spray and both swatters at the ready.

The pictures are from the Firehole river and lake area, plus my usual buffalo and a "space age" elk with a radio collar.

Love to you all..............