As I sit at my desk, listening to KPVI’s programming on my radio (87.7), ironically I catch the TODAY SHOW.  They have been counting down the top 10 most beautiful places in America.  Last week, they went to Hawaii to show off their #4 pick.  This morning, they announced #3…YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK!  How’s that for some good news??  Perhaps a small feather in Idaho’s proverbial hat (and certainly welcome with all the rotten publicity concerning Senator Craig) 

My girlfriend from Dallas, Texas drove up to Pocatello a couple of weeks ago with her two sons so we could share the TRUE outdoor experience…camping in Yellowstone.  We have a small 5^th wheel, so I took advantage of the reservation system ensuring somewhere to camp for a couple of nights.  We stayed in the Madison campground the first night.  This campground is a nice, spacious place with fire-pits and picnic tables.  WARNING – Bring your own firewood.  There is some available for purchase, for a moderate price.  The evening ranger guided discussion is not as entertaining for young children as their Nintendo, but as an adult (especially one that considered Yellowstone her back yard for many year) I found it very interesting.  We enjoyed the sites at Norris Basin and at Canyon…Beware – the 3/8 of a mile hike to the crest of the Lower Falls is well worth the walk…but it is straight up and down; a series of endless switchbacks.  Not something you want to do if you are in a hurry to get somewhere!! 

We camped the second night at Fishing Bridge.  No fire-pit; no picnic tables; no tents.  And for a good reason – BEAR COUNTRY!  Upon check-in, we went through the rules…informed of the resident Grizzly, Goldie…and warned about the increasing and less fearful coyote’s (who happen to really like small, unattended leashed dogs)  We dropped the trailer, and headed to Grant Village and Old Faithful.  After driving around, walking around and viewing everything we possibly could (with 4 kids) we headed back to camp.  We were awaken about 11:30 that night by Wylie (the coyote) yipping right outside the camper probably about 20 feet away.  The dog barked, the kids cried, and even though I knew it was just a stupid coyote and we were safe inside a hard-sided trailer, it still gave me the creeps!  After the mud pots, geysers, springs, buffalo jams and We all trudged home through Teton Park.  After a nice respite in Jackson Lake (and “in” is no joke) the kids passed out and we drove home.

My dh and I decided a few days later that we were headed back mid-September to go visit the treasures in the Northern area – Mammoth, Tower, and Lamar Valley! – without children! -

With all the crisis, devastation and controversy in the world, its time that someone put something positive in the media!  So, I sit here today, thinking - what is something GOOD and POSITIVE that I can write about?

SCHOOL HAS STARTED!

With one in High School, one in Jr High, and one in elementary school, all I can say is "hallelujah for the start of the school year!"  Now my obnoxious kids will have something to do, something to focus on, and a reason to go to bed before midnight!  Don't get me wrong, I so love the summer - typically I enjoy the heat, but this year was a bit more than my comfort zone allows... - I enjoy getting out and doing things.  But the drama of teenagers overshadowed by the oppressive heat sure made my summer long.  And what is it these days with teenagers that think they know everything?  I was NEVER like that...  (Mom, Dad - I am sorry I was such a butthead!  You have gotten your way with the "Parents' Curse")  All of that pent up energy wasted on arguing with a parent that DOES KNOW EVERYTHING!!  (Sound like a pattern, here...)

I do feel bad for their teachers should they choose to act out - I hope that they are smarter than that! 

And something must be said about our EDUCATORS out there...THANK YOU, THANK YOU!  They take our over-knowledged, sleep deprived, hard of hearing (or selective hearing) over-sugared children, and teach them, mold them, work with them, care about them and send them home with a channel to focus their attention in.  If you have ever had a teacher that made a difference in YOUR life, that is (or what should be) what every teachers' goal is.  So, thank a teacher, today!  Tomorrow!  Next week.  They are, after all, educating our future leaders...

Without quality teachers, our future will be lacking quality.  Without ethical teachers, our future will be lacking ethics.  Without ambitious and creative teachers, our future will be lacking ambition and creativity.  And for some of those teachers that do not fit in that category that are tenured...well, that's another topic!