Change of Mood

Dust of Snow

The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree

Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.

Robert Frost
American (1874-1963)

Flagstaff Fridays

La Nina is being true to form. We have had a dry winter here in Flagstaff, maybe some snow next week? I wish we could take a little bit of the snow from you up in the NE (just a little bit).


From Jack Welch:

The Snow Shoe activities are on hold but will begin again if and when it snows! Most of the Walk The Walk routes can be changed over to snow shoe routes if the weather delivers snow.

JANUARY 2011

THURSDAY 27 JANUARY 2011
Table Tennis/Ping Pong
Location: Adult Center
Time: 6:00 PM until 7:45 PM
We'll have three tables in play. Recreational and competitive players Welcome. Adults only please

FRIDAY 28 JANUARY 2011
Walk Into Spring
Start Location: Office Max Parking Lot
Time: 9:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking. We'll walk outside if the weather is good or inside the mall if the weather is terrible.

SATURDAY 29 JANUARY 2011
Walk The Walk
Ft Tuthill County Park
Start Location: Park along the road that runs next to the County Fair Site
Time: Noon
About 4 miles of walking as we use the Archery Road up to the range

SUNDAY 30 JANUARY
WALK THE WALK
Picture Canyon - east side
Start Location: At the end of Rain Valley Road near the mail boxes
From the new Home Depot on Route 66
Drive past the Wild Cat Treatment Plant road about 1/2 mile. Rain Valley Road is about a 1/2 mile further on the left hand side of Route 66
Time: Noon
About 3 total miles of walking as we explore the other side of Picture Canyon and gain a different view of the recently restored meander

MONDAY 31 JANUARY 2011
Adult Ice Skate at the Jay Lively
Location: Jay Lively Ice Skating Rink
`650 North Turquoise
Time: 10:00 AM
Cost: Less than $10.00 for entry and skates
Call the Jay Lively for complete details at 774 1051

FEBRUARY 2011
Don't forget to turn in your Healthy Heart December calendar page

TUESDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2011
Walk Into Spring
Start Location: Adult Center
Time: 9:00 AM
About 3 total miles in and around the surrounding neighborhood

WEDNESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2011
Table Tennis/Ping Pong Play
Location: Adult Center
Time: 6:00 PM - 7:45 PM
We'll have 3 tables going. Recreational and competitive players welcome.
Adults Only

THURSDAY 3 FEBRUARY
Bicycle Advisory Committee Meeting
Location: City hall upstairs in the Staff Conference Room
Time: 4:30 PM
Discussion of Bicycle Issues

THURSDAY 3 FEBRUARY
Friends of the Rio de Flag Meeting
Location: Adult Center
Time: 6:00 PM 6:00 PM
Discussion will be about the Friends of the Rio plans to participate in the fall Science Festival.
We would welcome your ideas and suggestions. Everybody welcome. Please do bring a friend

THURSDAY 3 FEBRUARY
Table Tennis/Ping Pong Play
Location: Adult Center
Time: 6:00 PM until 7:45 PM
We'll have three tables going. Both Recreational and Competitive Players welcomed. Adults only please

FRIDAY 4 FEBRUARY
Walk Into Spring
Start Location: Office Max Parking Lot behind the Flagstaff Mall
Time: 9:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking. We'll be outside if the weather is nice and inside the mall in the weather is nasty.

SATURDAY 5 FEBRUARY
Walk The Walk
Campbell Mesa
Start Location - Park in the cemetery lot across from the trail head which is located off County Club Drive on Old Walnut Canyon Road. The trailhead is about a mile from County Club Drive. 1/2 mile of paved road followed by 1/2 mile of Forest Road
Time: Noon
We'll explore some of the 5 loops located on that mesa

SUNDAY 6 FEBRUARY

Walk The Walk
Downtown Wall Murals
Start Location: Flagstaff City Hall - west parking lot
Time: Noon
About 3 total miles of walking as we take a closer look at the downtown murals

This and that- "Friends of..."

Friends of…
When I lived Eureka, California I helped with Friends of the Dunes. We worked to restore the local dunes to their natural ecosystem. From Eureka we moved to Salt Lake City and I met a group of people working with the Friends of the Great Salt Lake. They had a huge task- to restore, protect and defend the ecosystems of the Great Salt Lake. From Salt Lake City we moved to Flagstaff.

Here in Flagstaff, I have heard of many “Friends of…” organizations. Because I am a walker I hear mostly of Friends of the Rio de Flag. Rio de Flag is an intermittent stream that runs through Flagstaff. We have a nice trail system (Flagstaff Urban Trail System) that runs next to it for a large part of its course.

These “Friends of …” groups are advocates for places (sometimes it’s a building) and habitats. They listen for legislation that might impact the area, brainstorm on ways to protect the place and get the word out about why the site is important to protect. As a group they can clean up an area, raise funds and develop coalitions with other groups. Without these groups special areas might be lost.

So here’s a toast and a big thumb’s up to “Friends of…” groups.

Wednesday's Walker- Linda and Don

The following is from Linda and Don. I met Linda and Don when I started going to a small church here in Flagstaff. They were very kind to us (and many others). We had great fun playing dominoes and Chinese checkers. Sounds like they have found a terrific community in Oregon.

Well, the first things we purchased when we moved to OR four years ago were rain pants. There's no excuse for NOT walking here! Our favorite motivation for walking in McMinnville is our "Walk 'n Talk" group of about 15 senior citizens in our 70s and 80s. We meet every Tuesday-Thursday morning at 8 AM at the Linfield College track, whatever the weather. At our own paces, some slow and some fast, we walk the safe track for 30 minutes, equaling 1.5 miles. Our reward follows indoors at Jake's Deli where we gather for coffee and conversation at a large, round table. During that 30 minutes we share jokes and much laughter. These fun days highlight our weeks and years as we're becoming "seasoned citizens!"

Treasure Blogs

One of the big joys of the internet is getting to read blogs from people around the world. I am constantly amazed at what people are writing about out there- and I mean amazed in a good way. I have found so much beauty and compassion in some of these blogs, so much heart, and yet they aren’t going for the book or the tv show or any glory. Some have a large following from around the world and some are just quietly documenting their piece of life. I have sometimes been saddened with the thought that we are really missing placing a history together when we just communicate through email, texts and tweets. But maybe those do count. And some of those blogs are like the long, thoughtful letters of yesteryear.
I bring this up here because of one of the blogs I have in my blogroll, Walking Prescott. This was written by a woman with a sharp eye and sharp wit. She carried her camera with her everywhere and it seemed that she noticed everything. I was never one of her regular followers, but when I did visit I always enjoyed her post. The other day I thought I would catch up on her travels only to find out that she had passed away last spring. I was shocked to feel such a loss for someone I had never met. Her readers from around the world expressed their condolences and her daughter posted a wonderful photo of her mom and dad in their younger years.
You can still see her blog with her fun photos

.

La Nina

"La Niña is expected to continue well into the Northern Hemisphere spring 2011...Impacts in the United States include an enhanced chance of above-average precipitation in the Pacific Northwest, Northern Rockies (along with a concomitant increase in snowfall), Great Lakes, and Ohio Valley. Below-average precipitation is favored across the southwestern and southeastern states. An increased chance of below-average temperatures is predicted for much of the West Coast and northern tier of states (excluding New England), and a higher possibility of above-average temperatures is forecast for much of the southern and central U.S. ... While seasonal temperature and precipitation patterns in the U.S. are strongly influenced by La Niña, these signals can be modified by other factors, such as the Arctic Oscillation (AO)/ North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)."
From EL NIÑO/SOUTHERN OSCILLATION (ENSO)
DIAGNOSTIC DISCUSSION
issued by
CLIMATE PREDICTION CENTER/NCEP (National Weather Service)
6 January 2011

I hope that all of you feeling such bitter cold temperatures find some relief... Weather geeks, be sure to click on the link for the full discussion.

Flagstaff Fridays

Activities from Jack Welch, please contact him if you have any questions. The snow has been melting fast so maybe more walking, less snowshoeing.

ALL OF OUR SNOW SHOE SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO THERE BEING ENOUGH
SNOW. We can still do a walk/hike from the start locations if the snow is diminished or completely gone.

SATURDAY 22 JANUARY
SNOW SHOE TO THE FAA FACILITY
Start Location: Dead End of John Wesley Powell just east of Pulliam Airport Road
Time: High Noon
Interesting walk with a few decent hills into a meadow just west of the Airport

SUNDAY 23 JANUARY
SNOW SHOE INTO PICTURE CANYON
Start Location: At the end of Rain Valley Road near the mailboxes.
Rain Valley Road is located just past the Wildcat Treatment Plant Road (El Paso Flagstaff) off Old Route 66 (about a mile past the new Home Depot store on the left side of Old Route 66)
Time: Noon
We'll use the Arizona Trail to reach Picture Canyon for a different view of the newly restored meander

TUESDAY 25 JANUARY
Walk Into Winter
Start Location: Adult Center
Time: 9:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking in and around the surrounding neighborhood

WEDNESDAY 26 JANUARY
TABLE TENNIS/PING PONG PLAY
Location: Adult Center
Time: 6:00 PM - 7:45 PM
We'll have 3 tables in play. Both recreational and competitive players welcome

THURSDAY 27 JANUARY
TABLE TENNIS/PING PONG PLAY
Location: Adult Center
Time: 6:00 PM - 7:45 PM
We'll have 3 tables in play. Both recreational and competitive players welcome

FRIDAY 28 JANUARY
Walk Into Winter
Start Location: Office Max Parking Lot at the Flagstaff Mall
Time: 9:00 AM
We'll walk about 3 miles outside if the weather allows or inside the mall if its bad outside.

SATURDAY 29 JANUARY
SNOW SHOE AT FT TUTHILL
Start Location: Parking Area across from the County Parks and Recreation Building next to the County Fair Grounds
Time: High Noon
We'll stomp one of the many trails in this the most popular county park

SUNDAY 30 JANUARY
SNOW SHOE PICTURE CANYON
Start Location: Between the El Paso Facility and the Wildcat Water Treatment Plant on Flagstaff El Paso Road
Time: Noon
Picture Canyon is a great winter time visit. Expect to see (or find evidence) of local wildlife. The restoration of the meander is a wonderful addition to our community.

Wednesday's Walker- Pete Dog Walker

Pete walking dogs

Pete, Dog Walker, is my oldest brother. He enjoys those extreme backpacking adventures up mountains, in the snow (extreme to me anyway). He lives in Washington.

What do you do? What keeps you busy? What is your passion? I'm retired. Walking keeps me busy. Walking in the mountains is my passion.

Fill in the blank. I walk because …. Walking is the best exercise around for humans.

What do you like about walking? I walk all the time. Every day starts with a morning walk with the dogs. In the fall it seems I feel the call and do a major hike with my friends for a week or so.

Describe a walk where you found something special or something that made you happy or something surprising. Whenever I encounter wildlife on a walk I feel something special about it. Like the time we saw the ram in the Grand Canyon.

What is your favorite walk? My favorite walk right now is the walk to Mt. Margaret in the St. Helens Monument area. It gives one the feeling of being in an alpine environment above tree line due to the blow down from the volcanic eruption. Exposed are beautiful vistas, rock formations, and a feeling of openness.

Any tips to get people walking?

Buy one of those step counters and see how many steps you take in a day. Try to work up to 10,000.

A Cold Walk's Reward

Beautiful Sunrise on a bitter cold morning

One day last week I decided to resume morning walks at a local park here in Flagstaff, Arizona. My plan was, get son to school 7 a.m., go for two mile walk, get back before 8 a.m. to start the working day. So that’s what I did.

Two “problems.” The sun is rising here around 7:31 am and the temperature for that morning was around 10 degrees F (I know that is balmy for you up north, but still…).

I started around the path and realized it was going to be a cold walk- really cold. I thought I had dressed for the weather. Hat, gloves, muffler, multiple layers of shirts- all good. Bare face, denim jeans on legs- bad.

Pip on the cold, cold trail

I started jog-walking to make the walk go faster. That is saying a lot from someone WHO DOES NOT RUN. I actually wasn’t running, but getting pretty close to it.

I saw a person at an exercise stop ahead of me. It looked like they were doing yoga. As I got up closer I could see that they were also throwing a Frisbee for their dog. The sun hadn’t risen yet. I was shaking my head, thinking “die hards, these folks are.” As I approached the person I realized that I knew her. Unfortunately, I was too cold to stop and chat and ask, why the heck are you out here doing yoga at o’dark thirty while it’s colder than cold. I just smiled, said “hello” and trotted on by.

By now the sun started rising and it is beautiful. I stopped to take some photos. A runner went by and I managed a “hello” and “it’s colder than I thought it would be.” He smiled and said, “but isn’t it beautiful.” I couldn’t have agreed more. The sunrise was worth the bitter cold.

Pip with iced whiskers

The rest of the walk was uneventful and even seemed to warm up a little, either from moving, the sun or the shelter of the trees.

I went back there today and it was a lot warmer, 27 degrees F, and I didn’t see my friend doing yoga and for some reason the sunrise, while pretty, wasn’t nearly as beautiful.

Martin Luther King Jr.

"If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward."
— Martin Luther King Jr.

Flagstaff Fridays

Notes and activities from Jack Welch.


LACK OF SUFFICIENT SNOW - NO SNOW SHOE HIKES THIS WEEKEND
We will walk a route from the same start point on both Saturday and Sunday.
(Please look at the schedule).

I was just over at the Kick Stand/Nordic Nook Kafe (719 North Humphreys) and they showed me a lot of snow shoes and cc skis for rent at that facility. A few changes have been made this year:
1. The call to the Nordic Center to get delivery to the Nordic Nook is no longer necessary. The Nordic had a lot more snow shoes on hand this year.
2. The Snow Shoe rental shop part of the Kafe is open from 3 PM until 6:00 PM. The Kafe is open earlier and stays open later.
3. Rent your snow shoes in the afternoon and you won't be charged an extra day. Only for the days after.
4. The charge this year is $10.00 per day rental
5. For more complete details call 928 779 3360

FOUND: On the return Snow Shoe Hike on Saturday 8 January (Toward Fisher Point) A pole part basket: Gray Screw in type. If you lost such a critter please let me know so I can get it back into its proper place.

REQUIRE QUICK REPLY
Cuyler Boughner is willing to host another Snow Shoe and related equipment discussion if there is interest in her doing so. The date would be Thursday 20 January 2011 at 6:00 PM at the Adult Center (Arts and Crafts Room)
IF YOU CAN ATTEND SUCH A MEETING PLEASE E-MAIL OR CALL ME BY: FRIDAY 14 JANUARY 2011 IT'S A LOT OF WORK TO GET SUCH A PRESENTATION READY SO WE NEED AT LEAST 20 PARTICIPANTS. Next Update: Monday 17 January

GAME AND FISH SPEAKER SERIES
Once a month on the Second Friday of the month from Noon until 1:00 PM at the
Game and Fish Office - 3500 South Lake Mary Road
Friday, 14 January 2011 - The Subject is Ravens and Crows.
The whole Schedule from January 2011 through May 2011 will be at the Game and
Fish meeting tomorrow.

The following is our schedule from Friday 14 January through Friday 21 January 2011

FRIDAY 14 JANUARY evening
RIO DE FLAG CELEBRATION AND PRESENTATIONS AT THE GREEN ROOM
Location: Green Room which is located at 15 North Agassiz (near Absolute Bikes)
Time: 6:00 PM until?
Many display boards and presentations about the Rio de Flag. Like Bands, see Rio de Flag web site for details.

SATURDAY 15 JANUARY
Walk The Walk - (Snow Shoe Canceled)
Start Location: Coconino Community College Parking Lot (Off Lone Tree Road)
Time: Noon
About 3 total miles of walking. We wont be in Bow & Arrow Wash (muddy or wet or both)
We will use the FUTS along Lone Tree Road

SUNDAY 16 JANUARY (Snow Shoe Canceled)
Walk The Walk
Start Location: Sechrist School on Ft Valley Road
Time: Noon
About 3 total miles of walking. We'll take a look at the new bridge across the Rio de Flag on Crescent

TUESDAY 18 JANUARY
Walk Into Winter
Start Location: Adult Center
Time: 9:00 AM
About three total miles of walking in and around the surrounding neighborhood

WEDNESDAY 19 JANUARY
DAVID AND SUSAN BLANCHARD MOUNTAIN BIKE PRESENTATION
Mountain Biking in Northern California
Location: Adult Center
Time: 6:00 PM
A slide show abut the many wonderful trails for mountain biking in Northern California

THURSDAY 20 JANUARY -
Possible Snow Shoe equipment meeting
Please read the message at the start of this e-mail and respond

WEDNESDAY 19 JANUARY
TABLE TENNIS/PING PONG PLAY
Location: Adult Center
Time: 6:00 PM - 7:45 PM
We'll have 3 tables going. Both Recreational and competitive players welcome

THURSDAY 20 JANUARY - No Table Tennis/Ping Pong Play this evening

THURSDAY 20 JANUARY
Outdoor Meeting
Adult Center
Time: 6:00 PM
Presentation to be announced.

FRIDAY 21 JANUARY
Walk Into Winter
Start Location: Office Max Parking Lot
Time: 9:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking. We'll walk outside if possible or inside the Mall if the weather is decent


I hope to see you all soon!
Jack Welch
714     0504
ADILLLO   at   aol   dot   com

This and that- WhatBird

I don't know what you would call me (a nerd?), but every Thursday I have to really squelch my urge to share with you some random cool thing I found on the computer. Usually it has nothing to do with what this blog is about, so I shake my head and think of something else- but it's not hard! There are so many cool things on the web that are positive and even potentially helpful. So this week I will tell you about WhatBird. I actually found this web page ages ago, before it was famous :) Now it is an iPhone app and appears in commercials, but it still is cool.
You can find a lot of useful bird information on this web page. For instance, if you search on Northern Flicker (upper right hand corner for searches), you will see a photo,drawing and range of the flicker, you can hear a sample call and read about its conservation status. If interested you can click on similar species.
Now I cannot attest to the accuracy of this site- maybe somebody else could let me know of their reputation.
Enjoy learning about birds!

Wednesday's Walker- Lisa

I have known Lisa since we both lived in Salt Lake City, Utah. I worked with her husband at Utah's Division of Wildlife Resources and we would sometimes see each other at social events- I always thought, "now there's an interesting couple- I would like to get to know them better." And as luck would have it, mutual friends started organizing annual "girlfriend" get-togethers so I am getting to know Lisa better.

What do you do? What keeps you busy? What is your passion? I work part time as a medical physicist which keeps me busy in itself but because I travel and am away from home while working I try to maximize my time in Boise (at home) when I am here. I do this by working on handmade gifts which include baked goods delivered on my bike, knitted hats for babies, knitted toys for children, tatted snow flakes (tis the season) and whatever else I find interesting. I am passionate about life. Everything in it is important from work to love to family and friends.

Fill in the blank. I walk because... I like the time alone to think and plan.

What do you do when you walk? I think about what i want to accomplish during the day and honestly i tend to run more than walk so I walk very very briskly :)

What do you like about walking? Again insert running which if I don't feel like running I will walk so I think this is still all applicable. I like to feel energized when I am done, I like knowing I am doing something for myself and no one else.

Describe a walk where you found something special or something that made you happy or something surprising. I have seen coyotes, deer and many birds when running up the canyon. I have run into old acquaintances that I haven’t seen in years while running,

What is your favorite walk? I suppose the route from my house up the canyon out of the housing area is my favorite but it is uphill so maybe it isn’t my favorite, until I turn around and go downhill :)

From your heart

This morning I was wondering what the heck I could write about in this blog. This blog to me is all about getting outside, enjoying the world and doing something positive, “one step at a time.” And then we have another mass shooting. And the one thing I thought that maybe could have come out of it was that maybe people could be less hateful towards each other in their rhetoric, regardless of the “whys” of the deranged gunman. But it doesn’t appear that will happen anytime soon, not in the political arena, not where money changes hands, not on any side.
And yet… Last night I watched Jon Stewart on the Daily Show. Not sure what I was hoping to see, but I saw it. There he was, searching for words to describe the awful event. He limited the humor in the first section. I did like the grown man in panda bear pjs, but what really stuck with me were Stewart’s words. And you should watch it if you really want his take on it, but he said he would not give in to despair. He will rather celebrate the lives he has gotten to know because of this event, lives he never would have gotten to know otherwise- amazing people who lost their lives and amazing people who stepped up to help.
And then this morning, on NPR, I think it was a national story, they covered a walking and running group in Tucson. I was just waking up so my memory is blurry, but I think the group’s name was “Get Out.” A woman is heard telling the group, bigger than usual this time, to smile at their neighbors and ask them how they are doing. Ask them from your heart, she said. And I think that is what it is all about.

No explanation

"There are times when explanations, no matter how reasonable, just don't seem to help." from Life's Journeys According to Mister Rogers by Fred Rogers

peace

Flagstaff Fridays

Ahhh, the cold is hanging on at night but is warmer during the day. Here are plenty of activities to keep you warm.

From Jack Welch:


SATURDAY 8 JANUARY
SNOW SHOE FUTS TOWARD FISHER POINT
Start Location. The John Wesley Powell Dead End East of where Lone Tree Road joins
John Wesley Powell
Time: High Noon
Varied distances available. Expect a few hills. You don't have to go all the way to Fisher Point to have a good day.

SUNDAY 9 JANUARY
SNOW SHOE FT TUTHILL
Start Location: Parking Area across the County Parks and Recreation Building (next to the Fair Grounds)
Time: Noon
Lots of trail possibilities in our most popular county park

TUESDAY 11 JANUARY
Walk Into Winter
Start Location: Adult Center
Time: 9:00 AM
3 miles of walking in and around the surrounding neighborhoods

WEDNESDAY 12 JANUARY
TABLE TENNIS/PING PONG PLAY
Location: Adult Center
Time: 6:00 PM - 7:45 PM
We'll have three tables going. Both recreational and competitive players welcome

NO SNOWSHOE FROM THE PARKING LOT AT THE CORNER OF SNOWBOWL ROAD AND
HIGHWAY 180 ON THIS DAY - Wednesday 12 January

THURSDAY 13 JANUARY
Pedestrian Advisory Committee Meeting
Location: City Hall downstairs in the room behind the City Council Chambers
Time: 4:30 PM 4:30 PM
Discussion of local pedestrian issues and Flagstaff Walks Event in September

THURSDAY 13 JANUARY
TABLE TENNIS/PING PONG PLAY
Location: Adult Center
Time: 6:00 PM - 7:45 PM
We'll have 3 tables going. Both recreational and competitive players welcome

FRIDAY 14 JANUARY
Walk Into Winter
Start Location: Office Max Parking Lot
Time: 9:00 AM
About 3 total miles of walking. We'll walk outside if possible are inside the Mall if the weather is not good

FRIDAY 14 JANUARY
RIO DE FLAG CELEBRATION AT THE GREEN ROOM
Location: The Green Room is located at 15 North Agassiz (Near Absolute Bikes - Look for the Bicycle Wall Mural)
Time: 6:00 PM until LATE
This is a membership and educational event for the Friends of the Rio de Flag organization. There will be many display boards about the Rio de Flag from various organizations. Live bands - Dave Logan - the Rounders - Jack Webb New Orleans Jazz - Knuckle Sandwich and more. Lots of good entertainment and educational opportunities. We need your support. The Green Room is an excellent place for this kind of presentation. Its a very comfortable venue with an easy going style that is enjoyable for everybody. I hope to see you all there!

SATURDAY 15 JANUARY
SNOW SHOE BOW AND ARROW WASH
Start Location: Community College (on Lone Tree Road) Parking Lot
Time: High Noon
If the snow is gone we can do a walk - Otherwise we'll snow shoe off the campus down to Bow and Arrow Wash. The getting out at the end will be the only hill.

SUNDAY 16 JANUARY
SNOW SHOE BEHIND SECHRIST GRADE SCHOOL
Start Location: Sechrist School Parking Lot on Ft Valley Road
Time: High Noon
The snow will have to be deep to do this one! Lots of rocks on the "Wake Up" Trail. If the snow is gone we'll do a walk instead in another area. Start Location will be the same.

This and That- SpaceWeather.com

On Thursdays I share with you some of my favorite things or stuff that makes me go “wow.” SpaceWeather.com often has photos that make me go “wow.” Space weather is all about what is going on up there beyond the clouds. They track auroras and often have stunning photos. They alert you to lunar and solar eclipses. They have photos and stories of meteor showers. And so much more.

Remember seeing satellites in the sky, for us older folks it use to be a novelty. We would be looking at the stars and suddenly one would start moving and that would be a satellite. Now artificial satellites are fairly common. Well, these folks at SpaceWeather.com sometimes know what those moving bright lights are and when best to see the favorites, such as the International Space Station (ISS)- see Satellite Flybys in the sidebar.

They keep track of other stuff too! Including asteroids that are a little too close for comfort. And you know when you make a mistake, lose something valuable for instance, you kind of hope that everyone forgets it after awhile. Well, when one of the space station astronauts accidentally let go of the bag of instruments she was using during an outside space station job, Space Weather tracked that bag for MONTHS! They only stopped because the bag was pulled in to the Earth by gravity and burned up! And you know how the government likes to sometimes launch secret missions? Well, they track those too!

Anyway, some night check out the ISS. It is brighter than any satellite you have ever seen as it zooms across the sky.

Wednesday's Walker- Sandy LoStracco

Sandy LoStracco writes, I got to know Cecile "many moons ago when our sons were little tiny babies together." That was about twelve years ago, when we first moved to Flagstaff. Our sons were in the same playgroup and in the same library story time group. I have a mental memory of her son, another friend's baby- Elliot, and my son all crawling out of the story room together- a herd of babies.

What do you do? What keeps you busy? What is your passion?
My primary job is taking care of my family. Teaching and encouraging them to lead healthy lives, spiritually, mentally, and physically. My passion is showing under-privileged kids that someone cares about them and is always willing to help them when they need it. As I teach my own kids, they are in charge of their own destinies and with determination they can do anything and go anywhere regardless of where they are starting out.

Fill in the blank. I walk because …. it provides me mental and physical health. I have maintained a 20 lb. weight loss for a year just by taking a daily walk and that sure feels good. And if you feel good, you look good, which makes you feel good!

What do you do when you walk?
I do different things. Sometimes I listen to upbeat music (new and from years past!), sometimes I just like to hear nature. Sometimes I plan something fun or exciting to look forward to, and sometimes I come up with a solution to a problem that is bugging me. It's funny how clear things are when you contemplate them outdoors.

What do you like about walking?
I like the feeling of going somewhere. Covering ground. Even if it's just in a circle! I feel productive and it erases the feeling of guilt that I may have conjured up the day before by eating donuts and pizza!

Describe a walk where you found something special or something that made you happy or something surprising.
I was walking with a friend out in the National Forest one spring day and as we followed the trail around a bend, we both stopped short at a magnificent sight. Laying on a hillside, were millions of dark purple/blue flowers. We both commented on how amazing Mother Nature is to produce such a vibrant color. As we continued walking, my own thoughts were not so much about the flowers themselves, but how profound our reactions to them were.

What is your favorite walk?
The ones that I go on right out my back door. No driving involved.

Any tips to get people walking?
Set aside 20 - 30 minutes per day for a walk. It doesn't have to be a big sweaty workout. Sometimes I walk wearing nice clothes just before I head out for the day.


The photos are mine, not Sandy's, I don't think these are the same blue flowers but still pretty- my photos don't do them justice. These are spiderworts and they bloom towards the end of our monsoon season.

Enjoying Snow

It’s been cold here in Arizona. Even here in Flagstaff, where we are use to the snow, we have been getting bitter cold temperatures, minus 30 degrees F. That might be typical for you northerners but for us that’s something different. We are more use to a cold snap of around zero or ten degrees F- still cold, but no 30 below. Phoenix even saw some snow (graupel really- snow pellets- but still). It’s been cold.
The last two winters have caught me saying, “I’m done with this.” Meaning, I am done with the cold and the snow. Last year we had record snow. This year, so far, record cold. I have got to stop saying that. :)
Flagstaff is one of the closest sources of snow for Phoenix residents, many of whom have never seen the white stuff. I think it is kind of neat how these folks celebrate the snow, even if some of their choices are a little sketchy. Just about any convenience store and gas station has the cheap plastic sleds for sale. Barring that, I have seen people use good ol’ cardboard and trashcan lids.
Once they have their “ride” they head to the hills or hill or bump, and any bump will do. Really. I have seen them slide down the bulldozed piles of snow at Target. One favorite location is a small hill at Northern Arizona University that is perfect for little kids, after a snow it is swarming with people. But all around town, anywhere there is a slope, and where they can get away with it, people are sledding and building snowmen. The regular visitors and townspeople venture into the woods onto bigger hills and designated snowplay areas.
Now you may think I am mocking these people but I am not. They are enthusiastic and having fun. They see snow and they think, “magic.” One of my favorite sites is the line of snowmen along I-17 coming up from Sedona. I assume these are built by families who are truly new to snow and can’t wait another minute to get their hands on it. In past years I have always just seen the snowmen, lines of them, at least a dozen greeting you as soon as the dirt turned to snow. This year I got to see them in creation, at least twenty cars and trucks pulled over by the side of the interstate (!). Kids throwing snowballs. Parents taking photos. Some families already in the act of creating the snowmen.
My goal is to try to remember their enthusiasm, their joy in something I just kick at and go, “bah!”

Snow Flakes

Snow-Flakes

Out of the bosom of the Air
Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken,
Over the woodlands brown and bare,
Over the harvest-fields forsaken,
Silent, and soft, and slow
Descends the snow.

Even as our cloudy fancies take
Suddenly shape in some divine expression,
Even as the trouble heart doth make
In the white countenance confession,
The troubled sky reveals
The grief it feels.

This is the poem of the air,
Slowly in silent syllables recorded;
This is the secret of despair,
Long in its cloudy bosom hoarded,
Now whispered and revealed
To wood and field.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)