Oh Deer, the library's here, time to browse

Flagstaff Library Bookmobile visits the North Rim once a month from June thru September. It’s only here for about an hour and can get quite busy. Sure is an appreciated service, especially when many towns are closing libraries.

Being in the middle of nowhere can mean a lot of time for reading for some. (see Kaibab squirrely Park Ranger) Or in my case spending way too much time online.

I always check out at least 6 books, plus 3-4 DVDs and sometimes I even watch one.

Less than 100 yards (914.4 meters) away Mom browses with her twins.

Sky Watch Friday - Fog at Grand Canyon National Park

Roaring Springs Canyon
After the great rain storm last week temperatures dropped, even down in the canyon. The next morning we saw fog slowly rising out of the depths.

To see more skies from around the world, or to share your own, go to Sky Watch Friday by clicking here.

I Scream FRAUD!

I stupidly bought into something kind of unknown online with Google Fortune/FunWebProfits, a way to make money, and agreed to pay $1.97 for information. I know it was stupid and rarely buy anything online. Ten days after the authorized charge they charged me $69.97 for who knows what. I called immediately to cancel and get a refund on the second charge, which they agreed to. There are many complaints. Another 10 days go by and I find an unauthorized charge of $29.95 from Altfunding.com which my bank credited me for. Five days later MyResource.com clips me for $24.95, and they don’t even seem to exist. I had to get a new debit card being mailed to my seasonal address, which the bank was not very cooperative about doing until I explained where I was, five hours from the nearest bank branch and seven hours from my permanent residence. I have to wait 30 days to see if FunWebProfits does credit my account before I can file a claim against them. I went to the Florida Better Business Bureau, where they do business, and filed a complaint. I could also file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center but upon reading their Privacy Policy (see I am learning) decided I didn’t want them to have that much access to my information.

It’s hard to believe that our private banking information can be passed around like this.

Please take heed and be extra careful when spending on a “money making” opportunity. I’ve learned another life lesson.

Kaibab Squirrely Park Ranger

National Park Rangers are a creative bunch.  Read more here.

Remember Whensday - My Denali

Not the mountain in Alaska, although I hope to visit there one day.
When I brought home this 8-week old puppy from the Humane Society in 1981they told me she was St. Bernard and German Sheppard. It took us a few days to come up with the name Denali, which means “Great One.” My x-husband was born in Alaska. We kidded about her growing into her saucer-sized feet. And my 6-year old step-son constantly asked, “How big will she get?”

Denali was the smartest dog I’ve ever had the honor of friending. She was housebroken in two days. We already had two cats who taught her they were the Queens of the house and she always respected that. Although I did have to teach her not to eat the cat’s food. She ran like the wind chasing the kids, plus eventually horses and snowmobiles. Denali also loved to swim and her thick coat rarely got soaked to the skin. She would follow us in our inner tubes on the lake and then tired of paddling around would join my x on his tube, laying across his lap for a float. When it was time to return to shore she would tow us in. She didn’t like the canoe but would gladly jump on board the powerboat.

She moved several times with us. At one place, I walked the 1.5 acre property line with Denali twice and she never crossed that line. But she loved to chase the neighbor’s cats back home, right up to the edge. At another place we rented with 12 hillside acres she could run as she pleased along with the horses. In fact a man stopped at the house one time to report seeing a wolf. His jaw dropped as Denali came quietly up by my side, no threatening just protection. She was the family pet, but she was My Denali.

Eventually my x and I moved aboard our 22 foot sailboat and My Denali couldn’t come along. (We did take a cat.) A dear friend living on acreage gave Denali a new home along with her two Sheepdogs and several cats. Almost a year later when I returned to the same area hoping to bring Denali back into my life I discovered she had been given another home with a family when my friend returned to school and had no space for any pets. I didn’t try to find her. I just knew she was happy.

Sally from The (Mis) Adventures of Karl and Sally has started a new meme where the past is remembered through sharing old family photographs and this is #11. I love the idea and hope you will too. So join the fun by clicking here.

Winter already?

Sunday evening it hailed very hard and the ground turned white. It was too dark to take a photo. Plus I was trying to greet my CouchSurfers. They admitted to bringing the hail with them. LOL

Today I saw this by the Administration office.

My World Tuesday - Hosting CouchSurfers

Sisters Grace and Katherin are driving across country from San Jose, California to Massachusetts where they will be attending college. In order to save a little money and meet people along the way they are CouchSurfing and stayed in my little camper/guest house last night. They are two wonderfully amazing young ladies.

What is CouchSurfing you ask? Well, this is what the website has to say: “CouchSurfing is an international non-profit network that connects travelers with locals in over 230 countries and territories around the world. Our mission as an organization is to create inspiring experiences: cross-cultural encounters that are fun, engaging, and illuminating. We have a vision of a world where everyone can explore and create meaningful connections with the people and places they encounter.”

This is my second experience of hosting CouchSurfers. My first couple was Kendra & Peter. She from Portland, Oregon and he from the Czech Republic.

What a wonderful way to travel and meet people from around the world. If you’re interesting in participating check out their site. It seems very above board and safe. I look forward to Surfing some Couches myself in the future.

To see more of life from around the world, or to share a piece of your own world, go to My World Tuesday by clicking here.

Scenic Sunday - Storm over Grand Canyon

This is my first post to Scenic Sunday.

Yesterday afternoon we had a downpour on the North Rim. The most rainfall all summer. It only lasted about 30 minutes yet small streams ran all over and the ground actually got wet. I love the smell of the air before, during and after the rain.

To see more scenes from around the world, or to share your own, go to Scenic Sunday by clicking here.