HAPPY NEW YEAR

2007 is gone.  I ate my black eyed peas for Luck, so 2008 is off to a good start.  WMI is running a WEMT course up Sinks canyon. I am hosting one EMT instructor and one student.  Verin, the EMT instructor is originally from India.  Pat the EMT student is from New Mexico.  Both of them have had bad car problems since arriving.  I think Verin's antifreeze wasn't set for Wyoming winters.  He might have to put a new engine into his truck.  Pat broke off his key in the ignition switch.  Pat also slid on he ice with his car and caused an accident tonight.  They obviously didn't eat their black-eyed peas.  

Bob went to Frisco to visit with his brothers after Christmas.  He was trapped up on the mountain for two days when I-70 was closed because of avalanche danger.  Lots of folks had to spend the night in RED CROSS shelters.  Bob's brother owns a 2 million dollar house up in Frisco, so Bob didn't exactly have to rough it too bad.  He is home now, and I am glad.  I did miss him.  

I sent a condolence note to a former student from Pakistan about Mrs. Bhutto's assassination. Samad told me he was in Islamabad on the day she was killed.  He was close enough to hear the explosion of the bomb. The airport was closed, so he had trouble getting home.  For his sake and for all of us I hope things stay calm in Pakistan.  

I am worried about the riots in Kenya.  NOLS had a Kenya branch until the embassies were bombed a few years ago.  Several of our Kenyan staff come here to teach for us.  Muthoni and Kagambi are in Kenya right now.  Ojagi is in Cheyenne, but he has family in Kenya. I hope they and their loved ones are all safe.  

It is just another night in the Noble Hotel.  Liz

Very quiet night in the Noble tonight.  Andy and Matt both took off.  We had a large snow storm last night and I thought it might keep them from driving, but they got out of the Valley.  I'm going to empty out the fridge upstairs.  I shifted snow around today.  Twice snow slipped off the roof and I had to dig myself out of the house.

  Some very nice person plowed off my sidewalk, that was a big help.  Bob plowed my driveway out for me.  It will be easier for my little car to get out of the driveway now.  I don't know what I would do without Bob.

I heard Molly Absolon wrote an article for Outside magazine about Pete's death.  I'll have to get a copy and read it.  I talked to a neighbor about Pete Absolon and Clay Rubano.  It has been a tough year for NOLS.  Allen thinks someone must have taken Clay from the parking lot up at Bruce's Bridge.    People just don't disappear.  Ten years ago Amy Betchel disappeared in the same general area.

The post office delivered the last present I had ordered for Christmas, so other than wrapping packages I am set.  The anise flavoring I ordered arrived yesterday.  I hope to make anise flavored pizzelles on Christmas day while the guys watch football.  Merry Christmas everyone.

Just another very quiet night in the Noble.  Liz

Chinook Winds

Today the Chinook winds blew thru the valley and raised the temperature above freezing.  It was finally warm enough to chip the ice off my back deck.  Chinook winds happen when a front hits the west side of the mountains, but can't get over the mountains.  The tumbling of the winds against the mountains warms the air, so when the winds finally slip over the mountains they blow warm.  The Indians called the Wind River Valley the Valley of the Warm Winds.  The Shoshone Indians chose our valley for their reservation for this reason.  Chinook Winds give a bit of a reprieve to the cold winter.  

Last night several NOLS parents with their babies and toddlers came to the hotel for a photo op in front of the Christmas tree.  There were 5 little ones all decked out in holiday dress.  It was fun watching the parents whooping and making faces to get their babies to sit for the cameras.  

Andy, Matt and I shared Tony's pizzas for dinner.  

It is snowing hard right now.  One of my friends refers to snow as albino brain chiggers, because snowflakes makes skiers go a little crazy.  It will be a white Christmas, and the skiers will be in heaven.  I'll be running a shovel rearranging the snow tomorrow.

Just another night in the Noble---Liz

December 18, 2007

I expected the Noble to be quiet tonight, but I forgot we were hosting a get together of church ladies.  They brought treats and shared with me.  The hotel is festively decorated and 20 foot Tree adorns the lobby. So it is nice people get to enjoy the lobby. The tree  is so tall I couldn't reach the top 4 feet to put ornaments on it. 

 I brought my fiddle up and I am going to leave it up here, so I can practice during our quiet time. 

Matt Celesta is helping me figure out the blogging world.  He is my tutor.  Matt usually drives our Biobus.  He is here for the rest of the week.  Hopefully,  I'll learn a lot from him during this week. 

The dogs are here with me tonight.  Trapper and Tucker enjoy visiting the dorm as they get lots of pets from our guests.  Just another night in the Noble.   Liz 

FIRST BLOG

These are notes from the Noble Hotel.  Our very last NOLS semesters are wrapping up tonight and tomorrow.  So far, all the semesters have ended with style.  Gnat has prepared prime rib for each of the banquets,  that means i've have 6 prime rib dinners in the past 3 weeks.  Prime rib is actually getting boring.  

The lobby is all decked out for the holiday. The moose is decorated with red Christmas ornaments on his rack. Liz