Ramblings from the Rim

Going back to Grand Canyon

noreply@blogger.com (Leo) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 22:33:00 +0000

I will be working at the Grand Canyon again starting October 4th. Looking forward to seeing some of my old friends and haunts there. Will be going via Vegas. Should be fun.

at old faithful

noreply@blogger.com (Leo) — Mon, 17 May 2010 17:26:00 +0000

I am working now at Old Faithful Lodge. I haven't had time to do much of any photo taking yet. I will be off this Wed. and that is part of my plans. My mobile phone doesn't work here, and the internet is so slooooooow.

I will be getting a job at Yellowstone

noreply@blogger.com (Leo) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:43:00 +0000

I will be starting a job at Yellowstone National Park on May 8th of this year. If you want to read about Yellowstone I suggest you find something at my Amazon Affiliates link.
Yellowstone

I will be working at Old Faithful Lodge as part of the Kitchen Crew, though I don't yet know my actual assignment there. I will keep you up to date on my time spent there.

Pictures of Suzhou China

noreply@blogger.com (Leo) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:10:00 +0000

Images of Xiangfan

noreply@blogger.com (Leo) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 01:19:00 +0000

I am being kinda lazy so here is a link to my flickr set of photos i have taken around Xiangfan (I also was having trouble getting it to load the photos from the web for some reason)

Forgotten but not gone

noreply@blogger.com (Leo) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:04:00 +0000

Well it's been forever since I have posted so figured what the heck might as well since I was given an extra day off from work to recover after being sick with gastritis.

I am still in China but as of February 20th I have been in Xiangfan, Hubei Province, China instead of Wuhan where i started. It's about 3.5 hours northwest by train. They were short teachers and I was asked to transfer. Considering the first place they talked about transfering me to it's much better.

Some pictures of my Apartment:

My first day working we went to Museum of Xiangfan which is basically the center of the old original city. you can still see some of the original city walls and gates from the fourth floor/roof of the museum.

Finally in Wuhan

noreply@blogger.com (Leo) — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 07:18:00 +0000

I left the Canyon at 10:15 AM on Thursday November 4th. I arrived at Flagstaff's Pulliam Airport at approximately 12:30 PM. My flight out boarded at 6:10 PM. I arrived in LA at around 8PM (7PM LA time). I went to my Hotel the Travellodge in El Segunda CA. the shuttle to my hotel was about 5-10 minutes late picking me up. I left my Hotel at 5:00 AM for LAX. My flight to San Francisco left at 7 and arrived at 8. MY luggage was tagged as going to Beijing with the connecting flight info on it, but not for Wuhan, which made me worry, since when buying the ticket the quoted price was more than the price charged when paying for ticket. at 10 AM I was able to get my boarding pass for the air china flight to Beijing. They didn't give me a boarding pass for my connecting flight so I was worried I didn't have a ticket to connect to Wuhan. The flight was also delayed, what should have left before 2pm was now not boarding until 2:30PM. By the time we boarded it was after 3pm, and after 4:30 when we took off. I was now worrying that I would not have a ticket for a flight I was most likely going to miss. We landed in Beijing at around 4:30 am (7:30 PM local) and I had to claim my luggage. I then went to see about the boarding pass for Wuhan and was told the plane had already left. I was directed to a ticketing counter.

This is where Air China really stepped up to improve my first impression. I was given a flight out the next morning, and they arranged for accomadations, including a meal. I was about the only one going to Wuhan, but the flight to Shanghi had also been missed by about 20 or so people. They took us by shuttle bus to the CTS Beijing Hotel. When I got there we were told that it was two people per room. I was put in a room with another american, from Colorado that was headed to Shanghi on business. We got to the Hotel about 9:45 PM local, and there was a small buffet available to us. I had horrible hot and sour soup, as well as some chinese dishes I really had no idea what they were. Other than the soup the food was good. I was glad I knew how to use chop sticks as there was no silverware available. We were told that they would wake us at 5AM for a 5:30 shuttle to the airport. At 4:30 they knocked on our door to wake us. We got on the shuttle and headed to the airport. It was about 6:30 or so when we arrived back at the airport. My flight out was at 7:45 AM. I was the only american and really i think the only non-chinese on my flight.

A long time in airports/on planes, but I think it is worth it. I am so happy to be reunited with my Snow.

rest of disney photos

noreply@blogger.com (Leo) — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 21:06:00 +0000

Well had a hard enough time uploading these so just gonna post a link. Probably still missing some.

My flickr stream

New Job

noreply@blogger.com (Leo) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:19:00 +0000

I am going to be Moving to China. I have a job offer teaching English in Wuhan China. I am very excited and scrambling to get Visa etc.

I hope to leave for China the first week of December

As for the more pictures I promised blame flikr, it keeps timing out on me

Happy and Sad

noreply@blogger.com (Leo) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 03:58:00 +0000

I went to see my Fiancee off to China from LA. On November 10th I helped her complete her checkout procedures here at the canyon. We then went to Flagstaff on Open Road Tours. We went and closed her bank account, and then we went to Mandarin Buffet, a Chinese restaurant Snow really enjoyed, for lunch. We then took a cab to the airport. We flew to LA and got there about 730PM with 3 of her classmates. We spent about 45 minutes trying to decide on a hotel. We settled on the Howard Johnson listed as being at LAX. It was supposed to have a Chinese restaurant etc. no restaurant, except american style breakfast when we got there. The high speed internet wasn't free. We were disappointed in our hotel. Though it looked nice enough.

Snow and I went to a Pizza/Iranian restaurant for dinner. We had some Pita bread and then ordered BBQ Chicken Pizza. We split an order of Baklava for Dessert.

On the 11th we went to Disneyland with Snow's classmates via Limo.

We spent half the day as a group then split up. We went on several rides. At 11pm we went met up again and took the limo back to our hotel. It was alot of fun and I have many happy memories.

On the 12th they went back to China. Both Snow and I cried. I didn't want her to go and wish I could have gone with her. She left at about 8 am. My flight back to
Flagstaff was at 3pm. I spent the night in Flagstaff but didn't feel like doing much. Too many memories of doing things with Snow in Flagstaff. I went to Walmart for some supplies and then returned to the Canyon.

I will try to get more photos of our time at Disney posted in the near future.

My coworkers are driving me nuts with comments like " So Snow is back in China now? That must really suck for you." I just want to throw them into the canyon.

My next step is to find a job in China. I am looking for a job teaching English. I hope to get married once I am over there.

I'm engaged!!

noreply@blogger.com (Leo) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:02:00 +0000

On November 3rd I asked my Girlfriend Snow to marry me and she said yes. We went to dinner at the Arizona Room, which was the site of our first date two months prior. I wore a Chinese style jacket that Snow bought me on our trip to Vegas, and She wore the Black dress she wore on our first date.

We started the meal with the Roasted Red Pepper soup, and had prime rib as our entree.

After dinner we went to the porch swing at El Tovar, which we did on our first date as well. This is where I proposed to her. She mentioned that I kept staring at her all through dinner. I told her that is because I wanted to be sure hers was the face I wanted to see across from me the rest of my life. I then got down on one knee asked her to marry me and gave her an engagement ring. Her response "OK". After the shedding of a few tears of Joy, I broke out a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne. It was quite cold that night so after the initial sips we went back to her room and shared the Champagne with her roommate.

I was too busy celebrating to get an image of the ring until the next day, but it's a 1/3 carrat diamond with an enhancer band of inset diamonds.

Hike down to Mile and Half House

noreply@blogger.com (Leo) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:26:00 +0000

Well I finally made it below the rim. I hiked down to the Mile and a half rest house with my friends Marc, Snow, and Jane.
Here they are just before we set out. l to r Jane, Marc, and Snow

looking up from the Bright Angel Trail.

Marc along the trail.

Snow and I along the trail.

Snow, Jane and Marc along the trail

We met a couple of new four legged friends along the trail as well such as this bighorn sheep

or this squirrel at our destination

And here we are resting at our destination...
Marc

Jane

Marc and Jane

Snow and I

It took much longer going back up than it did going down. My asthma was really making it tough on me. I kept having to stop and rest. It took about 30-45 minutes down and about 1.5-2hours up. Still it was a blast and I will do it again.

The Omnivore’s Hundred

noreply@blogger.com (Leo) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:56:00 +0000

Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
Optional extra: Post a comment here at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

Leo's Omnivore’s Hundred:

Venison
Nettle tea
Huevos rancheros
Steak tartare
Crocodile
Black pudding
Cheese fondue
Carp
Borscht
Baba ghanoush
Calamari
Pho
PB&J sandwich
Aloo gobi
Hot dog from a street cart
Epoisses
Black truffle
Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
Steamed pork buns
Pistachio ice cream
Heirloom tomatoes
Fresh wild berries
Foie gras
Rice and beans
Brawn, or head cheese
Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
Dulce de leche
Oysters
Baklava
Bagna cauda
Wasabi peas
Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
Salted lassi
Sauerkraut
Root beer float
Cognac with a fat cigar
Clotted cream tea
Vodka jelly/Jell-O
Gumbo
Oxtail
Curried goat
Whole insects
Phaal
Goat’s milk
Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
Fugu
Chicken tikka masala
Eel
Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
Sea urchin
Prickly pear
Umeboshi
Abalone
Paneer
McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
Spaetzle
Dirty gin martini
Beer above 8% ABV
Poutine
Carob chips
S’mores
Sweetbreads
Kaolin
Currywurst
Durian
Frogs’ legs
Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
Haggis
Fried plantain
Chitterlings, or andouillette
Gazpacho
Caviar and blini
Louche absinthe
Gjetost, or brunost
Roadkill
Baijiu
Hostess Fruit Pie
~~Snail~~
Lapsang souchong
Bellini
Tom yum
Eggs Benedict
Pocky
Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
Kobe beef
Hare
Goulash
Flowers
Horse
Criollo chocolate
Spam
Soft shell crab
Rose harissa
Catfish
Mole poblano
Bagel and lox
Lobster Thermidor
Polenta
Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
Snake

lightning storm

noreply@blogger.com (Leo) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 15:03:00 +0000

Last night there was a thunderstorm going on when I got out of work. I snapped several photos of the storm between Midnight and 1:00AM to try to capture some shots of the lightning. Here are the ones that turned out the best.

The last photo shows how much some of the flashes were lighting up the sky.

noreply@blogger.com (Leo) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 14:39:00 +0000

coming soon are some print versions of novels by some of my favorite podcasters...

noreply@blogger.com (Leo) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:16:00 +0000

New Position

noreply@blogger.com (Leo) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:14:00 +0000

I just finished my last training shift last night. I am now trained to be a bartender here. I am enjoying it immensely. I don't have to get up at 4am to work in the coffeehouse anymore :) ! I am waiting on my new uniform shirt to come in. will post pics when it does.

noreply@blogger.com (Leo) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:13:00 +0000

INFP - "Questor". High capacity for caring. Emotional face to the world. High sense of honor derived from internal values. 4.4% of total population.

Free Jung Personality Test (similar to Myers-Briggs/MBTI)

Friends leave

noreply@blogger.com (Leo) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 02:00:00 +0000

Some of my friends and coworkers left recently. They were all internationals from Thailand and they left at the end of May.

The first picture is of my co-worker Pam. She and I worked in the Coffee House together.

The second picture is Left to Right Tip, Katae, and Pam. Tip and Katae both work as hosts in the restaurant.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

noreply@blogger.com (Leo) — Thu, 22 May 2008 23:12:00 +0000

It snowed today 4/22/2008. Not just a flake or two but near white out at times. The frontpage of the Arizona Daily Sun (a 'local' paper out of Flagstaff, AZ) read that we could possibly set record highs and lows in the same week. Its currently 39F. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!

first baseball game in approximately 30 years

noreply@blogger.com (Leo) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:17:00 +0000

I attended my first baseball game in approximately 30 years last night. I'm pretty sure that Mark Fidrych was pitching for the Tigers when I was last at a game. At any rate I went with two of my co-workers here at the canyon to the Arizona Diamondbacks vs Huston Astros game. The Astros won 6-4. While still not a baseball fan I had fun. I got an autograph from Jose Valverde before the game started. There was supposed to be 5 of us at the game but a couple of people wound up having to work. When we got to Phoenix, we went to the box office and were able to upgrade 3 tickets for $10 each to seats along the 1st base line from seats that were in the upper upper deck. We were in section 112 row 10 seats 1, 2, & 3 instead of section 317 row 7 seats 10, 11, & 12. We were rooting for the Astros as the two co-workers were both from Texas. The Diamondbacks or D-backs as they are frequently refered to, play at Chase Field. I took a couple of photos before the battery on my cell phone became to too weak to access the camera feature.

The first photo is from outside the stadium, the second two were at the TGI Friday's that is inside the stadium. We ate there on the "patio", which are seats overlooking the diamond.

noreply@blogger.com (Leo) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:32:00 +0000

Not much new here at the canyon for me. Have been enjoying the entertainment the last few nights. Smoot Mahooty is playing nightly at the Bright Angel Lounge through April 26th.

They added free wi-fi in Victor Hall where I live.

I am supposed to go back to the Doctor on May 6th for my thumb.

----------------
Now playing: Smoot Mahooty - Opinion Page
via FoxyTunes

----------------

noreply@blogger.com (Leo) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:59:00 +0000

Well the doctors left me on restriction for another 4 weeks. I am continuing with my physical therapy etc. disappointing but I suppose it's for the best.

Busy Busy Busy

noreply@blogger.com (Leo) — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:30:00 +0000

I have been working doubles every day since my last day off until April 3 when I started my new position. A double consisted of working from 11am to close at 10PM (which usually meant I punched out about 10:30 PM) I am no longer hosting (well unless they ask me if I will host to fill in for some one who may have called in). Starting April 3 I began training as a Cashier in the Coffeehouse. I start work at the insane hour of 4:45 AM and work until 11Am I actually ran the register today, with my own bank; my third day in the position! I haven't had time for photo taking as a result of all the hours.

I go back to the doctor in Flagstaff on the 8th for a (hopefully) final check-up and release to full duty. After the release to full duty I will continue in the Coffeehouse as well as go back to working as a Cook's Helper at Yavapai in the evenings.

My trip to Hermit's Rest

noreply@blogger.com (Leo) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:24:00 +0000

I went to Hermit's Rest on 3/19/2008. I started by walking along the rim trail and spotted several fossils.

I also took a picture of Plateau Point from Trailview Overlook.

While at Trailview Overlook I saw some Bighorn sheep

I continued on to Hermit's Rest via shuttle bus at this point.

I learned that it's a historic landmark.

I saw the huge fireplace they have there.