The Wild, Wild West (Jackson Hole & Yellowstone)

As I've commented before, the Better Life can be enjoyed regardless of the setting.  And this island girl travels!  Most recently, Beau and I enjoyed a journey into the Wild, Wild West - an area of the United States that neither of us had previously explored.  In short, it was fantastic!

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

This area still feels like the frontier as it's a looooong way from the Bahamas, but it was entirely worth the trip!

After arriving by plane last week, stepping into the chilly mountain evening and eating a late dinner by the hotel, we fell soundly asleep in our log cabin at the lovely Rustic Inn Creekside Resort & Spa.  

We awoke early the next morning - by habit and due to the two hour time difference - but lounged for a while before venturing outside to the hotel's hot breakfast buffet in the main building.  Overnight lows were in the - gulp - 30 degrees (F), so we waited until the sun burned off some of the cold!

Stepping out into the crisp day, I inhaled deeply, breathing the fresh mountain air and enjoying the spectacular vista.  Our "backyard" consisted of a bubbling creek, changing leaves on trees, hillsides, tepees and fire pits.  What a beautiful time of year in a beautiful setting!

Our backyard, Rustic Inn, Jackson Hole, WY.

Venturing into downtown Jackson later that day, we strolled around the Town Square, enjoying the local art, quaint shops, restaurants, bars, friendly locals and western ambiance.

All four corners of Jackson's Town Square park are graced by archways of antlers (shed every winter).

Grand Tetons

Early the next morning, a guide from Grizzly Country Wildlife Adventures picked us (and a couple from Israel) up for a 12-hour guided tour of the Grand Tetons and the lower loop of Yellowstone.  The guided tour was worth every penny!  Instead of wrestling with maps and twisting mountain roads, we relaxed and enjoyed the views - many of which we wouldn't have found on our own - during our 250 mile jaunt.

First stop was a scenic look at the Tetons in the soft morning light.

Grand Teton is the highest point in the middle of this picture.

Entering Grand Teton National Park, our next stop was the picturesque Oxbow Bend along the Snake River.

Oxbow Bend, with the Tetons reflecting in the Snake River.

Yellowstone National Park

Leaving the Tetons, we entered our famous national park.

Just a pair of happy tourists!

First of all, I never realized how HUGE Yellowstone National Park is - spanning almost 3,500 square miles!  Really glad to have our guide!  I also hadn't known that it is volcanic in nature - Yellowstone Caldera is the largest supervolcano on the continent.

One of our first stops in the Park was a visit to Old Faithful Geyser.  Perhaps the most predictable geyser, it erupts approximately every 90 minutes.  Our guide called a hotline to check the projected schedule for the morning!  We took our seats - at a presumably safe distance - around the bubbling, steaming area and patiently waited.

Sure enough, within 10 minutes of the predicted time, the geyser erupted, shooting thousands of gallons of boiling water approximately 140 feet up into the air.  Amazing.

Old Faithful Geyser erupting, Yellowstone National Park.

We learned that Yellowstone boasts hundreds of geysers, hot springs, bubbling mud pits, waterfalls and petrified forests.  It was strange to see a pool of water (like the one below) that looked like a Caribbean blue hole, with clear turquoise water, only to realize that the steaming water is more than 200 degrees (F) - no swimming!

Yellowstone National Park.

Another spectacular sight in the Park was the grand waterfall crashing into the river at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone Park.

Waterfall and Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

In addition to the spectacle of nature's beauty, the Park is rife with wildlife.  Our favorite - encountering a herd of bison along the road.

Bison herd, Yellowstone National Park.

It was impressive to see these massive creatures in person.  I was also surprised to hear their snorting and other noises.

 

Less pretty, but equally astounding, were the surprisingly large droppings of, err, Bison scat.

For perspective, that's my little foot next to the huge Bison scat.

Entering yet another scenic area, our guide sent us to explore (keeping an eye on us, of course) while he set up a gourmet picnic lunch alongside the river.

Lunch in Yellowstone.

Returning from lunch to the main road, we waved to this immense bison ambling along the road.

Photo of this bison taken through the car window!

Later, also just off the main road, we stopped to admire grazing elk.

Elk in Yellowstone.

Elk lunchtime.

Another breath-taking spot was the large Jackson Lake, nestled right against the mountains.

Jackson Lake, Wyoming

Although we did discard our jackets during the sunniest part of the afternoon, clouds rolled in late afternoon, the wind picked up, and we bundled up again!

Ending the day in the Tetons.

Horses, Cowboys and Friends

The next morning greeted us with another sun-filled, blue sky kind of day.  Weather was wonderful all week.  We could handle the brief bits of cold (overnight lows in the upper 30s) for the pretty days (highs in the upper 60s and lower 70s).

Another beautiful Wyoming day.

After a leisurely lunch at a restaurant situated high on a butte with breath-taking views, we stopped at a local stable for some horseback riding!  In this day and age of liability and waiver forms, I didn't expect that we'd be able to work up much speed.  However, when our group included a dad with his babe-in-arms, we knew it was going to be a really slow amble!

Nonetheless, it was fun to be on horses, and the hour-long journey over the top of a mountain with the views below was exceptional.

Beau having fun with Horse Trey - look at that view!

Later that day, we cleaned up for a tasty dinner in town and to go hear some live music.  Like the night before, we enjoyed live bands with country music, entertaining dancing and friendly locals and visitors.

We especially enjoyed meeting a real live cowboy who regaled us with stories.  This cowboy has never left the country and thinks he might wither in an island sun, but he certainly enjoys his own Better Life and embraces a similar philosophy.  Becoming fast friends, we enjoyed his company on several evenings and left amid promises to keep in touch and visit again.

Our cowboy friend gifted us this picture of him and a favorite horse.

Our last day welcomed us into sunny arms yet again.  After a leisurely morning, we met dear friends for lunch at the National Museum of Wildlife Art.  Beau has known this lovely couple from their years of frequenting our island world, so it was a special treat to see them in their mountain world!

With friends at the National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson, Wyoming.

We enjoyed our first taste of bison burgers - tastier and leaner than ground beef - as we sat outside in the sun, enjoying the view across to the Elk Refuge and the company of good friends.  

Would you believe that I had to leave the islands to suffer a little sunburn?!  I underestimated the proximity and strength of the sun in the high altitude.  After lunch, we viewed the various galleries of the museum, oohing and ahhing at the splendor.

Heading Home

All too soon, it was time to return home.  Being in altitudes of 6,000 (Jackson) to 8,000 (Yellowstone) feet, we occasionally had a headache (which Beau joked was due to beer!) and mild shortness of breath.  Time to get back to sea level!  Also time to get back to humidity - we went through about a gallon of body lotion in the dry mountain air.

We traveled back to Florida for an overnight before heading on to the island.  The overnight stay with my father brought its own vacation enjoyment as Dad and Beau continued their decades-long challenges of pool and dominoes.  

Dominoes, especially, is a favorite Bahamian pastime, and Dad always enjoyed the fast-paced game coupled with fast-paced banter and trash talk.  Beau, on the other hand, enjoys teasing Dad for taking too long to play his turns.  "Study long, study wrong!"  Beau emerged the victor that night, duly noted by Dad on the ongoing score sheet that lives on his refrigerator.  But Dad insists that I tell you all he gave Beau a good run for his money!

Beau and Dad - Bahamian style dominoes and trash talk in Florida.

What a great trip!  I thoroughly enjoyed my journey into the Wild, Wild West and understand how the Better Life can be enjoyed there.  The pretty weather (which has just turned colder, so we had perfect timing!), amazing views, majestic mountains, impressive wildlife and crisp mountain air fed my soul in a different-but-still-good way.

Now, back on the island, I am - as always - happy to be home and appreciative of my Better Life here.  Cheers to your Better Lives at home and in your travels!

A Mother's Love (or, How to Not Kill Your Dog)

Oh Boy.  What a week.  Why did I disappear again, just after I'd told you I was excited to be writing again?  Well, I was busy keeping my dog alive . . .

After a whirlwind of travel last month, followed by a friendly visit from Tropical Storm Isaac, I was finally enjoying getting settled in to our island routine again.  This is a particularly quiet time of year on the island - turns out hurricane season is not a draw for the tourists - and I was enjoying the slow summer pace.  After posting last Monday, I decided to take advantage of the deliciously warm summer sea and go for a swim.

After wrapping up various chores late afternoon, I threw on a swimsuit, grabbed a beach towel and called out to Angel, "Wanna go swimming?"  As this phrase is well-recognized in her little dog vocabulary, she came trotting to the screen door, and out we went.  Traipsing down the back steps, our feet hit the sand and we strolled - well, I strolled and she scampered - to the water's edge.  I walked right in.  No need to dance the toes to get used to a chilly temperature.  No, the water is bathtub warm and so clear that I can see everything clearly in the 1-3 feet depth out back.

Angel waded in with me to her chest, then waded back out and raced around on the sand and coral rock.  Eventually, I walked back to the beach, scooped her up and carried her out to float with me in the slightly deeper water.  Ahhh, so relaxing.

Swimming in the backyard on another day.

After half an hour or so, I headed in.  Angel ran ahead of me and up the steps, probably attempting to escape the mandatory post-saltwater-sea-and-sand bath on the downstairs patio.  I walked up to retrieve her for her bath.  As I reached the top of the steps, I vaguely remember seeing her on the deck by the chaise lounges - had she just jumped up and slipped or fallen off?  I'm still not entirely clear.  All I know is that my baby began screaming in pain.

I don't mean whimpering or crying or even howling.  She was screaming, eyes wild with pain and terror and locked onto mine.  However, she wouldn't let me near her.  I kept looking at her, got down to her level and told her in soothing tones that she would be okay.

Today those big 'ol eyes are calm.

Finally, she let me pick her up gently.  I gave her a quick rinse with the hose.  Less for cleanliness concerns and more because in my desperation to help her, I wondered if the salt water was somehow stinging her.  That is not particularly logical, but is likely tied in my mind to the only other time I've heard Angel scream in pain - when rock salt on City sidewalks in our former winter world got in her paws.

Anyway, once I rinsed her and swaddled her in a towel, I simply held her until she calmed down.  At this point, I was sitting on the bedroom floor - away from the chill of the living room A/C - and both of us were dripping all over the tile floor.

After she calmed, I attempted to trouble-shoot the source of her pain.  I already knew she wasn't bleeding, although she did have a bad scrape on her inside thigh.  I also had felt her enough to know there were no broken bones apparent.  Did she throw her sensitive back out?  Did she fall and badly bruise her leg?

I just couldn't be sure.  All I knew was that my darling dog, who usually lets me poke and prod her with the nonchalant patience of a saint, wouldn't let me touch her anywhere on her back end.  Nor could she get comfortable to lie down or even sit.  She whimpered and was clearly in pain.

Desperate to ease her pain, but aware of her small size, I gave her a quarter tablet of Excedrin, the only pain relief medicine I had around.  Angel eventually was able to lie down, but she remained uncomfortable.  I had to carry her up and down the steps to go potty outside, and, even with my super-careful maneuvering, she winced every time I touched her.

The next day, I continued my Excedrin regimen.  Angel was eating and going about her business as usual, but she was very subdued and clearly still in discomfort.

Then, we reached Phase 2.  Angel began vomiting late Tuesday afternoon.  Hmmm, I presumed the Excedrin was upsetting her stomach, so I knew to discontinue that, but thought I'd look up online how to ease her tummy.  I hadn't even finished entering my key words "Excedrin" "dog" before other terrifying words and links started popping up.

Toxic.

Liver Failure.

Fatal.

No. No. No!  What had I done?!  Frantically, I began to read.  

(And why I hadn't googled this BEFORE I gave Excedrin to Angel, I'll never know!  I mean, I used to research for a living, for heaven's sake, and I remain queen of the google.  I guess I was just so focused on getting her relief that it didn't occur to me that my baby is not, in fact, a person and that I should check out the over-the-counter medicine she was about to trustingly take from me.  Sigh.)

So, it turns out that acetaminophen is extremely toxic to dogs (and caffeine ain't so great either).  It can cause liver failure and all kinds of dangers, even - gulp - death.  I was simultaneously reading everything I could at a rapid pace, instant messaging with an online vet service, and - after a tearful phone call to my father who worked decades in the pharmaceutical industry - reading the pharmacology information he sent me.  (If you're curious for the details, the vet "bible" gives the technical information here.)

Thankfully, I'd given her very small doses.  Even so, I was terrified that I'd done serious harm to her, and I was stricken with guilt and remorse at being the one to have done this to her!  I managed to reach my vet in Florida by phone and discussed this with him.  Unfortunately, all of the remedial steps recommended by my vet (and the online vet and my father) were simply impossible.  I had zero access to any of the veterinary medicines they discussed.   (Of course, no vet on this tiny island.)  I didn't even have access to a store that carried enough variety of human medications to get acceptable alternatives.

My only course of action was to withhold food, encourage water, get through the night and see how she was in the morning.  UGH.  (I even considered flying out with a private pilot that night, but we wouldn't have been able to land in the U.S. before Customs closed.)  By this time, Angel had stopped vomiting (after six episodes!).  She was listless, but not totally out of it.  She was also still in pain so it was difficult to tell if she was subdued from the pain, or because I poisoned her, or both!

Beau encouraged me to just make plans to take her to the vet the next morning - for my own peace of mind, to do whatever they could for her, and since she was still in pain anyway.  We first contemplated going to a vet in Nassau - it's a shorter flight and far cheaper than flying to the States.  But I decided I'd be more comfortable taking her to her regular vet in Florida rather than an unknown vet in Nassau (where we've had less-than-stellar vet experiences before, I hate to say).

Because it's the slow season, I didn't even know if I'd be able to get a flight out the next day.  It was after-hours, and the local charter service was closed.  Fortunately, one of the friendly staffers answered my after-hours email; they had a flight the next morning, and she put me and Angel on it!

I didn't sleep much that night, checking on Angel every time I heard her - and also when she was too quiet! - and making sure she wasn't showing other dangerous symptoms:  drooling, gum color change, jaundiced eyes, etc.  She seemed okay and, while I was sad that she was hungry, I was relieved to see her roaming the kitchen in search of breakfast, demonstrating that she still had her ever-present appetite.

After a heads up to the vet that we were headed in, Angel and I spent the morning in an airplane.  Upon landing, I went straight to the vet.  He had me leave her there so he could administer an iv with fluids, cleanse her liver, check her blood levels, give her a full xray, etc.  At the end of the day, I picked her up.  Good report!  He couldn't see permanent damage and her blood levels were okay.  He gave me a variety of medicines and homeopathic remedies to maintain with her, and we returned the next day to confirm the blood levels were still okay.  PHEW.

The vet shaved her little arm for the iv.  See her freckles/spots?!

He also surmised that her pain stemmed from an historically "bad knee" which has gotten worse, and he showed me the details on her little xray.  Thankfully, she seemed to have gotten herself righted again.  Although she still seemed a little sensitive, she was no longer in pain.

SO.  Moral of this story?  NO ACETAMINOPHEN FOR ANIMALS!  And really, don't give anything without checking it through the vet, or at least the almighty Google.  Duh.

Back home and relaxed today, shaved arm and all.

This story had a good ending.  As much as I ascribe human characteristics to Angel, even I don't think she is highly evolved enough to appreciate that I almost killed her (okay, that's a little dramatic, but I still feel terrible about it!) and that she, therefore, can be appreciative of her own Better Life!  :)

Kibble ball breakfast today, perky as ever.

Another good ending to this story is that it gave me the opportunity to see my dad, brother, grandparents, a good friend and to spend my mother's birthday weekend celebrating in person with her!

As a final aside, the unplanned trip also ended up with me attending a dynamic and entertaining presentation by Paul Efron about "Hope."  Paul, a guest speaker at my church that day, usually works in a recovery setting, and he is a wildly popular speaker about overcoming adversity.  In a delightful chat with him afterward, Paul also tuned me in to an intriguing book series and community of people - all coming from a place of gratitude and sharing their stories of triumph.  It's called Thank God I . . . and it has a definite Better Life philosophy!  Check it out at www.thankgodi.com

Now, I'm pleased to report that Angel and I are happily home. After arriving yesterday morning, I delighted in putting away Stateside groceries, starting the never-ending laundry, cooking for Beau who seems to have been subsisting largely on takeout and the mercy of others, enjoying the warm sun combined with a strong cool breeze, and relishing the HAPPY feeling of being home!

Angel back to her Better Life today, napping per usual.

Three Weeks of Travel (and a friend's 40th birthday!)

FINALLY!  I'm back!  What a whirlwind it's been these last few weeks . . .

After a flurry of activity on the island, Beau and I were ready for a relaxing getaway to the Florida Keys.  However, the day before we were to leave, my mother reported that my grandmother had just been taken by ambulance to the hospital.  Yikes!  I put my packing into overdrive, snagged the last seat on the afternoon plane, grabbed Angel and left my island home for three weeks!  Thankfully, Grandma lives near Mom in South Florida, which is where Beau and I were headed the next day anyway.  Beau was out diving that day - opening day of lobster season! - so he didn't even know of my last-minute departure until he returned home to my note!

I'm happy to report that my Grandmother is just fine.  I spent that evening and the next morning with her in the hospital.  Glad to know she was okay and would be returning home soon, I picked up Beau at the airport and we headed south.  

The next few days brought lots of relaxing, Olympics-viewing and good times with local friends.  The following week, Beau headed back to work on the island, and I stayed in South Florida to run a slew of island errands and visit with family.

Glad I was there, too, because my Grandmother's husband was taken by ambulance to the hospital!  He ended up right in the room next to where she'd been admitted just the week before.  Sigh.  Happily, he is fine now, too.  But I was glad to be able to help transport Grandma back and forth and share hospital responsibilities with my mother.  My grandparents are in great shape, but they are in their late 80's and stuff just happens!

Eventually, it was time for the last leg of my trip - a return to the Midwest for a close friend's 40th birthday weekend getaway!  Angel remained comfortably with my mother (who dotes on her grandpuppy - thanks, Mom!), and I jetted off for a fabulous weekend.  Beau had travel plans with other friends, so he wasn't able to join me.

However, before Beau left but while I was away from the cay, a dear friend of mine from law school ended up on our tiny island and tracked down Beau, whom he'd met 15 years ago when Beau and I were first dating!

Beau and Brian, living it up without me!

It KILLED me not to be there with them!  But I eased my suffering by heading off on my adventure with friends.  Upon landing in the heartland, a girlfriend picked me up at the airport and we drove several hours to a quaint, countryside town for the birthday weekend.

The Girls!  Let the fun begin . . .

 

Birthday Girl and her Hubby, who masterfully planned the wonderful weekend.

My Besties, at a wine-tasting before dinner.

About to embark on a canoe trip.

Love the group t-shirts!  Her husband printed nicknames on all - mine was "Blogger!"

Lining up with our canoes.

My roomie and canoe partner BEFORE I kept steering her into the bush.

Captain Donna after we switched spots - apparently, I'm a better bowman.

Scenic and lovely.

Bloody Marys and comfort food after our hard work.

Dinner at the charming hotel.

I just loved the trains against the country backdrop.

The whole gang, sans Beau.

The Blondes.

The girls with the cake before dinner.

So much fun!  A great time was had by all, and it was so wonderful to catch up with friends.  I headed back to the Big City and enjoyed dinner that evening with other dear friends.  

The next morning, after breakfast with yet another great girlfriend, I headed into my old office!  I spent FIVE HOURS in the law firm, visiting three floors of attorneys and staff.  Yes, it was a little surreal, but it was heart-warming to see old friends with whom I'd spent every work day for more than 10 years!  Everyone commented that island life seems to agree with me, and this visit reaffirmed it that much more.  I simply laughed and reminded them that they just are not used to seeing what "relaxed" people look like!  :)

Then, it was back to Florida for one more day of final island errands, including vet certificates so Angel can re-enter the Bahamas and a giant grocery run.  Added on to the many "island errands" from the week prior, it amounted to quite a haul!  I told Beau it was a truck kind of day, rather than a golf cart kind of day, for my airport pickup back on the island!

Angel and I happily landed on the island and greeted with Beau with enthusiasm, then I began the long process of unpacking and organizing all the stuff.  Like what?  Think: new cordless phone since power surges fried the old one despite its protector, loads of cleaning supplies, dog food, plastic bins/organizers, new bedsheets, file folders, printer ink, bathroom supplies, superglue, cooler full of meat for the deep freezer, stacks of dry goods, etc.  

It was a great trip - though three weeks is too long to be gone, I think - and wonderful to return.  We went out last evening and it was such fun to see "the guys" and other island friends.  Home sweet home.

And now, our home sweet home reluctantly welcomes Tropical Storm Isaac.  So far, so good . . . Enjoy your weekend!

Visit to Long Island, Bahamas

A few months ago, my beau and I took a trip with friends to Long Island, Bahamas.
Although my beau had been numerous times, and our friends were from there, this visit was a first for me.  Long Island is aptly named - the island is approximately 80 miles in length and only 4 miles at its widest point.  Long Island is south of the islands of the Exumas, where I live (and it's split by the Tropic of Cancer!), but it is only a short ride in a small plane.

Our friend - with her cat and dog! - in the small plane en route to Long Island.

Long Island boasts several airports.  Due to our pilot's need for a quick turnaround, we landed at the northernmost airport, Stella Maris.  A friend picked us up, and the long drive south to our destination made for a perfect tour.  They narrated as we drove along - cat, dog and all.  Nearing our intended neck of the woods, we stopped for a cold drink and snack.  This popular bar is literally next to the road in an open air thatched hut.  Perfect atmosphere and delicious fresh conch salad!

Cold drink at the ready, awaiting conch salad.

Squeezing sour into the bowl of conch.

Eventually, we reached our destination, the lovely Winter Haven in Clarence Town, where spring was in full bloom.

Our charming blue room.

Gorgeous view from our room's patio.

I fell in love with the outdoor bar, overlooking the ocean.  The bar was covered with old pictures.  Because the Bahamas is a relatively small country - roughly 350,000 people in the entire country - many people know each other and the rest have only a small degree of separation.  The result is that my beau ALWAYS knows SOMEONE wherever we go.  Plus, from years of sailing and other connections, Long Island and the island where I live have close relationships, so even I knew quite a few of the people in the photos.

My favorite spot.

I spent hours in the shade of the bar, feeling the cool breeze and listening to the waves crashing below.  One lazy afternoon, the owners and our friends whipped up a batch of conch salad for another great seaside snack and cleaned some fish for later.  

Despite all the other wonderful attributes, what I loved best about this spot was the thatch roof on the bar.  Thatch around the Bahamas, made from the dried tops of certain palm fronds, is typically nailed to the wood frame.  This one, however, was individually hand-tied.  The result, as viewed from the underside or ceiling, looked like pure art to me.  Of course, you get what you pay for - this process is far more labor intensive and, therefore, expensive.  I wonder how long it would take me to tie . . .

Beautiful hand-tied thatch.

Close-up.

Over the next several days, we proceeded to relax and explore.  Lots of book-reading, a little pool time, visiting tourist spots, checking out all towns near and far, visiting other friends along the way, bar-hopping, checking out home-building and farms and anything else we came across.

Our first tourist stop was to Dean's Blue Hole, the deepest blue hole in the WORLD, dropping to a depth of 660 feet.

From the beach, the area right around Dean's Blue Hole.

I didn't get in the water, much less go even a foot into the deep hole!  But it was cool to see.

The actual hole is directly behind me, by the platform.

Although not a "tourist attraction," we also enjoyed visiting our friend's family farm.

Hogs at our friend's family farm.

Goats and sheep, too!

Slop!  Suppertime.

 In a different area, cows and sheep.

 

 And pigs.

As we drove along the (long) island, exploring over several days, we often stopped at various beaches.  I was impressed that the water was just as multi-hued and clear as the water around my home island, and the sand was a soft white, too.

One of many pretty beaches.

Ocean water as pretty as home - a rarity!

Like our home island, Long Island - and certain of its communities, especially - has a long history of boat-building and sailboat racing.  In fact, the two champion sailboats raced by my beau and others at Regatta, were originally built in Long Island.  Our visit was a few weeks prior to Regatta, so we enjoyed seeing final boat/race preparations by Long Islanders.

Beau checking out one of the A-Class boats, about to be painted.

We enjoyed dinners and night life back at Winter Haven in Rowdy Boys bar and restaurant.  Delicious, delicious, delicious.  And even a little impromptu dancing one night!

Restaurant/Bar, as seen from the ocean side.

Perhaps my favorite part of the whole trip was the unexpected emergence of thousands of land crabs and my experience hunting them down!

Just one of MANY.

We had a delightful trip, and I enjoyed seeing another island and spending a fun time with friends in a beautiful setting.

Farewell, Long Island, until we meet again.