[Vision2020] Another Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

[Brent Bradberry]

Hi, folks-
Mandy and I just got back from our constitutional. I "ski-walked" 3 or 4 
miles while Mandy trotted probably 5 or 6, investigating lots of 
intriguing scents. If one dog year is equivalent to seven human years, 
Mandy is well over 100. She's deaf and sleeps more than she used to, but 
she still loves to get out in the woods. The snow on Moscow Mountain was 
crusty and probably great for snowshoes, but a little less than great 
for cross-country skis. But still not bad. I chose to ski because it's 
better on my old knees. And I ski pretty slowly, so that even when I 
fall (which is not unheard of) I fall in slow motion, like the old 
"Laugh-in" skit. I didn't see anyone else on the mountain or any human 
tracks. I did cross fresh moose tracks several times; I think it was a 
single adult moose who crossed the trail several times last night or 
early this morning. I like the solitude, but I feel guilty about having 
exclusive use of Moscow Mountain.

New topic: Thank you, Louise Barber, for sharing Dave's reports from 
Nicaragua. It sounds as though he's having a great time and serving as a 
goodwill ambassador. And our country can certainly use all the goodwill 
ambassadors we can find. For the rest of you folks, I hope you can get 
out and enjoy the beauty of our backyard treasure. If you are retired 
(like me) or independently wealthy (like no one I know) or just able to 
get away when you like, you could drive to Tamarack or Idler's Rest 
after breakfast, ski or snowshoe for three hours and be home in time for 
lunch. Or you could take off from work an hour early, play in the snow 
for an hour and still make it home for the 6 PM news. Better still, take 
a five year old child with you. If you don't have one, you might be able 
to borrow one from a neighbor. Thirty minutes with a five year old and a 
plastic sled will provide you a month's worth of fun.

Jim Peek gave a great lecture last night (on elk, deer and wolves in 
central Idaho), and with apologies to Jim I'll steal and modify his 
tag-line:
"Yir Lucky to be Livin in Moscow"

Brent (one of the luckiest) Bradberry