Day Thirteen - Anchorage Interview

Image: Interior entry to library

Thursday June 5th 2008
Interview University of Alaska Anchorage

This interview was very fun, Arlene walked me through the library then I met with the librarians who were equally great. Nick found a great spot to hang out and read – the gorgeous atrium in the library.

Afterwards Arlene took us to lunch at a fabulous pizza place (The Moose’s Tooth). I have tried to eat spinach salad before, but nothing prepared me for the marvelous baby spinach salad of this restaurant. Tres magnifique.

She led us to a couple of stores. The first New Sagaya is a huge grocery store, only it’s organic, and imported (of course) and has EVERYTHING. We’ve been looking for palm vinegar for a year. We found it in Anchorage. Oh, and ghiradhelli unsweetened chocolate powder, eyup, it was here too. We loaded up on chocolate, cheese and fruit to eat for dinner.

Next was the AK Wild Berry Products where I succumbed to more hand-made chocolates and a magnate or two.

Later we talked and ate and laughed until I called it a night.

Receipts:
AK Wild Berry Products (food and souvenirs) – Anchorage AK
New Sagaya (food and souvenirs) – Anchorage AK

Interestingly, while looking at souvenirs I spotted some art pieces made by a Kent Heindel. I laughed and said I knew a guy named Kent Heindel, we are cousins, sorta. He is first cousins with my first cousins... He used to come and hang out on the ten acres with his brothers and help us have all sorts of fun. Anyway, I just joked that it might be him. Several months later at a family reunion I find out it really was him! He moved to Anchorage years ago where he is an artist (master sculptor). That was very cool.

Photo set from University of Anchorage visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157605565401010/


Image: Atrium at UA-Anchorage

Day Eleven - Fairbanks Interview

Tuesday June 3rd 2008
Interview University of Alaska - Fairbanks

The interview here went very well. See Library Banter for more details. Nick got more research done while I was involved with the librarians. We then got to spend the rest of the day playing tourist. One of the thrift stores we went to, okay it was more of a pawn shop had racks and racks of dvds cheap. Unfortunately it was closing in 30 minutes so we had to hustle to look through them all. Thank heavens we were driving our big red suitcase.



Nick convinced me to go to the Pioneer Park which proved to be very entertaining, lots of original buildings and interesting artifacts.



The Cookie Jar’s dinner might have been mediocre, but the chocolates were spectacular!

Golden North Motel (day 2)
4888 Old Airport Way
Fairbanks, AK 99709

Receipts:
Safeway (grocery) – Fairbanks AK
Taco Bell – Fairbanks AK
UAF Parking permit – Fairbanks AK
Cookie Jar (dinner) – Fairbanks AK
SFM Fuel – Fairbanks AK
Safeway (grocery) – Fairbanks AK
Fred Meyer (grocery) – Fairbanks AK
Value Village (thrift store) – Fairbanks AK

More photos from the University of Alaska - Fairbanks: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157605548013800/
More photos from Pioneer Park: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157605553099840/

Day Five - Edmonton and Westlock, Interview Edmonton

Wednesday May 28th 2008
University of Alberta interview and back to Westlock
112 miles – estimated 2 hours of driving

University of Alberta was one of my few afternoon sessions. Nick came with me and was able to spend the afternoon running around the campus, enjoying the river running through it and coffee. For lunch we stopped at the student union which is this tall, long, narrow, mall/dorm combo. It is really fun. I think the ISU Rendezvous building is modeled after the UofAlberta model, but it just isn’t even close. Of course we don’t have the same number of students either.

For more information on my interview at UA see: http://librarybanter.blogspot.com/2008/10/university-of-alberta-edmonton.html

This time for dinner we drove around Westlock and discovered JD’s Roadhouse Café. There were tons of vehicles in the parking lot and we KNEW this was the place. The food was good and I was introduced to the concept of fries with gravy. I didn’t try it but it seemed to be a standard offering, judging by the nearby diners. It’s probably fabulous, but the last thing I need is another high calorie food craving.

Best Western Westlock
10520 100th Street
Westlock, Alberta: T7P 2C6, Canada

Receipts:
University of Alberta Parking – Edmonton AB
Subway – Edmonton AB
JD’s Roadhouse Café – Westlock AB
Sobeys grocery (cookies, salami, cheese,…) Westlock AB

We shopped at Sobey’s grocery, and stocked up on stuff for the trip North. They had the most amazing selection of meats and cheeses in their deli. We packed up and got ready for the days of driving ahead.

Day Four - Airdrie to Westlock, Interview Calgary

Tuesday May 27th 2008
University of Calgary interview, drive to Westlock
266 miles – estimated 5 hour drive

We began the day with a drive back to Calgary. Nick’s GPS helped us to find the library on this enormous campus. While I did my interview and library tour Nick did homework. Afterwards we headed for Westlock. On our way we passed a sign for the “Devonian Gardens.” This cracked both of us up. They would surely have prehistoric ferns and possibly dinosaurs, but I don’t really remember what the Devonian era had.

For more information on my interview with the UC library see: http://librarybanter.blogspot.com/2008/10/university-of-calgary-alberta.html

The Best Western in Westlock has a parking lot dotted with electrical outlets. I’m sure this is to run car heaters in the winter. The girl at the desk recommended we have dinner there in the hotel diner. That was a BIG mistake. I think that was our worst meal for the whole trip. ICKY!!

Best Western Westlock
10520 100th Street
Westlock, Alberta: T7P 2C6, Canada

Miscellaneous thing to look up on the internet:
Tipping in Canada?

Receipts:
Best Western – Airdrie AB
University of Calgary – Calgary AB (parking)
McDonalds – Calgary AB
Mac’s Convenience (gas) – St Albert AB
Best Western dining – Westlock AB

Wildlife & Birds:
Lots and lots of Franklin's gulls

The road home, Lakewood to Pocatello

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Originally uploaded by J Semenza

Weather is always a fun thing in April. I checked weather and road conditions and decided to leave as early as possible cause snow was on the way. Allegedly the freeway through Vail was supposed to be fine, and the weather there was supposed to be fine. Of course, it wasn't what I would call fine.

On the other hand, the snow falling on those mountains, thick with pine and spruce trees was a gorgeous sight. And as long as it was drifting flakes it was fine. The water and muck on the road being thrown up by passing trucks was not fine. (Have I used the word fine enough?) I drove over mountain passes and through snow, rain, sleet, and eventually sunshine. I chose the route up through Price to Salt Lake City.

Before I got to SLC I started calling sisters. Eventually, Rebecca and Hannah met up with me for dinner at the Olive Garden there in SLC. I really needed the break. I then finished the last bit of trip for home, another circuit finished.

Road home: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157605110793107/

Golden Colorado: fifth stop on the rocky mountain circuit

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Originally uploaded by J Semenza

I had to leave early in the morning again. Funny thing, when you set up appointments at 9:00 in the morning, you have to get out really early in order to 1. find a parking place and 2. find the library. Colorado School of Mines has a beautiful campus with confusing parking. I ended up just parking on the street and hoping that with school out for spring break I'd not get a ticket. It wasn't a red or yellow zone so maybe.... I did notice that I was parked on the street not only near the library, but near the Geology Museum.

After visiting the library, which was interesting and informative, I crossed the street and spent a very pleasurable hour looking at all the minerals, rocks, gems, jewelry and other informative displays at the museum.

I headed back to my hotel where I remained ensconced working on work like a good girl and avoiding all stores. I decided to just do the really long drive and not stop at Fruita, so I canceled that hotel. after the shopping, I felt guilty spending any money unnecessarily.

Colorado School of Mines: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604987869998/
Geology Museum: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604992435715/

Boulder and Denver Colorado: 3rd, & 4th stops on the rocky mountain

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Originally uploaded by J Semenza

What can you say about Boulder that hasn't already been said? It's beautiful, environmentally conscious, with lots of great shops and restaurants. The University of Colorado Boulder has an enormous library with 1/2 floors. My meeting was on the 4.5 floor. The librarians recommended a fabulous Italian restaurant near Pearl St.

Next a short drive to Lakewood, it's close to Denver and close to Golden too. The hotel was great, I had a corner room with lots of windows, a nice desk, and a really solid internet connection. I spent the rest of the day uploading photos, catching up with email, and transcribing notes.

In the morning I went to the Auraria library. This library is the academic library for the University of Colorado-Denver, the Metropolitan University and the Denver community College. That's a lot of responsibility for one set of librarians.

After the visit I wanted to go do something fun/different. I had done so much driving and birding that now was the time for shopping. I called Nick and with his help (he had an internet connection) I went all over town to various specialty type stores. I got clothes and jewelery and accessories and souvenirs and spent waaaay too much money.

University of Colorado - Boulder: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604914584281/
University of Colorado - Denver: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604987220408/

Fort Collins Colorado: second stop on the rocky mountain circuit

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Originally uploaded by J Semenza

I LOVE Fort Collins. First the hotel was excellent and reasonably priced (Best Western Kiva Inn). Then the place is simply covered with ponds and walking trails for birding. And then it has restaurants and shops and a University. It was a great place to spend 4 nights. Of all the places I visited this was one where I'd be willing to move.

From this central location I visited both University of Northern Colorado - Greeley and Colorado State University - Fort Collins. I didn't get to the public libraries, not for lack of time, but because of birds. The weather was gorgeous spring and the birds were calling. I got to see wood ducks for the first time ever. They are soooo cute. And then there were tree swallows, great horned owl w/babies, grebes, teals and all kinds of birds. I also spotted a beaver and a muskrat during my walks.

On Saturday I drove over to Estes Park and through parts of the gorgeous Rocky Mountains. This was my first encounter with Big Horn Sheep. On Sunday I circumnavigated Rocky Mountain National Park. There was snow in the passes so I wasn't able to take a shortcut through it. I drove for about 10 hours through amazing country. I used a backroad to get to Boulder. While driving I was able to change my reservations for that evening to Boulder, instead of Estes. It was a perfect choice, I was able to stay at the Best Western, 10 minutes from the University.

Photos
To Fort Collins: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604837446521/
University of Northern Colorado: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604832782212/
Colorado State University: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604886506205/
Around Fort Collins: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604886506205/
To Boulder, the long way round: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604903601774/

Laramie Wyoming: first stop on the rocky mountain circuit

yhblackbirds01
Originally uploaded by J Semenza

It's a long drive from Pocatello to Laramie but it goes swiftly when there are clouds in the sky (keeping the sun from beating down) and when the stereo functions. Tuesday April 29th I headed for Laramie. I saw a lot of pronghorns. Actually, I've seen lots of pronghorns everywhere. I think I've seen them in every state I visited. I also saw the largest flock of yellowheaded blackbirds ever. I mean there were hundreds of them. It was stunning.

Wyoming gets so much snow that they build corrals to keep it in. I know, I amuse myself too. :)

The next morning I loaded up the car only to be pestered by an unusual birdsong. A dusky flycatcher, which I had never seen before was serenading me goodbye. The interview with Univ of Wyoming went well and I said goodbye to Wyoming and headed for Fort Collins Colorado.

Photos
Drive to Laramie: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604817663276/
University of Wyoming: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604832297920/

Bozeman Montana to Home: fourth stop on northern sabbatical circuit

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Originally uploaded by J Semenza

I didn't stop much on the road to Bozeman either. If it really was the electrical system in my car then I had better drive and drive and hope that nothing else failed. I arrived in the afternoon and hung out in my hotel. I had to write up the visit to Missoula so it worked out fine. As I said earlier, most of my fun was watching scenery as I drove. I definitely missed my stereo though.

The interview went well and I had a great time with the librarians there. I spotted a ring necked pheasant walking by the side of the freeway exit (perhaps he was hitchhiking?). Originally I had planned to drive through Yellowstone on the way home, but between the incoming storm and the wacky car I decided to stick to I15 and just get out.

The ride home was uneventful, though cloudy and beautiful. I made an appointment for my car to see my stereo people when I got home. The stereo people had installed the cruise control also. I cannot say enough good things about them. They called me a couple hours after receipt of my vehicle to tell me that there was a bit of metal floating about in the cigarette lighter which kept shorting out the stereo fuse. Nothing else was wrong... They didn't even charge me.

Photos
To Bozeman: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604600201409/
Montana State University: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604682822509/

Missoula Montana: third stop on northern sabbatical circuit

greenhough park5
Originally uploaded by J Semenza

I left Moscow and discovered that not only was the stereo and clock out of commission, but now my cruise control was out too. ARRRRGH. This was a tad scary, so I drove without much stopping to Missoula. My luck held out and this time my hotel was next door to the Toyota dealer. This dealer seemed much more above-board, and I made an appointment for them to check out my car the next day. I had scheduled two days in Missoula just to have a break.

Dropped my car off in the morning and went back to the hotel to read and watch tv. It was kinda nice to NOT be able to go do anything. They got my car done in record time. Apparently the people who "fixed" the fuse in Moscow had actually put a fuse in the wrong spot. Everything was functioning fine. Whooo hooo! I drove off and went birding at McCauley Flats and then Greenough Park. McCauley Flats was near/in the forest and I became brave and actually did the 1 mile loop walk even though there were few people. There were signs that people used the trail a lot and I'd be fine. I was. There were pygmy nuthatches and osprey. At Greenough Park there were more osprey.

The next day I stopped at both the public library and the University of Montana library. Both were excellent visits. I began to crave Chinese food so I braved the Internet till I found enough positive reviews for a little place called China Gardens. It has AMAZING food. I highly recommend the potstickers. Before calling it an evening I went back to Greenough Park. There is a big sign talking about the Pileated Woodpeckers that live there and I was hoping to see one. No such luck. :( Still, I got to see more osprey.

I did try to get the car back in to the dealer, but they didn't have time for me. They too tried to pin the blame for the electrical failure on the aftermarket cruise control or stereo.

Photos
To Missoula: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604595179026/
Birding Missoula: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604599394393/
Missoula Public Library: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604599551319/
University of Montana: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604595964060/

Moscow Idaho: second stop on northern sabbatical circuit

DSC02361
Originally uploaded by J Semenza

Another early morning with lots of driving ahead. I had hoped to go to a nearby wildlife refuge before leaving the Seattle area, but with snow expected in the passes I just headed out. A fuse had blown in my car making the stereo and the clock inoperable. Twas very frustrating. The scenery is stunning on the way out of Washington, the passes, misted over and snow would occasionally fall. It didn't stick to the roads so I was fine. While driving through the mountains I came to a snow covered, partly frozen lake. One of those concrete barriers was on my left, as was the lake. So I'm looking at the lake and driving and suddenly I spot a Canada goose. The goose was standing on the other side of the concrete barrier watching the traffic. I have no idea why. Just another one of those wacky bird moments I guess.

Once out of the mountains I came to the rolling farm country of Eastern Washington. Here I did find the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge. It was remote and reminded me of Idaho, sagebrush, wetlands and small reservoirs. There were a LOT of blackbirds here. I got to Moscow and checked into my hotel and then drove around the corner to the Toyota dealer. There, they said they fixed the burned out fuse, but stuff still didn't work. They wanted me to leave my car, but I said no. It was drivable and I just had a bad feeling about it.

I had an early Tuesday morning meeting with librarians at University of Idaho and then had to hit the road for Missoula.

Photos
To Moscow: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604599089859/
University of Idaho: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604599260001/

Seattle and Environs

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Originally uploaded by J Semenza

Raven and I left Seattle early in the morning on Saturday and headed out on a drive. A really long drive, we drove down past Olympia, and up to the beaches by Queets and Kalaloch. It was 70 degrees and gorgeous, the rainforest was thick and lush and green and the ocean was stunning. I got to see a few amazing birds: chestnut backed chickadee, northern fulmar, marbled godwit, and pacific crows. We drove around and into Olympic National Forest. I loved it. We continued on up and around to Port Angeles we stopped at a little restaurant called Cafe Garden. It was posh but not pretentious and the food was AMAZING. The road continued South to Bremerton and back to the hotel. We got in late but it was sooooo worth it.

Sunday morning started late and we decided to go to a great restaurant for breakfast. It's called Salty's and what we didn't know is that on Sundays they do an all you can eat buffet. Let me just say it was more than worth the 30 dollars per person. They served exquisite food, lots of variety and I may never try another eggs benedict in my life cause it just wouldn't compare. They also had all kinds of fresh sea food, fish, pastries, and anything you could possibly want.

After brunch we went into Seattle proper to visit the public library. Seattle public library is a marvel with a spiral walk between the upper floors. Very industrial in feel it is Definitely worth a visit. Gene joined us later for dinner, which was great cause it has been years since I've seen him.

I must go back and visit again soon.

Photos
Seattle Public Library: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604598950899/
Scenic Washington: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604525287458/

Stonehenge and The Road to Seattle

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Originally uploaded by J Semenza

I had heard about the Maryhill Stonehenge years ago. The British scholar Christopher Chippindale spoke at ISU and Nick, Jeff and I attended. He was fascinating and triggered a spate of reading. I was still reading Stonehenge books a year after he visited. Seahenge was uncovered in 1998, just a short time after Chippindale's visit. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/for more on Seahenge. There was no way I wasn't going to get to see this American version of Stonehenge so I plotted my route from Boise to Seattle via Maryhill.

The drive through the Columbia Gorge was stunning. I had recently read a book on the Glacial Lake Missoula Floods and could see the evidence left by it, just as the author had described. I had to take a detour because the bridge crossing the Columbia River by Maryhill was being repaired, but I persisted. I finally got to my destination and it was well worth it. The replica is to scale and you can get a sense of the grandeur if not the age in this place.

My next slight detour was to Mt Rainier National Park. Unfortunately, I was unable to go through the park - closed on account of snow - and had to circle around it. Still, I got to see a lot of it from the edges. I put on my mp3 player over the radio transmitter and listened to Loreena McKinnet and other new ageish music while driving through the mountains and snow. It was very surreal.

I got to Seattle later in the evening, checked into my hotel and called Raven. She came over and we hung out and plotted our next activities.

To Maryhill photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604520187555/
Maryhill Stonehenge photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604517410434/
Road to Seattle photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604526816157/

Boise: first stop on the northern sabbatical circuit

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Originally uploaded by J Semenza

I left on the morning of April 8th and headed for Boise. What a way to celebrate my anniversary. I stopped at Boise Public Library on my way to Nampa (location of my hotel). Boise Public is a great library, I took pictures and gave myself a tour. Jim, my former boss, now works here, so guess who was working on the reference desk... It was interesting to talk to him, he's always been ahead of the curve where innovation is concerned. I now wish I had spent more time asking him to forcast the future of academic libraries.

The next day was the SWILA (Southwest Idaho Library Association) conference. I really enjoyed the keynote speaker from White Cloud Coffee, the presentation on the history of libraries and the lunch speaker Azam Houle “Dare to Read!” Brochure: http://www.idaholibraries.org/node/108
Flickr set (not mine): http://www.flickr.com/photos/m3mo/sets/72157604550007420/
I was able to present about my sabbatical. It was really useful to have to do an assessment of what I had learned before and the presentation was well received.

Thursday April 10th I got up at 6:00 a.m. and drove back to Boise through a lot of traffic. Thank heavens I left early enough to have time to regroup before going in for the interview process. Boise has some of my favorite librarians working there. They recently hired a couple of new ones and they are FUN! I think we'll be able to do some great collaborations. When I finished I got back in my car and headed for Pendleton WA.

After all, Boise is close enough to Seattle that I certainly needed to drop in and visit my friend Raven...

Idaho State University photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604519171935/
Boise Public Library photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604519309911/
Boise State University photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604519583547/

Grand Canyon, Kanab, Bryce Canyon and Home

Nick & Jenny
Originally uploaded by J Semenza

March 28 & 29 2008

Day 1:

Strange how things work out. Nick's geoscience seminar class went to the Grand canyon for spring break. I finished my intriguing and educational interview with NAU's library and headed to the Grand Canyon myself. While driving through the Ponderosa pine forests outside of Flagstaff I got a call. I shouldn't have gotten a call, seeing as how signal strength just wasn't very good. Apparently someone wanted a job reference for Annie. I told them to email me with a date and time for the following week when I would be back home.

Again, I wish I had had more time, the scenery is so beautiful. I got to see the views from the Southern rim for the first time. I had hiked part way down on the North side when I was a geoscience student years ago. I tried to find condors, but no luck. while there, I got a call from Nick saying I could pick him up in Page UT and that we'd call to make further arrangements. Of course, phone signal is iffy out in the wilds of Arizona and Utah. The road to Page from the Grand Canyon is gorgeous.

We got connected enough that I was able to find him behind the urger King in Page. Scruffy, tired, filthy but happy, we piled his stuff into the big red suitcase and headed for Kanab where I had reservations at another hotel. We got to drive over the Glenn Canyon dam and past the much reduced Lake Powell.

Day 2:

It was great having someone help me with my bags! We headed out fairly early, our first stop was a funky tourist trap called Moqui Cave. It had been a dance hall and now was a museum, family history stop run by a very garoulous guy. He was great, but we had to hit the road. I had wanted to drive through Zions, but we missed the turn, drat. I had been through there before on the way back from Sarah's. So we drove and drove and went to Byrce Canyon. There I spotted my very first white breasted nuthatch. We did a bit of walking and looking but the clock was ticking and it is a very long drive to Pocatello.

Kinda nifty having Nick with me on the way home...

Photos from Northern Arizona University:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604328549608/

Photos from the Grand Canyon and road to Kanab:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604360160126/

Photos from Bryce Canyon, and the road to Pocatello:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604361393786/

Flagstaff: sixth stop on the southern sabbatical circuit

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Originally uploaded by J Semenza

The drive to Flagstaff took me through two detours, one the painted desert and two the petrified forest. Both were amazing, beautiful and astonishing. Nothing like huge petrified logs on the ground to get my attention.
http://www.nps.gov/pefo/

It was frustrating to spend so much time driving through amazing country and I couldn't stop and see everything. So I missed the meteor impact crater, and the ice caves and the worlds largest petrified tree in a museum and... The list of things I missed is very sad. I just wish I had more time for all of it.

On the other hand, I did get to see a lot of great national parks and monuments and scenery, not to mention all the libraries.

Flagstaff is a gorgeous town and the campus is stunning with all of its ponderosa pine trees. It is high enough up that it had bits of snow lingering about.

There's not a lot to write about most days because all I did was drive and drive and drive and drive. And when I wasn't driving I was working on writing up sabbatical stuff, visiting universities, eating or sleeping. Good think I LOVE to drive.

Photos of the drive: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604332516137/
Photos of NAU: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604328549608/

Albuquerque: fifth stop on the southern sabbatical circuit

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Originally uploaded by J Semenza

I left around 5:00 a.m. in order to get through the Dallas/Fort Worth megopolis before rush hour. I took highway 287 heading north west. By paying close attention to the signs and breathing deeply I made it through. The rest of the drive through West Texas was tedious in comparison. So I drove and drove and drove stopping at Santa Rosa for the night.

The next morning I drove up to Pecos National Monument where I spotted my first pinyon jays. They are the cutest. Of course I say that about a lot of birds. Pecos (http://www.nps.gov/peco/) is a pueblo indian ruin complete with old ruined mission.

Albuquerque is where I really started seeing the route 66 signs. On the drive from TX to UT I managed to go through Amarillo TX, Gallup NM, Flagstaff AZ, and Winona AZ. On the way to Phoenix I picked up Kingman AZ. It was very hard to get the Route 66 song out of my head. I even ate at a Route 66 diner when I got to Albuquerque.

I loved meeting the librarians at this library. Johann deserves an honorable mention for being one of the most personable librarians I met on my sabbatical. I think I could listen to him for hours.
Innovative, intelligent, and a great natural story teller. We need to invite him to speak at more library association conferences.

Pictures at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604272672825/
UNM photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604331781201/

ROUTE 66 from Wikipedia:
"Route 66", is a popular song and rhythm and blues standard, composed in 1946 by American songwriter Bobby Troup. It was first recorded in the same year by Nat King Cole, and was subsequently covered by many artists including Chuck Berry in 1961 and The Rolling Stones in 1964. The song's lyrics follow the path of the U.S. Route 66 highway, which used to run a large distance across the US, going from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California.

The lyrics read as a mini-travelogue about the major stops along the route, listing several cities and towns that Route 66 passes through. Specifically mentioned, in order, are

St. Louis, Missouri;
Joplin, Missouri;
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma;
Amarillo, Texas;
Gallup, New Mexico;
Flagstaff, Arizona;
Winona, Arizona;
Kingman, Arizona;
Barstow, California; and
San Bernardino, California.

Winona is the only town out of sequence in the list. It was a very small settlement east of Flagstaff, and might indeed have been forgotten if not for the song's lyric, "Don't forget Winona", written to rhyme with "Flagstaff, Arizona." --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Route_66_%28song%29

Staying in Italy March 17 - 24

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Originally uploaded by J Semenza

So much to do and so many people to visit with. I had to do work though too. I ended up at dad's office typing away on my computer, transcribing notes, uploading photos, and planning for the next route.

I was able to meet up with Jeff and Randy (dragging Mom, Dad and Erika along) at the El Fenix restaurant in Dallas. The El Fenix is a marvelous Mexican restaurant that is a Dallas institution. We also invited them to Easter dinner at Moms. It was great to catch up with them. Dad gave us a comprehensive dome tour which is always interesting to me. I never can keep up with all of the innovations going on with Monolithic Constructors.

Mom, Melinda and I did some shopping. I loved the going out of business Liz Claiborne outlet and found $4.00 shirts that I would end up wearing on every other circuit of my sabbatical. The clothes were a great addition to my trip wardrobe. I ended up having to ship some of it home in boxes, cause even though I was driving my big red suitcase, it only holds so much. I also didn't want to encourage anyone to break into my car by leaving things in it.

Rebecca showed up part way into my stay, she was recovering or rather not recovering from a surgery. After I left she ended up in the Texas hospital for a second go-round.

Tessa hosted a breakfast for all of us and I got to see more of those cute nieces and nephews of mine.

While staying at mom's house I got awoken in the morning by this sharp rapping on the window. Eventually, I discovered that a bright red cardinal was attacking its image in the window. Defending his territory and functioning as an alarm clock, what a bird. I also got to see a lot of Carmella the albino house sparrow. Melinda and I did some birding and I was even able to spend a few days at her house. In the evening we would watch David Attenborough's Lives of Birds. It had rained enough to create a big pond in between Mike's house and Gary's house. Erika named it Erika's lake. It was a great birding spot.

I had a great visit with everyone.

Pictures at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604165651309/

March 21 2008
“Erika’s Lake” at the dome & Charca
1. baird’s sandpipers
2. solitary sandpiper
3. wilson’s snipes
4. savannah sparrows
5. American pipits
6. house sparrows
7. greater yellowlegs
8. barn swallows
9. killdeer
10. red eared sliders (turtles
11. common grackles
12. scissor tailed flycatcher
13. eastern bluebird
14. mockingbird
15. brownheaded cowbirds
16. cardinals
17. mourning doves
18. white winged doves
19. Eurasian collared dove
20. blue jay
21. great tailed grackles
22. rock doves

March 22 2008
Lake Whitney, Milford, Hillsboro, Lake Erika
1. baird’s sandpipers
2. solitary sandpipers
3. killdeer
4. pipits
5. savanna sparrows
6. wilson’s snipes
7. savannah sparrows
8. American pipits
9. house sparrows
10. greater yellowlegs
11. starlings
12. eastern bluebird
13. cardinals
14. mourning doves
15. American crows
16. eastern meadowlarks
17. barn swallows
18. mockingbirds
19. turkey vultures
20. great tailed grackles
21. loggerhead shrike
22. lark sparrow
23. rough winged swallows / cliff swallows
24. coots
25. great egret
26. scissortailed flycatcher
27. herring gulls?
28. mallards
29. great blue heron
30. chipping sparrow
31. yellow rumped warbler
32. bewicks wren
33. blue jay
34. red tailed hawk
35. black vultures
36. Eurasian collared doves
37. white crowned sparrow
38. Carolina chickadee
39. hermit thrush
40. Carolina wren

Birding in Southwest Texas - March 15 & 16

big bend tunnel
Originally uploaded by J Semenza

This morning we packed our bags and headed back towards Big Bend. And this time we saw lots of birds including the beautiful little Vermillion flycatcher. We got up into the Chisos Mountain Basin where the oak grows wild. After a very long day of birding we headed for Italy. It was a very long way off so once we found a phone signal I called Nick to see if he could find us a hotel. Eventually I had to pull over and wait for his return call. Signal strength isn't exactly reliable in those parts.

A hotel was found in Monahans. The lady at the desk recommended a terrific restaurant, so we brought her back a piece of cheesecake. She had been having a pretty bad day. The look on her face was priceless.

The next morning we loaded up and headed out for Italy again. As we approached Fort Worth we saw the traffic backing up and many Texans heading across the side median to a frontage road. We just followed them. Unfortunately for them they did not have Melinda the super-navigator with them and they ended up back in line on the stalled freeway. We took back roads and saw more birds. It may have been the long scenic route, but I'll take that any day over stop and go freeway traffic.

It was great to arrive in Italy

Pictures from day 3: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsemenza/sets/72157604161092758/

1. white tailed deer (not birds)
   
2. Chihuahua ravens
3. mourning doves
4. western meadowlarks
5. red tailed hawks
6. mule deer (also not birds)
   
7. pyrrholuxias
8. common ravens
9. roadrunners (my trip favorites)
   
10. loggerhead shrike
11. black throated sparrows
12. mockingbirds
13. turkey vultures
14. black tailed gnatcatcher
15. verdin
16. golden fronted woodpecker
17. white crowned sparrows
18. yellow rumped warbler
19. cardinals
20. vermillion flycatchers
21. spotted towhee
22. white winged doves
23. ruby crowned kinglet
24. golden crowned kinglet
25. lark buntings
26. chipping sparrows
27. ladder backed woodpecker
28. purple martin
29. black phoebe
30. mountain chickadee
31. purple finches
32. cassins finches
33. house finches
34. northern (red shafted race) flicker
35. western meadowlarks
36. cactus wren
37. cottontail bunnies (not birds either)
    
38. western wood peewee
39. starlings (Stockton)
40. common grackles
41. house sparrows
42. harris hawks (mf pair plus juvenile near grand falls)