Friday, December 15, 2023

“The Reason for the Season”* - 2023

Thoughts-n-prayers again go out to you & yours during this special time of year. As I write this on the 2nd day of Hanukkah, Winter Solstice is just around the corner (12/21/23 @ 8:37PM MST), followed closely by Christmas and other notable celebrations! May you enjoy them deeply. As for us 2023 has been another adventure in roller-coaster-ing: We’re still here, outside Santa Fe and intend to be for most of the next year. We had some short trips, w/ annual visit back to Pacific Bch./San Diego; Phil also made it to gettogether functions in Burbank (McCambridge Park Boys and the Nov. Senior Bulldog Luncheon - no, it had nothing to do with the old family kennel). http://travelranger87508.blogspot.com/2023/11/my-hometown.html and http://travelranger87508.blogspot.com/2023/11/goin-back-memories-from-home.html Phil also sojourned to Belize to join the UT-Austin (& Humboldt) Archaeological Field School. Some new friends, and you can read more about that here: http://travelranger87508.blogspot.com/2023/11/goin-back-memories-from-home.html
By far our biggest trip of the year was to be Bali & Raja Ampat (east Indonesia coral reefs), BUT less than 2-weeks before embarkation the biliary duct infections came back in a big way, slamming our plans to the realm of almost. The medical team counseled me to stay close to “western medical intervention” or else consequences could be very dire. Medical conditions continue to challenge me, but this is neither the time nor place for that. We continue on one-dayat- a-time, confidently hoping the next day is better…WORLDWIDE! Meme kept quite busy with my myriad of health & life issues (“I don’t know what I’d do without her”). She also continued rock-climbing and studying Spanish. She acquired a cold plunge unit: keeps the water ca. 38F. I’ve gotten in to my mid-thigh a couple of times, but the peripheral neuropathy in the feet goes into overdrive.
Justin continues working as an attorney for the State (NM) Public Defender: now with a Probation Violation unit. Good works & two-thumbs-up here! He keeps active with a stationery bicycle, doing yoga, and keeping up on movies. I still manage to get out for some SiteWatch steward work on BLM (no, the original one: Bureau of Land Management) and Santa Fe County Open Space lands. The La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs (BLM, outside town) were hit with some vile vandalism early in the year: the community was enraged. SiteWatch has a long history at the site, including with the removal of graffiti. A reward of $10k is till unclaimed = if you know who did it, it could be a very Merry Christmas for you.
Translucent obsidian (Maya site, present day Belize)
*-Historically that’d be the returning of light (in the northern hemispheres: Colonialism Lives! On)

Monday, November 20, 2023

Goin' Back - memories from home

This blog blurb features a song by The Byrds, from their Notorious Byrd Brothers LP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqHb7RFpoxU
OK, here is the initial stanza: “I think I'm goin' back to the things I learned so well in my youth, I think I'm returning to those days when I was young enough to know the truth…”
My weekend of reflections in hometown Burbank, earlier this month, started with the airport shuttle to the Hotel Burbank: I was joined by the same SWA flight crew that I had flown-in with. It was their fourth, and final one, for the day. It seemed quite appropriate for this journey of rediscovery. Lots of traffic: an initial impression that remained throughout the weekend was that Burbank has many more people than it once did. As we passed Buena Vista St. a glimpse of a young 5th grader flashed from the long ago: giving a St. Christopher medal to classmate Andrea Liptak (she had lived on BV), and of course an accompanying memory of rejection when she later said adieu: bummer before the summer.
This got me to thinking of the trails I’ve trod since high school highlighted by: service in the Navy, studying history & archaeology (working in those fields), a 25-year career as a National Park Ranger/Special Agent (including decades in advanced emergency incident management) that got to speak-to-the-world for the US at an INTERPOL/UNESCO conference in Mexico City, working as an archaeologist for the State of New Mexico (NM), receiving a state Heritage Preservation Award from NM, working at Petra Archaeological Park and Wadi Rum Protected Area (UNESCO World Heritage Sites) in Jordan, and earlier this year an invitation to participate as an alumni in a 5-university (led by UT Austin) archaeological field school at Maya sites in Belize. I’ve been told I’m welcome to return anytime I desire.
So, trippin’: After settling into my 2-room suite, I took a short ride via Uber to McCambridge Park for a walkabout and stroll back to the hotel. Having just gotten out of the hospital for Cholangitis (5th time) on Tuesday: yep, side effect from battles vs. PC (pancreatic cancer), I thought Uber was a prudent option (Meme at home concurred). The first thing I noticed was water polo practice and training in the pool: which I thought was very good. Next I went inside the gym, where I’d spent many an hour playing shoot-the-ball and whiffle ball. It seemed much smaller than I remembered, but I was much younger and everything was bigger then. My next observation was many more tennis courts than back-in-the-day. The courts were active. It warmed the heart of this 10+ year College/US Tennis Assoc. Official (USTA), retired. Every feature of the park seemed to be used by young people. So, many youngsters: I thought this is really good, and different from what I see in New Mexico (which is actually very old). Besides the youthful flavor of the park participants I noticed it was a much more diverse dynamic. Next verse: “Now there are no games To only pass the time No more electric trains, No more trees to climb But thinking young and growing older is no sin And I can play the game of life to win”
The Park was in use by late afternoon picnickers, a young ladies softball team on field #1, more basket-ballers on the outdoor courts, skateboarders, walkers-n-strollers like yours truly. I believe my Mom did commentary on ESPN for the Burbank Kennel Club when they had a dog show at McC Park once upon a time ago. On the southwest corner, is the Blue Star Highway Memorial. Since I was wearing my Southwest Area Incident Management Team poloshirt and a wide brimmed sombrero, I saluted. At field #2, the floodgate of memories opened: John Peterson’s (Pizza Pantry) two home runs over the tall fence in left-center against us (Aerol Red Devils); Bill Kuzma’s no-hitter (which I caught); a young fan encouraging me (I think it might have been Ken Ziskin’s sister Laura) to hit a home run – I struck-out trying to do just that (but, dated Ken & Laura’s cousin in college). Yep, time for another verse: “I can recall a time, when I wasn't ashamed to reach out to a friend and now I think I've got a lot more than just my toys to lend”
Walking back I ventured along Glenoaks Blvd., past the high school (BHS): I again noticed lots of late Friday afternoon activity. The baseball field where I had spent a few hours was in use: practice, practice, and practice: I thought, “this is very good and Go Bulldogs!” The track oval too, and the football field had a soccer (Futbol) scrimmage going: Dem Dawgs! Of course the gym where our basketball team provided many a thrill via their sweat equity is no more, but I could still see Don Ludwig (’64), Dean DeHart (’65), or Jerry Perkins (’65) getting the reb from a much taller opponent (Foothill League had several 7-footers) and passing it out to Jim Greenfield (’65) or John Gable (’65) for a nothing-but-net-swish… Yep, I’m goin’ back “Now there's more to do Than watch my sailboat glide But everyday can be my magic carpet ride A little bit of courage is all we lack So catch me if you can – I’m goin’ back.”
Strollin' along Third St. I overheard 3 ladies. In my residential days you’d about always hear English (or occasional Spanish, most often from students practicing a foreign language), or the ughs & grunts that sometimes came from me I can still hear my maternal grandmother telling me to “stand tall, shoulders back and enunciate your words.”). The 3 ladies were speaking an eastern European language I did not recognize. Could it have been Ukrainian? It was probably Armenian. It reminded me of when I issued a “code violation” to a Belarusian tennis player playing for U-Penn. He shouted out a F-bomb and tried to claim he was making an excited utterance that just sounded like the prohibited verbiage; he then added he’d been misunderstood for this before. USTA and college tennis rules prohibited it anyway. The Hotel Burbank is at San Fernando Rd & Angelina- well situated for walkabouts. It is also noisy, at least my suite was: facing I-5 and the railroad tracks I was reminded of my “Kennel Daze” when we lived so close to the RR-tracks and San Fernando Rd.
On Saturday morning strolls around the hotel’s neighborhood showed various individuals and groups enjoying the downtown area. Quieter than Friday evening, but it seemed the day had potential for “a good day”. At the southwest corner of Glenoaks & Angelina I stopped in my tracks when I saw the Foster’s Freeze was still there in all its heritage glory. The countless times we were rewarded with a cone from its magic machine, and the universally shared experience of a youngster losing their cone to gravity and the sidewalk, curb & gutter (in my case only to have Mom arrive from the counter with a replacement mitigating a meltdown). Yes, I’m Goin’ Back… “Now there's more to do Than watch my sailboat glide But everyday can be my magic carpet ride A little bit of courage is all we lack So catch me if you can – I’m goin’ back So catch me if you can I'm goin' back La la la”
Seeing the street sign for Verdugo flashed me back to the house I shared with the Freeman Bros. (Doug & Lee) and some couch surfers (Ed King comes to mind) post-Navy. The SAC (Strawberry Alarm Clock) was trying to hang-on. I did a live recording for them at a beach club (The Golden Bear), but by far the most memorable fact was their equipment, that we kept in our garage, had the name of the owners stenciled on the back: The Rolling Stones. How I loved experimenting with that. Lee encouraged me towards music, but SAC sounds weren’t my interest. My day job was Lineman for PacBell, but that wouldn’t keep me in the Southland. My Dad was devastated, as he had plans for me: later I learned my parents wanted me to work for PacBell go to USC at night, get heavily into debt and be forced to stay and be vested there (I’d leave those plans to my two younger sisters). Maybe due to Navy wanderlust, I was ready for a move and “Fort Worth, I Love You…” came knocking one night. Pat Thompson, a friend & fellow Aviation Electronics Tech. from WestPac (USS Oriskany) was enroute home to “Cowtown” (his twin brother Mike and younger sisters). Pat asked if I was up to rolling the dice Texas-way. I didn’t looked back, and loved being back in the swing… Time for some early Joe Walsh sounds (thanks for ALL you do for vets Joe): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo0vBdlWQs0
Saturday afternoon I joined in with the annual gathering of a group informally known as “The McCambridge Park Boys” at the VFW. Made up primarily of BHS athletes from the 60’s, that had played-in-the-park prior, it included folks from our crosstown rival John Burroughs and some ladies from their Class of ’67. Reminded by Mickey DePalo of our champion flag football team: Kids For Christ, the truly original recipe KFC), I recalled we had practiced & played there. The team included longtime compadre Stephen Meyer that went on to play at Glendale CC & “The U” (Utah) as a Ute.
Danny DeMonbrun (“Danny D”, or “Coach D” as he’s been called the past 51-years: just retired) was there and shared a photo of the Pioneer S&L Pirates from 1962. What a talented roster (back row l to r: Bankston, Kuzma, Coyle, Blackwell, Coach Brisky, DeMonbrun, XX, Meyer… Baldino & DePalo in front row + more). I was with the Burbank Bullets that year (see previous blog post), but would join then for ’63 & ’64. The biggest surprise was seeing Leigh Hilt (QB1, BHS ’64). I hadn’t seen him in 54-years. I mused of the last time I’d seen him: de-boarding a PSA flight at BUR, returning from Vietnam duty to check-in with my parents in Nov. of ’69, I saw him meeting a flight attendant (gorgeous I might add). He looked at me and said: “That was my wife, we were married 42-years, 10-months & 2-days.” I could tell there was quite a love story there. (Later, I told him I remember he had flowers or roses: he said I had a good memory.) That evening was USC’s homecoming game vs Washington Huskies (USC defense again wasn’t).
Sunday’s outing was visiting the graves of my parents at Forest Lawn – Hollywood Hills, overlooking the intermittent Los Angeles River. Approaching the cemetery, you could see the Pickwick area equestrian areas where my sister Laura spent so much time with the California Rangers group. There was heavy traffic (OK, “a jam”) as vehicles exited the freeway and encountered wall-to-wall vendedores de las floras selling their flowers. My last visit there was on a Monday in August last year: I still recall thanking my Dad for so many “pearls of wisdom” over the years, like “If we’d waited until we were ready to be parents, you and your sisters would’ve never have been born”. Sundays are much busier, with remembrances and respects being paid & flowers being left. The deer have learned that and browse on the flowers on Mondays. After some minor name-tablet grooming and thanks I walked out to the front and hailed another Uber back to the Hotel. However, it wasn’t before thinking about the times spent watching street/drag races along the access road: we called it “River Road” back then. In the 60’s it was perfect for unauthorized racing: it was just over the river from Burbank jurisdiction and LAPD had to come from Hollywood, over or around the Hills to intervene. One Friday night I was cruisin’ with Spanky Cunningham (and others) in his milk truck, a good to-the-beachmobile too). I saw to VW’s up on the line getting ready to go off as I was thinking one looked like mine. As they zoomed past I recognized my ’60 bug and sister Chris as she quick shifted. Chris probably had a “Learner’s Permit” at the time. Then remembering the later tragic car accident Laura suffered with friends when they were hit head-on by one of two racers (a Ferrari, if memory serves). Laura barely survived, the driver of the Ferrari didn’t.
Monday was a long day: Ray Magee, a fellow ’65 Bulldog, collected me at the Hotel and took me to the Senior Bulldogs Luncheon at the Elks Club (Hollywood Way). There I was surrounded by so many cherished relationships. It was a day I’ll long remember and hold dear: John Coyle (and Cathy '67), Kirk Harris, Tom Veatch, George Colvin, Rita Cardenas, Pam & Jon Kirkwood of the famous ’64 life-is-a-beach crowd (miles of smiles), and so many, MANY more. Some of course also en absentia, but remembered: Trudie & Santa of course. I can't begin to articulate the depth of my THANKS-to-ALL. Afterwards Ray gave me a lift to the airport and after connecting via “Lost Wages” airport I arrived back in ABQ ca. 10PM and was able to get home and by midnight to bed (“with visions of Bulldogs dancing in my head”)… “Now there's more to do Than watch my sailboat glide But everyday can be my magic carpet ride A little bit of courage is all we lack So catch me if you can – I’m goin’ back So catch me if you can I'm goin' back La la la…”

Friday, November 3, 2023

My Hometown

01 SEP 23: My hometown (Burbank, CA) has a celebration going on today, 115th anniversary of the senior high school that saw fit to diploma me back in ’65. Congratulations to the many that have passed through their halls and sung “Hail Burbank High School…” Above photo is recent volunteer effort at McCambridge Park, which you'll hear more about below.
I’d like to take this opportunity to cruise down part of memory lane. Some CONTEXT: my experiences there were centered around our family’s kennel (Fremar) on north Lima Street, just off San Fernando Road, near Hollywood Way, Lockheed and the Hollywood-Burbank Airport. When people hear we had kennels in Burbank & Malibu (pictured), they think money. We certainly didn’t have it: centered in mid-middle class we were always working, but getting by OK. Usually short on extravagance (like the kids seeing a dentist every half-decade or so). For those of you not familiar with it, Burbank is wedged between Glendale (where our parents met in high school), Hollywood, North Hollywood, & Sun Valley (all part of L.A.). My Dad worked as an engineer for Pacific Bell Telephone during the day and with “the dogs” at night Mom managed the kennel: 25-dogs in Burbank and a hundred more than that in Malibu. The Malibu kennel was not ours: we managed it with an option-to-buy. After a couple of years commuting to his “day job” in Burbank, we made the tough decision to consolidate back to “the Valley”. My sisters (Chris & Laura) & I spent many a weekend at AKC Dog Shows, and we had some winners, especially with our Bedlington Terriers (one of which made the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1960).
The Burbank kennel was in a one-block area. AKA “kennel row”, surrounded by many small factories and machine shops. Many of those industries have expanded to swallow the homes and kennels of the late 50’s and early 60’s. When we were residents the Vrooms had Doberman’s, the Fancy’s Miniature Schnauzers, the Martins'... etc. My first outside-the-kennel job was at Burbank Plumbing Supply, around the corner on San Fernando Rd., next to Kenny’s Plumbing & Joe’s Plumbing (things were concentrated).
03 NOV 23: Now, for the record, I can’t overstate how important sports were to me while growing up. Many memories of catching, throwing or shootin’-the-ball. If not in the yard or street, at either Bryce or McCambridge Park (usually the latter). My present sojourn this weekend out to the Southland is to remember and say hello & Ga’Day: one thing the pancreatic cancer journey has reminded me is that we don’t have that long a stay.” Embracing the day, on Saturday I hope to reconnect with the “McCambridge Park Boys” (an annual informal gathering of 1960’s athletes coordinated by Don Ludwig, ’64 basketball & all-around gentleman: photo is from ten years ago). BHS in my day was known athletically for excellence in Cross Country, Basketball and Swimming: we had some top-notch talents. I remember many a late night game of hoops under the coin-fed lights at McCambridge with Jim Cochran, John Kunert, and the Gary’s (Pinnel & Walter) + others I’m surly forgetting, Good times, no great times.
On Monday I plan to attend the monthly luncheon for Senior BHS Bulldogs, where I’ll see more fellows alums, classmates & teammates (John Coyle, Kirk Harris, Ray Magee, Danny DeMonbrun and so many others): we’ve lost some along the journey, which makes reconnecting increasingly important: Carpe diem! We’ve ALL helped each other through the years“…break on through to the other side…”
Now, for some “other thoughts”: I know apologies aren’t really necessary, but I’ll make them anyway: THANKS to the young ladies that shared some time with me on dates my/our senior year: classmates Phyllis Rehrig & Susan Long (Senior Prom date) + Donna Luce (Class of ’67) come to mind. You spent at least some time & mental energy with this shy & introverted kid-from-the-kennel, long before he’d discovered “Powder Milk Biscuits”. I was 17 and my personality hadn’t shown-up yet (I still might be waiting for that). Plus, there were other classmates I always longed to talk with, but it never found the words: one was Chris Powers (I can still hear a sigh when I hear the name). I remember her watching her brother Ken pitch for the Burbank Bullets baseball team, while I patrolled the “Hot Corner” at third base (we were 14 and I was tongue-tied). Another sister of a baseball teammate was Leigh Rugee (Class of ’67): Dave’s younger sibling. Another tip-of-the-sombrero goes to Janet Bauder that helped me through an extremely awkward phone call initiated by a fellow ’65-er & neighbor Dennis Bandy.
We’ve all moved on and done well, at least I hope we all have. THANKS for the many positive memories ALL… Phil

Monday, October 2, 2023

Here's a Tip (or two)...

It has been a month (yesterday, 01 Oct 2023) since we lost Jimmy, but thankfully he is still with us. His Margaritaville channel did a great 3-week tribute and continues to bring us his tunes. Known for many a sailing song, he was also a pilot with a CPL (Commercial Pilot License) & ratings for multi-engine land & sea aircraft (getting to do a flight with the Navy’s Blue Angels). I think he would’ve made one heckuva Park Ranger Pilot for NPS. When I think of his aerial tunes I think of: Somewhere Over China https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KB15lm89RsE ; Jamaica Mistaica https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsKZewdhDtk ; Silver Wings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIw68ePV9TY ; Strange Bird https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziG30rMYF6o ; Treetop Flyer (a Stephen Stills song) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRI-cK5QDS0 ; Thanks again Jimmy: we know you loved the air & sea (“Mother, mother ocean…”)
Now, some thoughts about tipping: “… she would leave him the tip, the typically grand sum of one dollar, our nod to what we considered a ludicrous American practice.” The Sympathizer (by Viet Thanh Nguyen) The subject of tipping is usually a good hand grenade to mix-up (or explode) conversations. I just finished reading the above noted work, and was reminded that while traveling in foreign lands it is best to find out about, and follow, local customs: some places tipping is not the norm, or even considered rude.
As Meme & I have both had jobs (once-upon-a-time) where tips were an essential part of our income, we practice responsible tipping and reward good service. In addition, we still have relatives in the service industry that count on tips. A semi-recent LTE here said in essence: if you can’t afford to tip 20+% you shouldn’t be dinning out. I felt it conveyed a message not supported by the hospitality industry (and restaurant owners/managers) in that it said to many: “don’t go.” I thought it missed the point also about any association with service. A semi-recent personal experience highlights something to be alert for: A nice local (Santa Fe) café specializing in Mediterranean cuisine brought the check with a 20% “service charge” already added. They didn’t note that upfront or at that time. Then they had the tipping chart (18%, 20%, 25%, etc.) noting what a tip would be based on your total (that figure included your 20% service charge). I guess they heard from enough of us that they stopped that practice: the next time I went they no longer did that, but I noticed their tipping chart was based on final total (with tax) and started at 20%. They boldly recommended 25%, also showing a 30% calculation for consideration.
Many of us have been faced with an appropriate tip for take-out food orders. The numbers of which mushroomed during the pandemic. The NY Times did a fair job of addressing the perplexities of this, indicating that 10% is fair for grab-n-go from a sit-down place; fast food remaining at nada. There are proponents of simply adding a 20% service fee to all orders. I find that contrary to the notion that it should be earned. Everyone has had an experience that you just don’t want to positively reinforce and reward. Other services are getting into the action as well, and I can only wonder how long will it be before when you pickup your dry cleaning they put the pad up to your face to select the proper tip amount? (We may already be there). Coming in another month: “Equal Strain On All Parts”

Sunday, September 3, 2023

Fruitcakes: “What would Jimmy Buffett do?”

Sad to hear of Jimmy setting sail on towards another port-a-call (skin cancer; I can certainly relate): I’m still preparing charts for that voyage. Over the many decades he has provided so much entertainment for so many: his music, his writings, and even his motion picture presence (He joked about his efforts in what he termed a kids/young-adult film called “Hoot” in 2006. He played they affable middle school science teacher, Mr. Ryan. Basic coming-of-age faire it had a good environmental protection message and brought attention to some young talent like Logan Lerman, Brie Larson [who of course now has an Oscar to her acting credit], and Cody Linley alongside Luke Wilson and the comedy of Tim Blake Nelson).
It didn’t surprise me that he’d become a billionaire. I’d been watching his net worth go up over the decades and noticed it took a hit during the global pandemic. Post-pandemic he toured, but health slowed him down (Boy, can I relate to that too). Well Jimmy, enjoy those eternal point breaks, you’ve earned them well. We’ll think of you catching them and “hangin’ 10 as we sing the chorus from your song “That’s what Living is to Me”: Be good and you will be lonesome Be lonesome and you will be free Live a lie and you will live to regret it That's what livin' is to me That's what livin' is to me
We’ve been lucky enough to hear him to introduce & perform “God’s Own Drunk” (aka “The Bear song” many times. I’ve been singin’ along with his tunes for so many years now, songs we “do know by heart”. Like: “A Pirate Looks at Forty” (make that 50/60/70/80; I'd often sing this as the "Preservation Pirate" at New Mexico's annual Atchaeolofy Fair); “Tin Cup Chalice”; “School Boy Heart”; “Whose the Blonde Stranger?” (occasionally, I’ll look at Meme and say “Whose Dan? and she says whose Marie?”), "Breathe In, Breathe Out", "Boats to Build", "Prince of Tides" (a tiltle I used for Jimmy), and of course his long popular “Why Don’t We Get Drunk” (a “love song from a different point of view”). Folks that have ridden with me in my 4-Runner probably noted my Sirius XM radio is usually tuned into Ch. 24, the Margaritaville channel. In May of this year I applied to be a guest DJ for their Fruitcakes segments. Here is what I told them mas-o-menos (note much of his music library is available via You Tube):
Margaritaville Radio Longtime listener (headed to Belize on Friday): as career National Park Ranger I wore many hats – archeologist, historian, educator/interpreter, wildland firefighter, emergency medical technician, search & rescue responder/manager, law enforcement office and investigator (Special Agent). Plus, of course: Parrothead. Many a patrol singin’ Jimmy tunes. When working post-Katrina rescue & rehab in the “Nawlins” area, I was lucky to be paired with a full-bird Captain from US Public Health Service that was a fellow sailor & Parrothead. I told him about the time we saw Jimmy at the Sanger Theater when I worked at Jean Lafitte NHP 20+ years before. Great concert, and of course many since (after all, I too am a “Son of a Son of a Sailor” (3rd generation Navy: WW I, WW II & Vietnam). The most recent ticket concerts being Red Rocks (2021) and Phoenix 2023: unfortunately, I had to transfer tickets to those and stream them live due to my own on-going battles with health challenges: I will prevail with PMA (positive mental attitude) and Jimmy. When I think of the many songs that Jimmy has given us, it is hard to select “just” four, but here are ones I come back to time & again: One Particular Harbor Cowboy in the Jungle Fins (or Volcano) Fruitcakes
However, if allowed I’d like to honor the many great “covers” he has provided to us over the years (would love to do an entire “Buffett buffet” hour of covers. When I ask: “…What would Jimmy Buffett do?” (from “Five O’clock Somewhere”) I think he’d probably play “Brown Eyed Girl” and “Southern Cross” for sure (two of his more well-played covers). In addition, the quartet I’d like to play include some deceased greats: Hey Good Lookin’ (Hank Williams) Scarlet Begonias (Grateful Dead) Paradise (John Prine) Wildflowers (Tom Petty)
THANKS for your considerations, and keep-on keepin’- on… Phil Young NPS Ranger/Special Agent (Ret.) Archaeologist, State of New Mexico (Ret.)
P.S. Note: Many friends know that friend & former brother-in-law Lee Freeman was with the Strawberry Alarm Clock (he had his own “Gold Record”) and when I was in town (Burbank area) we’d check-in with each other. In about ’75 he asked what I was listening to and when I said Jimmy Buffett he had a great look of disappointment. I told him your ballads were poems & stories worth hearing. After that, there was acceptance.
I was going to be posting from Meme’s, my, Randy Crutcher’s Bali/Raja Ampat adventures, but a recent setback & hospitalization has made that medically ill-advised for me. College roomie, friend & travel compadre Randy will be photo-chronicling, and I’ll try to “be good” here…
On one of your trips Jimmy you wrote (in about 15-minutes) about a “Cheeseburger in Paradise” (from the marina at Tortola, British V.I.). When I was on St. John (post-Maria rehab assignment) I remember looking out at BVI and thinkin': “Good God Almighty Which Way Do I Steer?”

Sunday, June 11, 2023

Monkeys & the Medicine Trail

In late May & early June I had the privilege of traveling to Belize and joining the faculty, staff and students at the archaeological field schools conducted at the La Milpa Research Station (aka Texas Arch. Center). I was invited to come and have a look-see by Dr. Marisol Cortes-Rincon (Cal Poly Humboldt). Lots of karma earned her way (photo).
Due to my health challenges dealing with pancreatic cancer and treatment issues the previous 32-months (see health update below*), and traveling alone internationally for the first time in many years, I decided to lay-over in Belize City (BC) for a couple of nights. I’d arranged for a snorkel tour on Saturday (27 May), but it got canceled one-hour before launch time: not enough of us registered to make a go of it. Fortunately, the annual Cancer Walk was happening right past the front of my hotel, and I was also able to hook-up with a tour for the day going to kayak some caves (also used by the Maya). My tour-mates were two young ladies visiting Belize during the very same timeframe: one was a U.S. Marine Lt. (whose Marine Recon husband was on deployment; she took this photo of me on-the-water), and the other a U.S. Embassy employee in El Salvador (majored in Criminal Justice, so I tried to softly recruit as National Park Ranger). We had a wonderful time paddling and late lunching. That evening was Senior Prom night in BC, so the area was jumping pre-midnight.
On Sunday I hitched a ride with Dr. Rissa Trachman (pictured) out to La Milpa. The University of Texas (UT) has been conducting field research in the area since the early 80’s, led by Dr. Fred Valdez since the early 90’s. This year students were again working with professors that have a specialty in pre-Hispanic Maya. In addition to UT, they hailed from Cal Poly Humboldt (Dr. Marisol Cortes-Rincon), Elon University (Dr. Rissa), Howard University (Dr. Eleanor King), and Western Colorado University or WCU (Dr. David Hyde). The primary focus was Maya common-folk (as noted on my attached Facebook post- pictured). I booked a cabana at the Eco Lodge next door to the Arch. Center: a 5-minute walk from my room to the Arch. Center.
A full hats-off sweeping of the sombrero to ALL of the faculty, staff and students that are part of the “Belize Archaeological Project” at La Milpa. I’m in awe of their efforts & works in some complex and trying environmental conditions. The heat and humidity are pretty much constant. Temporary relief comes from a daily shower, or the purchase of a cold drink (beer: $1.5 or soda/water: $1. Room/air temperature water is free. Beers available are: Landshark, Bilikin Original Recipe, or Bilikin Stout – I tried/liked all three). The temp my final day was 100F, with humidity that made the Feels Like 111F.
Mornings begin with the call to 1st Breakfast at 0600 (6AM) – there are so many in camp (ca. 90), that there is a 2nd b-fast at ca. 0645. The universities noted above have their own research projects in different areas, identified by their professors/directors. All under the umbrella of the UT/Dr. Fred permit has with Belize. Teams start for their field project areas ca. 0715. For the day, everyone carries 3-liters of water and electrolytes. There are only two taps of potable water in camp, operating under gravity feed (so you
use one at a time). Best to fill your water containers the night before (just like fire camp) as the line can be long in the morning.
Each field day (Sunday thru Friday) a cross-section of students can be found at Arch. Center working under the guidance of the lab staff: identifying, sorting, bagging, cleaning, etc. These important tasks and labor-intensive works continue all day.
Due to my limited strength and stamina I worked with the Mountaineers of WCU in the jungle of Belize, along the Medicine Trail. The walk each way was about 20-minutes, but after rains it was slippery and challenging for this 4th Quarter of my century guy. But, I did it (and my blood work numbers post-trip were the best I’ve had in years = credit is due to the Medicine Trail).
I’d like to give a shout-out to each and everyone that worked on the site. However, I don’t have all their names. I know their leader, Dr. David, kept things loose with professional observations peppered with dialogues about movies and the eclectic tunes that were serenading us. He peppered us with rock trivia and even remembered the Strawberry Alarm Clock as psychedelic rock (I forgot to ask him & the players this question: “Name the band that owned the SAC’s equipment? Their name was stenciled on the back.” Answer at end of this post). Dr. D., who also DJ’s on the university radio station, asked us to pick a “walk off” song – something to be played when walking off your climatic scene. I picked this one: "Life's been good to me..." (because it has): you'll probably need to copy & paste link to listen (that worked when I tried it): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXWvKDSwvls
I was worker #13 at the site- fortuitous for me, as the other “Dirty Dozen” took care of me and allowed me to participate. Jessica & David were two senior field leaders that had recently received their Master’s in anthropology from New Mexico State (they both attended WCU as undergrads and are going to SUNY-Binghamton for PhD work). Troy B. was a returning student helping lead field works also, along with another WCU grad that was a Biological Anthropologist that recently completed her Masters at Montana (Missoula). Linnea and Jo were rookies, but MVP’s all the way. From outside the WCU program, but key components at the site were Jim (a US Foreign Service retiree from the Olympic Peninsula – before that he was a National Park Ranger in the Bay Area), Leonardo (St. Mary’s College of California), and Orion Magpie (Humboldt). GS (?) is a counselor from Community College of Aurora and Balto was our local site Mr. Fix-it: “Have machete will travel” was his theme. I know I’m forgetting some, but they were contributors to the research record one-and-all. Upon arrival at the site we needed to carefully remove the tarps that covered the excavated units from the elements. Due to rain some nights, our day started with bucket brigades bailing water from pockets on the tarps. My first day in the field we were visited by five spider-monkeys: they stayed in the tree tops over us, but shook branches and limbs trying to break them down on us. One plastic clipboard was fractured thusly. As work progressed in the east units a rock pedestal re-appeared and in one of the west units a ceramic facemask covering/offering was recovered.
Early (3AM) one morning the Arch. Center camp & the Eco Lodge were awakened to the deep-throated call of a Howler monkey. It sounded just outside my room: I even checked in my loft to make sure it wasn’t up there. There calls can be heard over 3-miles. Listen to a Howler monkey roar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYar0dkZ6v8 One morning when I got up and getting ready for the day I noticed I’d apparently stepped on and killed a scorpion. My peripheral neuropathy is so acute I didn’t feel it, and I’m thinking the chemicals in me are what got it. I’m a regular walking Orkin.
My biggest regrets regarding the trip (they’re big): 1) I should’ve tried harder to get in-the-field with the Humboldt Krewe. They were why I went, but they had a much longer commute (drive & hike)- My heart remains with them & Salud Compadres! Wherever you go and whatever you do you’ll have these well earned memories. 2) I didn’t get to the La Milpa site (and it is in the guidebooks and a big part for why the Eco Lodge was developed). Another time! Additional photos are included in a PowerPoint, possibly viewable at (again you'll probaly need to copy & paste - lo siento): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wzpaujvg9a1xhhp6kmzup/2023-Belize.pptx?dl=0&rlkey=m5ysd4t843n054mt7z4wdjvkz
* HEALTH UPDATE: As many of you know I battled stage 3 pancreatic cancer starting on 01 Oct. 2020. Though the chemo, radiation and surgery worked on the cancer I was left with other issues. My shortened biliary duct was subject to closures and infections and brought about three hospital stays in 2022 (May-Aug.). These occurred after an umbilical hernia operation where the surgeon apparently hadn’t confronted the internal workings of a post-Whipple surgery before. They punted, in that they’d planned to place mesh over the repair, but instead made a quick repair, “pushed things around” (their quote), and closed without placing mesh because: “You’ll need additional surgery in the future.” Well yeah. The repair failed in less than a year and is protruding, cumbersome & painful (I look and feel like the alien, from the movie of the same name, is coming out my umbilical area). I’ll proceed with another surgeon soon. The, in late February I experienced extreme back pain. X-Ray & MRI showed a compression fracture at L3. We don’t know when it happened, but pre-Whipple therapies had weakened me and twisting while moving wood in the snow probably aggravated it. PT & acupuncture have helped some. This trip to Belize was a stepping-stone towards a longer trip Meme & I plan to make in September (Bali). Trivia Question Answer: The Rolling Stones (they owned and cached equipment in various locations. SAC had the L.A. inventory. I always felt hot jamming on their stuff: not a hot & humid Maya jungleland hot mind-you, but good just the same).