I hope to be done with updating updates of the physical sort now that I’ve replaced my camera, laptop, and cell phone. Yet I know there will constantly be updates to Windows on the laptop and apps on the phone.
View South from Yovimpa Point
Last week there was a problem leaving a comment on the blog and that was because I hadn’t updated a couple plugins for a while. Those dang updates get me every time. But with limited internet signal I can’t do updates every day.
Upper Paria Canyon & Navajo Mt 90 miles away from Rainbow Point
After two days off I went back to work Saturday and there were many updates now that CDC says vaccinated people don’t HAVE to wear masks everywhere. Yet our staff of Rangers still wore masks both inside the office and outside at the information desk. And I was happily surprised a high percentage of visitors wore masks as well. Even at the outside hoodoo geology talk 75% of attendees also wore a mask while keeping a respectable distance. Another park update includes celebrating an abbreviated Astro Fest in mid-June. No telescopes but extra nights of laser-light constellation tours and other activities. I’m glad that will fall mostly on my days off.
It was my week for hanging out at Rainbow and Yovimpa Points at the end of the scenic road, no complaints there. One day I went with a new person, Ranger Tif, and the wind darn near blew us off the southern most Yovimpa. So we walked the one mile Bristlecone Loop trail taking almost two hours answering visitor questions and identifying trees and plants which updates my forest knowledge. The park’s oldest known Bristlecone, on the right, died at about 1600 years old, they can live to 5000+.
Admiring a 20 footer along the trail a visitor guessed it’s age at 50 and I guessed closer to 300. Can’t know without coring the trunk. Other mixed conifers seen along the trail include White and Douglas Fir, Limber and Ponderosa Pine, and a couple species of Junipers. Plus some low growing red-barked Manzanita and some flowering bushes.
Most excited to see a Snowberry Clearwing Sphinx Moth pollinating the flowering Current bushes along the trail. Seems the Snowberry isn’t flowering yet.
Sunday wasn’t a field day and started with project time, then a few hours at the information desk, and finished with a collateral duty taking care of the library. Easy peasy. But not so easy was once again fighting with “Network busy on Windows” error when I did the usual routine of tethering the phone to the laptop to get online if there’s a signal. I tried the tech support I paid extra for but the difficult to understand voice couldn’t understand my situation—remote with no WIFI—and told me “it’s a Microsoft problem.” Then she provided a phone number that gave a recording saying the only support is now online. Of course that’s where I am not. It’s now like I have to travel with my computer everywhere so I can get online where possible, but not at home. Oh, and the phone has a mind of it’s own too constantly turning off the volume and on an alarm. More updates on this further down.
The next day I took the laptop to work again so after I was off at 5pm I can download Windows updates and maybe solve the current problem. Took about 30 minutes to update my laptop and then it would tether to the phone. This has gotten very old and extremely frequent. Microsoft has us by the balls, so to speak. That night I stayed online for hours, because I could.
The work day started early with opening the visitor center by 8am with Ranger C. Later, we’d been scheduled for Rainbow Point. However, new rules with updates to the schedule meant two people couldn’t ride in the same vehicle, even masked, for the 30 minute drive. Ranger C. covered a desk information shift and I returned to Rainbow and Yovimpa Points for the afternoon. But I didn’t stay long because of a lightning and thunder snowstorm. Took a few photos and headed back with a quick stop at Ponderosa Point and then Natural Bridge overlook before returning to the office. Visitors were shocked and mostly ill prepared for the cold, wet and windy weather. Saw one pronghorn in a meadow on the return my first this year seen in the park.
Tuesday several Rangers where sick from the second Moderna shot so there were updates to the schedule. Still worked 12:15-1:15 at the desk. Then added the 2pm hoodoo geology talk with roving along the rim and decided to have the Portabella sandwich for lunch at the Lodge. Then more roving and back to the information desk from 6-8 to close.
Opened the visitor center the next day, my Friday on Wednesday, then returned to Rainbow/Yovimpa Points to rove. Left the phone home as it doesn’t really work out there anyway. But the damn thing has a mind of it’s own and in my back pocket seems my butt can turn things on I can’t even find. WTF? Probably needs updating.
Spent the next day doing laundry and cleaning house for my guest’s arrival in the afternoon. Met Karen and Jim at the North Rim Grand Canyon in 2008, and she started me on the road to blogging. Sadly, she lost her husband but is keeping up a good attitude living in Denver and just bought a three-wheel bike. It had been nine years since we’d seen each other. She flew in to Vegas Wednesday and visited with another friend then drove to Bryce the next day and of course we were up pretty late.
View South from SR14 to Zion NP
I had an eye doctor appointment for Friday in Cedar City, 1 1/2 hours away, so we got an early start and had time for breakfast out before arriving minutes late. But I had to wait for over 30 minutes anyway. Medicare completely covered the eye exam and the doctor said my eyes were healthy and not yet in need of cataract surgery. Then I picked out a pair of lavender kids frames and the glasses should be ready in 7-10 days. After grocery shopping we went to the pet store for cat food and in the same strip mall Verizon. The battery was starting to bulge on the phone thus causing all kinds of problems so I decided to replace it. What a hassle to wade through the paperwork, then leave both phones for 30 minutes to transfer stuff to the new phone, also a Motorola Droid. I decided to leave the old phone for them to recycle but didn’t discover until I got home they hadn’t moved all my photos. They were closed by then. Of course the new phone is a new learning curve. Just a little smaller screen but comes with a stylus.
Rental cabin near the Lodge
I called the store first thing in the morning and got transferred to a call center. I wanted to stop them from recycling/throwing away my old phone. A message went to the sales person. Then we went to breakfast at the Lodge and I got a call from the store manager but the signal wasn’t great so he was suppose to call me back. Didn’t happened.
Afterwards we walked to the rim briefly in a cold wind, got in some selfies and a lady took pics of us and the canyon. Karen left just after noon and it was hard to say goodbye. A two day visit was too few. But we’re already talking about a winter gathering somewhere.
Arrow leaf Balsam Root
Later I tried to connect phone and puter via USB and not sure if it’s the daily lousy connection or I’m doing something else wrong as I don’t seem to have a signal. Seems it’s time for updating Windows again and can’t because I’m not online and I can’t get online until I update Windows. This is getting very old. Time to take the new laptop to work again. Sigh… Funny thing the old laptop will connect if there’s a signal and that’s how this post is going out. But what a pain to have to save from the new laptop to a flash-drive then load onto the old laptop and hope for the best.
Hi Gaelyn, I remember Karen! How great that you met up again, There is hope for you and me to meet again some day. I loved the Snowberry Clearwing Sphinx Moth. I have to do updates next door at the farm office, else my own data is gobbled up here at home. And yes, Microsoft has us by the shorts. The updates are never ending. Did you get your old phone back in time? Jo
I do hope our paths cross again. I won’t go back to town for almost two weeks and hope they kept my old phone. I’m about ready to throw that and the new laptop over a cliff.
OMG Computers and mobile phones can be so frustrating, Where in earth did you get the patience to sort all those problems out. Thank goodness you had a friend call on you to help you relax. While I was reading all your problems I could feel myself getting angry for you. Anyway I hope everything is o.k. now Take care and hope you have a good weekend without any more frustrations.
I just don’t understand why this has to be so hard. I’m no IT expert, but not totally stupid either. I really did need the visit.
Fun to read about your work week as always; glad to know people aren’t abusing the new mask optional freedom. Good lord, your computer problems are a real catch 22. Yikes, gave me a headache just thinking about it. Thank you for soldiering through. …. And for sharing the beautilful scenery. … I remember Karen, I used to read her blog also. Sad to know about Fab Grandpa”and I’m sure her trip and visit with you did her a world of good.
Thanks. I am surprised anybody is really interested in everyday, to me, life of a Park Ranger. But thanks for remaining my friend, especially through all this online BS. Karen and I had a great time, just not long enough.
I feel your pain with the IT crap. Drives me up the wall too when it’s not “working”. Glad you got a break with a friendly visit. Love those first 2 pics. Amazes me how far you can see from up high. Gives a good perspective view of the lay of the land. Here’s wishing for IT problem free days ahead!! How did we ever get so addicted to this stuff. Lol. They’ve got us where they want us.
Maybe the “Old Geezer” in Kanab can help if the latest work around doesn’t do it. The tech that was suppose to make life easier causes an unusual amount of stress.
My landline hasn’t worked all day..No cell here. Went to Ziply Fiber, our worthless phone Co. online..I was told there are no outages and got hung-up on…None of my neighbors phones work either..
Arggg…Sheesh…
First we’re hooked, then there’s no other options, and then we get the FU. Sorry to hear this.
I agree updates are a real pain and although we generally have a connection it is very slow!! Hope you manage to get your photos off the old phone. I rarely ever use my phone for photos so there are few on it but all my contacts are there! Keep safe and wear that mask,,I have no intention on going without in a hurry but at present here masks are compulsory and not home made ones allowed. Think our home made was better than the bought with 3 thicknesses but…. Hugs, Diane and Nigel.
I just wasted almost an hour, after work but at work, for more updates. REALLY???!!! Haven’t been back for the old phone yet. I don’t use it often, but… I am still wearing a mask when in close proximity.
Wow what a mess with Phones and laptops. Hope you get your old phone back for the pictures. I always take my pictures off of my phone for fear of losing them. But of course then I have nothing to show anyone. But they are probably thrilled that there are no Nana photos of grandkids. What is your new laptop that it doesn’t connect very well. Really love that picture of the two of you. What a backdrop!! Love those storm pictures too. The color is so fine. Can’t believe you got a picture of the mountain 90 miles away. Some camera.
I usually take pics off the phone to laptop but not always. Won’t know about that until next week. The new laptop is a Lenovo, but it’s a lack of signal and bandwith that won’t allow me to connect at home. I’m sitting in the office after work tonight to catch up and do banking. I do have a huge zoom lens but post processing does the trick.
Pictures are crazy making any more. I have automatic uploads both to Google Photos (which will change after June 21) and to Smug Mug for which I pay a good yearly price to have everything safe, big, and accessible. OF course, they don’t upload unless plugged in AND connected to WiFi, so not a solution for you to keep from losing photos if you lose your phone. ACK! I think I am understanding that your laptop would be fine if you were fully connected via some sort of fast service, like at home or something. Not the laptop but the lack of connectivity, right? That is the worst. All the new “stuff” thinks we are all on unlimited fast WIFI 24/7. Did you every think of StarLink? I know it is a bit expensive but with your lifestyle might be worth it. I think it is only 90 bucks a month after the initial setup. Reading about your work days makes me tired. I really know I am old when I remember how much I used to do when still working. And so grateful I am not.
The problem is lack of signal and bandwidth. I get great signal in the middle of nowhere desert, but not in the park. Sitting in the office after work tonight trying to catch up, and of course more updates.
Whew! I don’t think I get nearly that many updates, maybe one every couple months. Sounds frustrating and exhausting! More stunning pics, you’re blessed to be working in another gorgeous place. That moth is amazing!
Yea, I don’t understand all these updates. Next week when I go to town I’m going to talk to somebody. Who knows if that will do any good. Thanks, I’ve gotten a few good shots lately, when I get out to shoot. Still loving you at the beach.