ON THE ROAD AGAIN
A friend of ours heard about our "journey of faith, fisher, forests, family, friends and fun" and suggested we set up a Blog. A what? So here we are....on the road again with Bocahontas and Buba. Blessed with the freedom of time, we were inspired by two of our favorite causes. So we organized a road trip to Alaska which should not only be fun but also an opportunity to spread the good word about The Fisher Houses , The Orthodox Christian Mission Center/Programs and some of our National Parks. We are participating in a 2 week Mission in Tyonek, Alaska with the OCMC group in June. Feel free to check out the planned trip on the calendar link. Caribou Cabins? Blue Moose? Tundra Lodge? and our soon to be "favorite" Motel 6. Any and all suggestions, prayers and good karma are welcome and very much appreciated....poor Buba, in a car with Pam for 5 months. Lions, and tigers and bears oh my! Toggle down to the calendar and see where we are over the next months. We ask for your prayers.
Grab yourself a cold one and come along for the ride. Enjoy and laugh along with us viewing the daily blogs which are archived on the left side of this page in chronological order. We started April 22- Happy Trails!
The Fisher House
The Fisher House program is a unique private-public partnership that supports America's military in their time of need. The Fisher House Foundation, through the kindness of donations received, provides "comfort homes" that are built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable America's military families to be together during extended treatment for serious illness or lengthy physical sessions....very much like the Ronald McDonald homes for families of children in a similar situation. We were first introduced to Fisher House while visiting Brooke Army Medical Center (Burn Center) in San Antonio. We were so moved by the dedication and love of the staff and volunteers that we returned for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Currently there are 44 Fisher Houses (more in the works) and our goal is to visit all of them and spread the good word to family and friends. Please feel free to peruse their website for a detailed explanation about the Fisher House Foundation and programs. Perhaps you will be inspired by the work this group does on behalf of our Armed Forces.
Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC)
The Orthodox Christian Mission Center is the official foreign mission agency of all the Orthodox Jurisdictions (i.e. Greek, Russian, Serb etc.) The goal of the OCMC is to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ where it presently does not exist and to establish vibrant Orthodox Eucharistic Communities throughout the world. We have had the privilege and pleasure to admire the work of this organization (headquarters located in St. Augustine, Florida) for years and now that we are retired we have the blessing to participate. We are on the road to Alaska to join a Mission Team in Tyonek for a couple weeks to do some construction and teaching in an Athabascan Indian Village. "If I had a hammer"...you'll be happy to know I deep sixed the acrylic nails in anticipation of caulking and painting. :) Please take a peek at the OCMC web site for details on all of the programs they are involved with throughout the world. And do stop in to see Father Martin and his kind and loving staff when you are in St. Augustine! We will also be visiting family, friends and Orthodox Churches while on the road to share the marvelous work of the OCMC.
National Parks
Most people know that the National Park Service cares for national parks, a network of nearly 400 natural, cultural and recreational sites across the nation. The treasures in this system – the first of its kind in the world –have been set aside by the American people to preserve, protect, and share, the legacies of this land.
People from all around the world visit national parks to experience America's story, marvel at the natural wonders, and have fun. Places like the Grand Canyon, the Statue of Liberty, and Gettysburg are popular destinations, but so too are the hundreds of lesser known yet equally meaningful gems like Rosie the Riveter in California, Boston Harbor Islands in Massachusetts, and Russell Cave in Alabama.
The American system of national parks was the first of its kind in the world, and provides a living model for other nations wishing to establish and manage their own protected areas. The park service actively consults with these Nations, sharing what we've learned, and gaining knowledge from the experience of others.
Beyond national parks, the National Park Service helps communities across America preserve and enhance important local heritage and close-to-home recreational opportunities. Grants and assistance are offered to register, record and save historic places; create community parks and local recreation facilities; conserve rivers and streams, and develop trails and greenways.
We hope to see you soon in a national park and invite you to explore the ways we can help you preserve what’s important in your hometown.
Minnesota has been nicknamed "The Land Of 10,000 Lakes". While the beautiful lakes add to the rabid outdoor fun and events-it was the meandering rivers that actually shaped the history of this
state as a trading and agricultural hub. From wilderness lakes along the northern border to huge Lake Superior-this area holds national forests, a national park, a designated canoe wilderness and thousands of pristine lakes. The drive up the coast of Lake Superior was really quite lovely. So how is this all funded?
President
Obama's 2010 Federal Budget and the American Recovery Act will have a significant impact on the National Park Service that we have been enjoying these past few months. The "STIMULUS" dedicates $1.9 BILLION to the Department of Interior including: $750 MILLION for operating expenses, $15 MILLION for historic preservation projects and $589 MILLION for construction projects. They tried this under Roosevelt with the
CCC (Construction Conservation Corps) during the Depression and it didn't work then. This going in head over heals in debt by creating these temporary jobs would seem to only take us deeper into debt. What were we-the national park service- going to do
be
fore the STIMULUS mania? How was the national park service going to operate? Are we repaving roads that don't need to be repaved to create jobs? Building bridges we don't need to create jobs? Who is going to pay for all of this DEBT? I understand that our tax dollar needs to support our national park service and I have seen the fantastic results of that support but won't throwing 3/4 of a BILLION DOLLARS at it it put all of us deeper in debt? We do need a long range vision and plan for our beloved national park system THAT IS AFFORDABLE for the people who support it via our tax structure.
Pleep thinks the whole thing is heading towards one big disaster.
Ok off the soap box....
Pleep made a couple of new friends on the trail. He now wants to play in the band with his new buddy. Country? Western? Anything close to The Monkeys???
Buba said it was time to hit the hot spots and kick up our heels. So off we went to the casino.
Pleep won a whopping $0.25. He's a poor loser and monkey butted the dealer. Then he tried to take pictures and security came over, told him no pics and escorted him out.
Pleep then slipped into the BINGO HALL. Made quite a hit. B 52!
We then had to send him to his room. When we returned we found him on top of the
tv watching his brother
Pleepleus and
Zan Lamprey on Three Sheets - Lithuania.
Pleep was trying to explain the rules to us and suggested it would be best if we headed back to the bar where the drinks would be plentiful.
Cheapest eats & drinks we've seen for a long time. Two steaks (who ever heard of a flat iron steak?) plus wine & under $40.
Bocahontas 
thought it might be smart to stay here permanently. The $12 wine was hard to pass up - Cabernet too.
Pleep thought it would have been a good idea to buy several bottles that we could take back to the room.
Buba had to put a stop to that idea.
The last thing
Pleep did at Grand Portage was help chop the firewood for the
lodge. He thought it would be good practice for when
Buba has the ranch and we need to keep warm. He definitely wants to be recognized as a GREEN monkey and be known as the neighborhood Paul Bunyan. He has been shopping furiously for a proper plaid shirt, suspenders and the right boots.
Minnesota has been nicknamed "The Land Of 10,000 Lakes". While the beautiful lakes add to the rabid outdoor fun and events-it was the meandering rivers that actually shaped the history of this 
state as a trading and agricultural hub. From wilderness lakes along the northern border to huge Lake Superior-this area holds national forests, a national park, a designated canoe wilderness and thousands of pristine lakes. The drive up the coast of Lake Superior was really quite lovely. So how is this all funded?
be
fore the STIMULUS mania? How was the national park service going to operate? Are we repaving roads that don't need to be repaved to create jobs? Building bridges we don't need to create jobs? Who is going to pay for all of this DEBT? I understand that our tax dollar needs to support our national park service and I have seen the fantastic results of that support but won't throwing 3/4 of a BILLION DOLLARS at it it put all of us deeper in debt? We do need a long range vision and plan for our beloved national park system THAT IS AFFORDABLE for the people who support it via our tax structure. Pleep thinks the whole thing is heading towards one big disaster. Ok off the soap box....Pleep made a couple of new friends on the trail. He now wants to play in the band with his new buddy. Country? Western? Anything close to The Monkeys??? 
thought it might be smart to stay here permanently. The $12 wine was hard to pass up - Cabernet too. Pleep thought it would have been a good idea to buy several bottles that we could take back to the room. Buba had to put a stop to that idea.
lodge. He thought it would be good practice for when Buba has the ranch and we need to keep warm. He definitely wants to be recognized as a GREEN monkey and be known as the neighborhood Paul Bunyan. He has been shopping furiously for a proper plaid shirt, suspenders and the right boots.
