Nate Landon's Blog

Almost Recovered and Book Update

Nate — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:23:53 +0000

Once again it has been a while since I posted on this blog. I am sorry I lag as much as I do, but right now there is not much new for me to write about.
I had Achilles tendon surgery in October and have been stuck on the couch for the last month. Starting Monday I will be back to walking, and hopefully I will be hiking by Christmas. I have been catching up on homework and some reading, but not much else. Eventually life will become more exciting.

As for the book, I have nearly completed the fourth chapter. I need to work on it more, I know, but right now I just have to focus on school. I let you know when there is something new to report.

A Few Items of Info

Nate — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:22:14 +0000

I have been back home for two months now. It seems like yesterday I was hiking in the hills above my smal apartment in Dinosaur National Monument. I haven’t done any hiking since I have been home. I have been having serious issues with my right foot, and I will find out my date for surgery pretty soon. They will be cutting into my Achilles tendon to lengthen it, which will move my right foot back down to a neutral position. This will take the pressure off my knee and allow me to walk a heckofalot better than I have been. I miss Dinosaur but life goes on.

Since I have been home I have been volunteering with Defenders of Wildlife again. I am back to doing social networking outreach on Facebook and calling people when action is needed. It’s rewarding knowing I can help make a difference for our planet.

My book is up to it’s third chapter. That one will need heavy revisions soon, but I think you all will enjoy it when it comes out. I am going to try my hand at freelance writing as a career to see how I do. Wish me luck!

Back Home Now

Nate — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 03:55:16 +0000

Returning to Arizona has been good but strange. I didn’t think I would have trouble readjusting to being in a city, but I have found city life abnormal and unnerving. Even going to the grocery store made me slightly panic. I have been so used to small little Vernal and Dinosaur National Monument with few neighbors and no traffic that I start to panic in town and have to take a second to gather myself. I’m sure it will get better with time, but as of right now I am glad I can stay inside for a while and try to get healthy before hitting the real world again.

Going Home

Nate — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 04:45:48 +0000

Well it is time to head home from Dinosaur National Monument. I have been rather sick the last few weeks and decided it was time to call it quits. It is hard to say goodbye to so many great people whom I will miss dearly, but I need to do what’s best for my body. I’ll keep everyone updated on my future plans when I get some. As of right now it is doctors, school, and my wife and pets. I hit the road tomorrow morning and should be home either tomorrow night or Sunday morning. I guess it’s off on a new adventure again, eventually. . .

La De Da, Oh La De Da

Nate — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 05:36:19 +0000

The weekend was beautiful. With the exception of a vicious storm that rolled in on Saturday we had remarkably pleasant weather. Our Centennial here at Dinosaur National Monument went quite well even with the rain. It was a pleasure to meet the granddaughters of Earl Douglas, the paleontologist who discovered the fossils that led to the creation of Dinosaur N.M. They talked so lovingly of a man who they never actually met, but knew so well because of their father and journals kept by Earl Douglas himself. I will miss this place when I am gone.
I had a very stressful week. After turning down the permanent job here for several reasons, we were extremely busy with the Centennial events. Tonight I had to say goodbye to a friend who became like a brother to me and I will miss dearly. There are always too many goodbyes in life and not enough time to spend with the people you care about. I look forward to being home again. I want to spend the time I have with my wife.
It feels like autumn. The weather is cooling down here. It might be a fluke, but hey I’ll take it. Autumn is my favorite time of year. So in honor of the upcoming season, here is a short video with one of my favorite singers Stacey Kent.

Sorry It’s Been A While. . .

Nate — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 03:36:15 +0000

I have been really busy lately. I went to Yellowstone last week and had a great time. I came home and interviewed for a permanent position at Dinosaur National Monument and was offered the job, but I had to turn it down for various reasons. It’s kind of sad, I know, but when the time is right I will find the perfect job for me. Who knows? Maybe someone will read my webpage and offer me a job as a writer or naturalist. Now that would be nifty!
I should be headed home soon, although I am not sure when. I do know I am excited to get back to volunteering with Defenders of Wildlife and hopefully get back to some swing dancing. We’ll see what the future brings when it gets here, until then I just have to make the best of each day. Thanks for dropping by!

Nostalgia

Nate — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 04:34:57 +0000

As I was coming back from a movie tonight I heard a very familiar song come on the radio. Frank Sinatra’s voice echoed through my mind as he sang “(How Little It Matters) How Little We Know.” I was sent back in time to my teens, dancing at the Mercury Cafe beneath the red and blue lights, the tinkling of ceiling fan cords against the light fixtures, white Christmas lights dangling from the ceiling, and good friends enjoying each other’s company late into the evening hours. I always will remember Joe Decico dancing with joy and youthful exuberance, defying any age barriers he encountered and proving age is only a number. I can never forget the conversations I held with Christy, Alexa, Lara, Angela, Joe, Brian (Lucky), Amanda, Gill, Jessa, and countless other people that taught me the view of the world is greater than it was is in my eye. I miss carefree nights on the well worn floor of the Mercury Cafe, conversations with friends from the past, and discovering who I am in a place that was like a second home to me. Although those days are gone, I will never forget them. So much love and enjoyment was shared on that dance floor. I hope those who I knew during those good ol’ days will remember the good times and look on them with as much joy and happiness as I do.

Exploring the Monument

Nate — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:07:00 +0000

Today was a pretty easy day at work. I had a project day, so I headed down to Echo Park because I needed some pictures of the signs down there. It was my first time heading down there, so I was excited. It is a very beautiful area and I wish I had more time to explore down there. I also drove the Yampa Bench Road. It was extremely beautiful, but very rough going. I never found the sign I needed to take a picture of, so I hope someone else can help me out with that. The road started to make me sick after about an hour of ups and downs, bumps and dips, and switchbacks. Thank goodness for days off, I need to recover after that long drive.

We have a fire burning in Island Park. It should be interesting to see how it is handled from an employees point of view.

I am working on a new story called “A Brief Summer Storm.” I should be finished with revisions and have it up on my Other Writings page by the weekend. Thanks for stopping by!

A Rough Few Days But A Good Holiday

Nate — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:53:28 +0000

It’s been a bad few days. I had a change in medicine that messed up my body pretty badly and forced me to miss work for a few days. I ended up getting the medicine switched back, but I am still wiped out.
On the bright side, the 4th was awesome. I met our new artist here at work who will be painting the mural for the new visitor center. We watched fireworks in town with a lot of the staff at the monument. You can check out her work on her blog called An Illustrated Life or at http://www.lizbradford.com. She also is going to do the cover art for my book when it is finished, so get familiar with her soon!
I am working on my book tonight, so I will have part of Chapter One up on the webpage soon. Be sure to send your friends to read it when I post it! I post more later.

Goodbye Michael Jackson

Nate — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:54:02 +0000

I have a lot of fond memories of Michael Jackson. I know he kind of went crazy/creepy as he got older, but the man made some darn good music. It’s so sad when people die young, especially when they have brought so much joy into the world. Everyone should head to YouTube and watch their favorite MJ video as a tribute to the King of Pop. The Thriller is gone