Random things I’m thinking about today
Finding the recipe for hazelnut-honey salmon: I have looked online, but haven’t found a recipe I like. I think I will just wing it. I can’t wait until autumn when all the hazelnuts and veggies are ripe and I can buy a whole bunch of them for cheap.
Finding old classmates online: Not having much luck today with this. A lot of old friends just don’t have an online presence. I will try again.
Considering a Zoo Membership: It’s only $65/yr for us to have a year zoo membership, including one guest each time we go. $125/yr allows two guests, children free (I'm thinking of Laura), and other bonuses. Not to mention the money goes to support the zoo, and it’s a tax deduction besides. I would really like to do this. It is not too expensive and would let us go to the zoo with friends and show it off to people who visit from out-of-state.
Boy Scouts: I just read that the boy scouts may no longer be allowed to recruit in public schools because they require a belief in the Christian god. Hooray legal system! It makes me wonder if the girl scouts have the same requirement - the motto does include the word “god” after all. I never thought about it before. I would actually consider no longer supporting the scouts if I find that to be true. I need to do more research.
Our zoo’s first condor chick is on its way to California for wilderness training before being released into the wild there. I’m so excited about the entire program! Twenty years ago there were only 22 condors in existence; now thanks to the captive breeding program there are over 200, almost half of which now live in the wild in CA and AZ. The long-term plan is to eventually re-introduce them to the Columbia River Gorge as well. I would love to see that happen in my lifetime. The zoo currently has 12 condors, including some breeding pairs. I didn’t realize that the facility here is one of only four in the country. I’m equally excited about the mountain goats that will be re-introduced to the Gorge this summer. All this wildlife is wonderful!
Whitewater rafting: I found the website for All-Star Rafting which does guided river trips in Maupin down the Deschutes, where I went before. The prices are pretty good. I would love to get a group together for a day trip, then either camp or stay at a cabin or bed & breakfast, and maybe hike a little the next day before driving home. Maupin is about two hours from Portland so we’d have to get up stupidly early on a Saturday to go but I would do it! It is a really great experience, even with my fear of water. =^_^=
Finding old classmates online: Not having much luck today with this. A lot of old friends just don’t have an online presence. I will try again.
Considering a Zoo Membership: It’s only $65/yr for us to have a year zoo membership, including one guest each time we go. $125/yr allows two guests, children free (I'm thinking of Laura), and other bonuses. Not to mention the money goes to support the zoo, and it’s a tax deduction besides. I would really like to do this. It is not too expensive and would let us go to the zoo with friends and show it off to people who visit from out-of-state.
Boy Scouts: I just read that the boy scouts may no longer be allowed to recruit in public schools because they require a belief in the Christian god. Hooray legal system! It makes me wonder if the girl scouts have the same requirement - the motto does include the word “god” after all. I never thought about it before. I would actually consider no longer supporting the scouts if I find that to be true. I need to do more research.
Our zoo’s first condor chick is on its way to California for wilderness training before being released into the wild there. I’m so excited about the entire program! Twenty years ago there were only 22 condors in existence; now thanks to the captive breeding program there are over 200, almost half of which now live in the wild in CA and AZ. The long-term plan is to eventually re-introduce them to the Columbia River Gorge as well. I would love to see that happen in my lifetime. The zoo currently has 12 condors, including some breeding pairs. I didn’t realize that the facility here is one of only four in the country. I’m equally excited about the mountain goats that will be re-introduced to the Gorge this summer. All this wildlife is wonderful!
Whitewater rafting: I found the website for All-Star Rafting which does guided river trips in Maupin down the Deschutes, where I went before. The prices are pretty good. I would love to get a group together for a day trip, then either camp or stay at a cabin or bed & breakfast, and maybe hike a little the next day before driving home. Maupin is about two hours from Portland so we’d have to get up stupidly early on a Saturday to go but I would do it! It is a really great experience, even with my fear of water. =^_^=