Dave Siemer

Hope you had a joyful fourth Sunday of Advent! Christmas is almost there and it’s still white outside!

I got such a cute cookie/biscuit cutter from my Godmother: an elk! I just had to make gingerbread elks.

Very swedish

I also made some gingerbread rocking horses as Christmas tree decoration. This one’s for a friend and I decorated it with marzipan.

But what took me really long were two My Neighbor Totoro cookies that I made for a cookie baking contest.

The contest’s requirements were that the cookies should have any relation to Japan and be cute – Totoro was perfect. I love them. One, I’ll save for myself and one gets a friend. Keep your fingers crossed for me to win something!

Today, we decorated store-bought (Ikea, more precisely) gingerbread hearts and the other rocking horses with sugar icing for our Christmas tree. We buy the hearts because they stay dry longer, normal gingerbreads become soft and fall from the tree.

So this weekend was all gingerbread-y. Only four days until Christmas is there – are you as excited as I am?

No city of similar size had more social or fraternal organizations than the City of Lawrence, Massachusetts.  By the turn of the 20^th century the city was host to at least three hundred such organizations.  They helped provide the citizens of Lawrence rich and varied life away from toil in the mills.  A number of these groups owned property and ran programs from their own buildings.  This collection does not claim to be exhaustive.  Only the organizations from which the library has some material are included.

The library had more material on a few groups to place them in their own collections.  The Lawrence Rotary Club can be found in collection (1999.6), The Lawrence City Mission is in (1999.7) and the Lawrence Society of Natural History and Archaeology is in collection (1998.7), the Old Resident’s Association (2002.12),   Grand Army of the Republic materials can be found in the Civil War Collection (1998.4), The Lawrence Women’s Club (2004.22) and various religious organizations can be found in the Lawrence Churches collection (1998.12).  More information on the AOH (Ancient Order of Hibernians) is available at the AOH library located on the lower level of the South Lawrence Branch of the Lawrence Public Library.  Programs for the Bread and Roses Festival, Semana Hispana, Desfile Dominicana, the Festival of the Three Saints, and the Lawrence History Center are cataloged with the monographs.

• The Arlington Athletic and Social Club was located at 564 Hampshire St. in 1951.
• The Bavarian Reading and Progressive Society was founded July 15, 1890 by 34 men of Bavarian descent.  For the first year the society met at the former Matthes Hall on Hall Street.  The next year meetings were at the restaurant of Mr. Schoenland at 40 Park Street. Health Insurance was acquired for members in 1892 and was financially separate. A women’s group was started on Sept. 11, 1892 called the Bavarian Women’s Society (Bayrischer Frauenverein).  The society was incorporated Sept 11, 1896.  The society bought a lot and built a hall on Knox Street.  It was dedicated September 25, 26, and 27 of 1896 and called the Bavarian Hall.  The Singing Society (Gesangverein) Liederkrans began providing entertainment for the group in 1900.  Other groups to use the Bavarian Hall were the Spitz Club (Top Club), Brewer Union No. 125, Legion No. 38 of German and Austrian Veterans, and the Young Bavarians (Junge Bajuvaren).  By the end of the first fifty years the Bavarian Hall had a library and two bowling alleys.  Other activities that have become annual events at the Hall are a children’s Christmas party, dinner dance, scholarships, monthly dinners, and excursions.
• The Boys Club had its start in Lawrence in 1891.  The goal of the club was to provide a suitable building for the boys of Lawrence to spend their evening hours “in a safe, pleasant, profitable manner with surroundings calculated to improve them in mind, body and morals”.  The club was open to youths of any nationality of religious belief and through the agency of written materials, athletics, and entertainment.  The club’s first home was at 224 Broadway.  Five years later the club moved to larger quarters at 325 Methuen Street.  In 1907 they moved again to 125 Methuen Street.  This was followed in 1918 with a building at 155-157 Haverhill Street.  The gymnasium was enlarged in 1924, making it the largest gym in the city at that time.  The club is now (1999) located at 136 Water St.
• Chadwick Club
• Cobra, A.C., appears to be an Italian club.  The woman’s auxiliary was called the Cobraettes.
• The Council of Italian-American Organizations, Inc. was founded in 1952.  In 1957 the group was conducting a drive to build an Italian-American Community Center. During this period the council was located at 54 Essex St. Some of the organizations this group attempted to unify were: Italian-American Assoc., Italian-American Civic Assoc., Italian-American Citizenship Assoc., Italian-American Toilers, Italian College Club, Italian Mother Club, Italy Grand Women’s Society, Montauk Club, Pedarese Club, Pontiac Club, Rocco D’Evandro Club, Sessa Arunca Club, St. Alfio’s Soc. St. Maria DiLicodia, St. Santontonesi, Soc., Teanese Club, Tripoli Club, United Italian-American Club, Union of Italy Grande, and Union Social Club.
• The Fortnightly Club was a women’s group that sponsored a program of lectures from October through June.  Its anniversary was in February and its business meeting was in June.
• The Franco-American War Veterans was formed September 21, 1932 and was originally known as Legion Franco Americaine des Etats Unis d’Amerique.  The name was officially changed in 1947.  Lawrence, Mass. was home to post number 1.  Wilfred P. LaPlante was elected the first commander.  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts charted the organization May 16, 1933.  A ladies auxiliary was soon added in October of that year.
• The Lasalle Social Club was founded in 1936 as a social and civic organization for Lawrence citizens of French descent.
• Lawrence Lodge No. 65 of the B.P.O (Benevolent and Protective Order of) Elks began on May 15 of 1887 in the old Odd Fellows Hall on Essex Street.  This came only nineteen years after the first lodge was organized in New York City by a small group of men affiliated with the theatrical profession.  The intent of this new organization was advance the principles of Americanism together with charity, justice, brotherly love, and fidelity.  The Lawrence lodge was the third such group in Massachusetts after Boston and Springfield, and at that time initiated forty-six charter members.  The early meetings were held in the Knights of Pythias Hall, later known as Needham Hall, to be followed by the Knights of Columbus Hall in the Old Bay State Building, and from 1904 to 1920 in the Schaake Block.  In July of 1917 the Grand Lodge Session was held in Boston.  Lawrence Day was a featured event allowing Lawrence Lodge to escort their fellow Elks through the great mills.  During the years of 1919 and 1920 400 new members were added allowing the purchase of a lodge home at the corner of Lowell Street and Broadway.  The membership eventually outgrew this building and in 1969 a new building was erected at 632 Andover Street.  The complex included landscaped grounds, a pavilion, ball field, and horseshoe courts.  The building provided a billiard room, a sauna, an exercise room, and bar.  Lawrence lodge has aided the Greater Lawrence area with a number of charitable accomplishments. The lodge has provided wheel chairs and hospital beds for the afflicted, Christmas baskets to the needy, and oxygen tents and other supplies to the City of Lawrence.  Other less well known activities include monies to the United Fund and other charitable drives for both religious and education institutions.  In 1961 the Lawrence Lodge expended more in contributions than any other lodge in Massachusetts.
• In April 1885 a group of young men started the Lawrence Canoe Club with the objective being “…to encourage canoeing, to promote physical culture, and foster a unity of feeling among those interested in canoeing, rowing, bowling and tennis”.  The group immediately set to renting a boathouse from Thomas S. Holmes.  This boathouse was remodeled and repaired.  A large piazza was erected on the front of the building facing the river.  The second floor was a clubroom and parlor while the first floor was for the storage of boats and canoes owned by the club and its members.  Later, when a movement developed to establish boating at Phillips Academy and other places, two large racing shells were procured from Yale for the use of the academy.  This added use of the boathouse required an extension on the building in order to accommodate the academy crews.  1889 experienced a boom in membership including residents from Lawrence, Methuen, and Andover.  The club decided to limit the membership to 250 men and ran with a large waiting list of 50 or so individuals.  In 1899 the Lawrence Canoe Club was admitted to the New England Amateur Rowing Association.  The club was distinguished by a number of championships during these years, but the fire of April 11, 1904 destroyed all the banners and trophies.  The club eventually owned the site and rebuilt.
• Thursday evening, February 1, 1872 several gentlemen met at the house of Dr. Garland (in Dr. Chamberlain’s rooms) to form a social and literary club which would be called the Lawrence Monday Night Club.  These individuals were all men of importance in the young city.  There were 11 charter members and 6 more followed almost immediately. The numbers of members was limited to 25.  Initially the men were encouraged to read essays of their own and that the choice would be made alphabetically.  This club met to listen to essay about such subjects as mental philosophy and religion, history, politics, literature, medicine, manufacturing, travel, and other disparate topics.
• The Lawrence, Methuen, Andover, and North Andover Community Chest was chartered in December of 1929.  It was a cooperative organization of citizens and social welfare agencies with the goal of raising funds for the social and health agencies associated with it and promoting the social welfare and health of the community by coordinating existing programs.  The organization uses the symbol of the “red feather” which was originally used during the crusades as an award given for outstanding acts of courage and valor.  When a community adopted the red feather as a symbol it would take on the designation “Community Chest Red Feather Services”.  Agencies the Chest supported were the Andover Guild, Boy Scouts, Catholic Charities Centre, Family Welfare Association, Girl Scouts, International Institute, Jewish Community Center, MSPCC, Protectory of Mary Immaculate, St. Ann’s Orphanage, Tuberculosis League, USO, YMCA, YMHA, and YWCA.  The descendant organization of the Community Chest is the Merrimack Valley United Way which is still very active in the are contributing to many worthwhile groups.
• On October 30, 1907, the Lawrence Anti-Tuberculosis Association was organized “to combat tuberculosis by preventing the spread of the disease and aiding in the care and treatment of patients afflicted with it.”  To this end, poster campaigns began (in a variety of languages) and lectures were given to various groups to educate the public.  Health exhibits were held yearly and Health Sunday was observed in all the churches.  The people of Lawrence were encouraged not to use roller towels and communal cups used at public pumps.  In 1908, the Lawrence organization along with other communities’ started selling Christmas seals in order to raise money for the cause.  In the following decade, a dispensary was established for diagnosis and treatment of patients.  The local Board of Health aided the group by pinpointing where the disease was most prevalent.  Later, with the cooperation of the Ladies Charitable Union (Lawrence General Hospital), a day camp was organized on the porches of the bungalow on the ground of the hospital.  In 1917 the Board of Health of the City of Lawrence took over the dispensary.  A city hospital for tuberculosis patients was built in the Den Rock area and was used by local patients until the Middleton Sanatorium was built.  The name was changed to the Lawrence Tuberculosis League in October of 1920 and became the Lawrence Tuberculosis and Health Association in October of 1948.  In the 1920s the group began weighing school children and providing those found to be 10% below weight with a milk and cracker breakfast.  All chlordane were tested for TB.  The first health camp was run in Hampstead, NH in 1921.  After that the camp was in Boxford.  The Lawrence Rotary Club sponsored the first two years.  The Ladies Charitable Union again came to the aid of the association purchase a camp.  Lawrence Kiwanis also came to the aid of the Tuberculosis Association and the Camp now named Camp Endeavors was very successful.  The camp was ultimately closed in 1955.  At the time of the organization’s 50th anniversary, it was still providing free x-rays at the hospital and visiting the industrial plants throughout the city.
• Masonry or the Ancient Order of Free and Accepted Masons, a fraternal organization, was in the area to be called Lawrence before the dam was built.  Grecian Lodge was chartered in Methuen on December 14, 1825.  Grecian surrendered its charter to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts in 1838, but reinstated its charter December 27, 1847 in the town of Lawrence.  The first meetings were held at the corner of Essex and Amesbury streets.  In 1872 Grecian moved to the Saunders Block.  Other lodges chartered in Lawrence were Tuscan (1853), Phoenician (1870), Mt. Sinai (1861), Lawrence Council (1868), and Bethany Commandery, Knights Templars (1864).  The Freemasons moved into their own building at Jackson Street overlooking the Common.  The building is still owned by Lawrence Freemasons and Grecian Lodge still meets there (1999).
• The first fraternal organization in Lawrence was the United Brothers Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows was instituted May 28, 1847 in the building on the southeast corner of Hampshire and Common streets.  Later the members moved to larger quarters on the north side of Essex Street midway between Lawrence and Pemberton streets.  In 1874 the group ultimately moved to the Odd Fellows Building which was located on the south side of Essex Street. That building no longer exists.
• The Polish American Veterans of Massachusetts organization was formed in October of 1948 when servicemen from Lawrence, Lowell, Springfield, New Bedford, and Worcester met in Worcester.  The purpose of this group was “to preserve the principles for which the American of Polish descent fought, bled, and died, for the preservation of the fundamental freedoms of American democracy.”
• The Polish Women’s Alliance of America Lawrence Group 804 started in 1951.  This appears to be some kind of insurance group.
• The Pontiac Social and Political Club was founded in 1937.  The membership appears to be Italian-American.
• Royal Arcanum was a mutual beneficiary association whose goals were to unite fraternally  “…white men of sound body, health and good moral character, who are socially acceptable, and between twenty-one and fifty-five years of age”.  Royal Arcanum took on the role of social safety net.  It aided the widows and orphans of deceased members and established a fund for the relief of sick and distressed member.  The order was started in Boston June 23, 1877.  Members must only pass through one degree.  In the year 1886 the order was prohibited in the states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, and parts of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia liable to be infected with Yellow Fever.  Each member must undergo an exhaustive medical exam with research into his family history to detect hereditary tendency to disease.  The society operated as both a fraternal organization and an insurance company, banking on the well being of its members.  The Royal Arcanum was composed of two chapters in Lawrence: Lawrence Council No. 17 and the Merrimack Council No. 1148.
• The Social Naturalization Club was a creation of the Lawrence French community.  The year was 1914 when Victor Gingras founded the organization with 35 members.  The first meeting, November 17, 1914, was in the basement of the Franco-American building at the corner of Broadway and Lowell streets.  This structure would later become the Elks building.  The charter explains the purpose of the club: “…encouraging its members to become American citizens and promoting their mutual social improvement…” In 1965 at the 50^th anniversary of the club’s incorporation the organization was located at 232 Lowell Street.
• Lawrence Turn Verein was the creation of Fritz Matthes and Wilhelm Patschkel.  The organization they were striving to found was dedicated to the sport of gymnastics.  The Turner motto is “A sound mind in a sound body.”  In the year 1853 these two with a number of followers began to practice a variety of gymnastics at a house on Union Street.  The gym was composed of a high bar and parallel bars.  The dedication was enlivened by a five-man band, which was composed of three guitars, one accordion, and one fife.  Financial difficulties led to a dwindling of membership.  In 1859 with an increased number of German immigrants another Turn Verein was started at the corner of Jackson and Common Streets.  Continued membership and financial difficulties were eventually overcome when the original Mr. Matthes along with Fritz Schubert and fifteen others laid the groundwork for a Lawrence Turn Verein.  The new headquarters was on the third floor of a house on Essex Street.  Two years later in 1867 a summer Turnfield was prepared on a lot on Park Street.  The membership had reached 50 men.  In an effort to raise money to build a Turn Hall the membership presented a theatrical production.  At a cost of $1,675 Turn Hall of the first German Hall was built in 1868.  Lawrence Turn Verein joined the Boston Turn District.  In 1872 a large hall was built.  On November 23, 1894 the hall burned to the ground.  The new Turn Hall was dedicated June 12-14, 1896 was located at 44 Park Street.  The membership had reached 500 by the year 1900.  Women were first admitted in the nineteen fifties.
• The Unity Club met weekly in the Unitarian Church during the latter part of the nineteenth century.  The group read papers of local historians and invited guests to speak from all over the country.
• Lawrence Society of Deaf Mutes
• Deir El-Kamar at one time was known as the capital of the Republic of Lebanon.  It was an industrial and commercial center of the area during the 19^th century.  A number of citizens of the city and the surrounding suburbs left at the turn of the century, immigrating to the New World.  The Young Men of Deir El-Kamar and Suburbs was formed, September 12, 1914, in the City of Lawrence, to aid in uniting and binding these new immigrants in one body “to give leadership, encouragement, moral principles and material help to its members and other charitable and progressive projects”.  The organization was officially incorporated by the state of Massachusetts November 1, 1923.  A new branch was formed in Danbury, Connecticut, in 1937.  The group included a ladies auxiliary.
• The pastor of St. Mary’s, Rev. James T. O’Reilly, formed the Lawrence chapter of the Young Men’s Catholic Association in a room on the upper floor of the St. Mary’s school building.  The year was 1885 and the initial group was only a handful of young men, but it grew over the years.  By 1893 the group had a gymnasium, a card and poolroom, a locker room, a parlor, and a library with over 8000 volumes.  The association sponsored debates and lectures, and hosted and annual concert and ball.  In 1890 the association presented St. Mary’s School with an American flag at a time when many American were questioning the patriotism of Catholics.
• The Lawrence Y.M.C.A (Young Men’s Christian Association) was organized October 12, 1876.  The goals of the association include counteracting the effects of alcohol on the characters of young men. The organization was always non-sectarian, but founded by Protestants who were pro temperance.  It called upon the best motives of men of affluence. The ladies were represented through the Women’s Auxiliary.   To accomplish this the YMCA needed  “ a cheerful, inviting and homelike place for young men to spend their evenings and leisure moments”.  Central and Eliot Churches combined to form a single church.   W.A. Russell purchased the building of the Eliot Church.  He offered it for sale to the YMCA for $18,000 and donated $10,000 to help purchase it.  After the purchase and renovation of the building, located at the corner of Essex and Appleton streets, the association could now offer a well equipped gymnasium, a reading room, and a number of parlors to be used for social occasions.  A building of their own also allowed the Y to hold lectures, debates, literary exercises, and evening classes.  The Y always had a variety of religious activities including services and Bible studies.  During those early years the association help the youth of the city by aiding them to find jobs and places to board.  The city as a whole benefited from the Star Course lectures that were hosted by the Y.  A women’s auxiliary was formed in 1889.  These women were instrumental in raising the money for the building, which now stands at 40 Lawrence St.  Summer camps for junior members began in 1912 and by 1921 the camp was located at the lower end of Bear Island in Lake Winnepesaukee after the association purchased the site.  In 1957 the Y purchased a 10-acre site on Captain’s Pond in Salem, NH for a permanent day camp.  In 1962 more land was acquired on Bear Island.  The present 50-acre site now includes a camp for girls.  In 1967 the Y took over the running of the Andover Youth Center.  Later this would become the Andover Branch of the YMCA.  The year 1973 saw the construction of the new Andover-North Andover Branch. That same year the association also acquired a marina in Meredith New Hampshire to service the residence camps on Bear Island.  By 1986 at the 107^th annual meeting, the association changed its name from the Greater Lawrence to the Merrimack Valley YMCA.   The present (1999) building includes a modern gymnasium with elevated track, a swimming pool, bowling alleys, locker rooms, function and meeting rooms, and 96 residence rooms.

July, 1908 -Night view of Elk's Court of Honor, at intersection of Main and Akard Streets, Dallas, Texas - Grand Lodge Meeting

I like the way the night shots turn out in the animations.  I think because they’re more simplistic, there’s less to distract the eye, the lines are clearer.

To view the complete collection in full resolution, visit clicksypics.com To find out how these are created, go here.

Sometimes a little extra work in the evening isn’t so bad….in fact, it can be a darn good time!  One such time is going out for a little 3500 foot moonlit climb up one of Colorado’s most scenic roads.  I’m talking about a late night ride up the Old Fall River Road in the Rocky Mountain National Forest.  It’s only possible about 4-5 times during the riding season and perhaps the last available option is September 4th, however the 5th was close enough for me and four others to enjoy the moon’s light. 

I wasn’t kidding about the work… Old Fall River Road is, well “old”, as in before pavement, and a mountain bike is the weapon of choice due to some soft spots hidden in the shadows.  The fun starts at about 8,500 feet and climbs to 11,800 feet through some grades of 16%.  At times, the tree cover casts some pretty good shadows on the road and riding in the dark can tend to flatten some of those grades, but the drops of sweat on the top tube tell the real story.  This road is also one way so once you start…….there’s no turning back and the park ranger who asked what we were doing at the Lawn Lake Trailhead at 9:30PM made sure we knew that fact! After arriving at the Alpine Visitors Center, 11 miles away from the car, the way down involves descending Trail Ridge Road, so bring lights and red flashers.  Not so fast though! The visitor’s center is at 11,800 feet and Trail Ridge tops off at 2,200 feet, so you have a bit more climbing before breaking out the warm clothes.  Yes, 12,000 feet can get mighty chilly so bring a pack with some extra layers!

Now you’re ready for the fun part.  If you’ve ever driven this road during the day you know how much traffic it can see.  Descending it at midnight you’ll be lucky to see three vehicles on the way down but be careful when opening her up all the way… Elk are mighty big and don’t use headlights…however, they do have horns! (I know, I know, but antlers didn’t sound right!)  The total mileage for this ride is 29.5 miles so that means 16 miles of it is pure adrenalin pumping downhill all the way back to the car.

Visit http://www.mapmyride.com/view_route?r=650125246420066949 for complete ride details.

Another adrenalin filled event this past weekend was the Fort Collins Tour de Fat.  Each year I attend this spectacle and each year I am even more amazed at the engineering marvels and costumes that show up better than the year before.  The size of the crowds both taking part in the parade and lining the streets are also hard to imagine if you haven’t experienced the event first hand.  This year an estimated 10,000 characters took part in the festivities, so you better start thinking now for that original get up for next year.  Check out some of the pictures from the day here – > http://www.flickr.com/photos/frenchista/sets/72157622150157735/show/

If you missed the event, or just can’t stand to put the cruiser up just yet, there is still time to sign up for the LEE’s sponsored Tapas ride.  Cruise to three of the areas finest destinations for fine food and drink while dressing in your “finest”  cruiser garb.  Space is limited and there is a fee.  Visit LEE’s more more information and registration.

Ok, I admit, I don’t always wear my helmet when riding my bike, but this weekend I witnessed countless numbers of families riding with the kids wearing helmets and parents NOT!  Now you may not be riding fast with your kids, but things happen, and if you think it is possible for your child to bang his/her noggin from three feet off the ground there is a good chance mom and dad could do it from six feet of the deck. Just sayin’…..

Enjoy the sunlight while it’s here and get out and ride… just remember to put a lid on it!

Steve Lacey

Permanent Green Returns on Saturday, September 12th, with special guest disc jockeys Scott DeRoche (Beak Full of Rubies, Saturday Looks Good To Me) and Aaron Lindell (Dark Matter). All proceeds from to door benefit 826 Michigan, a non-profit tutoring and writing center.

Poster=Sean Patrick

Permanent Green Light
Elks Lodge
220 W Sunset
Ann Arbor
10pm-2am
$3 21+

7:30 am (Now on Mountain time) Awake, dressed and having eaten a surprisingly good breakfast given the quality of the rest of the hotel.

7:40 am  Went to get a Super Big Gulp at the 7-eleven in town.  On the fountain for the Mountain Dew it said “A caffeine free product”.  WTF????

8:00 am  Viewed the biggest Easter Egg in the World.  Quite the way to start the morning.

8:30 am  Our first moose sighting.  Poor thing looked like it was freaking-out trying to get back onto the other side of the National Park fence.  I could totally sympathize with it at this point

9:30 am Get to Edmonton.  First really large city that we have seen this trip.  Takes about 45 minutes to get through.

10:30 am  Still flat, but there are a lot more trees.  We have finally turned more Northern.

11:15 am  Trees and hay bales.  Hay bales and trees.  Yet my father still manages to find things that he finds so interesting to stare at that he nearly drives off of the road.

Soundtrack for today so far: “Cornflake Girl” by Tori Amos, “Elevation” (we are finally getting some!) by U2,  as well as a bunch of stuff that made mom purse her lips at me…

12:30 pm  Lunch at an awesome rest stop outside of (I think) Valleyview, Alberta.  Had a nice picnic area as well as a cute gift shop in it.  Saw an RV towing a car with Florida plates on them.  Damn.  First bear-proof garbage can.  Think I am going to take a nap for a few hours as I didn’t sleep well last night.

2:30 pm Nap is abruptly over as I am unceremoniously dumped on the floor of the backseat.  In Grande Prairie with traffic.  Not sure that it should be called Grande Prairie rather “Grande Shopping” as that is what it seemed to mostly be composed of.

Soundtrack since awakening:  “Northern Lad” (seems appropriate for the area) and “Taula (Tornado Mix) by Tori Amos , “Club Thing” by Yoav,  “Bubble Toes” by Jack Johnson (It always make me waggle my toes), and the Lime and Violet podcast.

2:45pm  Have seen lots and lots of farmed Elk here.  Almost more farmed Elk than cattle.  I think I need an elk burger for dinner.

3:45 pm Pacific Time   At our hotel in Dawson Creek which is mile 0 of the Alaska Highway.  Had a scotch and a bath.  Life is good.

Travel Knitting:  Finished Dishcloth the 3rd.  I know, boring.

What a crazy week(end). Celebration Iowa was in town most of the week so we could get CD recording done. We decided to give recording a shot at the High School Auditorium which was logistically nice as we only had to load in / set up once instead of moving a couple times. We also got our DVD recording done during Nordic Fest Shows in the same room, so hopefully that will keep things moving along in CI production land.

I’m headed out to Mason City bright and early in the morning to mix Celebration Iowa for a show at the  Iowa Choral directors convention. It should be an interesting night as we are essentially doubling PA with another performing group in once space – mostly due to our 25+ channels of wireless, etc. I’m thinking I should be asleep right now instead of writing a blog, but oh well. Hopefully my patience meter will show full for tomorrow’s activities!

The Nordic Fest Weekend here in Decorah was a blast. So much fun being out and about downtown, seeing lots of friends, spending lots of QT at the Elks Lodge and general merriment. Aryn & I need to buckle down now this week and get our next magazine done – which was an impossible task over the weekend, but I know it will come together, as it always does!

Oh yeah  – Almost forgot! I co-hosted the KDEC FM 100.5 morning show with Tim on Friday and we did a live interview with Brett Dennen – you can listen to it if you’d like on the KDEC MySpace Page- fun stuff!

Over and out for now….

According to the latest edition of Colorado’s registration list, both the “Denver Firefighter” and “Elks Care, Elks Share” issues have been retired as of June 30. Neither of these issues has seen much success, but then these are some of the very few Colorado special issues outside of the military series that require specific proof of membership.

They are also just outside the window of some earlier special issue plates that were allowed an exemption from any quantity requirements to stay on the roster (including the Greyhound, Raptor, Indian Scholars and a few others). Hence, the ones you see now on the road will be the last.

As of the final tally, there are 1,363 DFD and 1,021 Elks plates still out there — which means there are probably somewhere under 2,000 sets of each out there if you count expired issues. (I’ve got one of the DFD plates, but I can’t say I’ve ever even seen the Elks issue in the wild…)

A comment of Azahar’s on my last post provoked me to e-mail Az privately with a few examples of how amusing politicians can actually be, yea even here in the armpit of the Nation’s Capital. As with birds, you have to watch them patiently and quietly in their native habitat. I did that for a while and it was either edifying or appalling, I am still not sure which.

My late and ex, a musical stage performer, referred me during this period to the too little revived musical Fiorello! (it actually won a Pulitzer), specifically the third number Politics and Poker. The only decent online rendition I can find involved an Elks Lodge charity fundraiser at which some Elks lip-synched the original cast recording, which in itself is so goddam surreal that I had to post it. These Elks guys actually catch the spirit of the number perfectly, though there’s a blip at 2:38; the lyric there is “nobody likes a candidate whose name they can’t spell.” Which exactly described my stint as a campaign manager, but that’s a story for another time.

Ah, I appear to have made a bit of a balls up. I was supposed to pick up the hire car yesterday morning and not this, buggery. I realised this late last night and as is my mandate for this adventure, decided not to get stressed and just see what happens.

The logistics of this trip are on par with that of Operation Barbarossa if you ask me. I think I need a PA. All applicants considered and renummeration to be given in the form of a firm handshake and plenty of blog mentions.

So I Skyped Alamo (the hire company) this morning and they said it’s not a problem which has me semi-relieved. I’m on my way to the airport now and until I’m sat in the car without having had to pay a fresh wedge of green, I’m not going to be overly confident.

If all goes well this will have worked in my favour a fair bit as it will mean 2 less bus rides to/from the airport (which are 10 bucks a pop) and also that I don’t have to pig about with buses tomorrow morning and can just drop the motor off and go straight to my flight. Jobs a good ‘n.

I should also mention that I’ve kind of picked up 2 hitchhikers from my room; a nice fella from Finland named Jalmari and a cool skater dude from Canada named Mathieu. I just invited them both as they seem like good geezers and it makes no difference to me, plus it will be more fun with company.

Speaking of hitchhikers, a young genuine one turned up from San Francisco last night. Seemed a good kid, though man did his feet reek. He started out over a month ago with just $45 and now has $50 without having done a day’s work, pretty impressive. The night before last he slept in the desert and was worried about rattle snakes.

He’s off down the railroad today to chance his hand at freight train jumping. I gave him a few tips (like watch out for the botomless suicide carts and get hold off the unofficial schedule going about that some guy spends most of his life compiling) that I’d previously garnered off other dudes on my travels. Good luck to him I say.

I got very excited yesterday when I learnt that just outside The Rocky National Park is The Stanley Hotel. Big deal I hear you hark but maybe if I say The Overlook hotel an ear or 2 may perk up amongst you. It was used for the exterior shots for the hotel in ‘The Shining’ (not Kubrick’s version) and was the hotel that King stayed at to inspire the whole thing. I love stuff like that and can’t wait to see it.

So the hire car company were absolutely fine about me being 24 hours late which was nice. The motor they gave me was a Lincoln MKS, I didn’t like it quite as much as the Volvo but it was a hell of a step-up (in looks and power) from the Chrysler.

We got to The Stanley an hour or so later and were dissapointed to learn that ‘The Shining’ tour was fully booked for that day. So when no one was looking we sneaked up the stairs for our own little tour. We got our snaps of Room 217 and that was us happy.

Rocky National Park is gorgeous, I’ve been so impressed with America’s diverse and epic landscapes on offer all through this trip. We got to drive right up into the snow capped mountains, some photos with majestic backdrops were our reward.

I’ve taken that many pictures of elks today that anyone could be forgiven for thinking that I’ve become an …… wait for it ……. elkaholic. Oh dear, parka at the ready.

So Portland tomorrow and to be honest I won’t overly miss Denver (and certainly not this awful hostel!), it’s nice enough but nothing special by any means. The Colarado country around it is it’s best offering by far.

Many believe that Las Vegas already provides the best ‘Hell on Earth’- but it’s all good clean Old West fun when the Helldorado Days celebration comes to the middle of downtown Las Vegas this weekend in Las Vegas.

Things come and go in Las Vegas, however, Helldorado Days, sponsored by the Las Vegas Elks Lodge, has been a local tradition and favorite since 1934.   A parade, rodeo, carnival and Whiskerino contest – competitors are judged for the best and largest beards and mustaches – are featured events.

A variety of entertainment will be ongoing today through Sunday at the Fremont Street Experience throughout Helldorado Days.

The PRCA sanctioned professional rodeo, which started in 1944, but has been on hiatus for the last 12 years, will be centerpiece anchor of this year’s event. Local companies donated 2,700 tons of dirt for a temporary rodeo arena that holds 5,300 people.

Hopefully, the rodeo and many other activities will provide paydirt for the Elks Lodge, which uses the proceeds from Helldorado Days to fund local nonprofit organizations. The Elks hope to bugle if they raise their goal of $100,000 to give out college scholarships, support for nonprofits and a summer Santa program for children at Child Haven.

Carnival – 5 p.m. to midnight Friday, noon to midnight Saturday, noon to 11 p.m. on Sunday. Carnival tickets cost $, but free with purchase of rodeo ticket.

PRCA Rodeo – 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Sunday; 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $12.50 for adults, $6.50 for children 12 and younger.

Whiserkino contest – 4:45 p.m. on Friday at the Third Streeet stage at Fremont Streeet Experience.

Helldorado parade – 7 p.m to 9 p.m. Saturday, travels north on Fourth Street from Charleston Boulevard to Ogden Avenue.

For more info, www.elkshelldorado.com

Don’t miss this great opportunity to support Decorah’s independent arts center. Silent Auction from regional artists, live theatrical performance, food, beverages, Live Art Auction, and more! Catch all of the excitement at the May Day Garden Party hosted at the Decorah Elks Lodge in  downtown Decorah. May 1, 2009  – 6pm

Check out the latest post, Awakening, from guest author, Robin Ross, at our Rural Biographer page!

Check out the latest post, Enlightenment, from guest author, Robin Ross, on our Rural Biographer page!

Check out the first post, Uncertainty, from another guest author, Vea Loy Ross, on our Rural Biographer page.

Elks Eligin American Lighter…Ronson Adonis Lighter…Tabletop Lighter…Pocket Watch,Leather Case

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Always have the penchant for nature ~ this is a beautiful scenery in the wild.   Though not far from the office block where Bernard works,  I thought these elks are lucky enough to have a huge area of free land to wander around! Locate in Southeast Boise ~ and lucky elks, aren’t they enjoying the beautiful and peaceful surroundings too?