Reformatting

Are you sure you want to reformat disk C:\? All data will be erased.

I've spent the last few days being bombarded with information. There's really a lot to keep track of in an entirely new park to me. It makes Glacier seem pretty simple where we 1) can't really keep track of the animals and 2) really don't keep track of the animals anyway. Here, managing the animals seems like the biggest priority and the biggest point of conflict between the park and the public. Plus, it's the main attraction.

Most of my time has been spent learning operations-type procedures: how to open and close the visitor center, where to find brochures and car keys, how the gas pump works, and all of the "special" projects I will be working on here besides being the only guy in the visitor center most days.

The thing I'm pretty excited about is taking pictures for the park. It's actually part of my job. I just hope I have enough time scheduled to do what needs to get done in that arena; the hours in the day are short and my main purpose for being here is to be in the visitor center.

I froze every part of my body while exploring the North Unit by myself on Thursday for training. I had to laugh when I was trying to get pictures of the longhorn steer and the horses in the corral and they would all come up to me and mess up my pictures.

Saturday, I will participate in a bird count exercise (run by the Audubon Society?). Well, I've already observed rough-legged hawks, pine siskins, goldfinches, juncos, chickadees, nuthatches, turkeys, grouse, and magpies. I don't know what I'll do on the weekend yet!

Once I get an internet connection up in my apartment, I will start uploading pictures. For now, just imagine half an inch of snow whipping around on the badlands and me wishing I had a thick coat of fur.