POST #16 -- Preposterous Personalities

Whoa!!

I've been really remiss 'bout keeping this Blog up to date.

Since my last posting...

 ... I've been to Park City for more hiking with Larry, Sheila and Sun City others.

I've been to a Dwight Yokum concert.

Courtenay River Estuary

I've been in-and-out of Tacoma again.

And I've driven across British Columbia, from Kelowna to Courtenay, on Vancouver Island.











Will I retroactively report on all these travels? 
Nope.

But I will share some highlights and some more photos.

I want to start here, Post #16, by 'bookmarking' a couple of stories for future embellishment.
The stories are about two fascinating people I met in Logan.  Truly preposterous personalities.

Story #1 is about a breakfast I shared with Michael R. Thompson, an itinerant rare books dealer with a specialty in "fine, antiquarian and scholarly books."

I'd never have guessed that you make a living doing that.  Now I know better.  Details to follow. 

Story #2 is about a chance meeting I had with Aaron L. Hammer on the grounds of Logan's Mormon Tabernacle.  Nobody calls him Aaron.  He's well known locally, and everybody calls him "Dude."

He's homeless.  Lives in an old, mud-colored Ford Econoline van.  And he's got a dual career:  hot dog salesman by day.  Treasure Hunter in his spare time.  A very accomplished & successful treasure hunter at that.  Details to follow.








To be continued...   check back soon.

POST #15 -- The Famous Preston Night Rodeo

Just before sundown...

It's the Famous Preston Night Rodeo.  "Famous?" you say?  Well, it may not seem that famous to you.  Chances are you've never heard of it.  Chances are, you've never heard of Preston (pop. 5,214 in southeastern Idaho.)  But the locals take great pride in their rodeo.  And they should.  It's a really, really good one.  It's famous for two reasons:  foremost, because it was the first rodeo in the country -- 70 years ago -- to schedule events at night in a lighted arena.  And second, because it attracts most of the best cowboys in the PRCA due to its $40,000 purse and its scheduling and logistical proximity to the (truly famous) Cheyenne Frontier Days, "the world's largest outdoor rodeo and western celebration."

Preston is a mere 30 miles north of Logan, UT, the closest 'big city.'  So I headed up Hwy 91 out of Logan on a hot Friday evening to attend the 2nd night of Preston's 3-night rodeo.  When I got to town, I saw that the highway was lined thick with pick-ups, people and folding camp chairs, all awaiting... what?  Yup.  The big pre-rodeo calvalcade up Main Street.  I immediately pulled the '02 over to the curb and got out to take my take my place by the side of the road... just moments before a couple of 'we-mean-business' sheriff's deputies straddled their flashing-light cruisers across the highway, re-directing traffic onto side streets.

Kevin & Gailey

In fact, I had parked right on the parade route.  But hey.  No problem.  Plenty of other vehicles had done likewise.  It's just that every other vehicle in sight was Enormous and Made in America.  I'm certain that more than just a few curious onlookers imagined that my very odd, very little, very old, very German car must certainly have been some sort of parade prop. I was sorely tempted to confirm their suspicions by popping the trunk, extracting my Clown Bike, and peddling haphazardly up and down the double center line while grinning foolishly, waving wildly, and loudly singing Michael's Own Medley of crowd-pleasing cowboy ballads.  Fortunately, I realized that I knew no cowboy ballads -- never mind that I can't sing -- so I simply stepped back, took a breath and looked around.  That's when I spotted Kevin and Gailey sitting in their pick-up. They had parked atop the asphalt strip in front of an abandoned store front.  I smiled and strolled over to Kevin's open window.  I knew I'd found a couple of new friends... and a wealth of information and insights into all things Preston.

I greeted Kevin with a gentle, "Hey."  He responded with a warm, "Howdy."  Right.  Cultures now converging.  "Can you tell me what direction the parade will be coming from?" I asked.  That's all it took. We talked about the parade and its participants, many of whom they knew. We talked about the town and the surrounds.  Kevin & Gailey are dry-land farmers, living five miles back into the hills... but they're life-long residents to the area.  "High school sweethearts?" I asked.  "No," Gaily said emphatically. "Kevin was two years ahead of me, and we didn't start dating 'til his senior year."  Hmmm.  Small town Idaho must assign some pretty narrow definitions to high school romance.
We talked about farming and farm equipment, the dry summer, and the price of corn and hogs at auction.  Kevin was friendly and forthcoming.  A good thing.  He did most of the talking, and I was able to veil my agri-ignorance with an earnest expression, an occasional not-too-stupid question and a lot of 'uh-huh-ing'.

Stars & Stripes & Smiling Cowgirls

Then, just as I was reaching the outer limit of my cow-town conversational competence, the parade came into view.  It was led by a mounted honor troop of flag-carrying cowgirls.  Then followed the Preston Grand Marshal, the very beautiful Rodeo Queen and her not very beautiful court, and a fabulously funky procession of livestock, tractors, floats, fire engines, 4-H, and yes -- of course -- the Preston High School Marching Band.

The parade ended with, well..., I don't know what it ended with.  Because the last official participant in the parade -- a big white SUV sporting colorful crepe-paper streamers and the door-side decal of a local real estate broker -- was followed seamlessly by a long line of other big, slow-moving vehicles that had no streamers and no door decals.  They were just folks heading up the highway to the rodeo grounds about a half-mile away.  I followed them on foot and arrived at the fairgrounds faced with a daunting dilema.  Buy a ticket?  Get some food?  Wander the Carnival Fun Zone?   I decided to do all three.  It was obvious that the carnival was delivering big-time fun for young and old.  The Lions Club cheeseburger was a gorgeous greasy gastronomical glob.  And my rodeo ticket...  well, as luck would have it, I ended up with a really good seat.   

Any solo traveler can tell you that there are risks and rewards that come from being a solitary stranger.  Ticket-buying can be very rewarding, as good single seats are often still available after all the good sit-together seats have long since been snatched up.  I was thinking about this while waiting in the ticket line.  And that's when I was noticed by the perky, attractive woman who was managing the ticket booth.  She could see I was on my own, so she side-stepped her ticket-sellers to make sure I would have what she described as "the best seat in the rodeo."  Thank you, ma'am.  In fact, she'd gotten me a terrific seat, right in the center of the west side of the arena, with the glare of the setting sun to my back.  And, oh golly, wha'dya know? ... as the rodeo started, who should plunk down in the seat right next to me, but the woman managing the ticket booth.  Oh-kaay... !

the longest 8 seconds in the world 

'Twas a great night at the rodeo.  Cowboys, clowns, queens, patriotism and every major rodeo event -- saddle broncs, bareback broncs, calf wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, and bull riding.

"Give that cowboy a hand, ladies & gentlemen."

The folksy farm-centric banter of the rodeo announcer was entertainment unto itself.  And between the marquee events there was even a trick riding display and a Mutton-Busting competition (kids blasting out of the chutes on the backs of fast-running sheep, desperately hanging on for a wild ride against the clock.)

Just before the final event was over, I said my farewell to the rodeo and to my seat mate, and I was able to arrive back at my Logan campus lodgings before midnight, already thinking about my next-day's 100-mile drive to Park City to meet up for more hiking with friends Larry & Sheila  (see Post #10.)

Parade - little tractor, Big Tractor

Parade - little kid, Big Horse

The Preston High School Marching Band

In the arena -- Grand Marshal's entrance

In the arena -- Rodeo Queen Candy Perkins

Carnival Color

Carnival Fun Zone

Carnival Lights

POST # 14 -- Ya gotta love Logan

the Old Court House on Main Street

I'd never been to Logan before this visit.  Didn't know much about the town other than it being the home of Utah State University.  I'd been told it was a very pretty place.  And cooler than Palm Desert in the summertime.  I'd imagined that it would be small, provincial and sleepy... especially in July when all the students are gone.

Well I've been here for nearly 3 weeks now, and I'm Lovin' Logan.  It's a wonderfully impressive community, and the natural beauty of the surrounding region is more than pretty.  It's spectacular.

• Logan was settled by pioneers in 1859 and named after an early trapper, Ephraim Logan.

• The town is home to 48,174 people.  48,106 of them are Mormons.

• It holds an insurance industry ranking as the #4 most secure place in the country.
(Those Mormons are as good as the local locksmiths are poor...) 

• The 4,778ft elevation keeps the warm summer temperatures from becoming scorching desert-hot, with the average summer highs clocking in at a decidedly delightful 85F.

• Founded by Mormon pioneers in the mid-19th Century, the town has a rich and largely intact architectural heritage and a plentiful supply of modest but immaculately-maintained homes.

• The very earliest homes had dirt floors and a dirt roof. But by the 1860s, hand-hewn native stone and rock were being used to build the homes of the most prominent citizens, like businessman J.W. Thatcher.  Later homes were built of wood frame and brick in the Victorian style.

a mom-&-pop local favorite

The whole 'Logan package' is so all-American, down-home comfortable, attractive and wholesome that it makes Disney's Main Street look like a study in urban depravity.  Logan has lots of pretty parks; it has no potholes; it has no litter... and everything works, right down to the last drinking fountain.  I'm sure that the ubiquitous influence of the LDS Church/community has a lot to do with all that.

Logan has been ranked in the Top Five college towns in the West.  Makes me wonder how the other 4 could possibly offer anything better.  And yes, there are Big Box stores on the periphery of town, but at the heart of things are plenty of mom-and-pop businesses that are thriving.   (Although it's easy to take cheap, snarky shots at those Mormons -- see Post #8 -- the undeniable truth of the matter is that this spectacularly family-centric, faith-centric society is very, very benign and worthy of great admiration.)

a single order of root beer floats at the Bluebird

LDS Temple

Logan's Gardeners' Market, every Saturday

the J.W. Thatcher home, ca 1862

Mormon pioneer songs & stories at the Tabernacle

Shirt color selection is easy for Mormon men

Michael's new t-shirt; thanks Cathy

music after the Fondo 100-mile bike event

Logan's finest Indian food... in a gas station

politically incorrect... anywhere but Logan

kids & swimmin' hole - what a concept

kids & bikes & swimmin' hole - just playing

POST #13 -- Utah State University

Utah State University

During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act, providing funding for the establishment of a new college in each state and territory. These schools were to promote higher education and practical learning to people of all classes and walks of life, especially rural life. In 1888, the Agricultural College of Utah was founded as the state's land-grant institution. It became Utah State University in 1957.

Today, USU remains true to its roots as an institution dedicated to the land and its people. But it has also become a very modern, very tech-intensive university offering courses and degrees across an extraordinarily broad spectrum.  And it's big, with 28,000 students spread across all its satellite locations statewide and 16,000 students on the Logan campus alone. USU now has a special emphasis on graduate studies, offering more than 140 graduate degrees.  It offers 160 undergraduate degrees, plus 94 undergraduate minors.  Who'da thunk it?

Old Main, as viewed from the Quad

I discovered USU when a gaggle of university officials and Logan town boosters visited Palm Desert this past winter to pitch their Summer Citizen program to sun belt retirees.  "The students all leave Logan in the summer," they explained, "so we've assembled an irresistible menu of summer culture and coursework to lure you into town to keep the local economy humming along."  And it works. The culture is great. (See my 'Cultural Cornucopia' post.)  The coursework is great, too.

USU's Summer Citizen curriculum is definitely 'Academic Lite.'  It's adult education/amusement kind of stuff, offering no credit toward any sort of degree.  But it's just right for the intended audience.  I signed up for 2 courses:  'Genealogy'  (hey, these Utah Mormons know more about me than I do) and 'The Taste of Summer', a thinly-veiled answer to the question: 'What's for lunch today?'

my personal welcome to campus

I've been living on campus for the past 2 weeks, in the almost posh University Inn, the preferred accommodation for out of town conference attendees during the academic year. Both my classes are a stroll from my door.  And I've been able to easily explore the rest of the impressive 400 acre campus on foot and on my clown bike.  I use my Summer Citizen/Student I.D. to give me access to virtually all the university facilities, including the computer labs and the gym/recreation center where I've been able to enjoy swimming in a very good indoor lap-pool.  My card even gives me a discount for food services in the Student Union.

Hey, what's not to like?  Well, nothing it seems.  And I'm not alone.  There are close to 1,000 Summer Citizens who spend time here each summer.  Some spend as long as 10 weeks here.  And many are happy return-registrants.  I met a couple of Summer Citizens on one of my recent hikes into Logan Canyon (see Post #10) and they told me that they'd been coming for 12 and 13 summers respectively.
What's not to like, indeed.

University Inn, my on-campus lodgings

A fun, self-deprecating nod to USU's agricultural roots

literally across the street from my hotel

A very good pool for lap-swimming

where I elypticize and Old Guys prevail in summer

Art Deco building, site of my 'Taste of Summer' class

Casey & Ken serve up the Taste of Summer

the Bear River Range is the backdrop to campus

my Genealogy class on the first day

my Genealogy class yesterday;  making progress

Cutest souvenir in the bookstore, an Aggie Bull

POST #12 -- Cultural Cornucopia

Each summer Logan serves up a positively chock-a-block cornucopia of culture.  The Old Lyric Repertory Theater is in full swing with comedies, dramas and musicals.  There are free performing arts events every weekday at the historic LDS Tabernacle on Main Street.  The music department at Utah State produces a full summer's worth of high-caliber concert offerings.  And the (now famous) Utah Festival (www.UFOC.org) stages some of the best opera in the country... largely by recruiting the best opera singers in the country who would otherwise be unemployed in the summer off-season.

Opera critic Edward Reichel writes about the two stars who helped make the 2012 production of 'Tosca'  "...an unqualified success. Soprano Carla Thelen Hanson (Tosca) and tenor Jonathan Burton (Cavaradossi) own their roles. They bring depth, understanding, passion and expression to their portrayals. They are utterly credible, infusing their characters with deep insight and great power, but without falling into caricature. And they are stunning as singers.  Hanson’s Act II 'Vissi d’arte' and Burton’s Act III 'E lucevan le stelle' are the vocal highpoints of this production."  

Seasonally unemployed orchestra members flock to Logan, too, and the result is a full pit of top-flight professional musicians. Sounds a lot better than the couple of synthesizers and a kazoo one typically finds in the cash-strapped summer music festivals almost everywhere else in the country. The Utah festival is extremely audience-attentive, offering Academy Classes, Literary Seminars, pre-show 'informance' talks, after-performance mingling with the stars, plus other meet-the-actors/directors events.       Wow. 

During my stay in Logan, I've seen 2 plays, 2 musicals and one opera.  My descriptions and comments on each are included at the bottom of this page, after the last photo.

Ellen Eccles Theatre, the jewel in the crown

Tosca, Opening Night

Tosca, ensemble

Meeting Tosca stars Hanson & Burton

The Eccles set for Noel Coward's "Private Lives"

Eccles Theatre at intermission

Lyric Theater, Greater Tuna set

Utah Theater, undergoing rennovation

Daily noon performances are free at the Tabernacle

'Big River' ensemble at the Tabernacle

young talent at the Tabernacle

Academy classes and Literary Seminars are held in the Dansante

Jim Lyden's seminar on scenic design

Vanessa Ballam's seminar on opera role prep

Nicholas Morrison directs the Utah State University Alumni Band

Michael sez...    (described in the order seen) 

"Private Lives" -- this Noel Coward play is a perennial of regional theater and repertory companies.  And it's done very well here . Depicting the most unlikely circumstance of a formerly married couple who meet on their honeymoons with their 2nd spouses, it is quick, witty and clever.  Considered sensationally risque when written in the 1930s, it seems far less so now.  It's a lot of fun to watch.

"Kiss Me Kate" -- Cole Porter's attempt to co-mingle the Big Song-and-Dance Broadway musical with Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew."  Whereas it's a treat to see a 30-member troupe all on stage at the same time performing the well-choreographed dance numbers, the play is long on ambition and short on grabbing power.  The earnest efforts of the talented UFMOT cast just couldn't save this one, for my taste.  I left feeling exhausted. 

"Big River" -- with wonderfully lyrical music by Roger Miller, wonderfully performed by the Logan cast, this stage adaptation by William Hauptman of Mark Twain's "Huckleberry Finn" was just a delight. Stephan Espinosa as Huck and Lego Luis at Jim were superb.

"Greater Tuna" -- I thought I'd love this wacky set-up about a bevy of eccentric characters in the 3rd smallest town in Texas, especially because Stephan Espinosa ('Big River') was one of the 2 actors playing all 18 roles in the play.  But I found it unimaginative and painfully over-played.  Most audience members seemed to be loving it.  I walked out at intermission. 

"Tosca" -- Hey, I admit it.  I'm not a big fan of traditional opera. But I love Puccini's music.  And I couldn't help but be impressed by UFOMT's staging of this classic, the 3rd most performed opera of all time.  Edward Reichel's review (above) nailed it.  A stunning success, it was.