Mr. Fox goes to Salem, part II

As my recent blog readers might remember I have decided to go to the state capital to meet with the Governor to discuss stuffy rights.  A short recap of the talking points I will be presenting to the Governor are:  

1) Hot chocolate and cookies three times a week in the Summer, five times a week in the Winter.  I think this should also be adjusted regionally; for example two bears living in the Midwest might need more hot chocolate than someone living in California.   

2) Proper and timely payment of all construction invoices  

3) Adventures and blogs at least twice a week (Sandy)   

4) Community service for humans and stuffies   

5) Lower taxes and free honey and salmon for all (Ajdin)  

6) Favorite foods based on the stuffies needs and wants at any given moment at least three times per week (Sandy)  

7) A wardrobe that changes with the season and style (Sandy)  

8) One international trip per year 

My roommate gladly drove me to Salem for my meeting with the Governor. My roommate kept mentioning something about making an appointment to see the Governor but I was too excited about my meeting to pay much attention to him. Look, we're close.  

 

Getting closer.  The statue on top is called "Oregon Pioneer" aka "Gold Man" and is 22 foot hollow statue.  Thank you fifth grade civics class for that information....Wow they really take care of the grounds around here.  Jerry would love the flowers and the gardening.  Maybe, I will arrange a meeting with the gardening staff so Jerry and them can bounce ideas off of each other.  The capital is close to the Amtrak station so it would be beary convenient for Jerry to catch a train west. 

There are 4 entrances to the capital.  I think I will go into this one being that there is a Salmon (I think so at least) on this side.  This is the third Oregon Capitol building.  The first two caught on fire (probably why they built this one out of stone).   

 

 

Alright, let's get down to business.  I have my list of talking points now I should try and find the Governor's office.  Looks like she's on the second floor.  

I found the office and talked to the secretary. They mentioned that usually the Governor doesn't see stuffies without appointments but she suggested I take a seat and if there was time the governor would see me.   

This bench looks comfy.  

Hmm, I have been waiting a long time.  I think I will lie down so when I have my meeting I will be fully refreshed.  

I should have brought a pillow.

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Hours later the friendly secretary came out with a tray of cookies in the shape of the State of Oregon (I need to get those cookie cutters) and a nice warm mug of coffee.  She said that the Governor didn't have any time today but I might want to bring my points to the House of Representatives or the Senate since they are in session.   

After essentially getting kicked out of the Governor's office waiting room I decided to explore the capital area and collect my thoughts.  These fuschia plants are beary nice and colorful.   

They have a great fountain outside too. 

I think I am going to just grab a seat and think about plan "B".  

After a couple of hours plan "B" came to me.  It's happy hour, I bet I can find some representatives or senators relaxing after a long day of work at the local watering hole.   

On a side note they have these cool statues all around town directing visitors to the tourist sites.  Hmm, there is no directions on this one for the local watering hole.  I guess I will have to use my excellent tracking abilities to find it on my own.  

I think I found it!  Looks like they show movies and serve drinks and it's close to the Capitol.  I bet this is where EVERYONE hangs out after work.  

Looks like they have a special today too!

I put my best paw forward and went inside to the bar. It was empty!  Where are my representatives?  Where's the senate?  Phoey!  Who is going to stick up for stuffy rights?

Well, it looks like Salem got the best of me today.  But I'll be back!

My roommate, feeling sorry for me, decided to take me to Dairy Queen for a treat.  I think I will have a strawberry sundae and plan my next lobbying visit. 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Fox goes to Salem part 1

As any good stuffie does I always want to give back to my community.  I happen to know there are many stuffies out there who do not get the adventures, outings, or blog posts that they all deserve.  Well friends, this injustice stops NOW!

I have decided to take my concerns to the top.  Not my county representative, not the mayor, that's right I am going straight to the governor.

Before I go to Salem I should probably make an appointment with the governor (best not to show up on her doorstep uninvited). Let's see I found her website easily but they sure make it tough to get a phone number to call her.  I will have to dig further.

Before I go I will need an agenda of what to bring up with the governor.  Here is my list of stuffie rights so far, perhaps my blog pals can give me some more suggestions to bring up with the governor.

1) Hot chocolate and cookies at least three times a week in the summer, five times a week in the winter.
2) Proper and timely payment of all construction/supervision invoices when presented to humans (still haven't been paid for this work yet).  Hmm, I wonder if there is a construction board I should visit as well on my trip to Salem?
3) Adventures (and blog post) at least once a week
4) My roommates came up with one, community service once a month

Mystery Solved

A few days ago I could not help but wonder what was going on at my house with my roommates.  They kept playing this video over and over again.  Somethings up, I just don't know what it is.  I'll sleep on it, maybe when I wake up I will have a better idea.

Usually, I wake up with a nice big cup of hot chocolate but instead I heard LOUD jet engine sounds.

Hmm, I know a couple of people who were former Air Force, maybe I will ask them. 

Do you see me in this picture?

They could not give me the information I needed (maybe it's classified?).
  I will have to figure this out on my own.  Here are the options I came up with:
1) We are being invaded by Canada?    
Yep, that must be it, now that I solved that problem I think I will head out for a walk.  

My roommates were in the background intentionally clearing their throats and they wanted to make sure that everyone knows that we are NOT being invaded by Canada and that the USA thinks very favorably of our neighbors to the North. 

My roommates then took me outside to watch the Blue Angels.  Apparently, the Blue Angels were practicing for the upcoming airshow.  Ahh, that must be the real reason why they were watching that Kenny Loggins Video (they were so excited about the upcoming show they had to play the TopGun theme constantly).

Now that the mystery is solved.... I grabbed my cell phone camera and shot a few videos of them practicing above my house.

Blue Angels Video #1

Blue Angels Video # 2

Interestingly, Sequoia was not fazed at all by the Blue Angels, instead he was mesmerized by a butterfly.

Sequoia Video 1

The real question is do you think we'll get to go to the airshow?

Puzzle

My roommates started watching this video from the stone ages (amazing that they had this technology way back when).

I wonder what they are up to?  Perhaps my stuffy friends can assist in helping me figure out what is going on.

Wildflowers and Mountains - oh my

I could not help but think of Jerry and Ben when we explored the Crested Butte area of Colorado.  According to their own literature, it has one of the best wildflower displays around.  Let's go and see.

They say it's important to stop and sniff the roses or in this case the wildflowers.  I am not sure which one I like better, the red or purple ones?

There are fields and fields of wildflowers right now and we were even there for the "peak" time.  I could only imagine.  Now, I must say these pictures are missing something.....what could it be?

Ah, that's better.  A picture of a fox makes the flowers sparkle, don't you think?

Back to Aspen.  After a quick Hot Chocolate (thank goodness they have a Starbucks here) I am ready to explore. 

 Waiting in life I met this friendly animal.  I wonder if he knows Carrots?

 Gondola's are one of my favorite ways to travel.  This one was pretty comfy, big seats, nice clear windows, great view etc.

At the top of the mountains in Aspen I came across this little shelter.  I think it would be a great place for the stuffy convention.  Nice views, good hiking, lots of food, wild flowers, and a free art museum for a certain mouse in England.

The mountains were pretty amazing.

 Looks like a storm is brewing.  Time to get back to the safety of the gondola.

The storm wasn't as bad as I thought so we decided on one more trip to a different part of Aspen.  Maroon Bells, the most photographed mountains in Colorado. 

I bet the water is a tad cold. 

Good picture, hey where' the fox?

The trail wasn't too bad, although after a day of adventuring this fox was getting tired.

Even though I was losing energy there was always time for a quick photo. The mountains are amazing. 

This is an interesting sign.  Good think Sequoia stayed at home.  

We did see a moose or two on the trail.  They weren't too interested in us, more interested in eating. 

Carbondale Art Walk

Now as my regular readers might know I have a keen knack for adventuring, traveling, and hiking.  On my latest adventure I decided to take some of the public art around Carbondale, Colorado (my home base for the trip).

Do you see me to the right?

Just hanging around. 

Here I am, in the middle. 

Gid-ee-up

Bought time I got a proper rest. 

Bike bells?

Some sort of guitar

Not part of the art walk but it's a perfect fit for a fox. 

The color is perfect. 

I doubt I will get lost in this labyrinth . 

Welcome to Colorado

Through my expert navigation and supervision (hmmm, maybe I should send a bill?) we successfully made it to Colorado. 

It's HOT....but I hear that if you drive up to the Continental Divide it's much cooler.  Let's go!

I am having a tough time adjusting to the altitude.

We made it to Independence Pass (should have gone here on the 4^th, oh well).  The mountains are amazing and there were even a few snow melt lakes.  The only thing that would have made it better is a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory on site.  

After exploring Independence Pass it was time to head to an old mining ghost town, called…..drum roll please….Independence.  It was a pretty hopping city many years ago until a bad snowstorm hit the town, residents had to dismantle the buildings and use the wood as skis to ski down to Aspen. 

Do you think they sell ice cream at this store?

Hmm, not bad construction considering it's at 10,900 feet and it's about 130 years old.  

Ahh, a new day.

Back on the road.  The mountains ahead of me are the San Juans.  I have learned a few things about Colorado.  1) Lot’s of great scenery.  2) Lot’s of road construction going on as well.

Our first stop was Ouray, Colorado.  A former mining town now settled in the mountains and thriving on the tourist trade.  When Ouray was in it’s heyday they built lots of Victorian homes and buildings.  

I wonder if they have a Starbucks in town?

 Besides sightseeing and shopping Ouray is the self proclaimed off road adventuring capital of the world.  There were lots of cool vehicles you could rent.  I would have taken this one if it were orange. 

Please.....can we go please.......

This restaurant looks like a good place to stop for lunch.

Wait, that's the name of the restaurant....not what they serve right?

Driving into and out of Ouray was beautiful.  You passed many mountain passes.  Hmm, I wonder why they called this one Black Bear Pass?

 

A few more stops along the way, an old west gun fight in a parking lot and finally made it to our motel for the night.  This is our room, the Eagle’s Nest.  There was also a room called the Bear’s Den but it must have been rented before we arrived.

Does anyone know where I am at?  That’s right, Mesa Verde National Park.

You can't seriously expect me to climb up this ladder by myself?

Mesa Verde was pretty cool.  So many ruins.  The ancient people who built these ruins were great masons…..I wonder what they charged per hour?

According to the rangers many of these rooms were used for corn storage.  I wonder if any rooms stored berries, chocolate, or salmon?

After leaving Mesa Verde we made a quick stop in Telluride and I got to ride up the mountain in a tram.  If you haven’t traveled by tram it’s definitely the way to go, especially since this one was free.