 | Now he looks like a friendly critter!
All sweet and cuddly. |
| | | |
Estes Park, Colorado – Wind River – Aspen Lodge
I’ve been hearing about this most spectacular place for years and years. Tucked away in the middle of the Rockies in the northern part of Colorado at 9,000 feet above sea level, it is a gem. The streets of the picturesque town are lined with specialty shops, which cater to visitors. Some residents of the town even welcome you with open arms and a great big bear hug. They are very friendly folk. |
|
|
 | Trish, Krista, & Jeremy
Strolling through Estes Park.
HEY . . . I'm there, too.
Behind the camera |
| |  | | Ye Olde Paddle Wheel |
|
| | |
|
|
|
| Then drive about fifteen minutes out of town and the vistas are magnificent. Mountains, many snow-capped, even in June’ll surround you. One morning we took a drive through Rocky Mountain National Park . . . straight up to 13,000 feet above sea level. It felt like we were on top of the world . . . I guess we were. |
|
|
 | Chipmunk
on top of
the world |
| |  | | A Stand of Trees |
|
| | |
|
|
|
| Small lakes dot the area with names like Lily Lake and Mary Lake. I have to wonder who these women are who are so special to have a lake named after them. I think Donna Lake or Lake Donna has a nice ring to it. Don’t you? I wonder whom I can petition to name a lake after me. |
|
|
 | Lily Lake
nestled between the mountains |
| |  | Donna & Trish
nestled between views of
LilyLake
We strolled around this mile round lake
talking talking talking |
| |  | Lily Lake tucked between
Longs Peak
and
Twin Sisters Peaks |
|
 | Bare Naked Tree
Silent Inhabitant of Lily Lake |
| |  | Rather Noisy
Inhabitant of Lily Lake
He came right up to be photographed.
No shyness here. |
|
| | |
|
|
|
| What fun it was to see caribou, whole herds of them, walk right onto the grounds of the Aspen Lodge, Welcome to http://www.aspenlodge.net/ where we were guests. They are so big. I heard that there are bear in “dem dar woods,” but I am really glad that they stayed there. We didn’t see any and that was okay with me, although I guess I wouldn’t have minded seeing one from the safety of the car or behind my warm cozy cabin window. Maybe next time. |
|
|
 | Aspen Lodge
Trish and Uldis' Cabin
Dining Hall to the right |
| |  | Aspen Lodge
Cabins |
| |  | an overview of
Aspen Lodge |
|
 | This was my deck and
where I watched the caribou. |
| |  | And here are the caribou.
A small group tonight.
One night I saw a herd of about 12
right from my deck. |
|
| | |
|
|
|
| My best and very old friend, (She’s not THAT old, but I’ve known her more than half my life, which makes her an “old” friend.) Trish, (Patricia Williams Streips) and her husband, Dr. Uldis Streips from the University of Louisville have been asking us to join them at the WIND RIVER CONFERENCE on Prokaryotic Biology 2006 for years. It’s always scheduled in the middle of June just before my school ends, so it has been near impossible for me to attend. This year, however, I was able to make special arrangements to leave school a day early to accompany my husband, David, who was a featured speaker. This speaking engagement was very special to both David and me and we are so grateful to Uldis for the invitation and more importantly for believing in David. David suffered a (TBI) Traumatic Brain Injury in January of 2005 and is making an amazing, but very, very slow recovery. Although the injury affected all of his motor skills, his vision, and a number of other areas, his cognitive and scientific brain is totally intact. You can read more about David’s TBI under the tag, TBI Living Nightmare. |
|
|
 | Dr. David H. Figurski
Professor - Columbia University
talking about
Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans
or
A. actinomycetemcomitans
("Don't ask me. I haven't a clue.
I can't even pronounce it," said Donna.
"I just call it by its short name -- AA.") |
| |  | Dr. Uldis Streips
Professor - University of Louisville
introducing David.
(He couldn't pronounce it either.) |
|
 | David and a student
discussing her poster |
| |  | David and a Professor friend
talking SCIENCE, of course. |
| |  | | I'm so proud of you, David. |
|
| | |
| In June of 2005, just five months after David’s three brain surgeries, Uldis called to invite him to speak at the 2006 - 50th Anniversary Meeting of Prokaryotic Genetics. At that time David’s voice was gravelly . . . very raspy and it was still very difficult to understand everything he said, yet Uldis said, “Don’t worry. We have time.” He wanted permission to list David on the schedule of speakers and David eagerly agreed. I truly believe this act of faith from this very good friend has been a great motivating factor and confidence builder for David. David’s motivation to get well again, to beat the odds of this trauma, and his will to not let his friend down, have all been crucial to his healing process. For Uldis to believe in David and to take a chance on him at this most untimely time proves beyond any question his friendship . . . not that I ever really doubted it. Uldis, thank you from the bottom of my heart and thank you for being one of many dear friends who have been instrumental in giving David his scientific life back to him and for helping to give my husband back to me. |
|
|
| I met Trish many years ago when she worked in the Micro Biology Department at the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY. We have been best friends ever since. We even lived in San Diego at the same time . . . before she moved to Louisville to marry Uldis. Although Trish still lives in Louisville and we don’t see each other as often as we each would like, we are just a phone call away. Then the laughter starts. We laugh for anything and for nothing at all. We’re pretty known for that. Trish’s daughter, Krista, calls it “spontaneous laughter” and she couldn’t be more right. At Wind River there was so much spontaneous laughter. |
|
|
 | Trish
So . . .
What's so funny? |
| |  | Best Friends
for a
LOT of years |
| |  | Trish
Another View |
|
| | |
|
|
|
 | Jeremy Burch ( Krista's Husband)
Trish, Krista, & Uldis
Krisjans (missing)
He was back at the ranch
watching the Soccer World Cup. |
| |  | Krisjans Streips
A really cool guy! |
|
| | |
| It was great fun to spend five days with Trish, Uldis and their children, Krisjans and Krista and Krista’s husband, Jeremy. I can’t wait to go back to Wind River again. |
|
|
|
