Winter Work

Here is my sign on the shop door yesterday...

'Tis The Season

"While visions of deep powder danced in my head..."

My Backyard

Dare you agree?

DMB Concert in Boise

On Tuesday I made the drive across the Idaho desert to attend my annual Dave Matthews Band concert. This year's venue of choice was on the campus of Boise State. It was my first visit to Boise and a long-awaited twelve years since Dave and company had made a tour stop at the city.

I will share my own thoughts and feeling about my DMB experience in Boise, but first here is what Brian Murphy from the Idaho Statesman had to say about the performance...

Tuesday night’s show at Taco Bell Arena delivered. Before an estimated crowd of more than 8,000, Matthews and band rocked through a 2 1/2-hour set, closing with a 16-minute version of “Two Step.”

The band stayed away from the older mega hits — no “Crash Into Me,” no “Ants Marching” — but played a nice selection from its collection, cutting across albums.

The group played some more sentimental tunes, such as “Stay or Leave” and “Gravedigger.” They opened with “Big Eyed Fish.”

Matthews acknowledged that it “took a little while” for the band to get back to Boise. It was an upbeat performance from him, complete with goofy voices, some scat talk/singing and several wonderfully silly dance moves around the stage.

His band mates were on, too. Woodwind whiz Jeff Coffin nailed a beautiful, transitional instrumental early in the show after “Bartender.” Violinist Boyd Tinsley is always a highlight at concerts and this night was no different, especially during “Crush.”

Bassist Stefan Lessard did a solo version of “The Star Spangled Banner” that led straight into one of the band’s favorite covers — “All Along the Watchtower.” And drummer Carter Beauford earned fan favorite status by tossing dozens of drum sticks into the crowd before and after the encore.

There is no doubt that the band put out 110% for those in attendance despite the very many obvious empty seats throughout the arena. And even then, I was disappointed with those that were in attendance and their lack of enthusiasm and participation. I found myself the only "fan" in my section standing (and dancing) throughout the entire duration of the show.

For those reasons, it will probably be a long time before DMB returns to Boise again. But that's okay with me, because myself and any other true fan will drive an additional four hours to see them perform and be surrounded by those who share a common passion.

Thanks DMB!

Powder in August?

I don't now whether it's the new $700 skis I just bought, or perhaps the unseasonal cool weather we've recently been experiencing...but for some reason I felt compelled to buy this magazine at our local gas station.

So as I sit on my deck waiting for the steaks finish cooking, my thoughts fade from casting hopper patterns tight against grassy banks on the South Fork...to facial shots of Targhee powder.

Three months...but who's counting.

Still Alive!

Thursday Morning

Maybe I shouldn't have put my skis in storage yet. I wonder if Targhee is getting hit?

A Pirate's Life for Me

Unless you have actually seen the Chester Dam backwaters, these photos probably won't make much sense.

A low head dam causes the Henry's Fork to literally turn into a lake for the last half mile before the boat ramp. But add 25 mph winds blowing up river, and you get a not so fun last half mile. It was more productive to pull the oars out of the water and walk the boat down the river bank.

By this point, I didn't really care that my sister didn't catch any fish.

Last Call

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

You know it's the "hard knock life" when the most difficult decision when you wake up on your day off is whether to go steelhead fishing on the Salmon River or find fresh stashes of pow at Targhee.

.

Steelhead Weekend

The sun is never above the horizon when we start the drive toward Salmon, Idaho. However, tired eyes and having to scrape the frost off your front window in the dark is well worth having a few steelhead put a bend in your fly rod.

Ode to Our Orphans

After waiting on the runway for over ten hours while we met with the necessary Haitian officials, the same plane that took us to Haiti was able to leave Haiti with over 5o orphans.

Encore From Haiti

So Damn Lucky

The night we arrived at our camp, we were painted a picture to expect the worst. However, the next morning brought sights, sounds, and smells that I remember five years ago. It seems that Haiti has let the earthquake bury it's dead, and everyday life has continued.

We soon found that our mission had changed, and most of my days were spent in hospitals throughout the capital translating for doctors and nurses.

Within the last month, I'm sure most of you have been exposed to the television coverage of the earthquake. I do not feel the need to share everything I saw, nor did I feel the need to take many photographs.

We are So Damn Lucky.

ANOTHER Departure Change

Frustration!!!

Attention: All volunteers on Thursday flight! There has been another change in our flight times!

Please be at the SLC International Airport at 9:30 am MT. Our flight will depart at 1:15 pm MT. We will have a layover in Orlando.

We have a landing time in Port-au-Prince of 11:00 pm EST.

Departure Notice

Utah Hospital Task Force emergency mission to Haiti will depart Salt Lake City on Thursday at 8 am MT.

Check-in time: 5:00 am MT Thursday

MANDATORY BRIEFING - YOU MUST BE PRESENT - WEDNESDAY NIGHT 7:00 PM MT!

Delayed Departure for Haiti

I just received the following email from the Utah Hospital Task Force...

"We have been issued a landing slot placeholder by UN Air Coordination. Understand that the limited slots are being sought after by governments and agencies all over the world. The landing slot allocation determines date/time of departure from SLC.

For three reason, departure will likely now be Thursday, or Friday, or even possibly Saturday:

1) USAID and UN would like some additional time to be ready to optimally deploy.
2) The orphan groups need more time if humanly possible to clear more orphans for extraction from the country.
3) Many of our volunteers have asked if they could get one or two more days to prepare, get off work, etc.

We are juggling all these concerns in working on the landing time."

Going Back to Haiti

On Wednesday, I will be traveling to Haiti with a USAID/UN sanctioned relief effort called Utah Hospital Task Force. I will be part of a team who's goal is to help reconstruct the Helping Hands for Haiti medical facility.

The most frequent question I am asked is, "What do you think it will be like?" My response is simply, "Hell."

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me...

Visit http://www.utahhospitaltaskforce.org/ for more details.

Here are some photos from my time in Haiti during my LDS mission.

Life After Graduation

My recent graduation and entrance into the "real world" has reminded me of a scene from the movie "Step Brothers" staring Will Farrell and John C. Reilly...

Dale: Hey Brennan.

Brennan: Good to see you Dale.

Dale: Thanks for hiring our catering company.

Brennan: Easy Decision. You guys have an outstanding track record.

Dale: (Looks around and sighs) This is like old times, huh?

Brennan: Ah, it really is!

Brennan: You still have your night vision goggles?

Dale: No, no. I had to sell those to pay for car insurance. How about you? You still kickin' boards or breakin' holes in pumpkins or anything?

Brennan: No...but I did start taking baby aspirin. To reduce my risk for heart attack.

Dale: That makes sense. You got to keep an eye on it.

Brennan: You really do.

Dale: Got to knock off the sweets! (Laughs)

Brennan: Thank you! (Laughs as well)

Brennan: That's a truly funny observation!

Dale: (Finishes laughing) Yeah.