The scenery is breathtaking and the people are absolutely marvelous. The colors of the formations, buttes, change hourly dependent upon the light, moisture and other factors. The sunsets are fantastic and I have seen lots of sunrises as well since my body would like to stay on Virginia time, which is alright it give me lots of time to reflect and meditate on the Word.
I have been observing lots of other rangers’ programs getting ideas and tips. Each ranger prepares their own programs, the basic content is the same but theme and presentation vary from ranger to ranger; so I am preparing to do a 15 minute fossil talk, a 45 minute geology talk and a 45 minute Junior Ranger program for this coming week. What time is not spent working learning about the park and visitor policy is spent studying and preparing for my presentations. Busy schedules for sure. Dottie is my roommate you will hear her mentioned often in my blog I am sure. She is great, very friendly and very intelligent. She is up from Baton Rouge.
I got to see my first rattlesnake my very first day. As we were training a call came out that there was one right behind the visitor center where I am working most of the time. He was really cool and it was interesting to see close up now the rest can just be happy and consider their obligation to be seen by my fulfilled. I have also gone down the what the call the south unit which is on the Reservation and that was a wonderful side trip. They tell me that this is the most rain they have seen and are well above average so the grass is really green right now and the prairie flowers are really abundant. I just can not begin to tell you how much there is to see and appreciate.
Working with the visitors is fun and they excited to be in the park. Lots of questions and I am learning the answers as quickly as I can. I have seen bison, pronghorn, big horn sheep, lots of birds, prairie dogs and just a few deer. The meadow larks are everyone and their song is so neat.
Today has been my first day off so I made my grocery run into Rapid City which is about 71 miles to the west. I had a good drive and grabbed up a supply of groceries that should last a while. I also was able to get cell service and call Tom to chat a little.
This is the view out my backdoor. Can you believe it!
And the view from my trip down to the Reservation.
This is all quill work. Porcupine done on a buffalo skull at a commerce center on the reservation. The Native Americans run that visitor center in the south unit and don't get as many visitors so when we had to run down to take literature and I explained what I was doing in the park this year they were so pleasant and gave me the grand tour. They even burned sage which is used in a lot of their ceremonies while we were there. Unbelievable. 
This is so great! I worked as a ranger for two summers a few years ago as a break from my other jobs and loved it - and one of them was at the Badlands!
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