A few years ago, I took a trip on a cruise ship with a friend—my first cruise ever—and for today’s episode, I thought I’d share my experience. My friend and I flew to Florida to take a 7-day Caribbean cruise. Our ship was the Carnival Dream (which, at the time, was the biggest ship owned by Carnival Cruise Lines).
The idea of working on a cruise ship, for many people, is an exciting idea. They might figure they can get free drinks, travel to exotic places, spend some time on the beaches, or otherwise reap the benefits of a luxurious travel job. After all, people who take cruises always come back from their vacations talking about palm trees, beautiful sunsets, steel drum music, endless boat drinks, and great shows on the ship, right?
By Ron Stauffer
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — For five decades, architect Bart Prince has been told time and again, “You can’t do that.” This has never given him a moment’s pause.
Prince is known internationally for designing large buildings with strange shapes, complex angles, and a disregard for the traditional Adobe style that has defined New Mexico architecture.
He intentionally avoids the brown stucco and Adobe look distinctive to the Southwest. His dislike of the style goes back to his childhood.
By Ron Stauffer
LONGMONT, COLORADO – When Russ Williams’ family moved from Montana to Colorado in 1958, his first few days here were a shocking surprise. He woke up one morning, completely abandoned.
“My parents left me in a motel room when I was five years old. I’ve been here ever since.”
Learning that his parents had disappeared, he was forced to provide for himself, his two little sisters and younger brother.
By Ron Stauffer
YOSEMITE, Calif. — In January 2016, Yosemite National Park Superintendent Don Neubacher announced that a new organization had been hired to run the concessions inside the park. As part of the transition, a quirky change was also going to be made: five major landmarks in the park will have their names changed.
The Ahwahnee Hotel is now the Majestic Yosemite Hotel, Camp Curry is now Half Dome Village, the Wawona Hotel is now Big Trees Lodge, Badger Pass Ski Area is now Yosemite Ski and Snowboard Area, and Yosemite Lodge at the Falls is now Yosemite Valley Lodge.
By Ron Stauffer
YOSEMITE, Calif. — Judy Craig retired from teaching 18 years ago. But she’s spent a month each summer for the past eight years volunteering at Yosemite National Park.
Sporting khaki shorts, a dark blue shirt and name tag, she spends each day volunteering at one of the many information booths located throughout the park.
By Ron Stauffer
YOSEMITE, Calif. — Mariposa Grove in Yosemite National Park has reopened to the public after a renovation project that lasted three years and cost $40 million.
Home to over 500 Giant Sequoias, Mariposa Grove is the biggest of Yosemite’s three groves where these trees, some of the largest in the world, grow. Foot traffic and wear and tear from vehicles over the years had contributed to the ecological damage of the grove which needed to be repaired.
By Ron Stauffer
TULSA, Okla. — It’s a cold and foggy morning at the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, where cowboys work for the second day in a row in their week-long annual bison roundup.
For the past three weeks, they’ve used four-wheelers and pickup trucks to round up the nearly 1,500 bison that call the nature preserve in northern Osage County home. The animals will be counted, weighed, and inoculated for brucellosis (also called “Bang’s disease”). Some will be culled for sale, and this year, ranch hands are on the lookout for any exhibiting pink eye.
STOCKTON, Calif. — Ask anybody who has lived in California’s Central Valley over the past few decades if they’re familiar with the name Alex Spanos, and you’re likely to get affirmations and enthusiastic nods. For many people who live in or around Stockton, it’s hard not to notice the effect that this man has had on the area.
“Died unexpectedly, at the age of 35,” my friend’s obituary began. Reading the whole entry, I might have come to the conclusion that he was an unfortunate victim of a heart attack or early stroke.
However, a text message I received from a mutual friend gave me the full story.
“He committed suicide. Sounds like he was far in debt and super depressed. I still can’t believe it.”