The Suspicious Ranger
Plush, Yet Paranoid
Smokey the Bear has that look this week, the one that says he has seen things. Not like, actual flames, but the spiritual equivalent: a calendar packed tight, a thousand tiny responsibilities, and one more person asking if he has checked the weather app. Again. He sits there in his little ranger hat that literally says SMOKEY, which is both branding and a warning label, and you can feel the gears turning behind the stitched smile. Busy bear energy, but with the intensity of a guy who alphabetizes his evacuation routes.
The problem is everyone now knows why he is so jumpy about wildfire. As if he is out there whispering to campfires, go on, do something dumb. Meanwhile he is just trying to keep the forest safe and his own stuffing un-singed. Plush fur is not exactly flame-retardant chic.
By the end of it, the world calmed down in the only way it really can. Indoors. Carpet. Snacks. Mr. Bear, the one in blue, posted up on a pillow like a tiny king and locked into F1 TV all day, dead serious, like he is on the pit wall. The cat wandered in, watched for ten seconds, then stared at the screen like it owed him money. Smokey finally exhaled, figuratively, because plushies do not do lungs, and it hit me: sometimes the best fire prevention is a quiet room, good company, and letting the day be soft on purpose.
On This Day
February 23 has shown up 15 times since 2002. From helicopter factory layoffs to mountain bike adventures to philosophical musings about blue dogs, it’s been a reliably eclectic day.
2002: Psycho – DALL-E’s masterpiece... since my camera took a day off or WordPress went on a deleting spree.Well, last night was very interesting. My ex-girlfriend called me and started talking weird about someone...
2002: What’s Up In Plattsburgh? – Yes, this is a boneshakerbike mountain bike frame with road gear and I was able to sneak away for a rare pizza cutter win.Greetings, fellow intrigue enthusiasts! Your local info sleuth, checking in...
2002: Sleeping Giant Hike – Funny thing is that the rock I stood upon was a saying scratched into it, “I think I saw a halk”.Alright, buckle up, folks, because yesterday’s hike was enough to make Paul Bunyan himself take a nap....
2004: Pentagon to Cancel Comanche – Well, folks, it looks like my gig at the helicopter factory is coming to an unexpected halt, and let me tell you, the news hit me like a lead balloon. I mean, one minute you’re sipping your morning...
2007: I’m No Fake – I know this person and I know that you do too. They are nice, polite, and seem interested in how you are doing. Yea, well I know that person too but I feel weird when they give me complements,...
2008: Its Off to Seeley Lake – I am going to Seeley Lake to watch my friends Josh and Larry do the Snow Joke Half Marathon. I figure this would be a cool place to do some pre season riding. Upon leaving the apartment this...
2009: Grand Ride in Bitterroots – Good morning from Missoula Montana where I enter into a much deserved rest week after a 3 week block of some pretty fun hill intervals and some long weekend rides. I am lucky to find sun and fun each...
2010: Rebecca In Town – Heads up, folks! “Race Across The Sky” is hitting Missoula in just two weeks, and guess what? Rebecca’s rolling into town for it too. This is our cue to get the word out and maybe, just maybe, turn...
2010: Pipestone – This is part 1 in a series of blog posts that I am dedication to my favorite photos of 2009. Today’s inductee and now a resident in my “Plains” photo album is “Pipestone”. In the far distance you can...
2012: Taking the long way – Chief Joseph CabinThis ain’t punctuality by the book, mind you. I’m not one for dustin’ off the “early bird gets the worm” proverb. Nah, I aim for on-time, like clockwork. But suggest a 10 AM...
2018: Setbacks – All my life I have tried to get better at change. Specifically, the most brutal change that comes when a goal is not obtainable and the price is turning around. I call it ‘quitting’ but my partner...
2022: Bill and Mo’s fantastic day out – Valley of FireValley of FireValley of FireValley Of FireValley Of FireValley Of FireValley Of FireValley Of FireValley Of FireValley Of FireValley Of FireValley Of Fire GalleryOn this day in history,...
2023: Law – If you had the power to change one law, what would it be and why?
2024: Blue – I am BlueAs a relatively new addition to Bill’s life, I, Blue, have quickly learned that humans are indeed complex creatures, especially when they start pondering the intricacies of happiness on a...
2025: Escape to Flathead – “Let’s get out of town,” I said to Cuddle Bears... Mo.