OUT OF THE BOX

High Sierra Country Store

By LL Copyrighted

Porchtime, products, advice and legends

Fundays Calendar

june 18- Full Strawberry Moon

june 19-29 Mammoth Motocross

june 20 Summer Solstice

Midsummer's Eve

june 24 Midsummer Day-for farmers, mid-way through the growing season. Half way point between planting and harvesting. Midsummer's Eve-good night for fertility and some festivities, or is it the other way around?

Horriblescope for the Week of: June 9-15

Gemini- May 21-June 20

Now's the time to rid yourself of pesky insects, get outside, weed, and hoe, hoe, hoe. Do not write your love letters in red ink--it's unlucky.

Cancer-June 21-July 22

Get out and plant something, or transplant someone or yourself. Do not meet a love interest on Sunday--Sunday's wooing turns to boo-hooing.

Leo- July 23- Aug. 22

You should be pruning or shaving for growth. Do not sit at the corners of tables or you'll never marry.

Virgo- Aug. 23- Sept. 22

Join your Cancer pal and do some grafting. Avoid telling your date "Good Night" three times, it's bad luck.

Libra-Sept. 23- Oct. 22

It appears you don't garden, and you probably use a left-handed shovel. Do not wear black funeral clothes when you go courting, or you'll never marry.

Scorpio-Oct. 23-Nov.22

So you like secrets, huh? You should plan on grafting with your friends-Cancer and Virgo. You're one of 90 million American singles (14 million in Canada) looking for love, with no guarantees....

Sagittarius-Nov. 23- Dec. 21

You were born an attention-getter. I mean, look at your birth dates. You split America's two, largest holidays--Thanksgiving and Christmas. You and Leo pal will do well pruning together.

Capricorn-Dec. 22-Jan. 19

You like to build fences (literally and figuratively) and plant flower beds--so get to it. Throw an apple peel over your left shoulder, and when it falls it will be in the shape of your soul mate's initial.

Aquarius-Jan. 20-Feb. 19

Offer to control pests with bug-a-nators Leo and Gemini, or plow and hoe, which ever suits you best. Speed dating won't work for you.

Pisces-Feb. 20-Mar. 20

You like to plant and play in the dirt, and also enjoy transplanting somewhere else with Scorpio. On June 23, set out cheese, bread and beer on a fresh, white tablecloth. Then leave the front door open. Your lover or your neighbor's dog will show up hungry.

Aries-Mar. 21-Apr. 20

Do all your pruning before the full moon--to encourage growth. Throw a small piece of fish fat against the wall. If it sticks upright, your mate will be upright too. However, if the fish fat sticks crooked...well, you can finish the fill-in-the-blank.

Taurus-Apr. 21-May 20

You are the original red-necked farmer, with your sunburned skin around your shirt collar. You really like to play in the dirt with Cancer and Scorpio friends. Never court on a Friday, or you'll never meet again.

*Disclaimer: Only the ancients believed in this stuff, and they thought the world was flat! Astrology is not a tool to live your life by. It's merely fun, like going to a fortune teller....

Don't Be An ED!

Scene: A park table at Mammoth Creek. It's a sunny, warm day and a couple are enjoying a picnic lunch by the creek. They decide to stroll to the stream's edge--leaving their lunch up for grabs.

ED: Look Lil! Gosh darned it. The squirrels have taken our sandwiches and chips.

Lil: Yep, and that's the end of the picnic, ED!

ED: We can still stay and enjoy the creek, Lil.

Lil: You go right on ahead, ED. I'll just be picking up after our little uninvited lunch guests--before the rest of the forest finds out about meals from wheels.

DON'T LEAVE FOOD OUTSIDE OR UNATTENDED. DON'T FEED FREE-LOADING ANIMALS. DON'T BE AN ED!

High Sierra Country Store June 9-22

High Sierra Country Store







By LL


Porch time, products, advice and legends


This lovely image of the Owens River and rope swing
is just what I'm talking about down the page a bit.

Irene Livermore did this oil painting, and she was a

former resident of Bishop for about 10 years.

She also had a gallery in town. Now she lives

in Dyer, Nevada, where her home is her gallery.

Fundays Calendar
june 16-21 California High School Rodeo Finals, Tri-County Fairgrounds, Bishop. Some outstanding performances by the state's finest high school rodeo finalist. Giddy up on down to the Fairgrounds and look for lots of teens enjoying the first days of summer in the Bishop City Park.


Summer is on...

Favorite Big Garden: Apple Hill, in Wilkerson (south of Bishop) has to have the garden in the valley--and they provide a good deal of the fresh produce that arrives soon at the Farmers Market at the Tri-County Fairgrounds. The assortment of items is vast, and includes some of the tastiest apples and garden vegetables in the land.

Favorite Floating Spot: When the temperatures rise, so do the numbers of residents floating the Owens River. Many take two vehicles, and start at Laws and float to Big Pine. On really hot days, you're likely to see a lot of people near the rope swing pools, and other shady spots. Just remember to pick up after yourself, and bring lots of water, wear a hat and sunglasses, and sunscreen. Bring a huge picnic basket (a secured ice chest), and spend the evening watching the sun go down in the Sierra.

Gigs/On Tap

A New "Reader" about the Kid

Attention Billy the Kid freaks! A new book by the University of Oklahoma Press entitled "The Billy the Kid Reader," by Frederick Nolan, really covers the ground with the best stories and articles on the famous outlaw. Nolan holds rights to being the authority on gunfighters and outlaws, and his latest examination of the life and times of the Kid is really an indepth look at history of William H. Bonney or William McCarthy (his birth name) or Billy the Kid. The "Reader" is available at http://www.oupress.com/ or by calling 1-800-627-7377, or have the local bookstore order it special for you. It's about $30 (hardback) and has 400 pages. A nice book to add to a western collection of good stories.

Other Tidbits: Number One download this week: Coldplay's "Viva La Vida"

and Brokeback Mountain will soon (as in 2013) be a New York City Opera project. Wonder who they get to sing the parts?

DON'T BE AN ED!

Scene: Back porch in Old Mammoth. A man is cleaning up a large pile of bear scat (poop). He's holding his breath as he works on the smelly mess.

ED: This is disgusting stuff, Lil.

Lil: I told you, ED, not to leave the trash outside where the animals could get into it.

ED: Whewww...Looks like a week's worth of bear poop here.

Lil: No, ED. It looks like a week's worth of your leftovers out there!

DON'T LEAVE YOUR TRASH OUT FOR THE WILDLIFE. PICK UP AFTER YOURSELF. DON'T BE AN ED!

*Disclaimer: Not all Eds are like this.

OUT OF THE BOX

High Sierra Country Store

Porch time, products, advice and legends

By LL copyrighted

Fundays Calendar

june 14-Flag Day-display patriotism properly

june 15-Father's Day

any day-Anything unattempted remains impossible

every night-Look up above you and get starry-eyed

Land of the Uncommon

By Lois Laine

Boarding House Accommodations

We don't have anything around that accurately imitates the boarding house of the 1880s. If we did, we'd see a place across the street from the General Mercantile Store labeled "boarding house." There would be a large home with many windows upstairs, and on the main floor we'd be seated at a large dining table. Our meals would be served "family style," with gravy bowls and fresh bread. Promptness to dinner was a must in those days.

Outside in the stable, your horses were grained and watered, and you paid for the feed on your guest bill. Everyone used an outhouse or "privy" for their bathroom needs, and everyone huddled around the wood cook stove in the winter. Boarding house accommodations were simple, single room retreats from the hustle of mining towns. Prices were in keeping with the times. Lodging was 25-cents a night, and your meals were another quarter. Any drinking (liquor) was about six cents, but wine was spendy at a quarter. Horses stayed for FREE, but oats would cost you a cent.

Most of Bodie's boarding houses were cramped affairs, with largely miner guests. "Clean" boarding houses had nothing to do with running ladies of the night in upstairs rooms. However, prostitutes were frequently at home in their "boarding houses."

There were boarding houses in Bodie during the Great Depression, and Annie Miller operated the well-known Green Street house. Some times her home was booked full of men who enjoyed the meals and the companionship at Mrs. Miller's. The chance to have a hearty homemade meal the main feature at the lodging.

Fales Hot Springs, about 14 miles north of Bridgeport, was once a traveler's resting spot, and Diana Fales was an exceptional cook. Her home cooked chicken and fresh fruit made her meals memorable for all. For about 50 cents an adult or 25 cents a child, the family could dine, enjoy a dip in the hot springs, and dance the night away in the main house.

Contemporary boarding houses feature pools and kitchenettes, with fish cleaning services available. Check for the innkeepers in the building with the neon sign saying, "Vacancy."

Don't be an ED!

Scene: A back porch in Old Mammoth. A man is hand feeding a raccoon, Hansel and Gretel Style, one handful of dog food at a time. The raccoon is reacting badly to the "End of the Food Trail."

ED: Lil, this thing is hissing at me. LOOK!

Lil: I don't need to look ED. I can hear it.

ED: Wow, they are as big as small dogs.

Lil: (Coming out on the deck) ED, that raccoon is ticked offff. Don't you know anything. Raccoons can carry rabies. Leave it be, ED.

DON'T FEED WILD ANIMALS. WE CALL THEM "WILD" FOR A REASON. DON'T BE AN ED!

*Disclaimer-Not all EDs are like this.

OUT OF THE BOX

News Spotting
By Lois Laine


"Every time you stand up for an ideal, you send forth a tiny ripple of hope"--Robert Kennedy

Big Daahh: Happy 21st
Research from this month's Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology suggests that a large number of people celebrating their 21st birthday-drink. Yeah, and it shouldn't surprise us that the report says 83 percent of those turning 21 hit the shots on that day. The results came from a small sampling of college co-eds, largely from one white college. The bigger questions in my mind are: how many of the 21-year-olds' parents were buying them the shots, and how many were celebrating in Vegas?

Accepted/Not Accepted
College bound in admissions maze
This is "the most unpredictable and the most unusual admissions year in our history"--William Fitzsimmons, dean of admissions and financial aid at Harvard.

Seems there are lots of students waiting to be a real college preppie, and some of these kids have multiple applications in. However, there also appear to be more confused preppies, who don't know where they want to be or when they should start their "big adventure." Some elite colleges are waiting until August to strike the no-shows from their lists. Other colleges are promoting pre-college time, bonding with other undecideds....

And the survey says...
Americans, about 63 percent, think same-sex marriage is "strictly a private decision" between the two individuals. The recent USA Today/Gallup poll also indicates that Easterners really believe it's nobody's business (71%), Westerners are about average for the country (64%) in their view of same sex marriages, and the Southerners have the viewpoint that what happens between people of the same-sex is "strictly private" (56%). When it comes to polygamy (multiple wives, usually) and marriage with kids under 16, most Americans want the government to do some oversight and regulation.

I saw you....on a digitized billboard on Greg and McCarren in Reno, NV. The police want you to turn yourself in, honey, and if you don't, we'll collect on the reward money being offered. New technology installed/operated by ClearChannel. The new-wave of advertising by CC offers lots of instant public service time ads. Other "digiboards" to come.

Too soon to tell where chukkars are, and it's official from the Nevada Department of Wildlife--the crafty game birds aren't anywhere to be found. Right now. However, those of you who are hunters know that you can probably start seeing them in the middle of nowhere, in August, on cliffy remote spots--just above this little hill.

Big Brown: Triple Crown Bound
New York's Belmont Park will be the place to see, on Saturday, June 7, if racehorse Big Brown has the juice to complete the final, and third race of the arduous Triple Crown of horse racing. Beginning with the Kentucky Derby, followed by the Preakness, the Belmont Park lap puts it in the record book. The personable brown three-year-old has a big future in stud fees (potential $50 million), and some interesting owners. Both owners, Michael Iavarone, who is working on a multi-million dollar hedge fund to invest in horses, and former owner, Paul Pompa, have stories in the national newspapers. Pompa sold the horse interest for $3.5 million, and then the horse picked up steam and started winning big time. Too bad the USA Today story on Big Brown (June 4, 2008, 9C) didn't include the main bread winner in the happy extended family. The story forgets to mention the particulars on Big Brown. A touching story unfolding around Big Brown's is that jockey Kent Desormeaux's nine-year-old son, Jacob, is losing his hearing and eyesight to a rare disease. This might be the last time the youngster witnesses his dad running big horses in the big show.

LATE NEWS: Stocks rallied today, when news of the "Tax Rebate Check Bump" hit the streets. "May," may just pull out of the hole as the second worst month of the quarter yet....But oil, per barrel, jumped an incredible $5.05 in one day! A trail drive, on horseback, is getting to be a better and better picture in my mind for a vacation. And let the oil companies be damned to dinosaurs and back again....

High Sierra Country Store- OUT OF THE BOX

High Sierra Country Store
Porchtime, products, advice and legends
By LL copyrighted

Fundays Calendar
"Simpsons" sign on for 20th season. Characters make $400,000 per episode. Funny, disturbed suburban family of humanoids ties with all-western themed, Gunsmoke, for longest prime-time TV series.

june 19-28 Reno Rodeo-A hoot and then some. Lots of western champions competing with: in the background-the Sierra, and in the main arena-some great stock and riders.

Summer is on...
Favorite Parade: Pick any town in the Eastern Sierra sometime around July 4-6th, and you're likely to see a parade. Mammoth's can't be missed. The Town closes down Old Mammoth and Main Street for the annual display of patriotism and craziness. Look for: Art Show, Mono Council of the Arts says, with lots of locals showcasing art in the Footloose parking lot in Mammoth.

Favorite Hamburger Stand: Lots to pick from. Look for crowds outside from noon to 1 p.m.--when everyone eats lunch around here. Mono Cone in Lee Vining is especially welcomed on hot July and August days. They make great chocolate malts.
Bridgeport bound-check out Virginia Creek Settlement in the canyon, and good shakes @ Jolly Kone in Bridgeport. Further up the road, Walker Burger is good eating. Border Town-Topaz's casino is a perfect place to stop and take in Topaz Lake. From the casino's lounge area, the big windows offer sweeping views of the big blue lake. Gas prices can be comparable with Gardnerville/Minden.

Favorite Fishing Spot: Things are picking up around the region. DFG has started the summer stocking regime, and it's really a matter of getting a good camping spot. South=Lake Diaz, near Lone Pine. Boater friendly spot. Fishing and lazing around the shoreline. Independence has some well-kept secrets as does Big Pine. Fort Independence will soon be running a casino/resort, and the tribe hopes it is as successful as its Paiute relative in Bishop--the Paiute Palace Casino. Big Pine visits should include a dinner at Rossi's Steak and Spaghetti restaurant. Home styled food served in a neat atmosphere. Call ahead of time on Fridays and Saturdays, they are very popular. Check out the bar attached to the restaurant for an authentic look at Owens Valley history and legends. Best BP fishing is up the canyon. Amazing vistas, rushing Sierra creek, and fish like it here. Bishop Creek has lots of places to drop a line in. I like South Lake and a good hike, and I enjoy North Lake's tiny campground. It's refreshing to see a camping spot with less than 30 sites--try a dozen or so. Fishing is fun here, with no motors-it's so quiet. The small alpine lake makes a perfect sundown loop. Virginia Creek, above Conway Summit, from an angler's prospective is one of those pristine experiences. There are still snowfields around, and the Virginia Lakes and above lakes are a high Sierra fishing Kodak moment. Be prepared to be winded the first day or so. It's at 9,000-feet and the passes to Yosemite climb to more than 12,000-feet. Bridgeport has Twin Lakes and Buckeye Canyon, two treasures outside of Bridgeport. Don't know of a better place to see wildflowers, cascades, and alpine blue lakes than these spots. I'm not endorsing staying at any one place, pick a camping spot and make it your own. Smith and Mason Valley/Yerington, NV bear mentioning as they have ties with the Eastern Sierra families and businesses. The Hunewill Guest Ranch, outside of Bridgeport, has family connections with the open range near Mason/Smith Valley. Every winter, Stan and Jan Hunewill's outfit moves to the Nevada valley to winter over. Check out the fishing in the Walkers (East and West), and there is some nice camping in Walker Canyon too. The East Walker River is a fly-fishing haven, and there are large brown trout to be caught in this mountain river.

Favorite Camping Spot: Too hard to pick! I've had great fun in the Sonora Pass area (north of Bridgeport), and I've had great campfire popcorn in Pine Creek Canyon, north of Bishop. I can't decide yet. I'm still acquiring memorable entries. One thing to remember about camping-you don't have to play by anyone's conventions. Just let it all go, and put extra syrup on the pancakes in the morning. Walk barefoot around camp, and get sap on your feet. Complain about it when you return to your working life. Maybe you won't remember the sap if you dance around the campfire with spirits in your hand!

Favorite Sunset Drive: There isn't a bad one in the area. Personal shortie fave=backside of Crowley Lake, looking toward Sierra. Or viewing mighty Sierra from hot tub on north side. I also like up and down Pine Creek Canyon. Watch for deer! The Whites, backlit, and the illuminated Owens Valley below are pretty spectacular. Whitney Portal sports a nice view of the Owens Valley, looking at the twinkling twilight sparkles of Lone Pine. Anyway around Round Valley, or Bishop Creek. Not to miss-the Panamint Mts.-high up with views down to the old "Shotgun Road." Or anywhere you can be at that magical time of the day, when light is crossing over to night.

Favorite Wooding Site: Only locals would appreciate this. Wooding sites are designated on wooding maps, and hopefully your wooding trip can coincide with a road trip and overnighter. My wooding trips are always an adventure, and you need a partner with good eyes and a strong back. Lazy 'nes and blind bats need not start toward my old Dodge wooding truck. Wood season goes into November in some places of Mono County, and make sure to coordinate some fun with the wood loads.

Don't be an ED!

Scene: The bear went over the mountain to see what he could see. He spotted an unattended trash can in an Old Mammoth backyard. Next to the trash can is a set of coolers, housing some chicken breasts and brewskies.

ED: The bear completely ransacked the backyard, Lil.

Lil: I told you ED not to leave that sttufff unattended. You just don't listen, EDDDD.

ED: What are we going to do about the barbecue, Lil?

Lil: That's Nooott my problem, ED.

*DON'T LEAVE FOOD UNATTENDED. YOU WILL GET UNWANTED VISITORS. DON'T FEED THE WILDLIFE. DON'T BE AN ED!

OUT OF THE BOX-CONT.

News Spotting
By Lois Laine

Election Night and Old Acquaintances
Former Mono County clerk/recorder Renn Nolan returned to help process the election night ballot delivery, and dissemination of info to the media. I report to the Associated Press, as well as this web site, and I'm happy to report the results of Tuesday's Election.

US Senator: Dave Cox, Rep., with 1,226 votes
US Representative: Howard "Buck" McKeon, Rep., with 1,230 votes
Member of the State Assembly: Tom Berryhill, Rep., with 1,206 votes
Mono County Supervisor, 2nd Dist., Duane "Hap" Hazard, with 526 votes
Mono County Supervisor, 3rd Dist., Run off between Vikki Magee Bauer, with 263 votes and Dorothy Burdette, with 278 votes.
Mono County Assessor-Short Term: Jody Henning, with 1,352 votes
Mammoth Lakes Town Council Members: Skip Harvey, with 845 votes, and Jo Bacon, with 651 votes.
Prop 98-Eminent Domain-"Yes" votes=1,514 "No" votes=1,375
Prop 99-Eminent Domain-"Yes" votes=1,895 "No" votes=985
Measure R-Sales and Use Transaction Tax-Mammoth Lakes
"Yes" votes=1,040 "No" votes=410

Congratulations to all of the winners!

OUT OF THE BOX

High Sierra Country Store
Porchtime, products, advice and legends
By LL

Fundays Calendar
Regional Action:
Trail of the Trout-from now until Oct. look for giant trout, created by local artists-some as big as 8-feet tall! Can't miss 'em once they are in place. Big event scheduled in July to "release" the big fish to their designated mountain homes/businesses. Fundraiser for kids=more art=all schools. See more about the Mono Council of the Arts and the unique "Trail of the Trout," in the interview with Gaye Mueller, in "Land of the Uncommon."

Lone Pine Action:
sat. june 7-Concert in the Rocks.
june 10-Potluck/Awards CA's Bureau of Land Management chief to give kudos and award to citizens of Lone Pine for their exceptional land stewardship of the Alabama Hills. Meet @Lone Pine Film Museum around 5 p.m. Food and friends available.
july 26th "Cowboy Up" in Lone Pine w/ a big BBQ, dance, and pie eating contest. Come celebrate all things cowboy. Also meet @ Lone Pine Film Museum. Visit http://www.lonepinechamber.org/ for more info.

June Lake Loop Action:
july 12-June Lake Triathlon-register due july 5.

Bishop/Big Pine Action:
june 14-Get in touch with your local CARMA-large radio astronomy observatory @ the Open House event. Starts 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Refreshments served. Call Dr. Mark Hodges @760-938-2075 for info. An other-worldly experience.

Out There Action:
june 14-15 The California Native Plant Society is trekking to the Panamint Mts. for an over-nighter. Call Jerry @760-872-3818.

Land of the Uncommon
Gaye Mueller is always situated somewhere near people and art. People approach Gaye and she has this easy way of discussing many things art. People are intrigued with her jewelry, and her artistic outlook. Gaye has been living amongst us for 28 years, and she can always be found near art.
Recent Undertakerings
Mono County artists owe a lot to the continuing collaboration of the newly formed, Mono Council of the Arts. Headed up by Gaye, many of the local artists from the Mammoth Arts Guild (30 years at the Sam's Wood Site with the Labor Day Arts Festival) put their heads together to create a county art program. Gaye will tell you that all of the Council of the Arts work is done for the kids and programs in the schools-including many of the proceeds from the "Trail of the Trout" fundraiser. Lots of local artists are participating in creating the unique trout sculptures. These aren't going to be art that is easily missed. Not at two and eight feet tall, and painted brightly. To be a part of this vital organization and to learn more about their collective undertakings, visit http://www.monoarts.org/.

Country Recipes
Fried Cucumbers
Peel large cucumbers, cut them into half-inch slices. Roll in flour, and fry in butter or bacon fat. Excellent when served with tomato ketchup.

Sponge Cake with Sweet Milk
Beat together three eggs and one and a half cups brown sugar. Mix in one teaspoon each of cream of tartar and soda. Add three and a half cups flour and one teaspoon lemon essence. Stir lightly into a smooth batter. Bake 30 to 40 minutes in a common square cake pan.


Don't be an "ED"!
Scene: A small front yard, surrounded by tons of wildflowers in Old Mammoth. A man is kneeling at the edge of a flower bed rubbing his eyes furiously. He is cussing loudly.

ED: There was a huge skunk in the front flower bed, Lil.

LIL: My josh, ED. What is that dreadful smell?

ED: (Nearly gagging) HELP MEEE, Lil!

LIL: (Approaching with a hankerchief over her nose) I told you not to mess with it ED! What a fool....

*DON'T MESS WITH WILD ANIMALS. LEAVE SKUNKS ALONE. DON'T BE AN ED!

OUT OF THE BOX
News Spotting
by Lois Laine

"To get the full value of joy you must have people to divide it with"--Mark Twain

Election Night Issue: Up Late
Lois is anticipating some late hours tonight, as the election results for Mono County make its way to the Associated Press, West Coast offices. Check back tomorrow, June 4th, for results. Visit www.mammothlakesdaily.com for election coverage.

Two Horse Race
Hillary Clinton appears poised to give her Democratic presidential opponent, Barack Obama, the Main Floor. She won't be as active a candidate by the end of the week, so check back. Clinton hasn't given the media a chance to answer the big question-will she endorse Obama? As for John McCain, he's been the "thought-of" Republican presidential candidate for some time.

Record Discontent: Democrats to play "E" Cards
It looks like the Democrats are going to play their "E"cards--economy, enthusiasm and energy, and probably do quite well against the Republicans. However, it's not a good idea if voters are just thinking about who got them into this shaky economy, and not looking at who can seriously lead us out of the mess. Americans are suffering from economic discontent, at a rate similiar to the late 1970s. Some of us are old enough to remember the "Oil Embargo" days in LA, when we waited in line for gas depending on your license plate number. Odd and even days, we watched the gas gauge so we didn't drive too far. Sounds a lot like me today, keeping to local downtown shopping. Heaven forbid I need to drive to Reno or LA right now. I'd need to hock my youngest son-first. As for energy and enthusiasm, Obama has used his political energy, and relabeled it his own brand called, "Enthusiasm." It's working so far. McCain will need to ramp it up in the future to convince the nation he has the extraordinary drive to shore up the place during this economic cave-in. It all turns around eventually, given time plus an extra shot of luck.

Hummer Update: Now You See Them, Now You Don't
California's governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, isn't the only one possessing a Hummer--and maybe a collector's item soon. GM isn't going to produce as many of the monsters, meaning the once robust market for the all terrain vehicle may have tracked out....I predict there will be a goodly number of large trucks and SUV lines driving off into the Sierra sunset soon. Instead, we'll have people scouting out battery recharging facilities, paying for them like a new wave of parking meters.
Ford truck sales down 24 percent last month!
Hummer sales down 28 percent=GM restructing right now.

Mammoth Lakes--
Syd and Nancee Love it when I start their column with that fancy location lead. Here goes. Syd likes the "Don't be an "Ed"! concept (read "What's Afoot?" further down). Says it's a keeper. Nancee discovered she needs to get her eyes examined--she couldn't see a deer if it hit her broadside. Vanity is dangerous, I tell her, and explain that hitting a deer will set her back at least three to four grand....Not to mention the grief of being labeled a "Bambi Killer." Put your driving glasses on Nancee. There were new emails to share with me from Syd and Nancee's good friend in So Cal- Amy. This gal's footwear is eye-catching, and so is the person attached to the shoes. Nancee is slightly jealous that she can't really present a pair of shoes off, like Amy, and live up in Mammoth long enough to talk about it.

Ear Infections............Not fun

Did you know you can partially prevent ear infections and blockage, by once a month putting a few drops of olive oil in your ear? Yep thats right for a couple minutes of annoyance a month u can keep your ears free and clear from nastiness. The morning after the oil sitting in your ear all night just simply take a shower d SHAZZAMMM! ( sorry Shaq ), your ears will be clean as a whistle. I learned this from the doctors in Bishop as I also learned I had a horrible ear infection and was to lay on my side for 24 hrs with medicine in. Well we all learn something new and this one was for me. So now I pass it on to you.

OBAMA/HILLARY....Could it be?

In a possible fitting end, to the Democratic battle for the nomination; Hillary Clinton today seems to be finally conceding, according to the AP. Now the question becomes, will Barack Obama pick clinton as his VEEP? I think so , as on a personal note ( Without disclosing Ephalant Or Donkey propensities) I love a good fight and Senator Clinton has a lot to be proud of not quitting, and showing the tough side of her we all knew she had. I personally believe Mr. Obama, that McCain can not and WILL not be beaten unless, you include Hillary Clintons diehard persistance to win to your Presidential bid. On that note....

Out of the Box

News Spotting
By Lois Laine


We Love "Us"--Show It Tuesday!
Checked with Stu Brown (of Stu's News fame), and he spoke positively about the Town's Measure R--the sales/transaction tax plan of action on Tuesday's Mono County ballot. Voters would be interested to learn that this tax proposal will be a "line item" in the Town's budget--no free-floating money here. Measure R's revenue is to enhance tourism experiences, according to Brown, and this means more collaborative work by the MLTPA (Mammoth Lakes Trails and Public Access) people, the Town and others. There is an emphasis on "Trails" in this possibly ear-marked money. I know I've written this many ways over the years, but it bears saying again. Tourism is 90 percent or more of our existence in this part of the country. Just like farming, you can just plant seed, and hope that something comes along with Mother Nature stamped all over it, OR, you can add soil amendments early on. Most everything we do up here is word-of-mouth (75 percent), so look for more on a regular basis from the news ambassadors, like Mr. Brown, the Town's Community Relations Man. (get it?). Stuart says Measure R is a chance to "invest in ourselves." The half-a-percent proposed increase brings the sales tax to 7.75 percent (same as Bishop's). The revenue drawn from the special tax would be used to enhance trail experiences, and the one-million to 1.2 million dollar proceeds could be placed in an account for the ice rink, ball fields, parks and other outside fun. "The Town Council is very supportive, " Stuart says of the Measure.

Remember to Vote!
Don't forget to vote people. Otherwise we are reliquishing a near-god-given right we still possess. The right, buried in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights, is one of freedom to press, assembly (hanging out with each other-so long as we don't incite a riot or puncture someone's ego), religion, thoughts and expression. That right also encompasses the right to have a brain and use it. voting our thoughts onto a ballot amounts to casting an idea or thought into action. And, you can't get pis$y with anyone about the current state of affairs in our country if you don't cast an opinion. By the way, voter turn-oout is important in Mono County. Several years back, John Kerry won by one vote in Mono County. A vote recount was documented, and every single vote counted right down to the single thought....

"The pen speaks for the mind, and a new idea is cast
into play"--Lois Laine

All Passes a "Go"
It's great to report that as of June 2, all the east-to-west passes are open. However, things can change in an eastern Sierra moment. I have the easiest three numbers to dial around here for up-to-date road conditions. It's "511" and then be prepared to give the highway number. Clues for getting around: use a current map--and you can buy one of these at most of the gas stations along US 395. Be aware of your surroundings, and remember to keep your wits about you. People die up here for the sake of fun, so be prepared for the elements. Never underestimate Mother Nature--she holds the ace everytime!

What's Afoot?
Steve Searles, bearologist for the Eastern Sierra, has given me a recent wildlife update, including that the bears will be moving down canyon soon. They are following the snowmelting line, and picking at the great grasses and other veggies around. It's also possible to spot other feline species this time of year--since it is still officially "The Year of the Bobcat," Searles says. As for the bear mothers, Searles reports that there are three mothers: one with a pair of newbies and the other two with yearlings and two-year-olds. The little bears will be pushed out soon into the new world. Coyotes are becoming a problem, so don't encourage them by leaving food out and about. More this week....

The High Sierra Country Store
From Lois' Collection- A Place to Find and Talk About Local Treasures
write to lois.laine59@gmail.com

I've traveled the high Sierra backroads for just short of 30 years--come July. My parents, Dennis and Phillis Reed, started tent camping in the late 1970s with my brother, Dan, and I. The old army canvas tent, for eight, was my earliest recollection of staying amid the pines of the Sierra. My pop's was a school teacher for more than 30 years, and we always took long summer car camping trips across the country. We'd be gone for weeks, to British Columbia and Montana, and Virginia Creek in the high Sierra. I fell in love with this area when I was 16 years old, and endured the "shitty life" to get up to that remote mountain meadow beside Virginia Creek every summer. My friends have memories on film of me, seven months pregnant with my sons in the 1980s, bathing in the creek in a bikini--late summer time. Some of the best moments in the next 28 years have happened in the "Land of the Uncommon"--a Lois Laine column next....

Land of the Uncommon:
From Mill Creek Station, With Love
By L.L.
Gotta love a place that specializes in individuals, and the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada attracts the uncommon like no other landscape in the Great Basin. So, I've found a new forum to showcase some of the most uncommon aspects of the Eastern Sierra. I'm starting with one of my favorite spots to see individuals of all ages. Mill Creek Station, in Round Valley (north of Bishop), is many things to many people. for New Mexico Phil, sculptor extraordinary, it's a spot for his tuff rock tribute to big wall mentor and climbing legend, Warren Harding. "Lars" cut his teeth promoting musical talent at the Tuff Rock Festivals in the mid-2000s, and his sound system (atop the garage) was "the bomb" in technology for the Rovana-based Tungsten City Band." I recall riding from Nevada Street, in Rovana Village, on a hot August night, and buying beer from Jack at the Station. They always had great stews, soups and chili on cold winter days, and Rose was great at showing you to the diary case. The Station had gas, camping supplies and charm, and it still has two of the three listed. Mill Creek Station is a part of the old Bly Quarry, and many of those old stones make up the foundation of some prominent buildings in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Today, the stones gathered around the electric tangerine-orange homestead, are the meeting grounds for music affectionados and dancers alike. Some of the region's brightest musical talents have literally battered up or generatored into recognition in the rock quarry nearby, fondly called, "The Pit,"--ask Lava Moon.... A recent look back at Mill Creek Station reveals a most unusual past in that rock quarry in the pastoral Round Valley, in the shadow of Mt. Tom. That small valley has been a beacon for people for thousands of years, and artists of all sorts can't help but live there--at least once in their life time. It will be my supremen pleasure to tell you stories from "The Land of the Uncommon." My boundaries are limitless, and I'm apt to be sippin' a bloody Mary in Nevada's oldest continuously used bar in Genoa or drinking an iced tea in Tonapah, as I am chasing down a water story in Nevada or Utah. Write me, I like pen pals. FREAK WARNING: Lois may be blonde, but she's not dumb. With my 4X4. there's no place I can't get to--eventually.

High Sierra Country Store Continued
There's something extra special about old fashioned remedies, and I thought I'd debut this little column with a small cure for ingrown toenails. It goes something like this. Tie a lizard's liver to a leather string. Take the leather string and tie it around your left ankle. According to an old remedy, the ingrown toenail (and probably all your friends and family) after nine days. If that doesn't work--here's a pain treatment. To ease pain of sickness or death, find a rock that is partly covered with dirt. Remove the rock from its resting place and spit n the bottom or covered side. Replace the rock in the same hold-exactly as you first found it. There you have it--FREE pain advice. Tell 'em you found it at http://www.mammothlakesdaily.com/, under "The High Sierra Country Store." Next issue: Fried Cucumbers and Boiled Okra, and a good "Receet for Washin Clothes" from circa (1880s).
Copyrighted by LL

Sad and Bizarre: Baby for Sale on Craiglist
There are some sick puppies out there, starting with the British Columbian couple who put their seven-day-old baby up for sale on Craiglist. Of course, they were busted BIG TIME, and you have to wonder how long that couple (23-year-old mom and 26-year-old dad) were on serious drugs before they were caught. Massive brain cell meltdown comes to mind. The poor innocent, newborn was listed for $10,100, and is described as "very cute." The parents claim they put the baby up for sale since they couldn't afford to care for it, and they wanted to give it a good home. Then the goomba couple told the authorities, "it's all a hoax." Yep, "Hey, I'm kidding, Really." An answer like that definitely cries, "Drug use gone wild." The couple was arrested anyway, on public mischief, with other criminal charges awaiting the no-brains couple. What a sick joke to play on the kid. Imagine when the child grows up, and finds out first-hand, hey, "my parents thought it would be funny to put me up for sale, dude, for $10,000-- when I was just seven days old. But it was a joke, dude. Really."

In Court: Packers vs Forest Service vs Eco-People
In the ongoing saga of the historic pack outfit uses of trails in the Sierra Nevada versus the Forest Service's 2001 (and 2005) wilderness use permit management plan versus the eco-people, Federal Judge Elizabeth D. Laporte ruled on May 6 to reinstate the Forest Service's 2001 management plan. She trimmed stock use by five percent, and the ongoing battle for historic uses continues. Environmentalists, suing the Forest Service and indirectly the pack stations, have added to the eight-year battle by challenging FS data on pack stock uses in the wilderness. Affected by this lawsuit and bureaucratic boondoggle are 17 pack outfits, including all of the eastern Sierra pack stations. At stake, say conservationists, are the Ansel Adams and John Muir Wildernesses, plus the scenic values of more than 800,000 acres.Environmentalists claim the pack outfits are ruining the trails and the scenic wonders with excessive use. Laporte reordered, from the 2001 management plan, stock use quotas in the wilderness areas, plus a 1 to 1.5 stock-to-person ratio for all commerical trips. The pack outfits had wanted a 1 to 3 ratio. Laporte also ended grazing, entrance to areas where the Yosemite toad (endangered species), and took away the ability of pack outfits to have campfires in areas where the general public can't sing around a campfire. Most pack outfitters pledge to continue to push for their historic uses in the region, which date back to the original use of the Fresno Trail (from Fresno to Mammoth Lakes) during the Gold Rush days. A handful of our Presidents and congressional representatives have availed themselves of pack trips, most notably with Bob Tanner and his Red's Meadow mules and horses. In the early days, the pack stations helped break the trails for the Sierra Club adventures and helped pack out the trash created by unthinking hikers. Pack stations have helped remove debris from the trails so the public could enjoy the trails too. Most pack station operators also work hand-in-hand with the FS to clear the trails each season, and yes, this is so they can operate their businesses. This ongoing court battle doesn't affect private pack users, but it is costing tax payers money when the FS has to foot the bill for defending and rewriting its management plans. Once again, our taxpaying dollars are at war in our very own pockets....

OUT OF THE BOX

News Spotting
by Lois Laine

Have I Got a Land Deal for You: Buyers Beware
I've been listening for weeks to an ad on the LA radio stations for great land deals in nearby Fish Lake Valley, Nevada. Now, I realize that part of the country on the other side of the White Mountains is a gorgeous spot, and yes, it's definitely a rural atmosphere. I know since I've visited that part of Nevada many times, including the pin-dot spot of Oasis, which is actually in Mono County (under Supervisor Hap Hazard's jurisdiction).... However, it troubles me when people advertise that this acreage for sale is just a little over an hour away from Mammoth. Yep, on a good day, in winter, when there's no blocked passes, and you don't have to drive around the horn through Death Valley or up and over Montgomery Pass, NV, or through the Narrows of Westgard Pass (outside of Big Pine)--Mammoth might be at least an hour and a half to two hours away--if you haul a%$ to get there. But during a nasty winter storm, there isn't a pray in you-know-where that you'll get to Mammoth in under three to four hours. So when these land dealers tell Southern Californians that you can have your ranch and ski in Mammoth--just a hop away--I say, "Buyers Beware." This sound bite reminds me of a land deal I wrote about in college. In the 1880s, land speculators from the San Gabriel Valley (in Southern California) concocted this ad to write back east to the newspapers and tell prospective buyers that there was a place called, "Chicago Park," on the banks of the San Gabriel River. Well, these ads also featured drawn pictures of fancy river boats floating up and down the gorgeous, year-round flowing San Gabriel River. People bought the ad, and many put up their life savings only to discover that the land they came across the country to visit, was in fact, non-existent rubble. There wasn't anything resembling a river boat-and these people were literally "up a creek without a paddle." Check out every piece of land that is offered, and then go and check with your prospective neighbors to find out if in fact there is a chance you'll be skiing during a bad day in winter. So what if the ad claims that people from Vegas are coming to escape the city--and so what if you can actually ride your bike from your property. If you're buying into something that sounds to good to be true, you probably are....

FREE MAMMOTH TIMES WITH YOUR COFFEE!!

Starting June 5th Cuppy's coffee , Mammoth's first drive thru coffee shop, will be giving away a copy of the MAMMOTH TIMES with a purchase of a cup of delicious, hot coffee. I drink their coffee every day and love it , I take my coffee black so I have to tell you I'm a pretty plain person when it comes to drinks. I have however tried their Italian sodas ( Banana flavor ) and YUM! it was superb to say the least. I have yet to try the Smoothies but I have heard a few people say they were the best. Cuppy's also backs up the fact they have the best smoothies or your smoothie is free! Soon to come is a nice outdoor seating area that promises to be beautiful. Be sure to "drive" by and say hi to Jodi DeVore and try one of their delicious fast drinks.

Be Nice to each other! We are NEIGHBORS for Gods sake!

I don't nearly possess the literary skills of Lois Layne,

so at times I go on a RANT

If you don't like RANTS skip this one.

While walking in to visit Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, I passed by Tailwaggers, where a couple locals were chatting it up with Lyn the owner, enjoying the company of each others dogs. Inside the store, I overheard from someone that they had been told not to shop at Tailwaggers, for some ungodly reason that I wont repeat and by whom i won't even entertain. (The sad part is I had earlier heard from somewhere else the same story but even more twisted!) Thats when I said that I would write something up.
This is a tight, small community and a mixture of fun easygoing, passing through type resort workers, and great longtime locals. We are in tighter times right now, and we CANNOT afford to pick on each other, and talk smack . What exactly are you trying to prove telling someone something that obviously is NOT true, are you hoping that perhaps we won't go patronize that place and give all of our money to you? Is it that important to bring someone down so that you may gain a few bucks in your pocket? Remember this.... I really don't think someone starts a Petstore to break into the FORBES top 500 Business list. They have a love and care for animals that brings their heart to share their joy with others. I personally have had this same thing happen to me lately, with ridiculous stories told to better themselves, ONLY because it was relayed to them by someone else that held a grudge. It hurts, and it is not fair, and is the cause of loss of friendships. Was it worth it for that extra buck? " NEVER talk bad about your competition let the customer make their choice" was taught by any sensible business teacher. And "If you dont have something good to say , keep your mouth shut" was taught by our mother. START LISTENING...... I challenge everyone that has a heart out there to say something nice to someone, shake their hand, or give them a hug, ..............this negativity has to stop, we are neighbors, we are friends, and as far as the people that like creating rumors go, you need to go and do something good for someone.......you can start by renting Pay it forward

Just when you thought it was over........

As most of us woke up today to a refreshing peek of sunshine, mother nature is once again deceiving as a very rare VERY early summer system visits the area Tuesday and Wednesday, with amazing convection centering itself right around the I-80 Corridor. Lightning, Heavy rain , Hail , high winds and a possible funnel cloud will be possible from Carson city to Reno , northward to Oregon. Some thunderstorm activity is possible for the Mammoth area but probably not to the magnitude of areas Northward.

Until then look for isolated thundersnow late today, and warmer tonight with a low of 35. Tomorrow, a tad warmer with a high of 55 and Isolated thunderstorms late in the day turning to scattered showers with a snow level of 8700 ft