Close Encounter of the Real Kind

As one travels west and north of Gillette, the landscape changes from the rolling dry grassland prairies to rugged, almost mountainous land of ponderosa pine, juniper and shrub oak. This is the western edge of the Black Hills. Several miles into this landscape one begins to catch glimpses of unusual rock outcroppings. Several sheer rock cliffs rise to the east of a dramatic 1200 foot rock outcropping known as Devils Tower. The name is terribly awkward, for this monolith would only be devilish to the superstitious and those who fear the nature of geology. The Indians call it “Bear Lodge” a much better name to go with the Kiowa legend of the five girls, while being chased by a giant bear, took refuge on the hill which began to rise from the land. As the hill rose higher the great bear clawed to get to the girls. The hill is said to have saved the girls, but it rose high, all the way to heaven, so they could not climb down; they are now immortalized in the five stars of the Pleiades.

The Routine

There has not been much to write about lately, for I am in a routine of work and return to the hotel, six days a week. High points would be the sunrise and sunsets on the 40 mile drive to and from work, the bison, antelope, deer and eagles seen daily, the walk I take on the lunch hour, and the music coming in on the XM.

A Billion Below Zero

I did not want to make this blog a weather report, but the weather here dominates what we do. Today the crew was out skirting the mobile homes, I drove out to check on them this afternoon and had to dodge a couple cardboard boxes that were blowing about in the wind. The weather report was saying 37 mph with gusts to 44. Not much snow to blow about in Wright, but the 40 mile drive back to Gill was a different story. The wind was out of the north, so we hit it head on and it whistled so loudly I thought the doors were ajar. There was just a skiff of snow blowing across the road and we thought we’d have clear sailing all the way, but about 10 miles into the drive, we had to slow for blowing snow and the occasional white out. At times we were blinded by the lights of the oncoming traffic. About halfway, the pickup ahead of us spun out on an icy hill, it crossed the other lane and ended in the borrow pit. We squirreled a bit too, but regained before far, then dropped it down to about 40 for the rest of the way in. It was difficult to determine where we were since all hills and landmarks were all obscured by the blowing snow. We passed a couple trucks pulled over, and when we finally got to town there were occasional flashing cop lights to let us know some drivers were not very lucky. Got to the hotel and my room was 55 degrees because I did not leave the heat on when I left. Out the window it looks fuzzy, like a weak TV station. The temperature says 20 degrees, but it feels like a billion below zero.

Carmina Burana by Carl Orff

Dear Reader,
This is one piece of music you must listen to before you die, really! Most of us will find the opening and closing pieces, “O Fortuna” quite familiar; it has been used for various triumphant processionals and dramatic announcements through the years. Most recently I heard a form of in advertisement for a Canadian beer. As familiar as “O Fortuna”, is, it is just a beginning of a rich and inspired cantata encompassing songs of good and bad fortune, medieval mythology, nature, love, lust, drinking, foolishness, gambling, fortune and death.
Orff’s cantata is based upon a collection of thirteenth century goliardic songs found in the Benediktbeurn Monastery in southern Germany. Carmina means “songs,” and Burana is short for the monastery where the manuscript was found in 1803. The primary textual theme of the cantata is spring with love, hope and pleasure contrasted with the indifference of fortune and the temptations of the flesh. Don’t expect to understand a word as it is performed; it is sung in low Latin and low German.

For a full transcription visit: www.buckschoral.org/programs/carmina.pdf

What makes this work so fascinating is its ability to combine the ancient and the modern in an accessible and gloriously melodic work, with some extraordinarily colorful instrumentation and richness of vocal texture.

Unlike many 20th century works, Burana does not encumber us with complex counterpoint and dissonance, nor is it filled with strange and unusual harmonies. There are some fantastic rhythms and an active percussion section that creates a flow keeping the listener involved and entertained throughout.
Although there are several recordings out there, each with their own merits, I prefer the Riccardo Muti recording with the Philharmonia Chorus and Orchestra.

The Wright Weather

I didn’t want this to be the rural weather report, but the weather seems to predominate conversations here. I guess when it is well below zero with a stiff wind it does affect what we do. Our crew skirting the mobile homes took the day off. They are having a time of it anyway. The bid was put-in in November, before the ground froze and now they have to scrape and hammer down the high points on the ground. They also are pounding stakes in, all the more difficult on the frozen ground. They thought they could do four a day, but are hard pressed to get one done. With progress going so slow they sent the big boss in from Florida to get them to work harder, but after he saw the conditions they are working under, he decided to send in another crew who should arrive today. The boss spent about 20 hours in state before jamming back south.
Had pipes freeze in about 10 of the 53 units, also some problems with insulation and hot water heaters. The crews are getting-er-done though.

Snow Day

Looks like we will be starting work a bit late today. About 6:00 this morning a storm blew in with 45mph winds making quite a howl outside my motel window. While eating breakfast, Deb at the front desk announced they’d closed the interstate and we all figured highway 59 to Wright would be closed too. I could see that the oil rig workers had started out and come back. If the weather is too rough for a well-digger, it’s too rough for me. Walked out to take some photos and find it is not all that cold, but wind and snow reduces visibility to about a hundred feet at times.

Big Trucks and Antelope

Had a short day at work yesterday and got off at 1:00. CT took me on a tour of the backroads between Wright and Gillette. Lots of wildlife out there, hawks and bald eagles, jackrabbits, deer and more antelope per mile than I’ve ever seen. This is coal country and they mine with big equipment, miles of trains and some building that look like the aliens on “War of the Worlds”. CT says the trucks they use are the biggest in the world, certainly they are the biggest trucks I’ve ever seen. Word is they have an access cover in the rear differential where a person can climb inside for maintenance.

Prairie Life

It is a good thing we have weather here so we have something to talk about. Not quite winter, but you could fool me, 8 degrees and a 20 mph wind this morning. People say since it is low humidity you don’t feel it so much, but has to be low humidity, moisture can not exist in these temperatures. Fortunately, it is sunny and warmed to the 20’s today, so I was able to take an hour walk during the lunch break. I notice nobody else walks for exercise here, so I have all the trails to myself.

View From The Office

This is wonderful country for those who enjoy wind.