This is the Message Centre for rangerjustice (formerly warrior ranger)

Ha!

Post 1

FG

I saw you were a park ranger and was just about to ask if you've ever read Nevada Barr until I went through your entire introduction! Do you feel her books, as far as the characterization of Anna's job and the NPS, are pretty realistic?


Ha!

Post 2

rangerjustice (formerly warrior ranger)


I doubt there are many Rangers out there who have run into as many murders as Anna Pigeon has, but I think she pretty accurately describes general "ranger life". The tightknit, sometimes cliquish crews, the bureaucracy, the tendency to smiley - ale.

Her obvious appreciation of natural beauty is spot on, too!


I've never worked with the NPS (though I did a season with the Forest Service years ago), but I've worked for 3 different states, and government agencies tend to all be pretty similar!

smiley - cheers


Ha!

Post 3

FG

I used to read many more mysteries than I do now because I found too many of the series stuff gets rather horribly repetitive (Lillian Jackson Braun is an repeat offender--literally--and Tony Hillerman is getting that way, sorry to say). I usually stick with Nevada and Rita Mae, when I can remember to pick up Rita Mae's latest at the library. I also recommend Julie Smith, if you haven't read her yet. Like Barr, her books are very atmospheric. And she's not afraid of new protagonists!

However, I can read the classics, Hammett and Chandler, over and over again without getting bored.


Ha!

Post 4

rangerjustice (formerly warrior ranger)


Haven't read any Julie Smith, I'll have to look her up at the library.

It does get annoying when an author recycles the same plot too many times. Consistency is good, but there's a limit!


Ha!

Post 5

FG

Right on, sister! Plus, there were some obvious phonetic spelling mistakes and things that cried out for a fact checker in Hillerman's latest that I wondered if he's now dictating his books and having his words transcribed by someone else.



Ha!

Post 6

rangerjustice (formerly warrior ranger)


That could be. I enjoy Hillerman's work, but haven't read any of his recent stuff for the very reason we've been discussing!

The one of his I couldn't work up any interest in whatsoever was a political story..."A Fly On The Wall", I think. Never could bring myself to wade through it. smiley - yikes


intro

Post 7

silversmoke

hi! just thought i would drop a line read your intro, it astounds me that yet another females life is dominated by cats do you know if there is some kind of male substitution going on. your job sounds very varied and demanding is it?i dont know to much about rangers other than most of your work is outside. i sound inept dont i but better be cautious , im from wales have you ever heard of it we have a pimple on our arse called england.


intro

Post 8

rangerjustice (formerly warrior ranger)


Hello Silversmoke

I only have one smiley - cat, but I guess it is safe to say she dominates my life! I find cats to be the only creatures on earth more difficult to understand than men! smiley - winkeye

Being a ranger is somewhat demanding, but mostly enjoyable. There's a lot of variety. Even though I spend a lot of time in the office doing paperwork, I can always get out into the park when I wish.

And aye, I've heard of Wales, but I'm not about to get dragged into any English insults, on this site particularly! smiley - winkeye

smiley - cheers


cats men

Post 9

silversmoke

most men are like cats ,we continuely eat, sleep ,like our necks rubbed and enjoy being thrown out for a couple of hours.i cant believe that you thought i was enticing you into a anti english rant ,us welsh are far more refined and worldlywise or do you know di fferent or you have some amazing ability to read from distance haha. how long have you be a ranger, what do you actually do when working?sorry for being nosey but my work is depressing me.


cats men

Post 10

rangerjustice (formerly warrior ranger)


I know everything, didn't you realize? smiley - winkeye


I've been a ranger full time for almost 12 years, part time (or "seasonal") for three extra summers. I'm actually a park manager now, so I do more planning and paperwork than I used to have to do. I also do whatever needs done to keep the place running: everything from law enforcement through cleaning toilets through trail maintenance or leading nature hikes. Sometimes several of those things in a single day!

I like your description of men, will have to remember that one! smiley - smiley


respect authority

Post 11

silversmoke

does that mean your incharge of everyone, do you have a gun for protection how big is your park, where is it? whats its name? are there many women working with you or is it mainly male orientated .i take it from your intro that you are married to the job, surely that cant be true isnt there a mr park ranger or apprentice ready to take you into the wilderness? you come across as a girl who knows what she wants and can read welshmen from 8000 miles which i cant believe is true.


loads of questions

Post 12

silversmoke

hello, how you doing ? how are things today well i hope? you didnt get back yesterday busy? how is it that you know so much about welsh/english rivalry?were you born in states i think you were born in scotland or have some connection with scotland totally wrong aint i. back in work again its 2153 hrs whats things like with you?neilx


loads of questions

Post 13

rangerjustice (formerly warrior ranger)


I wound up crashing last night, too tired to type! smiley - sleepy

Let's see, some of the answers, in no particular order:

*I chat with lots of Brits on the internet, so I know things can get testy between Scots, Irish, Welsh, etc. And I steadfastly refuse to get my dog in that hunt! smiley - winkeye

*Actually, I have a wee skosh of Scots/Irish blood in me, but have never been to either homeland, unfortunately. I was born in Kansas.

*I am the one in charge of my park. Yes, I carry a gun, part of the time at least. No, there isn't a Mr. Park Ranger, haven't found a man worth keeping around that long.

*My park is about 600 acres, in southwestern New Mexico. I supervise a staff of 3 people, and various volunteers.

SO, how about you? What's your story, other than being an inquisitive Welshman???


myself

Post 14

silversmoke

sorry for all the questions, but you have to be prepared! im married , four kids and work in a mobile phone centre for inquiries.i used to work on the railway in what you would call poss transit cop, i think. became seriously ill with a heart attack a couple of years ago at 33. i couldnt go back to work for a while but needed too for my sanity. i have a interest in racehorse ownship and part own three horses not very good ones at that.i love travelling and take a strong intrest in following soccer esp cardiff and wales hoping to go to moscow in a few weeks to watch russia play wales. im in the process of moving to a house on the coast about 10 miles from cardiff. is this enough\? sorry just rambling.


myself

Post 15

rangerjustice (formerly warrior ranger)


Ownership in 3 horses is smiley - cool, whether they race well or not!

I'm glad you found work after the heart attack, even if it isn't your dream job. Hope your heart's healthier these days!

Travelling is great fun, as long as it's not too much all at once. The trip to Moscow sounds like it would be great! I enjoy watching soccer but don't follow it closely. American football, and baseball, are a lot easier to watch around here.

smiley - goodluck moving, that's always a chore!


myself

Post 16

silversmoke

im not so bad now but still have my moments, the trip to russia should be awesome. im not totally igronant to american sports i have family in florida, and i notice that the marlins have reached the world series final, why the world series only the us and japan ,korea play the game. i havent visit the states as such but been to fl a few times to see my sister in law. ive been to hawai new zealand and fiji also most of the countries in europe,a real phylius fogg. are you ok you said you crashed last night or was that the computer?


myself

Post 17

rangerjustice (formerly warrior ranger)


No, the computer and I are both fine. I just crashed, as in went to bed early!

I've never understood calling it the "world series", either. Canada also plays, but that still hardly makes it a global sport. And yeah, the Marlins took the playoffs, the Cubs lost again for about the zillionth time.

You've travelled more than I, by far. I've been through most of the western US, and just a bit into Canada and Mexico. I really want to go to Europe, and Australia and New Zealand someday, but it costs more money than I've got right now!


embarasment

Post 18

silversmoke

sorry i didnt understand what you meant, see, i told you we were considerate in wales ,unlike the italians we encountered in milan recently. there was a small matter of a very important soccer match there were 7500 wales supporters who were penned in by the italian police , who allowed the italians to throw coins mobile phones, and in some cases they induced vomit over the welsh supporters men women children i used to hold the italians in high regard but the next time they want us to bail them out they can sing . are things as bad as that in american sports i hear that wwf is pretty tough.......neil


embarasment

Post 19

rangerjustice (formerly warrior ranger)


Some sports, like wrestling, have rough crowds, but riots and attacks seem to be less common around here than they are in Europe. When things do get too crazy, it's usually at playoff or championship games, not just ordinary events.

No game is worth the sort of nonsense the Italians were doing in your description!


italy

Post 20

silversmoke

at least i managed to take in rome again ,its absolutly brilliant even went to see the pope but he was on holiday... unbelievable. you must have come across a few difficult situations yourself what was the worse?


Key: Complain about this post