It is a very small world. I know, it’s a cliche. But, it’s true. You see on Friday, I was in Gaylord, Michigan, about 2.5 hrs north of my home in Lansing, attending a forest stewardship advsiory council meeting. This group advises the Michigan DNR on all things forestry. I was there to network with individuals, while my boss unveiled our Michigan Forest Carbon Program. During the meeting, I recognized a women. So, during the break I talked with her and discovered that she and I were in the same class of foresters at Michigan State (class of 97). Normally, meeting an old classmate like that, would be kinda cool. But, most everyone who works for the DNR is a MSU forestry grad – so, it’s not all that unusual for me to meet an old classmate. Now, this unexpected meeting is not the reason that I believe it is a very small world.

Also at that meeting was a gentleman named Mike Hanley. I didn’t recognize Mike, but the moment that he introduced himself, I went speechless. Mike and I worked together for 6 months on the timber crew on the Tongass NF in Petersburg, Alaska in 1997. Hell, we lived in the same house with five others who were on the timber crew. Mike isn’t from Michigan, but here he is, working for the DNR. In fact, he works in Lansing! Mike is the last person that I ever expected to see again and illustrates that it really is a small world. wow!

So, not much else is happening. I’m still plugging away at the new job. My first paycheck came today, so that is exciting. I’m in kalamazoo on Friday, presenting a workshop at the West Michigan Energy Summit. Hopefully, the session will generate some additional leads for the P2E2 program.

The fence men came out today and installed my posts. The will be back later in the week to stretch the chain link fence. Butter will be a very happy dog. I also bought 315 landscaping stones on Sunday, so I could begin edging all of my flower beds. Ironically, I almost didn’t get the stones home, because the pallet was so heavy that it nearly caused the back of my truck to bottom out. I have a 1/2 Ford and I was carrying at least 1000 lbs, if not more. I was worried that my tires would blow out. As it was, they looked flat as I drove away. But, I got the stones home and unloaded them into the garage. I started placing some into my landscaping, but there is no way that I’ll be able to get them all on the ground this fall.

Bedtime..

tp