Summer is Ending!

Well the summer is coming to a close.... It feels really weird not going back to school this year! I will be working at Sequoia until September 27th. It feels good knowing I have an end date. I will be sad however when my work here is done. I love this job. More good news... I have my phone number back up and working! The number here at the park through Sept. 27th will be 559-565-3622. Call me anytime! My roommate Sandra and I share the number so if she answers just let her know that you called and she will let me know!

Brian is still working and loving the BLM. No big fires for him right now. He is keeping busy in Bakersfield though. Soon we will both be together at the end of September. Then fire season will pick up!

We also purchased our plane tickets for Dec. 2nd through Dec. 8th! We will be in Wisconsin those days!

That's the update so far! I'm just taking a break at work during this busy Labor Day Weekend! Hope all is well with everyone!

Hola From Sequoia!

I just wanted to write a quick note while I had a break from work here in Sequoia National Park. I am working until Wednesday and then will have Wednesday and Thursday off this week. I have a small update on my last day... I am working until either September 9th or September 13th. Maybe longer, I'll keep you all updated when I find out more details.

Also, my phone at the park has been disconnected for some reason. Unfortunately, my roommate has the service under her name and I cannot have it reconnected without her. So until further notice I have no phone here at the park. Hopefully it will be up and running soon. I'll let you know when it gets fixed. Another reminder, I don't get facebook at the park so if you are trying to communicate by facebook, I cannot access the site on a government computer. Please send your emails to michelle.l.puckett@gmail.com or to brian.s.puckett@gmail.com .

On Thursday I will be in Bakersfield so I will have a cell phone. If you need to call me you can reach me at my cell number. I will also try and post more pictures at that time! Take care!

News From California

I am still in Bakersfield, CA until tomorrow morning when I have to go back to Sequoia. I am trying to enjoy my days off and get our apartment put together. I will post some pictures soon. Brian is working almost this whole week so I don't see him very often. I have to keep telling myself that as soon as fire season is over then I will be able to see him more often. That won't be until late October or early November. Only a couple more months!

In other news... my job at Sequoia may be over here shortly. With soaring gas prices not as many people have been coming to the park as anticipated. This means fewer dollars coming into the park. This also means my job has been cut early by a month. I may be done on September 8th. I really hope that a lot of people come in during Labor Day and help bring more revenue into the park so I can work a little while longer. Until I find out I will continue to work and continue the search for a new job. I am hoping to find something closer to Bakersfield so Brian and I can be closer. Hopefully the Bureau of Land Management will be hiring soon.

Now for some exciting news! Brian and I will be coming back to Wisconsin the first week of December! I have to take a forestry exam in Stevens Point on December 6th. So we are looking at purchasing our plane tickets for the week of Dec. 2nd through the 8th. We will be in Stevens Point Dec. 4th through the morning of the 6th. and in Eau Claire from Dec. 2nd through the afternoon of the 4th. Make sure to mark your calendars!

Here are some more pictures from California!

Pictures: Sequoias!, A bear was just crossing the road so I snapped a quick picture. It is a yearling, A butterfly that landed on me while I was working, Me during my first week on the job.. Yes my name tag says Michelle Stelzig, I still could not change my name until I got the marriage certificate. I finally got it in July!, and the first tarantula I have ever seen! He was right outside the door at work! They are everywhere right now! All the guys are looking for their mates! Someone told me they wait 20 years to find their mate...most of them are killed here by visitors and cars. Its kind of sad. I hate spiders but these guys are pretty cool...as long as they stay out of my house!

First Post!

Brian and I wanted to create a blog to keep you, our friends and family, updated on our new lives together. Let us know if you like what your read, and what you would like to hear from us. We are both living very busy lives together so we will try and keep posts current.

Brian has been keeping busy since we moved to California in June. Brian has been here since March getting everything ready for my move out here to California. He did not have any large wildfires until June. He was kept busy preparing his engine and crew for fire season 2008. He participated in many prescribed burns throughout California from March until June. As soon as June hit he was out protecting California from wildfires. Fire season 2008 began in June and is in full swing.

I have been working at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park since June. My official position is the Lead Visitor Use Assistant. My main duties include supervising a staff of visitor use assistants, collecting entrance fees, informing visitors about the park resources, and ensuring the money collected is deposited. I love my job and love working for the National Park Service.

The biggest shock to me with the move to California is the heat and the lack of water. I have been here since June and I have only felt one sprinkle of rain. The last day it rained in the foothills of Sequoia National Park was Memorial Day! The monsoons season should be starting soon so we should get some relief. Brian says it has not rained in Bakersfield since March! I miss the summer thunderstorms!

It is late here and I need to get some sleep. I will add more to this blog tomorrow. Hope you enjoy the news.

Downtown Bakersfield and Sequoia National Park