Back from Yellowstone — and what a place it is

So you come back after eight days away and see that the Indians are in last place. Guess now we know how that Big Brown horse felt in the Belmont. Last place. What in the world is THAT about? Did this team overachieve a year ago, three years ago? Did the Indians brass misjudge the talent that poorly? And what will this team look like a year from now? That’s the hard part of Mark Shapiro’s job. The emotional side might lead to some drastic reactions that would totally change this team. He’s got to decide if guys are just having off years, or if he needs to do more than tinker. No matter, there are many questions to be answered for the future — starting with the starting pitching. Who’d have thought that when the year started? In fact, very few of the experts and media (note the differential) thought this team would suffer like it has. Think I’ll muse on this some more in Sunday’s Beacon-Journal.

As for the week away … it’s rare that the buildup to a place can be so positive, but that’s all we heard before going to Yellowstone. Rare place. Unbelievable. Amazing. You’ll love it. It changed my life. And on and on and on. Know what? Every word is true. Yellowstone is a place that not only lives up to but exceeds expectations. Between the wildlife and the geysers and the sculpture pits and the mud volcanoes (hoooo-weeee, do not inhale if you’re too close to THAT one) it’s a different, unique and special place.

First night we arrived, we drove by two bears, two bald eagles in a nest and several buffalo babies (and they’re kind of cute). Add elk and buffalo grownups and it was quite a first 90 minutes. It got better from there. Wolves, elk, pikas, bears, coyotes and many wild humans (they’re the oddest to watch, really) run free in Yellowstone. The air is clean, the sunsets breathtaking and the rains bring rainbows more colorful than Disney can produce.

It’s hard to put into words what it’s like, but after seeing the Grand Canyon it seemed like nothing could be as uplifting. Yellowstone is every bit the same feeling. I could not recommend it more – for adults and kids. My daughters loved it – every minute of it. To the point that they asked – asked, mind you — to be awakened at 5:30 one morning to see the animals at dawn (one of the two best viewing times). Try to get that accomplished on a rainy Thursday at Dollyworld.

Yes … I’m aware this is a sports blog. But by definition a blog literally stands for "Bellowing Loquaciously Over Gomorrah" — loosely translated, though, it means "whatever the stinking writer wants it to be." Here’s a couple photos of the wildlife from the park. If it seems like folks are interested, we’ll post a couple a day for, oh, the next 38 years. Hard to say what is interesting about seeing animals in their true environment – though one woman was heard to say the animals couldn’t be wild because they weren’t in pens … whatever that means – but it is fascinating. These are the first two bears we viewed.

More on sports … and the park … as the week progresses … and please, these photos are for momentary enjoyment only, not for commercial or gambling purposes. Besides, my daughters may have taken them — you want to rip them off? …