Looks like yr. obdt. will be heading back to work soon, and not in any of the anticipated/feared locations (Cleveland or Frisco.)  No, it looks like the upcoming 3-6 month gig will be in a place I’ve worked before and loved – Ogden, Utah.

Why?

1) John Browning’s birthplace.  Seriously, maybe some of that gun designer genius will rub off?  If any True Believers happen to find themselves in Ogden, I highly recommend a visit to the Browning museum.  The hand-made prototypes of world-changing guns like the 1911 and the Auto-5 alone are worth the visit.

2) Climate/location.  8 hours from home by Rojito, 90 minutes by air.  Same time zone as the homestead.  Pretty much the same mild winters, at least compared to the upper Midwest where I’ve spent the last two winters.  Arrival will be too late for grouse hunting or much else, but rabbit seasons are open until end of February, so it may be worth taking a .22 along.

3) Scenery.  My previous visit to Ogden got cut short before I could get a good look at the Great Salt Lake, a genuinely unique landmark in this area – and the Wasatch Mountains are a great place to spend a weekend bumming around.

4) Folks.  Say what you will about Mormons, but in my experience they are some of the nicest, friendliest folks around – and there are enough gentiles in the Ogden area (gentile being the Mormon term for any non-Mormon) that I can get a beer if I want one.

So, it looks like a good gig coming up.  It may lack some of the perks of other locations I’ve worked, like southern California’s salubrious climate and ample supply of the Feminine Aesthetic, or Japan’s great food, beautiful scenery and wonderful wackiness, or Minnesota’s incredible fishing, but all in all I’ll take Ogden.

Travel will probably happen in the next few days.  And now that I’ve got my excitement about the new gig out in the open, regular news/commentary posts will return tomorrow at the latest.

Excelsior!