I have gotten incredibly lazy about updating this site.  Perhaps my lackadaisical approach could be attributed to the fact that despite minor changes, things remain basically the same out here in Zion NP.  I am still enjoying my job as a housekeeping inspector, although I get more and more annoyed by people who don't leave tips - especially when they trash the room.  Recently, I've been enjoying the comments left by guests on our "Maintenance Request" forms.  One of them said, "Ants! Ants! Ants! Ants!! Ants!! Ants!!! Ants!!! Ants!!!"  If I could cordially respond to these clients, I would.  I would say something like this:

Dear X,
     Food!  Food!  Food!   Food!!  Food!! Food!!!  Food!!!  If you leave food sitting around your room, the ants think your cabin is a giant picnic basket and they have an ant party.  Can you blame them?  Throw away your food in the proper receptacles, and these guests will not swarm you.  Thanks.

Another guest had this to say:  "Room haunted."

Dear X,
    Thanks for alerting us to the issue of haunted rooms.  We notified Ghostbusters and the park erupted into total chaos: Marshmellow Man threw rocks off the edge of the canyon, and Slimer caused a scene with the guests when we tried to oust him.  In short, this was the best summer ever.  Your room will be fully compensated, and please come again anytime.

Another guest complained: "Room invested with spiders."

Dear X,
     We are sorry that you are not impressed with our business partners and interests, particularly as they pertain to spiders.

I have nothing else to say about that, except that "invested with spiders" was my favorite maintenance request.  Somehow they don't seem very funny now that I've written them down.  But when you're bored, these things are more humorous. 

Last night I was sleeping under the stars and got scared by some creature's evil screaming/barking.  I was with a few friends.  We were all sufficiently creeped out and went back to our bedrooms.  I'll let you know what was the source of the outburst as soon as I can.  For now, it remains a mystery.

On Sunday my parents are coming to visit.  Great news!    

The sun is setting on the red, white, orange, yellow and beige sandstone walls that serve as the perimeter of my backyard.  I am pleasantly tired after a long day's work and a decent supper.  Though I am not as placidly elated as I was the first few weeks, make no mistake: I'm still content.  Even though the sun continues to bake hotter and hotter each day, I'm glad to be living and working at Zion Nat. Park.  And as far as Parks go, this weekend, my friend Phil Park and his dad, Tong, will be making the trek to SE Utah for a visit.  I'm pretty excited about seeing them and going up to Bryce Canyon next Monday.  Then, later this summer, my sister and bro-in-law are probably visiting!  So, I am enjoying life, with more to look forward to.  The only downside is the poison Ivy that's creeping from my elbows up my arms.  I have had ivy rashes since the first week, which is to say, far too long.  If anyone has a homeopathic recipe handed down from generations prior, I would probably be willing to try it, even if it's something weird like cracking an egg over my head while sitting in a barrel of flour in my skivvies.  The only problem might be the barrel.  Anywho, I have nothing much else to report.  Worship services are going well.  Last week I talked about agape love, and this week, we're talking about Christian love in action.  I've also had some great conversations with people here.  I've decided that I really like the people here.  Thanks for your prayers and blessings as you go about your daily summer activities and long-anticipated vacations.          

ps- I'm not sure how I felt about pan's labyrinth.  Some good parts, some graphic parts.  One guy getting his face bashed in with a bottle.  Overall ambivalence with a slight lean towards saying the Labyrinth is worth entering.  But not for you, mom.