Whitewater Photos & Videos

I want to introduce y’all to Whitewater Photos & Video, located here in Jackson.  This cool store is owned and operated by Becky Martens, who bought the business 19 years ago.

Whitewater Photos & Videos is THE place to go for the capturing of your whitewater rafting or kayaking & canoeing experiences, via the Snake River . . . which, incidentally, this awesome body of water is a tributary of the Columbia River, is 1,040 miles in length and runs from Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming) to the mouth of the Columbia River (Washington).

Prior to her husband and her buying the store, Becky owned and operated a local one-hour photo shop, which she started upon her arrival here in Jackson, back in ’84.  In 1990, she combined both businesses, and has been providing both excellent one-hour photo service (for both film & digital cameras) and amazing whitewater photos and videos since then.  The store is located in the heart of Jackson, on Cache, next to one of my other favorite places – Merry Piglets (a Mexican restaurant with very tasty dishes).

I have personal knowledge of the one-hour photo service.  I first met Becky last year when I was searching for a shop to print some photos from my camera’s memory card.  She was so helpful and so nice, I knew I had to find a reason to visit her again!  I’ve not yet had the pleasure of rafting The Snake . . . BUT!  It’s on my calendar for this September . . . so, stay tuned about that.

The photos on the wall of the store help maintain my excitement about my upcoming inaugural rafting trip.  To get a glimpse of similar photos, visit Becky’s website HERE.  The photographic masthead shows shots of recent float trips.

“So, where is the cam located?  Do y’all move it to different locations?,” I ask (a bit naively). “There’s no cam,” Becky enthusiastically tells me; "We use actual photographers."  OK . . . now, I’m REALLY intrigued!  She continues on, telling me that the photographers row across the river every morning before the trips begin; and from there, they man their posts all day and take five shots of each group that passes by.  Wow!!!  That’s SO Cool!  The film is then delivered across the river via an overhead trolley, four times each day; and then is quickly delivered into town for processing. Customers are then able to view their photos and place their orders at their leisure.

Currently (and until the waters recede a bit), the photo area is at Lunch Counter, one of the biggest rapids in the Snake River Canyon.  After the waters go down a bit (probably around the end of June), the photographers will be snapping shots from the Big Kahuna area; which,  amusingly, is sometimes referred to as a “schizophrenic patch of whitewater”.

Photos can be purchased in-store in sizes of 5 x 7, 8 x 10,   11 x 14 and 12 x 18.  Also available in-store are the complete series of the 5 photos of your specific adventure in 4 x 6 size.  Larger photos (16 x 20 and 20 x 30) can be received within a couple of weeks after ordering.  Additionally, one also has the option of purchasing a CD of the pictures, so they can print their photos whenever they like and however often they want. 

Another reason to use Whitewater Photos & Videos . . . this is the ONLY local company of its kind that offers live videos of people traversing down the Snake River! 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I stopped in the store the other day to say hey to Becky; and that’s when she told me that she has expanded her business.  In addition to offering one-hour photo services and whitewater photos & videos, she now is also offering studio portraits and photography services for parties and family gatherings. 

The studio portraits can be done in-studio or at your house; your choice.  Regarding parties, just let her know when and where, and she’ll be there; camera in hand, smile on face and ready to capture your celebration into memory-making photos.

This service, like the other ones are available to both locals and visitors, alike.

One of Becky’s goals is to make sure her customers are happy and pleased with her work.  In her own words, “I’ll take the time that’s needed to do a good job and make great photos.”

So! Come to Jackson (it really is a must for everyone to do at least once).  While you’re here, participate in some exhilarating whitewater rafting down the Snake River (see Becky’s website for a listing of various rafting companies).  After the trip, dry off and come into town . . . specifically to Whitewater Photos & Videos on Cache . . . and order your prints and CD of YOU with paddle in hand while plowing through a rapid.  Then, afterward, have Becky come to your party to shoot photographs of even more good times . . . so that YOU can be in the pictures (and not out of them because you were behind the camera).  And, please remember to tell Becky that I sent you.

The hours of the photo shop are 9am – 9pm (7 days / week).

The studio’s hours are 10am – 5pm (Tuesday – Saturday)

Becky can be reach via email at wpv@blissnet.com

or via phone at 1-800-WHTE-H20 (948-3426)

Local:  (307) 733-7015

Oh, and while you’re here in Jackson, give me a call and let’s get together.  Who knows?  I may even go rafting with you. :)

Y’all be blessed,

Sharon-Marie

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Footnote:  During my interview with Becky the other day, a group came in to pick up their photos. One of the men was carrying a full moose antler.  I grinned to myself and thought, “Only in Jackson!”

These customers liked their photos so much they ordered a CD of their time on the Snake.  And, while I was making notes for this blog entry, I heard one of the women exclaim quite exuberantly, “This is GOOD!  You guys got a good photographer!” 

There’s nothing quite like spontaneous and unsolicited endorsements to really sell a product.  :)

  

Whitewater Photos & Videos

140 North Cache (next to Merry Piglets)

Becky Martens, Owner

800-WHTE-H20 (948-3426)

Local:  307-733-7015

wpv@blissnet.com

www.snakeriverphotos.net

Sharon-Marie Jordan © 2010 - All rights reserved.

Rescued by a Moose!

Originally written on June 14, 2008 . . . 

I absolutely love animals . . . four-legged, winged, amphibious . . . you name it; I love 'em! (and yeah, I know that technically, fowl and sea creatures are not animals, but I hope you know what I mean when I include them with animals).

I've always loved animals; in fact, I'm sure if I investigated it, I would find my ancestry directly descended from Dr. Doolittle.

And quite thankfully, animals love me.

But I most especially love wildlife . . . true wildlife that roam and soar and swim free in their natural habitats.

And apparently (and thankfully), wildlife seem to return the love towards me.

. . . Which brings me to the subject of this particular post.

I arrived in Jackson in 2000 . . . I had been living in Birmingham, AL and had answered an ad in the local paper in which Jackson Lake Lodge (in Grand Teton National Park) was seeking temporary (summer) secretarial help.  Having wanted, for the previous 18 years prior to that, to go see the Tetons, I jumped on the opportunity and headed off for an adventure.

While working for the Lodge, I stayed in employee housing, on site.  I enjoyed a 10-minute walk to (and from) work everyday, wandering through nature and marveling at the beauty that my eyes beheld.

I've long since forgotten his name, but there was a bull moose that was the Lodge's unofficial mascot.  He had been hanging out around the Lodge for years.  I'm not sure if he's still alive, but I like to think he is . . . watching over his domain (and non-observant females of the human variety).

Now.  Before I continue on, please allow me to take this opportunity to tell y'all that wild animals are, well, wild.  They're not domesticated, nor should they be.  If ya want a pet, may I suggest a dog, bird, cat, fish or even lizard - if that's your thing.  Trust me when I tell y'all that moose, antelope and buffalo are not tame and will definitely not make good pets.

Respect wildlife.  Please honor the fact that they're wild; that's how they were created to be.

To further this bit of a rabbit trail (pardon the pun), a friend and I were talking about wildlife recently.  She's had the privilege of helping to produce some wonderful wildlife documentary films (Hey Mandy!).  She has told me stories of people trying to hand their babies over to bears in hopes of getting a picture of mama bear holding human baby.  OR, of parents encouraging their kids to go up to a moose or a buffalo and try to pose for a picture with their arms around the animal's neck.  PLEASE DON'T DO THIS . . . not if you care for the safety of your baby or child . . . or even yourself.

Anyway, back to Jackson Lake Lodge in 2000 . . . so this wonderful MooseMascot was usually somewhere in my visual on my walks to and from work.  Sometimes he was so close, I could reach out and pet him, if I were so inclined.  However, going back to respecting wildlife, I never attempted such an activity.  I like to think it was a smart decision on my part.  I would, however, smile at him, wave and say hey.  Sometimes if I felt he was particularly chatty on any given day, I'd ask him how his day was going and tell him how much I was enjoying his home.  (Yes, I really did do this.)

Of course, he never answered my questions; he just kept munching on leaves and such and sometimes staring at me as if he thought perhaps I had eaten one too many unidentifiable wildflowers when I was younger.  Trust me, I know that look.

There were 2 trails that I could take that would lead me to work, and I often alternated which way I went.  One morning while on my way to work (probably about 3 weeks after I had come to Jackson and after 3 weeks of daily and sometimes twice-daily conversations with MooseMascot), I apparently took the wrong trail.

BTW, momma moose are probably one of the most fiercely protective of their babies.  They keep them for 2 years before leaving them on their own.  In those 2 years, though, don't even think about approaching a momma moose if she has a baby with her.  Really.  Don't do it.  Especially, if the calf is newly or recently borne.  Please consider yourself duly warned.

So . . . that particular morning, I walked past a thicket of trees . . . in which I didn't even realize that anyone was using it as their temporary abode . . . the trees were probably about 30-40 feet away from me.

The next thing I remember is hearing a loud, angry snort.  I turned around and there, in all her raging glory, was MommaMoose charging after me.  And man, was she angry!

I threw my purse and stuff up in the air, cried out, "Oh God!  Please help me!" and started running.

But hey, let's get real for a moment, shall we?  I am not a runner; never have been and don't have the desire to ever be.  However, I will concede that running is certainly beneficial to one in certain circumstances . . . say, perhaps, when one has gotten too close to a baby moose and the momma is not pleased about it.

But having not had practice in the fine art of running, I'm sure I wasn't setting any world records or anything.  Plus, MommaMoose had a definite advantage over me . . . her legs were as long as my total height (well, almost . . . if I remember correctly, her legs came all the way up to at least my shoulders).  Plus, she had lots of practice in this talent called running; she probably went to some kind of moose-running school, I'm quite sure.

Did I mention there was a fence between her and me (about 4 feet high)?  Did I also mention that she cleared that fence as if it were a stepping stone?

So . . . now, she's on the same side of the fence as I am; and quite frankly, she is gaining ground at a rather truly alarming rate.

I wanted to sit down and have a good cry about the whole thing, but Wisdom told me that the smarter choice was to hustle my, uhm, rear end as quickly as I could.

About that time, she was probably about 2 feet from me; and as she was yelling at me and probably cussing me out in her own special way, I was now envisioning people in Heaven laughing at me as I told them how I had met my demise.

That's when both she and I heard it . . . a very loud, long roar.  We both froze and stood their staring at each other - me looking up into those very cold, hard angry eyes and she looking down towards me stomping one of her front hooves and rather effusively snorting, well, uhm, moose stuff, through her nose and all over me.  I thought that last part was a bit rude and overboard.  I mean, really.  I wasn't expectorating all over her.  Sheesh.

. . . And thankfully and miraculously, neither had I lost any bodily fluids . . . although I must say that if there were ever a time to wet one's pants, that would have been a quite very valid time.

The noise we both heard?  Why, none other than MooseMascot, himself . . . coming to rescue ME; not her, but ME!  Whatever he had said in Mooseese, he meant it.  MommaMoose wasn't moving a muscle (and quite frankly, neither was I; I had frozen into a 5'4" block of total fear).

From probably about 80 feet away, MooseMascot had seen the ruckus and had literally called a halt to it.

That part was great.  What I would have scripted differently for this unusual wildlife drama was the speed in which he was utilizing in reaching us . . . or rather the lack of speed.

Y'all think I can ramble?!!  Lemme tell y'all; I don't have nothing on MooseMascot in that regard.  He took his own sweet time just walking along; why, he hadn't even cleared the fence yet!

Finally (after what seemed like several lifetimes, but in reality was probably only a few minutes), he joined the little spontaneous tea party his missus and I were having . . . Moose nose-drippings, anyone?

He scolded her sharply (once again, in Mooseese) . . . and then, to my complete and utter amazement (as if this whole thing wasn't astonishing enough), he bit her on her rear end!  Not hard enough to draw blood, but hard enough to mean business.

He then turned and started to walk away.  She stood her ground and just glared at me.  Me?  I was still trying to figure out how not to be the laughing stock of Heaven of which I was sure I was going to enter during the next ensuing minutes.

When she didn't immediately follow him, MooseMascot let out another one of his very stern bellows.  This time, MommaMoose dropped her head and turned around and followed him . . . but  not before she snorted yet another layer of Moose goop all over my face and top.  How very rude.

I suddenly looked at MooseMascot, he and I made eye contact, he kinda swirled his head and then led MommaMoose away.

I was left standing there trying to process what all had just happened when suddenly my brain recovered and yelled at me, 'RUN!"  Which I did . . . in fact, it was probably the fastest I have ever run in my entire life.

I finally arrived at work and told them bits and pieces of what happened.  Amazingly enough, they believed me.  I like to think they believed me because they could see my character of truthfulness shining through and knew I wouldn't make up something like that for being late to work.  But, reality tells me that they probably believed me because my hair was matted with Moose ick and my face and top were covered in it as well.  Having never shown up to work before being similarly decorated, I'm guessing they realized I wasn't trying out the latest fad in weird expressions of uniqueness.

Strange.  For some reason, they thought I had been through enough for one day and gave me the day off.

A couple of days later, I saw MooseMascot on my way home from work and I thanked him for saving my life.  He just kept right on munching on his leaves . . . but somehow, I just know he heard and understood me.  Afterall, there was now a special bond between the two of us, doncha know.

After that incident, I made sure to not get anywhere clost to any tree thickets.  I'm sure MooseMascot had a conversation with MotherMoose about how to improve her manners, but I still didn't want to take any chances.

And yes, this really is a true story.

Sharon-Marie Jordan © 2010 - All rights reserved.

Ellena and Jan

So . . . as I was getting ready for swim class today, I noticed that it was sleeting.  Big, drippy, splattering, slushy, sleet.  I'm beginning to see a pattern of recent days . . . if it's swim class day, it's also been wet (both in and out of the pool).  No matter - I have really been absolutely loving my classes.  

The classes are one hour long, each session; and they are a combination of aerobics and total body strength training.  I am quite pleased to report that I have been seeing improvements in a variety of areas; some of them quite unexpected from when I first determined to do the classes.  For instance, my balance and coordination are improving.  For those of y'all that really know me, I'm sure you're now looking at your computer screen in utter amazement.  Close your mouths, y'all; you don't want to draw flies.

Swim class has nothing to do with neither Ellena nor Jan.  I'm just in a bit of a ramblin' mood; simultaneously coupled with the desire to write.  Y'all are the lucky recipients of both.

~*~*~*~

At a business meeting that I will be attending later in the week, it is my turn to provide lunch for everyone.  The numbers given to me were 12 and 30.  I am to feed 12 people and I will be reimbursed for up to $30.00.  Wow.  $2.50 per person?  Did we get transported back a couple of decades and I miss it?

Nevertheless, I felt I was up to the challenge.  After swim class, I set out to visit some of the locals' favorites for noontime cuisine to see what kind of deals I could finagle.  Hmmm . . . Other than some truly empathetic smiles, my project wasn't a success.  That's putting it midly.  I bombed out.  Completely.  

You know . . . I don't usually miss driving.  Yeah, there are the times when I would love to get in a car and drive around seeing the country side; either with a specific destination in mind or just to meander around to see what I can see.  That's the wanderlust that lives within me.  

Then there are times, like this week, when it would be so very wonderful to be able to drive.  If I was driving, then I could simply zip off to one of the grocery stores and lunch for 12 people on $30 wouldn't be that big of a deal; there would be myriad ways to accomplish such an assignment.  None of which are doable for a pedestrian, however.  Even more insurmountable because on the specific day of the meeting, this particular pedestrian has under an hour between another time commitment ending and the time of the lunch meeting beginning.

Sigh.

After almost 2 hours of traipsing around in periodic sleet, under grey skies, while tromping through puddles of various stages of melted snow and repeatedly hearing, "I'm sorry; I can't help you," I think I was feeling a bit dejected.  That may be a bit of an understatement.

As I was headed home to work on some projects, I was passing a bus stop.  I'll interject here to say that I rarely use the bus.  Except for the library, grocery stores and homechurch, I pretty much walk everywhere I go.  The exercise is good for me; and where I live, I'm pretty much within a 10-15 minute walk from most places that I frequent.  

~*~*~*~

I noticed a lady at the bus stop.  She had flaming red-orange hair (more red than orange).  Flaming red hair.  As I approached her, I smiled at her and said "hey"  . . . smiling, btw, helps lift a person out of a bad mood; smiling with or at another individual intensifies such accomplishment - try it sometime; it's awesome!  

It's interesting to note how people respond when a stranger smiles at them.  Sometimes I am met with a cold, silent stare.  Sometimes I'm met with a polite, timid "kinda-smile" but then the person also endeavors to not make any eye contact.

But, Sometimes!  Sometimes, I'm greeted with a very enthusiastic smile.  Ellena greeted me with such a smile.  In fact, she hopped up and came right up to me.  I seriously thought she was going to hug me.  Which would have been just fine.  She had an awesome, gorgeous smile.  Not the Hollywood type of gorgeous smile; no, no . . . Ellena had a smile that started in her heart, spread clear across her face and culminated in these fantastic sparkles that danced outwardly from her eyes.

She spent the next few minutes telling me about herself . . . She's from Italy, and has been in the States for a week, with a week more to go before she goes back home.  She's an artist; a sculptor, and we talked about the galleries she's been visiting; both here in Jackson and also some in Colorado.  She's here right now on a ski holiday . . . (I hope the weather gives her some more snow while she's still here).  Y'all should have seen her face light up when she said, "A person has not lived until they have skied Grand Targhee!"  

Ellena was absolutely wonderful.  She exuded life.  And, she probably doesn't even know what a gift she gave me . . . a stranger from Italy lifted my spirits, and just by being her and without her even knowing anything about the situation, she reminded me that the momentary stress I was feeling over this silly upcoming business lunch was simply not necessary.   As the bus was turning the corner and heading toward the bus stop, she quickly hugged me, kissed my cheek and said, "Kisses, kisses; love and kisses".  As I walked away, after a few steps, I turned back around and she enthusiastically waved to me.  I may never see her again, but I made a new friend today; and I thank Our Lord for the time Ellena and I spent together. 

~*~*~*~*

A couple of hours later after I got home, my friend Jan called.  Y'all would love Jan; her eyes also sparkle when she smiles; and often, her smile leads me to wonder what kind of delightful mischief she is planning.  She has a huge heart and great sense of fun; both qualities I find absolutely marvelous and quite endearing.  

Incidentally, Jan was my partner-in-crime back in '06, up in Sandpoint, Idaho, during the grape-stomping contest that some of y'all know about.  For those that aren't familiar with the story, she and I entered a grape-stomping contest together.  It was purely and completely spontaneous - we were zipping down the road in her vehicle and came up on an live, outdoor radio broadcast at a local winery.  We each had our own vat of grapes and we danced and stomped to, "What I like about You!," periodically pointing to each other during the song's refrain.   It's one of my favorite memories.

A few minutes into our conversation today, I told Jan about my morning.  I didn't know why I was telling her, but I was.  God Bless her . . . within minutes, she had determined a solution to my dilemma . . . if I ordered whatever I wanted to order, she would pick it up and take such food and me to the meeting.  Wow!  Is that cool or what?!  I was so wanting to not have to resort to pizza delivery, and her generous offer helped me avoid that entirely.  Thank you, Jan!  You know I think you're pretty awesome, and I just want to tell you that one more time.

So!  I bet y'all are wondering what I decided upon, aren't y'all?  You're not?  Oh.  Well, I'll tell y'all anyway . . . my business meeting compatriots will be dining this week on chilli, from one of our awesome local restaurants.  And there will be enough for even the hungriest to have their fill. 

~*~*~*~*

Our Lord is so very good.  First He gifted me with a stranger who absolutely radiated love.  Through her, Our Lord encouraged me and reminded me what's really important.  THEN, he presented me with a solution to the very situation I was stressing over to begin with . . . again through another person; this time a cherished friend.

Truly, no man is an island. 

(Or, as I told Jan today . . . it takes a village to raise a Sharon-Marie).

:)

Abundant Blessings, y'all! 

Sharon-Marie Jordan © 2010 - All rights reserved.

Welcome!

Hey y'all!

Sharon-Marie here, writing to you from the Beautiful Wild, Wild West ~ specifically, Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

I know what some of y'all are probably  thinking  . . . Didn't she just move from there about a year ago?  Good question!  And yes, I did; such move taking place in September of '07.  They say that Jackson gets into a person's blood.  It sure did with me.

Last June ('08), I flew back to Jackson for a visit.  I reconnected with friends, got reacquainted with those majestic slabs of granite otherwise known as The Grand Tetons, drank my visual fill of awesome wildlife and beautiful scenery, hiked some, played some, thought some and just generally had a blast.

I was there for a month; and before my visit was even over, I knew that I absolutely had to move back.  And, move back I did . . . this past November, in fact.

 

 

*~*~*~*~*

And what a flurry of activity it's been these past 3 months!

In December, I flew to San Francisco to participate in an intensive two-week training at ITMI (International Tour Management Institute).  The result of which is that I am now a certified, professional Tour Director.  I am very excited about this new career!  I've always wanted to travel to near and distant lands; and now I've been given a great way in which to do this.

In January, I flew to San Marcos to attend a 4-day symposium between tour directors and tour operators.  I'm very glad I went, and I feel I gained quite a bit of valuable information from the symposium.  I was also able to more precisely define how I want to utilize being a tour director.

During these past couple of weeks since I returned from Texas, I have been researching tour companies, creating various websites and just generally attempting to get all my ducks to line up in a neat, little row.  My ducks, however, balk at neat, little rows being thrust upon them.  That's ok . . . it keeps life interesting. 

 

 

*~*~*~*~*

To all my friends who have, at times, been exasperated with me over the past few years for my lack of communication, I truly and humbly apologize.  I'm working on improving that aspect of me, and I'm hoping that this blog will help in that area.

Please let people know about "Dancing With Moose."  It's opened to everyone who is interested in reading it.

May Our Lord abundantly bless each of y'all.

HIS Peace and HIS Joy,

Sharon-Marie