Yosemite photos

[tenaya]

A small selection can be found here:
Yosemite

I think I'd added a couple more photos to the varmit folder a few days ago. I took a bunch of skunk photos tonight because they were being so funny. The little ones play non-stop with each other; stomping, charging, wrestling. They appear to be the happiest of creatures. I'll have to go through those tomorrow.

Cutiepie was by with her sixpack. I'm on the last bag of kibble so we HAVE to go shopping tomorrow.

Comments

[khek.livejournal.com]

Wow. Those photos are GORGEOUS.

I want to go to Yosemite!

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Of course, it's hard not to take a great picture at this place.

You know, they do allow dogs on leashes there. I bet Maggie would love it. ;-)

[nausica2.livejournal.com]

Those are AWESOME. Wow. We don't have nature like that here. Ours is pretty but smaller. Wow.

*Adds Yosemite to the places to visit*

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Yosemite is pretty unique in the world. I go up there to feel the spiritualness of the place, and enjoy the serenity -- but in the fall or winter as it's not so crowded. It's pretty then, too. It's up near San Francisco, which is very pretty, and the California coast is exceptional up that way too. Lots to see if you do decide to visit.

About your Canadian trip, has anyone told you about saving receipts to get a refund on your GST (government state tax)?

[nausica2.livejournal.com]

I've always wanted to visit California. Let's see if in the future it can be arranged. :)

About your Canadian trip, has anyone told you about saving receipts to get a refund on your GST (government state tax)?

Nope. It's like the Canadian version of VAT, right? How does it work?

When I'm done with the exam (next week, yay!) It'll be time to do some serious planning. *g*

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

Check here for the official stuff:
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tax/nonresidents/visitors/tax-e.html

Basically, when you buy some stuff, you have to pay both a government tax (GST, which is 10%) and a provincial tax. Visitors to Canada can save their original receipts and send them in to get a refund on the GST/HST. You'll want to save your hotel receipts, and receipts from souvenirs for over $50 Canadian dollars (so if you and Luki are each going to buy $25 at the same place, pool your purchases and you'll get back 10%.) Restaurants don't count, nor do car rentals.

When you leave the country (perhaps through the Vancouver airport?) when you enter the building, the first thing you'll do is find the little office where they will review your receipts and stamp them. If they aren't stamped, they don't count. After you do that, you can go to your airline and check in for your flight.

Also, you will see many different forms for this purpose, most of them offering to help you with this procedure for a fee (like $25 or so.) You don't need help with this. Get the form from the office as there is no extra fee involved.

I sent in receipts for Mom and I, and a month later got back the american equivilent of $360 Canadian.

Good luck and have fun.

[moonchildetoo.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous pix of Yosemite! I envy you being there.

Uh-oh, nothing worse than running out of chow, at least at my house.

I watched a wonderful PBS program the other night about ravens, of all things. They're as smart as wolves, coyotes, dogs and cats, and have a definite sense of humor/whimsy/fun. Plus great Celtic music soundtrack.

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :-)

I wished I'd seen that program. Last time I was at Yosemite, I went to a ranger talk. She'd studied ravens up in Alaska and had all sorts of great stories. Apparently they form friendships with wolves. At Yosemite, she said she had seen them 'sleding' down snow drifts on their backs, flying back to the top and repeating. Also, there are 'chimneys' in the cliff face over near Sentinel. The ravens fly into the chimneys at the bottom and the updrafts shoot them up until they come spinning out at the top. Wheeeee!!! Then they go back and do it again. They sound like quite the characters!

[moonchildetoo.livejournal.com]

They talked a lot about the raven/wolf partnership. The ravens have to rely on the wolves to get at their food since the ravens can't do the initial tearing up, and they lead the wolves to food. They showed several mins. of footage of ravens rolling in the snow, having a ball. They seem to play when they fly, too.

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

I've checked Tivo and I can't find anything about ravens. If you ever hear of it on again, give a hollar, please.

[moonchildetoo.livejournal.com]

Will do!