Great thought! and yes, it is hard to pull off a random act of kindness, but it's fun to try! thanks, Doug. We enjoy your blog. See you September 15th.

I meant to send a reply a day or two ago, but have been busy working out in the field, which is a good thing, but not so pleasant on these horribly hot days. Your comments about acts of kindness are so true. One of my grandfathers, who taught me so much moe than my own father ever did, instilled in me to live my life in just such a manner. If I could make a career of doing kind deeds for people, I think I'd be a rich man indeed, and not exactly in a monetary sense. I spent today with a geologist who is going to do some work in that area for the man I work for, and I guess I spent most of those seven hours with him telling him about Leconte Lodge. I often get carried away telling people about it, I guess because I so want to return there myself, and often. But until I get my knee back in shape I doubt I'll be coming, at least not any more this year. And next month I'll be submitting my request for 2011 dates, etc. Hope things are going well up at the lodge, too. Say hello to Millie for me; she was most kind when I met her in April. See ya. Doug Y.