Night and day......

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8:19 am - Wednesday - September 20th - 37º F, humidity 68%, wind 6 mph out of the south southeast.....feels and sounds more like 10-15 mph.....heavy cloud cover....forecast is for 50% chance of rain and a high in Gardiner, MT of 52º F, and 46º F for Mammoth Hot Springs, WY.  Got down to 50º F inside the coach last night......perfect sleeping weather, no?  As of today, Wednesday, we have precisely 2 weeks until we roll our 14 wheels (Newell = 6, trailer = 4, VW = 4......total = 14.....not putting the VW in the trailer for the 52 mile jaunt up to Livingston) north to Livingston where we will leave the Newell and trailer whilst we drive into Billings to catch our flight south for our son Tim's wedding.

Tuesday was probably the first off day in a long time we have not gone anywhere, or done anything.......I personally dedicated Tuesday to finishing up my 2016 tax returns (state and federal) so I can file them by the extension deadline of 10/15/2017.  Since we travel full time not all the documentation we require to complete our tax returns catches up with us by April 15th each year so we have always filed for a 6 month extension, and I almost always put off finishing my returns until the last minute.  In past years it has taken me the better part of a day to do finish them, but now that we no longer have dependents, no more 1099 income, and no more mortgage interest to claim it has become much less complicated.  I was able to complete our state and federal 2016 returns in less than 3 hours from beginning to end, and that included going into ADP to print down our W-2's from TVC (Equity Lifestyles, Inc.)......as has been the case for the 3 years we worked there our W-2's are never mailed to us.....thank goodness for ADP, right?

While I was in the middle of 'tax season' TLE did her workout, and then went to the Gardiner Market to do a 'small shopping'.  By the time she returned it was just a matter of us signing and dating the returns and then getting on with our day.  I spent some time reading (finished the 4th book of Stephen King's 7 volume Dark Tower series and began the 5th.....way better than the movie!).  There were, of course, a few naps thrown in for good measure.  Finally around 4 pm I got around to doing my workout (stationary bike, pushups, situps, lower back exercises, etc.), and then it was time for 'Happy Hour'.  In all I stepped outside the Newell twice Tuesday.....once for my workout in the trailer, and the second time to dispose of our trash.....otherwise I spent all day inside the Newell.

In closing I have a few thoughts to share regarding our three months working for Delaware North.  From our very first contact with them back in early June until today I have been very impressed with the professionalism of every single person I have come in contact with from our HR representative, to the staff which conducted our 6 hour orientation class, to the managers of the various General Stores within Yellowstone.  To a person they all hold themselves to a very high professional standard without fail.  It is obvious to me that the upper management folks who hire those with whom we have had contact know what they are doing, and are good judges of people.  This professional attitude is not just here in Yellowstone, but has continued in our contacts with a completely different Delaware North HR office which handles the Grand Canyon General Stores.  Every e-mail is answered promptly, and every phone call is returned promptly.  The information given via these two communication mediums as well as their website has always been spot on accurate.  There are never any broken promises, and their managers return year after year to work for them.  A good example of this loyalty is our manager here at the Mammoth Hot Springs General Store.....she has worked for Delaware North year round for almost 17 years.  She leads by example.....doesn't micro manage her employees, and keeps her word.....when there is an employee problem she deals with it promptly, professionally, and effectively......I cannot ask for more.....would you?  Contrast this experience with our three years working for Equity Lifestyles, Inc........night and day....and that is all I have to say about that.

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