Suitably Shod

The White's slip on like kid gloves. You pick the style and send a tracing of your foot. Then it's back and forth -- they pay the postage -- until you're satisfied. Every time I put them on I think, "These boots are nice!"

OMG! It IS curved!!

(what does it mean?)

The chair (the boots are on) was "worked" by Sophie, my cat, now dead these eight years or so. Here's a detail from the above photo that sort of captures her mein.

Ah, found it! A mergers-and-acquisitions specialist, she particularly enjoyed hostile takeovers.

In Her Prime

Why waste The Rolls (Royce) on the vacuity of mall-world? This pair of Eddie Bauer-esque Volkswagens showed up to suffice for trodding der boring-und-mundane.

And what is there to do in town but....dance? So far I've found three different groups at three different senior/community centers.

This pair of humble wannabes appeared, on sale, for $2.00. They fit perfectly.

Mesquite: An Arboreal Love Affair

I recently discovered Mesquite: An Arboreal Love Affair (by Gary Paul Nabhan and Petey Mesquitey) on the non-fiction table at the library and am enjoying it enough to succumb to the urge to "share."

Nabhan writes in a delightful "post-modern" style; a combine of 12-year-old humor with hints (notes?) of Buster Keaton-esque silliness while weaving a story around a serious -- and particularly pertinent to the SW -- subject. 

In addition, his passing mention (on p. 72) of Ms. Sandra Lanham (2001 recipient of MacArthur "genius award") 

led to further readings about her and her support of environmental scientists...all amazing and heartening information in an age of seemingly boundless environmental deterioration.

                                                                                             FIVE STARS!

Below was "lifted" from Amazon page

Winner of a 2019 Southwest Book Award (BRLA)

An homage to the useful and idiosyncratic mesquite tree

In his latest book, Mesquite, Gary Paul Nabhan employs humor and contemplative reflection to convince readers that they have never really glimpsed the essence of what he calls “arboreality.”

As a Franciscan brother and ethnobotanist who has often mixed mirth with earth, laughter with landscape, food with frolic, Nabhan now takes on a large, many-branched question: What does it means to be a tree, or, accordingly, to be in a deep and intimate relationship with one?

To answer this question, Nabhan does not disappear into a forest but exposes himself to some of the most austere hyper-arid terrain on the planet―the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts along the US/Mexico border―where even the most ancient perennial plants are not tall and thin, but stunted and squat.

There, in desert regions that cover more than a third of our continent, mesquite trees have become the staff of life, not just for indigenous cultures, but for myriad creatures, many of which respond to these “nurse plants” in wildly intelligent and symbiotic ways.

In this landscape, where Nabhan claims that nearly every surviving being either sticks, stinks, stings, or sings, he finds more lives thriving than you could ever shake a stick at. As he weaves his arid yarns, we suddenly realize that our normal view of the world has been turned on its head: where we once saw scarcity, there is abundance; where we once perceived severity, there is whimsy. Desert cultures that we once assumed lived in “food deserts” are secretly savoring a most delicious world.

Drawing on his half-century of immersion in desert ethnobotany, ecology, linguistics, agroforestry, and eco-gastronomy, Nabhan opens up for us a hidden world that we had never glimpsed before. Along the way, he explores the sensuous reality surrounding this most useful and generous tree.

Mesquite is a book that will delight mystics and foresters, naturalists and foodies. It combines cutting-edge science with a generous sprinkling of humor and folk wisdom, even including traditional recipes for cooking with mesquite.

Concessions, Compromises, Anniversaries

She's been working on the kitchen for a while. New counter tops, new sink; the yellowed, sunflower-patterned wallpaper removed...from both the walls and the cabinet doors. She has plans for the cabinets...and she has managed to pick out (and apply) the purple.

The two cats above the sink came from Margaret Krahenbuhl's estate. Michelle adopted Belle & Jesse James after Margaret died. The two mugs to the right of the cat sculptures were made in Italy. Michelle's mom, Susan (died, Nov 2015) bought them on a trip to San Francisco.



The plate next to the paper-towel dispensor

was a gift from one of the faculty in my department at the University of New Mexico. She did an exchange semester with a professor from Australia and brought it back as a gift.

The floor was redone just a couple of weeks ago. The 35-year-old linoleum was still in good shape, but it's texture was a dirt magnet. She likes a smooth surface that's easy to clean. And after 25 years of hands-and-knees scrubbing (We Germans KNOW how to clean floors!), I was more than happy to see it go.


I have to have meat in the evenings or I get hungry in the middle of the night. Michelle can't stand the smell of cooked meat so we open the doors and turn on the fan to air things out. She doesn't mind it cool and when not attired for work, practically lives in a soft, thick robe.

Breakfast with Trixie

I dislike clothes, except as adornment, and don them only under duress. But I get cold when it drops below 85.

At the dinner table; lamb leg steaks. Doors open, fan on high.

On the 16th we celebrated the 2nd anniversary of the contractualization of our relationship.

Homeward bound on the 16th, I chanced upon this canning jar of eight or ten tulips in Albertson's. Their delicate coloration perfectly evoked the most intimate of erotic delights. Their passion spent, their subtleties evince the myriad permutations of a long-term relationship.

On April 1st we'll celebrate our 29th anniversary of our mutual-admiration association. The card on the table shows a donut hole running to "mate" with a donut. The text says: "You complete me."


We're coming around the far turn with Phoebe. Just a couple remaining details; we hope to depart for warmer climes Thursday....or maybe Friday.

Group Evacuation

Some years back they put in an "industrial area" across from the community college and across the other street from the basketball arena famously known as "The Pit." (My thinking is that in the event of an "incident" they want to maximize the reduction of the surplus population.)



The area is frequently patrolled and there are signs similar to ones you'll see at Los Alamos and The Base, pointing the way to buildings with cryptic, and, one surmises, purposefully ambiguous designations. The signs hint at lasers, bio-engineering and things that go bump in the night. This one, in vernacular, almost made me laugh aloud.

Donchyuh love it's at a slant?

Albuquerque!

Albuquerque, with Kirtland Air Force Base and Sandia Labs (an offshoot of Livermore), is a center of advanced weapons research. If any of 'em ever gets loose, ain't NO ONE gonna stick around to "group;" it'll be every fool for themselves!


Of the two stickers in the lower right of the sign, the upper is an advert for Route 66 Casino. The bottom has something to do with The Lobos, a University of New Mexico sports team.

Scott Johnson - Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Fe

An extraordinary exhibit. Photos & '"words" worthless, but wanted to alert anyone in the neighborhood -- this is a MUST SEE!

Each is no more than 10 inches (25cm) high/long.

Infinittude

At a Distance

(note reflection of "painting" on wall)

The installation above is rows of shelves of books that were packed with clay and fired. On some you can see vague hints of text. Many are broken, obviously "accidents" that must've occurred during the installation.

Fragility, delicacy, sensuality...

The installation around the corner from this one is completely different. It's an incredible agglomeration of flotsam that has elements that, if they have any cohesiveness, offer vague allusions to the sea. But their placement and the incongruities are so myriad that one is almost immediately overcome by the thrill of reminiscence of your own childhood collection (I'm still accumulating) or the fascination of having stumbled into The Reluctant Dragon's treasure room; I didn't even attempt.

Through February 2, 2020.

www.ccasantafe.org


At the risk of understating the originality of Mr. Johnson's work, he also creates large, glass "cases," some longer than tall and some taller than long, but all contain mirrors that create infinittudes. These are placed close enough to the installation of flotsam and a large blue neon polyhedron (almost five feet in diameter) to create an indescribable dimension of geometric surreality.




I don't know if Scott wrote this but it doesn't even BEGIN to convey the incredible magic. After reading it, I almost didn't go.

Looking from the mid-point of the "painting." Each half is about four feet long. If you look closely, you can see the corner of the wall.

Having done development work (professional pan-handling) much of my life (mostly for arts organizations, but I was very proud of helping obtain a large grant for , I found it interesting that Christians were the least likely give. As a Marketeer (always making note of demographics and statistics) I was intrigued to discover it is animal-lovers, of all persuasions, that are more likely to help out. Strange, but true. Please consider making a donation. Today's VISA stands at: $13,659.04. And Phoebe has a new instrument cluster...with speedometer; the old one broke.

It's Been a Year

Mine Vater (father) vas ein double-agent in das second vorld var. He vas, oshtensibly, on der American side und very proud of helping many peoples escape from der Nazi.

Vee moved many times, several years in Japan, den back to Germany; I sink it vas so dey vould not find und keel him.

He vas a big fan uv Richard Wagner und on der veekends, inshtead uf vahching shportz, he vood take out a moozik stand mit ein libretto, und conduct an opera (mit a baton).

Unable to afford das Jensen speakers he vanted, he'd built a pair zat did a fine job uf rattling das vinders. I alvays vondered vy I had so few friends, but being das ranking officer in der building, dey could not complain.

He did such a gut job, after duh var dey gave him der Wagner's home to live in mit ein chauffeur, a cook und a gardener. Doze ver good times for he und mine Mutti (mom). Dey schpent der days skiing das Alps; she said der vimmen vent topless as vas der custom und it vas so varm.

He vas German und children ver not allowed at der table until dey could behaif. Mine brudder und I ate in der kitchen. I vas about nine ven I vas allowed to attend der opera in Frankfurt. I saw several ballets und symphonies, but it vas Der Meistersinger (note CORRECT schpelling uff Nurnberg) dat made zee deepest impression.

Der opera house is everysing you can imagine in opulence. Pure German! Und altho it ist impossible to forget der horror of vat der Nazis did, I also tink of vaht vee haf done to das Indigenous Americans...blankets mit smallpox, der Long Valk und numerous massacres of vimmen und children. Do you vunder I prefer to live in der vylds, away from most people?

But as vee move toward yet another Spring, it is, in das time uff kalt und no topless vimmen, a bit of rousing moozic to lighten zee heart. Yah!!

Und if Sie habben a few pennies to throw at zee $14,000 VISA debt (Phoebe's repairs), please feel free to take advantage of the Paypal button at the upper right of the blog. Dankeschon!!!

Glass Harp

From Poland 

website

http://glassduo.com/en/

Sugar Plum Fairy

Erik Satie

Gnossienne #1

(shooting & editing: http://www.eistermusic.com/ )

Bach Tocatta & Fugue

Clouds Chasing the Moon

Wiki Article

If  you missed the post about Phoebe's repairs (link to the post with preface about repairs), please consider making a donation. 

It's rough being reduced to asking for help. My family has only been in this position once before, when my grandfather, a surgeon at Fort Bayard Hospital near Silver City, dropped dead of a heart attack. His widow, a Catholic, appealed to numerous charities, but it was St. Vincent de Paul that anted up with shelter and support until they got back on their feet. That was in the 1930s.

The Cats of Copenhagen

Like many otherwise sensible people, James Joyce detested, even loathed, dogs; but he thought the world of cats. In the first chapter of Ulysses in which Leopold Bloom appears, the very first conversation is between a hungry feline and a kind-hearted Bloom.

Brainpickings is a blog by Maria Popova.

The link below is to one about James Joyce's childrens' story.


https://www.brainpickings.org/2012/11/02/the-cats-of-copenhagen-james-joyce/

Grayl Water Purifier

Well, the bill for Phoebe's repairs came to just under $9,000.00. With my debt already a bit above $4,000.00, I'm now nearly maxed out. So, for the foreseeable future every post will begin with an entreaty for assistance. I had to declare bankruptcy sometime in the not-too-distant past and as a result my VISA has a hefty interest rate. I'm signed up for Zelle which doesn't, unlike Paypal (DONATION button in upper right of blog), take a percentage. As the guys on the street-corners signs say: "Any amount will help."

The pipe came out of the side of the mountain and the stream of water sparkled in the summer sun. It fell into a trough that looked pretty clean. I was somewhere in The Granites, east of Contact, Nevada following faint two-tracks, some of which were so overgrown there was little more than a hint that  anyone'd passed this way before. I was low on water and still (hoping, anyway) several days from  returning to pavement.

A couple of weeks later, pain in my kidney area motivated a trip to the Emergency Room in Twin Falls, Idaho, the nearest town. After declining an MRI, the doc suggested I find a nephrologist; the nearest was in Salt Lake City. Fortunately, I found one in Provo, thereby avoiding the Big City. After listening to my tale, he thought we could avoid the melodrama of an MRI and prescribed Metronidazole, an antibiotic frequently used to treat giardia. I carry the one refill he gave me....just in case.

Then, the other day (June, 2019), whilst strolling the wilds of Utah, we had a chance meeting. In the course of exchanging pleasantries and inquiries of each other's needs (we were all fully accoutrecized) and about to continue on our ways, one of us must have mentioned water. She allowed as how she'd traveled extensively in Africa with a Grayl Water Purifier. Mine arrived today.

Grayl (basically) makes one product in two sizes. Each is available in several colors. I have a tendency toward "Out of sight, out of mind" and opted for one I hope will catch my eye when I decide to move on.

And now the extra Metronidazole can (unconcernedly) fade to impotence.

Phoebe

By the Book is owned by Daniel Phillips. Before Daniel bought it it was RPM Automotive and owned by a flat-topped ex-Marine named Dick. With the change in ownership I wondered what else might change. Over the past three years Daniel and his team have done most of the work on Phoebe and this last bit, the rebuild of the engine, transmission and transfer case, have dispelled all my concerns. If you're in Albuquerque and your vehicle needs work, this is the place.

Hup We Go! Easy, easy!

Rebuilt & Ready to Install

Transmission
(back from Texas)

Skyler 

Did the Work

Proud Owner

Mil Gras to
By the Book

Water Use & Fracking In The West - Center For American Progress

I'd not heard of The Center for American Progress until I picked up a (free) copy of the Greenfire News at the library. Among other environmentally-related articles was a short one about oil & gas leases threatening water security. At the bottom of the article was the link in the sentence below. It's about the amount of water utilized in fracking. (and to reassure those only marginally interested, it's relatively short.)

Water use in fracking.

It's Gonna Get Crowded

The other day I heard there were 10,000 boomers hitting the road each month. After a bit of internet research I found a couple of clarifying articles:

The rumor appears to've originated with AARP. The stat is that 10,000 reach age 65 every day...not that they take to the road.
https://arc.aarpinternational.org/countries/united-states

Here's a more in-depth ("glumly") article from the Pew Research Center:
https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2010/12/20/baby-boomers-approach-65-glumly/

You KNOW they enjoyed hitch-hiking around. Now they can DRIVE around!

HE drives
(some things never change)

She Can't Believe He Gets Off On it

A Blonde

Is there a mens' room nearby? 

(he's gotta pee again!)

Cialis Advert

Mansplaining

(she feigning interest)

Linda Durham

I may have written of it before, how after grossing $50k for several years I went to Linda and paid her $150.00 for an hour of advice. She said the ante just gets higher, but the roller coaster stays the same. A $250k painting'll sell and then nothing for six months; if it weren't for her husband's fine-cabinet business, they'd often have trouble making the car payment. It took another year, but it was that conversation that helped me decide to quit while I was only $7k in debt.

Soon thereafter, in 2000, Laura Carpenter, who represented Agnes Martin, declared bankruptcy....on $25M. Agnes's 4' x 4' paintings were bringing 1.2 - 1.5M at that time (late 90s). As painful as it was to close the gallery, I knew I'd made the right decision. (Years later a west-coast dealer said she'd done quite well during that time -- when the dot-com bubble was in full bloom.)

No doubt it's the collective unconscious encouraging me toward Mexico, but suddenly Linda came to mind. This montage about her house for sale includes the tidbit that she's moved south of the border.

In this two-part interview (23, August, 2019) she talks about her beginnings and career and in the second part describes how it feels to be 76.

Near the end of part two she offers:
"Pay attention to what is already there...to the rivers, the ocean, the homeless."

A short article that describes her vision.

Her most recent, as of 25.Feb.2023, website.

https://www.lindadurham.us/

What Should I Do...

With My Life? The True Story of People Who Answered the Ultimate
Question

by Po Bronson.

Based on the fundamental idea we have to make a living, his stories have that as a "bottom line." But his research into finding people who are successful, and not because they have money, but because they either love what they do or are confident in the process, is compellingly written and conveys the wisdom he gleaned. 

Herewith the last paragraph from page 360 (hardbound, ISBN: 0-375-50749-3):

"But I'd rather help than watch. I'd rather have a heart than a mind.I'd rather expose too much than too little. I'd rather say hello to strangers than be afraid of them.I would rather know all this about myself than have more money than I need.I'd rather have something to love than a way to impress you."

And I'd add, "Best of all, is/are someone(s) to share love with."

Happy New Year!

For those who're "beyond" work(said with Maynard G. Krebs' inflection), I commend to YOU: How To Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression and Transcendence

by Michael Pollan.

And lastly, a bit of "deep thoughts" (note lengthy belch) from the archives...

https://newmexnomad.blogspot.com/2012/08/ive-been-reading-peripheral-visions.html