Ground Control

to Major Tom:

Drink your milk

and put your jammies on.

Here I am sitting in a tin can

                                    and there's nothing I can do.

It's A Wrap

It all came together pretty loosely. Considering everyone is hunkering-in-space, the geoproximity worked well enough to prompt me tuh look up (online) some of the folks in the sound-healing community. Next time maybe I'll get to chat with a few.

Peace, Brother

I had a nice two-day run up to Cottonwood where Marie surprised me with a Thanksgiving Feast of turkey, smashed taters with gravy and stuffing, greenbean casserole, celery sticks with kalamata-laden cream cheese lounging in their recesses, some cranberry sauce and a wonderful cranberry dessert!

After off-loading the art supplies we visited for a bit and then I headed south and west....toward warmer climes, we hopes.

A splendid repast! Thank you, Rie!

So Much For Thanksgiving

Glad we got past that! Who wants to be reminded of smallpox-laden blankets, innumerable massacres of women and children, the lopping off of hands and feet of the Acomas. Of course, there's the pie. Not quuuuuuite as effective as heroin, but cheaper...and legal.

I found a couple of people in Tucson who might be interested in Andy's wands.

(Wands is something of a misnomer, but that's what he calls the pear-shaped transducers. They're speakers encased in silicone and are used by placing them on a person's body.)

But his website still needs work so I'm waiting. In the olde days a salesman'd hand youse a brochure; nowadays it's a URL. Without it, I might as well save my breath. Here's what he currently has. I'm renting the wands for $40.00 a month. 

I've been usin' 'em every day for anywhere from 10 tuh 20 minutes and the sciatica is definitely easing off. It's hard tuh accept that something as woo-woo as running a modulating tone through one's body would relieve pain, but when you get to this point you'll try anything. 

I remember when my uncle's 2nd wife was dying of cancer and they tried shark fin, a pyramid (it sharpened his dull razor blades!) and some other stuff. She died anyway. But this is working! And they're a lot less invasive than cortisone shots tuh the spine! (Andy's website)

So I'm headin' north tuh deliver the care-package of art supplies tuh Marie (NONEATALL) in Cottonwood.

It's a bit chillier here at 3660 feet altitude about half way.

Blog To Share

Pepper and I nearly met five years ago when I was racing eastward enroute to a crisis in Albuquerque. I waited at the crossroads for an hour (near Gila Bend, maybe?) but we'd gotten our times mixed up. 

A couple of months ago we got to meet in Albuquerque when she made a special trip from Farmington. 

https://littlehouseonwheelschptr2.blogspot.com/

She's an intrepid non-pareil; there's no telling what she'll do next. You may wanna check in now and then to see what she's come up with.

Only For Me - Saguaro Ntl Pk East

A short drive from her house.

In the middle of the trail!

(owl pellet?)

It was crowded at The Pass

West shoulder

Asleep standing, enMasked, of course

For Posteriority

Over the years a few places have emerged as re-usables like when when from here to there. As unusual as it is for me to camp in the same spot, I'll often take time to explore the area further. Don't you?

This time, just fifteen minutes from the previous night's camp, I wandered into an area rife with diversity: granite outcrops, plants untold, birds, including a red-tail hawk and, after sunset, an owl.

Although this is SO "typical, boring-blog photo," I took it to remind me that this is cat-claw country, a cousin of the African "wait-a-bit." AND, there are several kinds of yucca. In the right foreground you can see a Multi-stalk and in the left middle-ground a Giraffe-esque Yucca. And there, center-stage, trying not to look too proud, is a Scrub Oak. There're some cool stacked rocks out there too.

HOLES!!

Interesting growth on either side of a crack

Closeup of interesting growth on either....

Fossil Labia

You just never know what's around the next bend.

Gaelynn Lea

 

Sexuality and Disability

You may want to turn on CLOSED CAPTIONING.

It's the small rectangle to the right under the video with CC in it. 

The Long Way Around

Lyrics

When two souls meet
And the whole world feels new
Shared moments sweet
All colors bright and true
And there is laughter
And there are good things growing everywhere
And I’m happy to be in this place with you
And I’m happy to be in this place

You let it out
You laid it all across the table
What’s this about?
And you’re making me unstable
And I don’t want to go down this road with you
No I don’t want to go down this road

I want to go
But I can’t, and I won’t
I’ll learn to sew
Up the wounds that I broke
Open with you
‘Cause I knew, and I chose
And I don’t feel at home in this world anymore
No don’t feel at home in this world

We rein it in
And there is better understanding
Nobody wins
When there is flight without the landing
And we learn
To keep our hearts in time
Try not to burn
The careful ties that bind us together
And I’m taking the long way around with you
I’m taking the long way around
And I’m happy to be in this place with you
And I’m taking the long way around

credits

released September 27, 2019
Gaelynn Lea: Violin / Vocals / Lyrics / Music
Alan Sparhawk: Baritone Guitar
Charlie Parr: Resonator Guitar
Jeremy Ylvisaker: Electric Guitar
David Mehling: Electric Guitar / Harmonium / Piano
Jason McGlone: Synthesizer

Recorded & Edited by Jake Larson at Sacred Heart Music Studio in Duluth, MN
Edited & Mixed by Tucker Martine at Flora Recording & Playback in Portland, OR
Mastered by Robert Hadley at Hadley Mastering in Los Angeles, CA

Executive Producer: Harrison Reiner

license

all rights reserved

Tucson Ho!

I'm taking some art supplies to NONEATALL in Cottonwood, Arizona. 

Easel For Rie

On the way I'll visit with Rex & Robin.

Then it's on to Tucson. Due to Covid, Desert Dominion is still not holding in-person events, but I hope to get a tour of their facility. 

I'm also carrying a set of the Zadrozny (Zuh-drohj-nee) wands, the sound-healing device developed by Andy Zadrozny, former bassist for the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. I hope to find some connections among the alternative-therapy community that will result in sales of the wands and his sound-healing table. 

The wands are silicone-encased transducers that impart tones and/or sound waves into a person's body. Amazingly, this can ease or relieve muscle and nerve pain and, when placed appropriately, induce orgasm (in females).

A video in which Andy talks about the origins of his interest. For more information, contact Andy at 206-748-0153.

Michelle painted my walking stick.

That's Michelle's serigraph Raised In Captivity above my left shoulder. Warhol and other American serigraphers typically used 6 to 10 colors; Michelle often used over 40. For a number of years after she graduated her work was shown to other students at the University of New Mexico as an example of what is possible.

For The Record

As a result of the recent election, several bloggers and friends expressed renewed hope. Below is my response. 

All well and good to hope, but the closeness of the election shows a nation greatly divided in its ideals.

Regardless of who is president, the fact that we the people have such differing -- and almost equally divided -- opinions about the direction of our future does not portend well. I think we do ourselves a disservice to think so simplistically....that a different president will make that much difference. The fact Donald Trump even attained office should be a major warning signal, but the fact that everyone believes The President is actually responsible, points up how little we realize there are HUGE machinations that go on behind the scenes...and his actions have to be ratified.

We can hope a new president may be able to make some positive changes, but he will not be able to neutralize the avarice and strivings toward power that are motivating many others throughout the world. The Chinese are only BEGINNING to come into the 21st century (see: Three Gorges Dam); and they've done it in less than 15 years. As they continue to leave us farther in the dust Americans will have increasingly little impact on the economies they, the Chinese, will come to control.

With the threat of nuclear proliferation increasingly real, our military can no longer be relied on as a deterrent. And we've shown our own hand to be one based in our own imperialist self-interests too many times for people to take our claims of "promoting democracy" seriously any longer.

Biden and Harris may have won, but I'm afraid we, as a country, have lost. It will take more than a new president to keep us on the playing field, let alone compete. You can hope all you want, but if you listen to what's being said (by folks from around the globe) at the Rim of The Grand Canyon, at Bryce, at MOMA San Francisco, people are dissing us for our provincialism. Not that they don't have problems of their own, but on top of the stupid presidents, it is the condescending attitude of America toward the rest of the world that has fostered the enmity toward us. We need to focus on cleaning up our own house, but, unfortunately, the world isn't going to stop and wait for us. And increasingly that means we're just going to fall farther behind. I blame our education system; and the fact that we've been unwilling to do anything about it has served the interests of those who can just go elsewhere. 

A Challenge!

Challenge Transcendent!

And lastly, this sent from Brewed Journey (The Atlantic abt Peter Turchin), a blogger/reader. (Thanks, John!)

Medical Billing - A WONDERFUL Day In the Neighborhood

Today, quite by accident, I discovered Dr. Khoo, the cardiologist I met with back in July, had put in an order with Presbyterian Hospital for two CT scans, one for my chest and another for my abdomen and pelvis. 

(You wouldn't BELIEVE the enmity its leaves inspire in the next-door-neighbor.)

It seems Presbyterian's protocol is grounded in patient initiative; they wait to hear from them.  Somehow I'd missed the point (more likely I forgot) that Dr. Khoo had ordered the scans. My call today -- about a billing question -- was answered by a woman who asked if I was still interested in getting the scans.

After several calls to different departments, I learned the order (for the scans) was good until November of 2021 and I needed to have blood work done in advance. I called Dr. Khoo's office and they said they'd fax over an order (to the lab) for the bloodwork right away.  

Concerned about the cost, I'd acquired the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes and armed with those was in a position - assuming everyone used the same codes -- to learn how much more in debt I might wanna go. 

Then someone mentioned I might qualify for Presbyterian's financial assistance. BUT, Radiology Associates (R.A.) ALSO does CT scans and not only do they do them cheaper but since they do the reading (interpretation) for Presbyterian's scans, if I had R.A. do the scans I'd only get one bill. (This tidbit was delivered with such enthusiasm you'd think it was right up there with an absolution!)

A call to Presbyterian's Advocacy Center (financial assistance) gave me to hope I'd be eligible for 100% financial assistance EXCEPT for Radiology Associate's readings. This necessitated another call to R.A. to find out what they charge for reading sans scanning. (R.A., I was informed, does NOT offer financial assistance.)

I can apply to Presbyterian for financial assistance by having the forms mailed, completing them and mailing them back (takes longer), downloading a pdf and mailing it in (printer ink is INCREDIBLY expensive!) or I can apply online through an automated application process.

I scheduled the scans at Pres (as it's locally known) for Saturday at 2pm.

I've been on the phone for 2 hours and 47 minutes. It's a wonderful day in the neighborhood!

Oh, and guess what? The heart attack was March 8. This week Santa Cruz hospital called to let me know there's ANOTHER $500.00 owed. It took this long for the bill to float to the surface. You can't AFFORD a heart attack.

Confluence Project

Advocates For the West's case notes for Fall/Winter 2020 is available online here.

In it Anna Demetriades, Director of Communications & Outreach, recognizes the support of artist Rachel Teannalach (Teen-uh-lak). 

I've mentioned Advocates before and want to join them in expressing my gratitude to Rachel. 

The Confluence Project is a collaboration between Advocates For the West and artist Rachel Teannalach. 

Evening Glow

https://www.teannalach-confluenceproject.com/

Salmon River and Sawtooths

Rachel Teannalach's Website

http://www.teannalach.com/

Thank you Rachel!

Now That He - Trump - Is Gone

24.Nov.2023

I'm clearing stuff off the desktop at Michelle's and came across the file below. I felt it strong enough to post...if, for no other reason, than as a memento. I wrote it 9.Nov.2020.

All well and good to hope (now that he's gone), but the closeness of the election shows a nation greatly divided in its ideals.

Regardless of who is president, the fact that we the people have such differing -- and almost equally divided -- opinions about the direction of our future does not portend well.

Methinks we do ourselves a disservice to think so simplistically....that a different president will make that much difference. The fact Donald Trump even attained office should be a major warning signal, but the fact that everyone believes The President is actually responsible, points up how little we realize there are HUGE machinations that go on behind the scenes...and his actions have to be ratified. 

We can hope a new president may be able to make some positive changes, but he will not be able to neutralize the avarice and strivings toward power that are motivating many others throughout the world. The Chinese are only BEGINNING to come into the 21st century; and they've done it in a mere 15 years. As they continue to leave us farther in the dust Americans will have increasingly little impact on the economies they, the Chinese, will come to control.

With the threat of nuclear proliferation increasingly real, our military can no longer be relied on as a deterrent. And we've shown our hand to be based in our own imperialist self-interests too many times for people to any longer take seriously our claims of "promoting democracy."

Biden and Harris may have won, but I'm afraid we, as a country, have lost. It will take more than a new president to keep us on the playing field, let alone compete. You can hope all you want, but if you listen to what's being said (by folks from around the globe) at the Rim of Grand Canyon, at Bryce National Monument, at MOMA San Francisco, people are dissing us for our provincialism. 

Not that they don't have problems of their own, but on top of the stupid presidents, it's America's condescending attitude toward the rest of the world that has fostered enmity toward us.

We need to focus on cleaning up our own house, but, unfortunately, the world isn't going to stop and wait for us. And increasingly that means we're just going to fall further behind.

I blame our education system; the fact that we've been willing to accept its dumbing down has only served to make it easier to convince folks there're simple answers to our difficulties. Race prejudice, religious differences, over-population have yet to respond to slogans. 

Bristol Doughnuts

Irish Maid in Fort Smith, Arkansas has held the top spot for over 25 years. Their chocolate mousse is non-pareil!

The other evening, as I was cutting up one from Bristol, Emily asked if I'd tried Whoo's in Santa Fe. Actually, I had. They're good, but gave me indigestion. That could, of course, be because of the heart meds.

'Im sorry to say Bristol's are mediocre.  

But they have a REWARDS program!!! Get 10 stars and you get a FREE donut!

On Comanche...southwest of Morris.

Bernalillo

What once was a xenophobic Hispanics-only community, is now a bustling suburb.

From atop the long hill that used to ascend (for several miles) next to a sea-of-sage, one now looks out upon a ghetto.

The workers are housed in warrens nearer to town.

Further Down the Hill

The north-end intersection. Once only the KFC and McDonalds.

Ah! The Blatting of Loud Mufflers!

The Thrill of Being Somewhere!

Highway 550

I left Looking Glass Road in Utah a few minutes after 1:00 p.m., about half an hour early from usual. 

A few miles west of Farmington I took the 64 bypass. It was dark and I'd not been this route before. The road climbed up onto the mesa then wound through some hills. I was trundling along at about 40 miles an hour when a semi came up behind me; I moved onto the shoulder to let him by. From then on we barreled along at 60 until we came out onto 550 a couple of miles north of Angel Peak Scenic Area.

Calling it a "Scenic Area" is a little misleading. It's a huge gas field with pumps runnning constantly; the "area" sounds like an airfield with planes idling on runways. The scenic part is a huge pit of badlands while the gas field -- a prime example of BLM's multiple-uses policy, is mostly flat, over-grazed (but with cattle still on it) and covered with a low-growing shrub with mean little stickers.

The main road around the rim (of the badlands) is so washboarded I called the BLM office to complain. You take your chances on the other roads as they're mere scrapings through the brush put in place to enable servicing the wellpumps. There are places of loose sand and the sandy-clay turns into gumbo when wet.

But the washboard was so bad it motivated me to move onto the secondary roads which, although they have weeds growing in their middles, are at least (relatively) smooth. It was too dark to see so camp was a random choice settled on because there was a flat spot in the middle of a triangle at a junction. As a consolation prize the moon rose a golden buttery yellow and spread a magnificent glow throughout the night! This morning I was rolling by 10:30 a.m. 

Cabezon Peak & Associated Plugs

The Ojito Wilderness is out there somewhere. It's about an hour and half from Albuquerque. It looks closer on the map but you can't travel very fast on the dirt roads.

As you travel south, the landscape grows increasingly dramatic. The San Ysidro Anticline is in the middle of a geologic hodgepodge that includes active fumeroles, mudpits and several areas of anomalous contacts.

 

Geology 101 Field Trip

OOPS!

 

I wasn't sure how long it'd been

Nobody Home

(Nice steering wheel)

POTATOES!

Looking Glass Rock

It's all in the light. 

It's a palpable shift -- as Huxley notes in BRAVE NEW WORLD, unavailable in urbanity -- the bright holes in the inky blackness dim; color appears; smaller forms become distinct. Shadows deepen. 

The haziness of the stills taken with this camera evoke nostalgia. Their "instamatic" quality is reminiscent of images from my youth when I wore a 60-pd backback and traveled by foot and thumb.

Morning Shadow

A Little Later

Location Shot

A Bit Later

Green River, Utah

With full tanks of gas, propane and water, I pulled out of the West Winds Truck Stop. Sunset was almost over and I wasn't real happy with the idea of finding -- in the dark -- the spot I'd picked out 20 miles further. 

On my way arosst I-70, less than a mile from the aforementioned Truck Stop, I decided to "go see." Sure enough, there was a frontage road...and it looked like it went somewhere. Ah, somewhere! Wherefore art thou?

It was barely two miles to A Grand Spot...

with anomalous rocks...and some noise from the nearby freeway. But I didn't have to drive the 20 miles. And this morning I hiked the nearby hills and found these beautiful rocks.

Election Day Laughing Place (Nod to Unc' Remus)

Irony is wonderful, don' chew tink? I couldn't have found a more aptly named place to be on election day. It set me tuh thinkin' uv Br'er Rabbit an' his laughin' place.

Piddling down the east side of The Swell, I chanced upon hit a few miles north of Green River. Hit ain't marked or nuthin'. 

Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry

November, even early November, is pert near the end of the window for exploring Utah, but I'm continuing in and around The Swell. Yesterday it was the Jurassic National Monument and the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry.

Surmisal being a popular passtime, Imma gonba suspect there's only another week or so before cold temps arrive. In the meantime, I'll go over the top (of The Swell) and take 191 down to Green River. Thence down 24 to near Goblin Valley State Park where Ding & Dang slot canyons await exploration. 

Humble Home

Rolling Steel Tent was musing on the idea of home. I'm fortunate to have a gift for finding my way each evening. But, as I comment on his blog, some are more humble than others.

See Deborah Donahue's: The Western Range Revisited