Hotel Rex & Robin

I spent several days at The Hotel R&R north of Truth or Consequences. As the daytime temperatures rose, the traffic on the highway was an increasing impingement on my au-naturel style. It was time to be somewhere else.

The food was fabulous and Robin sent me home last night with two frozen, raw burger patties that by morning were perfect. Nothing like steak tartare for breakfast; like the good ole days!

I'm waiting for a cardiologist in Albuquerque to review the video of the angioplasty. I'm hoping he'll have a way besides bypass surgery to get through the blockages.

Jim Cooper, the Desert Walker, sent an informative email with questions for the cardiologist. Turns out he's a retired internist who specialized in intensive-care cardiology.

Alan Rasmussen -- who helped me get from the car to the Emergency Room at St. Mary's Hospital in Tucson -- took a job in W Virginia (I think). He was supposed to fly into JFK yesterday and begin work today. He's a respiratory therapist and, at age 70, was inclined to try and help some of the folks struggling with The Virus.

I'm camped near the Southeast end of the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico a few miles west of Interstate 25. I'm gonna piddle my way to Magdalena then northward to I-40 while waiting for the cardiologist to review all the notes and stuff. Then I'll decide what to do next.

Michelle recently discovered one of her clients was infected with The Virus. And since Michelle'd kissed the woman's cat she, Michelle, had to get tested. The results -- negative --  came back in two days. (Alan (see above) said it was taking seven to eight days some places back east.) "HHUURRAAAYY!!!" cried the cats.

Morning Tableau

My beloved coffee cup, the small, white porcelain type used in diners in the fifties, fell onto the rocks and broke. The herring jar is filling in during the interim. You can see a small bit of the Imusa Stove Top Espresso Maker behind the jar.

In the late afternoon I thought to do a small amount of LSD; perhaps I'd be able to discern the source of the angina. It was too small a dose (I'm still experimenting), but I enjoyed a pleasant evening listening to music. There were a few old favorites, Wooden Ships by Jefferson Airplane (I love the creaking at the beginning), but much was Amy Turk, harpist.

Safe Home

Drink To the Dead

Her Fugue in D Minor is extraordinary, as is her Claire de Lune.

 Muse's (not sure if they're "metal") Plug In Baby, and others, are also lovely.




Jim Cooper was the first and only person I've seen on foot in the week I've been here. I was so astonished I accosted him to hear his story. He said he's always enjoyed walking, as did his wife, but her health now keeps her from it.

He said March is the best month for wildflowers in Arizona; from Canmore, just east of Banff, his wife had grown tired of the winters there so they now live on Vancouver Island.

It was fun recalling my drive up the Trunk Road on the east side of the Rockies and resupplying in Canmore. I lucked out when I contacted the Canadian Department of Tourism about driving to Palmer, Alaska in 2010. Hearing of my aesthetic, the fellow told of a dirt road that runs up the east side of the Rockies....the Trunk Road. There were days, I took over a week getting to Canmore, when I saw only one or two other vehicles. But lots of trees (Ugh!). But the QUIET!!!! I can't commend it enough...but it is "The Wilds," so be prepared.

It feels as if my window, which wasn't really dirty to begin with, has been "freshened." There's a clarity that enabled me to notice the little purple flowers (lpfs) that were so profuse yesterday when Jim stopped by, are there but closed up, something I guess they do for the night.

Morning Vignette

The LPFs opened up with the morning sun. It's a purple profusion non-pareil!