Out Of The Loop....

Remember the people who said to you, "I don't have Internet and I don't want it.  I don't need it".  Really?  The world just whizzed by and left them in the dust.

                        

Arizona New Year's Wishes

Some words from the wise to help you get the New Year started right!



An old prospector shuffled into an Arizona mining town leading his tired pack mule behind him.  He headed straight for the saloon to soothe his parched throat, walked up to the bar steps and tied his old mule to the hitch rail.

As he stood there, brushing the dust from his clothes, a young gunslinger stepped out of the saloon with a gun in one hand and a half empty bottle of whiskey in the other.  He looked at the miner and said...

"Hey old man, have you ever danced?"

"No, I never did ", said the miner.  "Never really wanted to."

"Well, you're going to dance now", said the gunslinger and started shooting at the miner's feet.

The old man, not wanting to get a toe blown off, stared hopping around like a flea on a hot skillet.  The crowd was laughing and the young gunslinger, out of bullets, turned to go back into the saloon.

The old miner walked to his pack mule, pulled out a double barreled shotgun and cocked both hammers.  The loud clicks could be heard clearly in the desert air.  All the laughing stopped.  The gunslinger faced the miner and dropped the whiskey.

The silence was deafening.

The barrels of the shotgun never wavered in the old man's hands as he said,

"Son, have you ever wanted to kiss a mule's ass?"

The gunslinger swallowed hard and answered, "No sir....but I've always wanted to."

There are a few lessons here, that should serve everyone well in the New Year.

Never be arrogant.

Don't waste ammunition.

Whiskey makes you think you are smarter than you are.

Always, always make sure you know who has the power.

Don't mess with old folks.  They didn't get old by being stupid.

Joy - A Blogging Buddy

This is KJ on the left, with her partner Janet.  Sitting at MY kitchen table!!!  Blogging is all about reaching out and discovering a world beyond your front door.  That is how KJ and I discovered each other.   Never believe blogging friends aren't "real".  They are as real as it gets.  Look how lucky I got.  Two wonderful friends that I love dearly and are now part of my life. 

Reach out and hug someone.

This is my eleventh hug to you.

Pass it on.

Joy - The Digital Age

Joy!  What fun it is to live now.  I revel in the possibilities.

This is my tenth hug to you.

Pass it on.

Love - Where You Are

The Native American flute songs are haunting melodies, full of history and love of Mother Earth.  The Anazasi left deep toned flutes in caves, some of which were excavated in 1931.  They were dated to 600 A.D.

This is my ninth hug to you.

Pass it on.

Love - I Love The Whole World

What do you love?  Could you share it?

My eighth hug to you.

Pass it on.

Love - Love Stories

Love is the answer.  Forget Governments.  We can touch each other wherever we are.  Reach out.

This is my seventh hug to you.

Pass it on.

Peace - Imagine

Join me.  Let's try to make the world live as one people.

This is my sixth hug to you.

Pass it on.

Peace - Let It Begin With Me

You and I are friends, one people.  No borders.

This is my fifth hug to you.

Pass it on.

Peace - Heal The World

Make the world a better place.  I'll try for you.  You try for me.

My fourth hug to you.

Pass it on.



Peace - Stand By Me

Stand by me.  I'll stand by you.  I promise.

My third hug to you.

Pass it on.

Peace - Anyone Can Get Along

This is my second hug to you.

Pass it on.

Peace - Straight No Chaser

A group of friends and I went to see a concert by these wonderful singers recently. 

They're from Indiana University, my old stomping grounds.

It's why we need the days of Peace before Christmas!

 

My first Hug to you.

Pass it on.

Here We Go Again

Some things have a way of stopping you in your tracks.  Back pain is one of them.  And those caused by the aging process seem to be harder to deal with than others.  Everyone gets it, sooner or later, and there are as many answers and therapies as there are people who need help.

I seem to have found a combination of therapies that appear to work and am hopeful that making them a part of my life will eliminate these nasty flare ups.  Central to these is a decompression machine that stretches the spine to allow the spaces  between discs to absorb liquids and nutrients and thereby make room for nerves traveling through. 

If all else fails, maybe I'll just get taller.

This has made me late in my annual Christmas posts, one a day, 10 each on Peace, Love and Joy.  I'm beginning now and will catch up soon.  It seems that we can all use a tiny space of time to catch our breath and put some quiet moments in our days.   

Peace, Love and Joy are rare commodities.  It is my wish that each day, I can share a moment with you that seems like a big hug, just between you and I. 

And then, pass the hug on...........

At least for these brief moments, we can have a world without borders.

Arizona State Fair

Want to come along to the Arizona State Fair?

Well, what are you waiting for! 

Turn on the carousel music below, then scroll through the pictures I took with my Photography Group. 
I was trying out my new Canon Eos Rebel T1i.

Nice sand art.

This smells soooo good.

One dollar....see the giant pig, the smallest pony and the giant gator.



I didn't stick around to see who won this argument.

Kid with a kid.



Whew!  I'm tired too!

Did you have a good time?

A Tale of Two Bags (....purses, not women!)

We drove to Algodones, Mexico again, this time for eyeglasses.  We were lucky.  The right frames practically jumped out at us and even better, they could have the lenses in about three hours.  That meant we only needed to spend a day over the border and could do a fast turn around and be home before lunch the next day.

Having finished with the important business, we turned our attention to finding a purse for Susan.  She has had one bag for over five years.  Just the one.  A little black bag, worn and tired, needing replacement badly. 

But first, we could use a Margarita.

Oh yeah, there they are!  They come with diving boards.

On the way to dinner, Susan spots a handbag and wants a closer look.  Before she can get her hands on it, the peddler yells "Original POLO, only $120 U.S."  Well, it would have to be plated in gold before Susan was going to pay that price, but she sticks around for a few minutes shaking her head, looking unconvinced. The price dropped to $90, then $60.  Actually, at this point, Susan just wanted to leave to get something to eat and headed out the door. 

"For you $27.50 U.S! 

Sold!"  Now we can eat.

It wasn't a Polo, more like POGO, and it's not leather either, as advertised.  Unless there are mutant vinyl pigs rooting around Mexico.

Yep, looks like a Margarita to me.  Lots of salt.
We are discussing the purchases of the day, glad we found the glasses so quickly, and the handbag which seems to be staying in the shopping bag.  It is not being taken out and proudly examined.  Hmmmm?
What's up with that?



I pour my Corona and wonder why I'm not seeing the bag.  She is having trouble committing to it - a new bag phobia.  So, I'll just let it go for now.  Besides, the food is coming.

By the way, I'm not drinking and driving - I'm drinking and walking
back over the border.  No law against that.  I just won't breathe on the Border Patrol.

******************************************************

So, it's been a couple weeks and we still haven't seen the bag.  There is a dinner planned and I ask Susan to bring her bag.  She did.  She didn't actually use the bag, just brought it along.  Well, this required some discussion. 

 

Gwen (first on left) has more shoes and bags than anyone on the planet and just thinks this in a non issue.

Sandy (second from left) thinks we are all hysterical.

Pat (first on right) who buys bags four at a time, says, and I quote, "Listen, chick.  The bag needs to go - now."

Rita (second from right) is convinced that Susan should just hold the bag now and again to bond with it.  Move into it slowly.

And I (green top) think she has an unnatural attachment to the thing and possibly commitment issues.

Susan is standing her ground.

Of course, this is the night we all think there is a big weird, decorated egg in the wine cellar behind us and are wondering why.  When we get up, we see it is actually a Super Bowl football.  None of us see worth a damn.  So maybe the bag issue is redundant.

***************************************************************************************

Even later and time to see "Straight, No Chaser".  More on that in the next post.  But, get ready!  The bag is making it's debut!

I immediately remark on it's good looks and am very complimentary.

Susan stands her ground.

She fiddles with it.  Snaps it open and shut and starts unzipping things and looking through pockets.  It won't hold her water bottle.  And the sunglasses case is too wide to fit properly. To use the built in organizer in front, the flap has to be snapped.  That's not easy.

Things begin to bulge.
 

We circle the wagons in support.  THE BAG support group.  We can get her through this separation anxiety.  But wait!  Look at the handle, she says.  Its worn after just a few hours use.  Susan instantly pronounces it crap.

And it is!  It has all the durability of cellophane.

***************************************************************************************

At breakfast the next morning, a triumphant Susan holds "Barbara", the five year old purse she will never give up.  Something that cherished had to have a name, Barbara is as good as any other.

Inside Barbara is the black coin purse from the bag. 
Barbara ate the bag!!!

Susan thinks Barbara looks better with money fanned out.
I think Barbara looks smug.

Susan is just showing off.

Never Vote For An Incumbent

(The only people capable of changing the way the country is headed, is us!)

545 PEOPLE

(paraphrased from an article by Charlie Reese, a retired reporter for the Orlando Sentinel)

Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then rail against them.

If both Democrats and Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?

It all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don't propose a federal budget.

The President does.

You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations.

The House of Representatives does.

You and I don't write the tax code.

Congress does.

You and I don't set fiscal policy.

Congress does.

You and I don't control monetary policy.

The Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president and nine Supreme Court Justices equates to 545 human beings out of over 300 million people that are directly, legally, morally and individually responsible for the domestic problems of this country. 

Special interests and lobbyists have no legal authority and no ability to coerce a political figure.  It is the legislator's sole responsibility to determine how to vote.

It seems inconceivable that a nation of more than 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted, by present facts, of incompetence and irresponsibility.  Every single domestic problem is traceable to those 545 people.

These 545 people exercise the power of the government.

What exists is what they want to exist.

They and they alone are responsible.

They and they alone had the power.

They and they alone should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.

Do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like the "economy", "inflation" or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they took an oath to do.

Thanks, Mr. Reese.  No one says it better.

*********************************

If you really want to clean up the mess, vote them all out until it changes.  They have had their chance. 

Government service should be a citizen's duty.

It is NOT a career.

IT IS UP TO US!

Old West Shoot 'Em Up



Former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, now head of Homeland Security says the border is safer than ever.   Tell that to all the people getting shot down there.  The federal government is turning it's back on Arizona.  Instead of sending the troops needed to fight this war, they and the ALCU have decided to sue Arizona and Sheriffs Dever and Babeu.

That cannot stand.

The right of Arizona, of any state, to protect itself is inherent in the Constitution.  We don't need to ask permission.  This suit has no basis in law.  States have rights.  Ask Arizona Senator Russell Pearce.  Or Jim Sharpe of KFYI radio.

Follow this here.

www.ca9.uscourts.gov/

Help our Sheriffs here.

http://www.bordersheriffs.com/

Jim Sharpe of KFYI radio organized the drive for these two hard working Sheriffs, who deserve far better treatment from Washington.  I saw Jim speak this week and he is one of the best advocates you could have on your side.  Not only is he bright and engaging, he has serious credentials and is committed to the cause.  And he has a listener base that hears the truth.  That seems to be in short supply lately.  Here, in the land of the free.  According to Jim, the best information is derived from a combination of ideas obtained from many sources.  It is imperative to be proactive.  To question and to do our own research.
Thanks, Jim.

Look for Jim here.

www.KFYI.com/pages/jimsharpe.html

And listen to Jim between 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. on KFYI, the "Valley's Talk Radio"-550 AM.

Arizona Senator Russell Pearce is the author of SB1070.  To read the bill as well as his views on amnesty, visit his web site.

Find Senator Pearce here.

http://www.russellpearce.com/

Illegal immigration, amnesty and state's rights are just three of the topics we will be wrestling with for some time. 

But Judge Keith Frankel, who is running for Justice of the Peace has encountered an insidious campaign tactic that will be more in evidence as the election nears and will explode out of all proportions before we know what happened to us.  In every state.

The Supreme Court has ruled that corporations may spend unlimited funds on political campaigns.  To illustrate, Judge Frankel has been attacked by group that has no named person responsible for the attack in evidence.  He has hired a private investigator, an attorney and spoken to the police.  The end result is that even though the signs approach, may be, libelous, they cannot be removed because of the First Amendment.   There is a line that is being crossed here and we had all better pay attention.  This is how we lose our rights, when we can't fight an attacker or even know who it is. 

For more websites and information on illegal immigration, go to my sidebar (on the left) and scroll all the way down to "labels".  Look for illegal immigration and click on it.  All the posts dealing with that issue will come up. 

I love Arizona.  And I have a wonderful time living here in the Southwest.  I'll return to all those fun places soon, but right now, there is an election coming up.  And I cannot be silent when Arizona is in Washington's crosshairs.

Hunter S. Thompson

This is not a guy who set good examples.  He had bad personal habits, abused drugs and alcohol, smoked like a chimney, amassed a far from sterling work ethic and couldn't play well with others.  Exasperating, fanciful, incredibly talented, free with opinions, light on facts.  He took a lot of babysitting.  The James Dean of journalism.  He did have.... ability and attitude.

Thompson hailed from Louisville, Kentucky, just an hour and a half from where I grew up in Indiana.  A southern gentleman.  His name was always familiar to me, more as an example of what not to do with my life.  And I was impressionable; just on my way to college.   But by then he was working at Rolling Stone and so he passed from being the transgressor to just plain cool.  Rolling Stone for crying out loud!  The arbiter of all things cool in the 60's and beyond.

His writing style was referred to as "Gonzo Journalism", a first person narrative that took a sharp left turn from objective reality into, well, not so factual entertainment.  It was a great read.  He wrote well and often.  The list of his accomplishments is truly impressive. Yet, the only steady commitment he maintained was an unrelenting hatred for Richard Nixon and George W. Bush.  Wow, what's a gal to do? I fell in love.

Life came careening to an end, suicide, in 2005 after health issues.    But throughout his life, in addition to his other writing duties, he wrote over 20,000 letters and kept carbons. These became the basis of "Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas"  a bible of the 60's counterculture, and "Fear and Loathing On The Campaign Trail '72".  The rest of the letters have been compiled and are due out in early 2011.  I'll be in line.

Bill Murray portrayed Thompson in "Where The Buffalos Roam".  It was a hit.  He may not have been the best idea of a journalist, or a writer, even with that amazing ability.  But there was no one like him.  I keep thinking the world we have now is just full of aluminum siding.  No real identity, no style, certainly no individuals are left.  Real characters are nearly extinct.  We all face a watered down life of something that was once authentic.  Another reason I loved Hunter S. Thompson.

Here is Thompson's job request to the Vancouver Sun.  The man was asking for a job, yet he hated authority figures.

"By the time you get this letter, I'll have gotten hold of some of the recent issues of The Sun.  Unless it looks totally worthless, I'll let my offer stand.  And don't think my arrogance is unintentional; it's just that I'd rather offend you now than after I started working for you.

I didn't make myself clear to the last man I worked for until after I took the job.  It was as if the Marquis de Sade had suddenly found himself working for Billy Graham.  The man despised me, of course, and I had nothing but contempt for him and everything he stood for.  If you asked him, he'd tell you that I'm "not very likable, hate people, just want to be alone and feel too superior to mingle with the average person".  (That's a direct quote from the memo he sent to the publisher.)

Nothing beats having good references"

ATTITUDE

Did he get the job?  Look it up.  Along the way, you're going to run into someone real.

Mad As Hell?

Join the club.  Really.  Join the club.

Jon is a comedian, not a politician.  But, he is just like us, a majority of the people who are sick of the screamers and hate mongers.  The loudest voices are not the only ones who have the right to be heard.  Thats what this is about.  Sanity.  Reason.  Tolerance.

And truth.  Whatever happened to truth?

Or accountability?

Maybe a little piece of that starts here.

Who Needs An Elevator!

Can you remember ever being this agile?




 

There was a time I could jump over a split rail fence. 

I was 10.

Those were the days.

Mesa Arts Center

One of the joys that comes from living in a metropolitan area exceeding four million people is the extraordinary variety of entertainment options.  Among my favorites is

Mesa Arts Center, consisting of two huge buildings facing one another across a serpentine courtyard, highlighting two canyon inspired water features.

The buildings curve into one another forming a cool oasis, if anything outside during a Phoenix summer can be said to be cool.  Cooler, perhaps.  Everything is relative.  One side of the campus is devoted to the performing arts, the other houses the visual arts studios.   It is here that I've found a home every week for three blissful hours.  The studio is state of the art, the instructor is both highly talented and a skilled teacher.  And the students?  A dynamic mix of backgrounds and ages, people that are great fun to be around.

Take a look.

I've just walked in, past the slotted spaces for holding wet canvases, some projectors, and the entrance to the instructor offices to the right.  Through those are the printmaking areas.  There is room here for 15 or so full scale tables and floor easels. 

To the left is the wet area and more storage.  My table and easel are at the top right.  Above are the suction fans and skylights.  The gentleman in the blue shirt at the upper right is going to bring me a recipe for Mexican "carnitas", one of my top favorite foods in the world!

David, the instructor, manages to get around to everyone several times throughout the morning.  He makes painting seem so easy, certainly more approachable.  The lady behind the easel to the left sits between two ladies, one named Mona, the other Lisa!  She is expecting inspiration.

The two garage doors let light in and can be raised when the temps are below triple digits.  Then you can hear the sounds of water from one of the water features, just beyond David's right shoulder.

 

Along the wall opposite the doors are some really talented folks who are working on larger canvases.  Among them are a sunset scene of ocean cliffs and two close ups, one of a brilliant poppy, the other cactus blossoms.  Maybe they will let me photograph them before this class is over. 

These are the result of the first project which was to make the objects appear as three dimensional forms using just one color and white.  I arrived early; there are four more canvases to be added to this grouping.  Future Monets, all.  These are not finished pieces, but it is time to move on to the next project.  Stiff upper lip, Meg!

And here it is.  This time we get to use the three primary colors (red, blue, yellow) and from those and white, come up with the rest of these variations.  We are told to paint what you see, not what you think you see.  From where I sit, about 20 feet away, I don't see a pottery pitcher with a pepper in front.  I see a blurred poochy pot.  A problem I'll have to solve, and soon.  Sometimes, what you see when you get older is a real mystery until you walk closer.

Here it is with the two light sources.  This is going to be fun.  But before we begin......homework!

We've done the drawing and transfered it to canvas.  Now, we will have to do the underpainting in complementary colors before we start work next Tuesday.  And to do that, we will have to actually know what those colors actually look like.  Mixing primary, secondary and tertiary colors and their compliments.  It's a slippery slope.

Then I'll work on the lower left quarter of this first project and try to finish it.

Wonder when a painting is actually finished?

Get involved!

http://www.mesaartscenter.com/

Bryce Thompson Arboretum

This is Paul.

Paul is the go to guy for all things Bryce.  There is nothing this man does not know about the Arboretum and he will make sure you have all the knowledge you need to make your visit memorable.  He has so much information stored in his head, I'm surprised his hat doesn't fly off!  And he is a really nice fellow.  Make sure you find him before you start a hike.



This was my first visit to the Arboretum.  I fell in love immediately.  Head over heels.  The desert is a real attention getter, but this place is drop dead gorgeous.

Come on, grab some coffee, and take a walk with me.

I left Phoenix before dawn.  To get a sunrise shot over the Superstitions, you have to get there before the sun is up.  I thought this was pretty spectacular.

Then I turned around and saw this!

Bryce Thompson Arboretum opens at 7:30 a.m and I wanted to make sure I was there when the sun was still low enough to cast nice shadows.

I have one of these in my front  yard.  Doesn't look this good though.

The is the front of the Smith Center on the upper trail.  In front of this is the Rose Garden.  To the right is a Children's Garden.  The Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden are to the left.  The main trail begins here and is a little over 1 1/2 miles around.  The upper portion is pretty sunny, so that is where you want to be in the morning, before the sun gets serious. 

Don't forget your water.  Let's go.

Yep, vultures.  I have no idea what this rock is named.  I call it "Hitchcock Point".  Seriously spooky birds, but I have no plans on falling down and being breakfast.

See what I mean?  Drop dead gorgeous.  The desert does demand respect though.  Watch were you step and stay hydrated, even here. 

Along the top portion of the trail, where this is, you can go into rougher terrain to the north and explore the Chihuahuan Exhibit, arranged on either side of the Silver King Wash. 

To the north of the trail here is the South American Exhibit.  In the far distance are the Superstitions.  Somewhere up there is the Lost Dutchman Mine.  If you want to try your hand at finding the gold, you had better know what you are doing.  People still disappear up there.

This is a Boojum Tree.  It's one of those really odd living things that you just know had to be around at the beginning of the world.  Arizona skies (where have I heard that before?) really do look like this.

This is Ayers Lake, one of the reasons I'm here.  There are dragonflies around.  Lots of them.  I was so drop jawed amazed by this place, a dragonfly could have easily flown into my mouth.  Sometimes, you just have to sit and be quiet.  This was one of those times. 

Here is a handsome guy.   

This is the former home of Bryce Thompson, who donated the property that became Bryce Thompson Arboretum.  I am almost half way around the trail here and it's getting hot.  I'm looking forward to the shady walk back.

But, the trail will go on for a while before I reach the cool spots beneath those green trees in the distance.

Ever onward.  I just came from the other side of that rock and am headed towards the little hole in the foliage to the left.  And I'm soaking wet.  You just have to love that sky.

I passed the Wing Herb Garden, but was too tired to stop.  Although I haven't hiked far, I've been stopping a lot to take pictures, so I've been at it a while. All along the south side of the trail here is a rougher hike called the High Trail.  At the bottom is Queen Creek, although it is actually a wash.

The old Drover's Wool Shed is here.  I imagine the truck is here to stay.  Nice.  It is very evocative, but it was a hard life.  All around here is the Australian Desert Exhibit.

The shade is lovely.  I have plenty of water and have almost finished 2 liters.  Do not skimp on water.  There are a few water stations on the trail, but it's much better to keep sipping as you go.  You don't want to wait until you actually feel thirsty.

How about an artsy fartsy black and white image!

Don't you just love the light? 

I'm done in for the day.  Time to go back to the Visitors Center and hit the gift shop.   OK, so I'm not that done in.

Here is another image of the Drover's Shed.  This lady is from the Mesa Arts League and was giving a demonstration at the Entrance.  Pretty good, isn't it! 

I came here with the Az. Photographers Club of which I am a member.  We had the best time here.  I'm coming back.  Often.

Bryce Thompson Arboretum

37615 E. Hwy. 60

Superior, AZ. 85273

520-689-2723

http://arboretum.ag.arizona.edu/