November 19, 2008
Drove around Tucson with the windows down today. It was in the mid-eighties. I have never been to Tucson in November before, and it has a different feel. It doesn't get this hot in January. But it feels good. It is a dry heat, and as soon as the sun starts setting, it cools off nicely. I haven't taken any pictures yet. I have been spending my time trying to find a place to stay should I come back in January or February. That has been an adventure. I had originally come down here hoping to snag some sort of condo deal since real estate prices are down. It became clear right away that, no matter what kind of deal I got, a condo would have to appreciate at a dramatic rate to pay for all of the costs of maintaining it. If you add in the taxes and possible inflation, it is more sensible to rent an apartment for a couple of months rather than have the hassle of maintaining a property year-round. So, I got into the furnished apartment scene later than I should have and many of them are already rented. However, I have a couple on the string today that are intriguing. One is fantastic, and in a perfect location--but is double the price of one which is plenty nice, but in a little bit of a rougher neighborhood. So, I am sitting here flipping coins. Oddly, if I just wanted to stay in a hotel, I could probably match the price of a furnished apartment by bargaining on Priceline. But it is so much nicer to have a place. All nice dilemmas to have. But each year, I reinvent the wheel, deciding where to stay, blah blah blah, before inevitably ending up in Tucson, which never disappoints. I had thought about Santa Fe, but I could tell that it was too cold to have a medicinal effect. Went to Barnes and Noble today and read a book. That's something I do down here which I just don't get around to at home: Reading. Also went to a movie tonight, which I never do at home. It wasn't worth the price of admission.
My gut says no, let the big boys die. Something better would arise in their place. You just hate to see negligent, ossified management rewarded with handouts, bailouts, whatever. Of course, it happens all of the time. But then, the Chrysler bailout worked and was paid off. So, what do I know.
November 18, 2008
Mid-eighties today in Tucson. Perfectly sunny. A little breezy at times. Beautiful. I get so energized when I am in the sunshine and warmth that I feel like taking on the world. Today, I was full of ideas and energy. I walked several miles. I drove over fifty miles around town to some old haunts. Sometimes, in fact every time, I get a stack of energy in Tucson and figure I'd better get home and get some things done. I forget that the reason I have energy is because I am in Tucson and sunshine. When I get home, the momentum usually lasts a week before the cold and dreary weather gets me down. I wake up again in April, when the sunshine returns to the north.
November 17, 2008
What a perfect day. I drove 512 miles from Santa Fe to Tucson and didn't see one single cloud the entire way. When I hit Hatch, NM, I saw 86 degrees on the bank thermometer. I think that was a bit of an exaggeration, but it felt awfully good. What scenery. The drive from Albuquerque to Tucson is utterly beautiful. You wander down the valleys between the "desert island" mountain ranges. The highway is pretty deserted, so driving isn't too stressful. The only thing which reminds one that it is November is the fact that the sun went down about six o'clock. I had a Priceline room purchased before I got into Tucson. I put in a bid that was lower than the Extended Stay hotel I usually inhabit. Well. I got the Sheraton across the street from the Extended Stay. Ha! And when I got to my room, I found it was a suite with a living area, a dining room table and a separate bedroom. Wow. Oh, and a private balcony. Very nice. What a difference from the bare bones Extended Stay hotel across the street. They skimp on everything, including the lights, which are florescent. Meanwhile, over at the luxurious Sheraton (which admittedly probably hasn't been redecorated since the 1980s), I am watching the fire pits by the pool out my floor length windows. I think I love Priceline more than William Shatner does!
November 16, 2008
Chuck Kimmerle has updated the collection of photos on his site. Chuck's view of our area is unsurpassed and ennobling. None of the glossy books which purport to depict our area come even close to what Chuck is doing. Although Chuck's photos have many strong characteristics, the one I value most is their sense of humor. I often find myself laughing out loud while paging through his photos--mainly because I so enjoy seeing what he does with things I see every day. It is the same laugh I let out when I hear Horowitz take on a famous and familiar piano piece. His take is always refreshing, even impish. He pulls out the most joyful elements of the piece and highlights them in their purest form. Good photographers do the same with whatever landscapes they are handed. It is fun to watch.
November 15, 2008
 Above is a close-up of a hand-blown Christmas ornament. Below is a bunch of ornaments in a picture taken by Tracie. 
 The hand-blown Christmas ornaments display interesting patterns up close.  Here are some ropes on some hand made handbags.  In the beads section were these beautiful rocks on strings.  Outside were these overturned huge terra cotta pots.  Lots of pottery, most of it, but for one, facing down.  Not sure I can figure out this figurine.
 This afternoon, sister Tracie, Lance and I went to Jackelope, a huge collection of craft vendors in Santa Fe. It is cool here. Jackelope is both indoors and out. It was nicer inside.  Here are some visors.  There were several glass blowers working on the premises. Here are some of their products.
November 14, 2008
 From the plane yesterday, I saw a beautiful part of New Mexico and was able to identify this lake and dam, called Abiquiu Dam. Here is a larger view. Take note of the semi crossing the dam. It was fun to be able to drive to something I had seen from the plane. Turns out it wasn't far out of the way to where I was going, El Rito. There are two El Rito's in New Mexico. This one is in the north, and it a tiny hamlet.  Lance is apprenticing for a photographer in El Rito. I found these fresh eggs laid by the chickens out back right on the handle of the garbage can lid. If they would have been laid off to the side a little, they would have rolled off the lid. We ate these and two others for breakfast. They were superior. And then last night, while out for a walk, I was treated to one of New Mexico's impossibly colorful sunsets.
November 13, 2008
Just went through security at Hector International Airport in Fargo. Of course, the one person they pulled aside for a fill frisking was the old lady with the highest white bouffant hairdo you've ever seen. Makes complete sense. To their credit, the people at security were nice enough. I am headed off to the great SW for two weeks. Last night, I stayed in a hotel down here that smelled so bad you could cut it. NDSU students are being housed in the motel. I hope their rooms smell better.
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