I Do

I love receiving hand-addressed
anything
in the mail.
I also love
the quick give-and-take
of chatting
and teasing
and silly pun fun
(almost) in real time
on Facebook.
I like getting
long drawn out
full-of-thoughts
and
information
and
gossip
and
hopes and dreams
emails
from friends
in the same town
or across the country
or across the world.
And knowing that
somewhere
someone
is taking the time to
think
and to
write
to me.
I hope they feel the same way
I do.

Sun

Throughout the day
at 7,00 feet;
sunshine
seems brighter
and warmer.




Morning rituals;
shower
breakfast
brush teeth
and now
apply sunscreen every day.




Driving to daily
activities
less frequent car washes
more dust
and constant
sunglasses.






Water
is precious:
Aware now
when cooking
cleaning
and planning
our garden.

Rain, Mist, Sleet, Hail, Fog, Snow

Hail woke us Saturday.




Wet snow this morning.



The first and second example of precipitation
since we arrived back on February 13th.
M

Gran Torino

I had a girlfriend in high school
who owned a 1970's Gran Torino.
It was huge
and red,
with a red-to-gold stripe
running the length of each side
and loud
and beautiful,
in a sleek and powerful way.
And a for a petite 17-year old girl;
driving such a vehicle
gave her presence.

It was also
horrible to maneuver
in the snows of Illinois,
difficult to park in a small garage,
and you could not see very well
out the tiny
ill-placed back window.

But it was a wonderful first car.
And I think it gave those who saw her
driving such a muscle car
an appreciation for this tiny girl's
own power and control.

I thought of her
and the car
and the power;
after watching "Gran Torino"
this evening.

She fought prejudice
through grade school
and high school
(and maybe beyond).
But she always seemed
tough enough
to handle the slurs
and the ignorance.

Dani will always be
as tough
as Clint Eastwood
in my book.

M

Spring Forward and Look Back

Travels past have been close to home.
No more than 60 miles.
And yet, the landscape
and the people
and the smells and flavors
and experiences
are infinite.

Anticipation

Anticipating fun and challenge
tomorrow
with planned writer's workshop.

Also anticipating enchiladas tonight.


Chicken green chile enchiladas...
With Raven, Maggie & John
on a cool wet windy night;
no better time.




Where did they all go?!









Thanks Raven & John -
We love it when you cook!
M

Saving Daylight

Daylight Savings Day.
Can someone please explain this whole concept to me?
Yes, in the fall, we "gain" an hour
(to sleep, or stay out later at a bar, or just to think),




But in the spring we simply lose an hour.
Is this concept like "losing weight";
if we lose "it"
does someone else have to "find it"?



And if saving time/losing time
is necessary
(as it probably was during harvesting and planting seasons -
when it was first suggested to assist the agrarian societies
who needed extra light to complete their chores)
is it STILL necessary?



OK I'll drop it.
J says I'm being like Andy Rooney
discussing saving time.

Photos:
Top: Sunset, Argenton Chateau, France, June 2007.
Middle: Sunset, East Moline, Illinois, October 2007.
Bottom: Sunset, Santa Fe, New Mexico, one year ago - today.

M

Apply Within

Applying for a(nother) job -
a new (additional) responsibility -
is on my radar this week.
My two jobs are fine, great, happy and secure
but
a job
writing...
holds a certain interest for me.
Writing
is
just
...
right.




And
as most of you know
I may be a picky eater
but
I love to eat.

Writing about eating
and cooks
and restaurants
and farmers
and traditions
and rediscovering the land
and slow food
and unusual food
and ethnic food
and old recipes...

Seems right
to write.

More later.
M

The Holmes-Rahe Scale

Tired.
Just a whole new level of tired.
Heavy.
Plodding.
Maybe a little stiff, too - but mainly tired.
Feldenkrais training sessions have
never
done this to me,
until today.

A co-student reminded me;
psychologists have studied
"good stress"
and
"bad stress"
and have given a rating system
to those things through our lives
that cause stress.

The Holmes-Rahe Scale

Read each of the events listed below, and check the box next to any event which has occurred in your life in the last two years. There are no right or wrong answers. The aim is just to identify which of these events you have experienced lately.

Life Events Life Crisis Units Death of spouse 100 Divorce 73 Martial separation 65 Jail term 63 Death of close family member 63 Personal injury or illness 53 Marriage 50 Fired at work 47 Marital reconciliation 45 Retirement 45 Change in health of a family member 44 Pregnancy 40 Sex Difficulties 39 Gain of new family member 39 Business readjustment 39 Change in financial state 38 Death of close friend 37 Change to different line of work 36 Change in number of arguments with spouse 35 Mortgage over $100,000 31 Foreclosure of mortgage or loan 30 Change in responsibilities at work 29

Life Events Life Crisis Units Son or daughter leaving home 29 Trouble with in-laws 29 Outstanding personal achievement 28 Wife begins or stops work 26 Begin or end school 26 Change in living conditions 25 Revision in personal habits 24 Trouble with boss 23 Change in work hours or conditions 20 Change in residence 20 Change in schools 20 Change in recreation 19 Change in church activities 19 Change in social activities 18 Mortgage or loan less than $30,000 17 Change in sleeping habits 16 Change in number of family get-togethers 15 Change in eating habits 15 Vacation 13 Christmas alone 12 Minor violations of the law 11

SO...how did you do?

go to: http://www.geocities.com/beyond_stretched/holmes.htm

for your "fun time" and to get a number calculation.

My goal for the next year
is to lower my "current" number
to a MUCH
lower rating.

And
maybe
to be really tired
at Feldenkrais training,
and be OK with that.

M

Righting Writing

Writing.
What would happen if I tried to write
something
every day
for a week?

What would happen if
I applied for a
writing
job in Santa Fe?

What would happen if I
got
the job?

Can I write every day?

New Mexico Luna

Blurry cat
on floor behind car seat
75 miles per hour
somewhere in Texas...?


East window in her casita.


West window.

Luna seems to have settled in now.
Has not quite figured out
where to sleep
during the day
or at night.

Or, why we do not wish
to be woke up
at 5 a.m.
yet.

Birdfeeders are filled
and she is
enjoying
the views.

M

Cupboards, Down & Dirty, and On The Road...

Notes for moving...


Beware of strange items
lurking in cupboards.



Show proper respect and reverence
for the quick sale of your home,
when placing St. Joseph
in your yard.
(Sorry Charlene...)


And drive like the wind to follow your dreams!
M

Amber Waves

Sunset just prior to Clinton, Oklahoma.
Yes, everything (plus some), fit into our storage cube.
House will be listed by a realtor soon.

Admired amber waves of wild grasses along the roadside
in Kansas and Oklahoma,
and saw 4 armadillos wandering nearby, too!

Home to Santa Fe by tomorrow!
m