Category Archives: Uncategorized

Most of us remember the phrase “Iron Curtain” from the cold war era to describe the Soviet Union’s shunning of the rest of Europe and the West. And of course there was the “Steel Curtain” to describe the Pittsburgh Steelers crushing defensive line during the 1970s. I’ve discovered a new take on seemingly rigid andContinue reading “All in all, you’re just another brick in the wall (or window)…”

Our neighboring city to the south, El Paso, had a couple of interesting food-related incidents last week. On Friday, an 18-wheeler loaded with thousands of gallons of Tabasco sauce in large containers suddenly sprung a leak on Interstate 10 in the central part of the city. The problem was discovered when the truck started spewingContinue reading “An ice cream and Tabasco fiasco…”

My blog on Sunday focused on the new book “50 Pies, 50 States.” The book, by author Stacy Mei Yan Fong, focuses on pies which she felt were appropriate for each state based on history, locally sourced ingredients, state culture and other factors. The New Mexico pie, as I mentioned, looked rather unappetizing. It hadContinue reading “Journalistic integrity and the Montana pie…”

I just listened to an interview on our National Public Radio Station with a woman who had created a unique pie recipe for each of the 50 states. The book, “50 Pies for 50 States,” was written by Stacey Mei Yan Fong, an immigrant from Hong Kong who now lives in New York. She setContinue reading “Fifty Pies…”

There is a flock of turkey vultures that live in some very tall trees in our neighborhood. They disappear in the winter, then come back when the weather gets warmer and they can soar on the thermals and spring winds while looking for caron of a squashed frog or squirrel on the road. Most peopleContinue reading “Like the buzzards flying around our neighborhood…”

I wrote last week about our dog’s bout with hematomas in his ears and his “cone of shame” treatment. In addition to the protective cone to keep Chester from scratching or flopping his ears around, he’s been given three medications to take. One is an antibiotic, another is to control any allergies that may haveContinue reading “Projectile medication expulsion…”

Our rambunctious Goldendoodle, Chester, has gotten himself into another fix. Last week, apparently irritated by a bug bite or allergies, he shook his head so violently that he broke blood vessels in the flaps of his ears. He ended up with a hematoma in both ears, leaving them with a squishy mass of blood andContinue reading “We used to just let them limp around…”

Asha, the lonely female Mexican wolf who wandered hundreds of miles from southeastern Arizona into northern New Mexico and was finally captured near Taos, is still without a mate. I wrote earlier about her wanderings and her inability to read a road map and game management rules that said she was not supposed to ventureContinue reading ““Wookin’ pa nub…””

Some years ago, my wife I were in Nebraska visiting her family farm when we decided to take a detour to Nebraska City, where Arbor Day was started in 1872. We visited the Arbor Lodge State Historical Park and Mansion and got on the mailing list or the Arbor Day Foundation. Every year, we receiveContinue reading “The Forrest Gump of reforestation…”

The most recent issue of my BMW Car Club of America magazine has a brief article about the states with the worst road conditions. And thankfully, New Mexico wasn’t at the top of the list — but we were No. 11. The ranking comes from an organization called “Construction Coverage,” a website “started by aContinue reading “Bad roads and hot dogs…”

I’ve received a few high school graduation announcements in the last few weeks. I always think of how exciting this is for the young people who are getting ready to start a new phase of their life and move closer to independence. Some of the announcements can be a bit humorous. I remember that ourContinue reading “Class mottos…”

Neither my father nor my wife’s father served in the military during World War II. The only person on my side of the family who was in the military was my brother, who served in the U.S. Army Reserves and never had any combat action. He told me that the worst thing that ever happenedContinue reading “A Memorial Day story…”

(As you’ll discover from reading this blog, I had a serious fall while fishing last week, breaking several ribs and hurting my back. Sitting to write at my computer is somewhat painful, so I may not be writing as much in the next few weeks. Some of you may actually enjoy the break from myContinue reading “Sacrificing my body for a fish…”

A couple of years ago, my wife and I were watching an episode of the TV series “Yellowstone.” It focused on the shenanigans of a wealthy and power-hungry rancher in Montana, played by Kevin Costner. The series was full of the traditional cliches — Native Americans being treated badly, lots of horses and spectacular scenery,Continue reading “Fishing for diversity…”