Travel

As Covid releases its ugly grip on us, people are starting to travel farer away from home. People love to go someplace new, exciting, fun or interesting. If you don't know your way there, many of us travel by GPS. Nancy likes the old fashion map (first map by Rand-McNally was in 1924) and talks back at the GPS (it began to be sold to the public in 1995) when we don't understand why we are going as directed. I just enjoy the drive. 

We tasted travel with a short trip to Tucson in April. Last week we wandered off a little farer to North New Mexico to visit the communities of some Native American ancestors. 

We camped in Bloomfield, just east of Farmington and took day trips to see some of the oldest pueblos and cliff dwellings in the USA. All of them have not had residents for more than 1,000 years. Amazingly enough, much of the structures were still standing. Still ruins, but absolutely a marvel of workmanship for its time. We have seen the Pyramids of Egypt, and Machu Picchu in Peru, and the ruins in Italy/Greece, but these were equally amazing.

Chaco Canyon was the first. Even tho we had 21 miles of some of the roughest dirt road I have ever driven, it was worth it.

Unlike Mesa Verde, you can actually walk through, in and out of Chaco. I hit my head several good times trying to pass through the doorways, they were built for much shorter people, maybe 4 foot (I am 5'10" and old). They lived there for a mere 200 years before leaving. Some of these places were built before Christ. 

Next day, we had a tour at Mesa Verde in southwestern Colorado. Unfortunately, we could not go into the canyon to tour the cliff dwellings because of restoration construction. Just like our homes, these need repairs and maintenance occasionally.

The nature alcoves in the cliff gave the ancestors and perfect place to build their home for protection from the weather, raiding tribes and a good source of water for their crops in the valley. Cliff Palace, shown here, is only one of more than 100 in the area. They too moved on after a few hundred years. Many native Americans (mostly Hopi) still come often to visit their ancestors here to renew their believes. If you know Arizona, you probably know of our cliff dwellings, Walnut Canyon in Flagstaff and Montezuma's Castle

Next was Aztec (not named after the tribe, but Aztec translates to "Ancestors") north of Bloomfield.

In the city of Aztec, this place was very accessible and was equally amazing to us. A paved walking path all over to almost every structure they built for rock and mud. Again, short doorways, adjoining rooms from one home to another, and some were three stories originally. The city of Aztec was very inviting also with its small town storefront lined main street, to its extremely friendly people. They even have a A&W root beer stand. Had to stop there for lunch and a frosty mug.

A great week. More trips are being planned as I type. Take care.

The Affairs in the World

 

If you watch, listen to or read the news, it's depressing. From the Middle East conflicts (which has been going on for centuries), to our own political parties, to the murders of people of color, to the drug wars. It is TRULY sad. If outer space aliens are around us here on earth, and watch us, listen to our news reports and TV news, they must think we are a race that they probably don't want to associate with. We just can not get along with each other.

Whether it's religion, differences in political views, land disputes, bias against skin color or sex, or whatever, it seems people just want to attack each other.

Nancy and I gave up watching the national news years ago due to these reasons. It is depressing. Give me good news like someone saved a puppy/kitten, or a family reunited, or a story of kids selling lemonade on the corner to raise money for a charity.

I am not blind to the realities of the world. I just have seen enough bad things in my life, and now need something to ensure me that our race is not going crazy. I believe people become hardened to the reality and to the terrible news we are fed time after time until it becomes NO BIG DEAL in our lives. But it is. We become used to it and it becomes a normal thing.

What can WE DO? The late boxing champion Muhammad Ali once said, "The price for living on this earth is doing good deeds." Ok, that may not fly for some people, but hopefully others would try it. Pay the 'good' forward. Do something good or helpful for a perfect stranger. I believe good always wins over bad. Sure there are people that will take advantage of your good deeds, but at least you tried. Let those bad guys be the jerks.

I know we can not stop the fighting in the Middle East. I know we can not stop people from arguing about the 2020 election (even tho it has been proven many times over), we DO have the power to stop the rash of shootings against people of color, whether it be black, yellow, brown or red. That is just pure stupid bigotry, no matter if it is law enforcement or anyone. My late Fire Chief once told me, "You can't just make a procedure (law) and expect people to follow it. You must educate them first so they see how it benefits them."  We have to educate our youth and co-workers and train law enforcement how to act properly and not bent to nye-sayers. And I realize you can't win over everyone, but you can move them into the minority until they finally see the right way.

I must sound like a preacher teaching the golden rule and 10 commandments. But I am not. I am preaching to do the right thing and, as that late Fire Chief used to say, "BE NICE."

Take care and be safe.

Happy Mother's Day ... and failure

 

First of all, I want to say HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY 💖 to all the ladies. You are the warriors of all times. Thank you are being great Moms. I wish I could hug my mother. She has been gone for some years, and I still miss her.

I am not calling this a Pandemic Edition because it seems no one thinks it exist any longer, but it does folks. Especially in India. So whether the AZ governor says,"Masks are optional." They AREN'T! you can still carry the virus to people who refuse to get the shot. Continue wearing your mask,even tho it is a pain in the ass.

I heard a university commencement speech by the actor Denzel Washington recently. Besides being a great actor, I like the man for his straight forwardness, honesty and bluntness talk. He tells things the way they are. I appreciate that in people. If I may paraphrase some of what he said.

He started by saying, "If you don't fail, you're not trying." "Actors are turned down on an average of 20 times before they finally get a part." How you deal with that failure is you. Do you give up or do you suck it up and try again, or try something else? Failure is part of life, not a very fun part, but a part of life. We learn from failure every time. If a boxer keeps getting hit, he guards himself more or counterpunches.

Another quote was, "To get something you never had, you have to do/try something you never did/tried before." Riding a bike is a good example. If you fall, do you quit, NO! You get back on (sometimes with some help or encouragement from others) and try it again. Remember the old saying, Practice makes perfect. Many baseball pitchers threw balls at a basket nailed on a shed or barn for years before they could get the ball to go into the basket regularly. They never gave up.

I see short people who play pro football, pro basketball, a one armed man playing pro baseball. Did they give up, NO! I wonder how many times they were told to forget their dream and try something else. NEVER GIVE UP YOUR DREAMS, no matter how ridiculous they may sound or look to others. They are YOUR dreams. 

While I was growing up, I dreamed of being an artist. I was decent but not great. Later in life, as I doodled a lot, I took up furniture making and even later in life began to build cars. I feel I never made it to being an artist, but took that artistic ability and focused it to what I enjoyed in other things.

Life is not fair. We all have been there. It throws twist and turns at you all through your life. I know I have been hit by a few. I failed a couple times in school. I failed in a marriage. I failed at work and probably with friends and family along the way. All those failures hurt, but I never gave up. And all of those failures pack baggage on to your self being. That baggage can drain you, so get over it and go on. If you don't, it will stay with you to the end.

Failure is temporary, but success is forever ... as long as you keep trying. History remembers successful people, but not losers and quitters. Keep pushing and trying to get to your dream. I have convenience you will make it.

Please leave your comments (positive or negative) and stay safe.

We finally escaped

 Yeah, I know. I did not post a new blog last week. Well, I am not apologizing because Nancy and I finally broke out of our 20 mile radius to get away for our 44th anniversary. 

No, we didn't go to Paris or Rome, we went to Tucson Arizona and stayed in a quaint little lodge on the outskirts of Tucson called the 'Cat Mountain Lodge'. But before we went  there, we visited the city of Bisbee and the little known and forgotten town of Lowell Arizona. For those of you who are not familiar with Arizona, Bisbee and Lowell are in southeastern Arizona in a canyon and which were huge mining communities. Lowell was swallowed up by bisbee as Bisbee grew and is now pretty much a ghost town with only 3 residents, but the history lives on as you can see with the old cars/trucks parking along the only street.

Then we drove back to Tucson to check into our lodge. The lodge and their Inn (across the street) are totally decorated in a Mexican decor, which we loved.  We entered through a truly Mexican or Spanish courtyard which had 5 or 6 rooms off of it. The room was amazing. So many little appointments that other hotels and motels never put in their rooms. It was almost like being at home, but yet you're not. 

The next day we visited the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum, just a few miles up the road. If you love to see just desert critters you seldom see in the wild, you have to go here. plus the plants were in bloom and beautiful too.

After walking so much in Bisbee and in the Desert Museum, we took the afternoon off to relax in our 'Casa'.

That evening we had dinner with two of my distant  cousins who live in Tucson. That made our weekend complete. 

No, it was not a trip to Egypt or Peru, or even New York City, But to us, it was an escape for this pandemic quarantine we are all in. Now that this pandemic seems to be easing up, we are going to slowly start  to travel. Who knows, maybe Northern New Mexico may be next.

Sometimes I can not believe it has been 44 years since Nancy and I ran off to Vegas to get married. I am glad she puts up with me. Sometimes that surprises me too.

Please leave your comments, and follow us on this blog. Take care and stay safe.

                                

Spring has sprung, enjoy it.

 Finally, Spring has started here in the desert and most of the country. It is truly a welcome sight, since we all have been shut in for the LONG last year. People just want to get out, travel, go see loved ones and just be our old selves again. Believe me, I DO TOO!

I am SO sick of watching stupid commercials that insult my intelligence, and injury attorneys, and, medical care insurance companies, and repeats. HULU and NETFLIX stocks skyrocketed during the pandemic. Computer (mainly laptops) sales were crazy due to students attending school classes online. The construction trades are still overwhelmed with work because of homebound homeowners wanting to remodel or fix things. Garages are swarmed with car owners requesting repairs, (plus the rash of catalytic converters being cut off and stolen). Everyone wants SO BAD to get back to normal, or as close to it as possible. I DO TOO!

The reason I started my blog was because of requests to see our travel pictures from family and friends. Then the pandemic struck and our travels was shut down like everyone else. But now, after vaccinations completed for Nancy and I, and spring brings a breath of renewal and open doors and hope for getting back to our ways again, we are going to start slow until we are at a full run. Well, at least a fast walk. There are still plenty of places and things we have not seen. International travel may come a little later due to restrictions in those countries, but dusting the spider webs off the RV and getting on the road soon will start by the time our desert temps hit triple digits. So stay tuned.

Since the pandemic started, every Sunday morning, I sit at my computer to bang out another edition of my blog. But in high school, I was required to read the classics in english classes. It was so-o-o boring to me. I guess I just didn't get it. Now I find myself revisiting them. In the back of my small brain, I think I always liked reading and writing. Even tho I was never very good at either. Later in life I found out I had a mild form of Dyslexia. But I don't think that was a excuse for disrupting my classes at times. I do enjoy writing because I have so much useless stuff in my head and need a way to get rid of it. Sorry for unloading it on you folks. Writers write because they have a story to tell, whether it is fictional or true life. Of course there are writers who tell the news of happening things and events. But ALL writers just want to tell something to others in their own fashion. Similar to painters, they have their own style and want to project an image, a message, a form or an idea. But I am getting off topic. Sorry, I was drifting off there for a while.

Spring is (to me) the most beautiful season here in the Southwest. Dried up landscapes become green and flowers pop out on plants you usually don't want to get close to, like cactus. Baby bunnies, birds and other wildlife are sticking their heads out in the warm sunlight, bouncing and fluttering around with joy.

It's time for us to get out there. Whether it's just a stroll in a park, taking a hike, out for a run or bike ride, or taking a RV trip. Take it slow, safe cautious, wear your mask, but... GET OUT THERE. Enjoy Spring like we use to.

Did you ever noticed?

 Nancy has told me for years, "You notice things most people don't care about (or never mention)".  And I will admit, she's right. In my life, I have always considered myself as an observer of people and things around me more than most people. I find it interesting how people react to different situations, and why things happened like they did. For instance, why are we (as the American people) are tearing down statues and monuments of Confederate soldiers and individuals who were considered the people and heroes we once thought they were. My thought is, WHY NOW? And why did they become heroes back then. Different mentality at the time? Did we finally wake up? Hitler and Stalin were a given, but  General Robert E. Lee? Yes, I agree, slavery, 'Jim Crow', and any prejudice was and is wrong, but George Washington  and Thomas Jefferson had slaves too. You don't see their statuses being torn down. The people that put those monuments up should have thought about the consequences down the road to future generations. And just maybe we should think harder and do more homework before we do the same.

We all love things that make us feel good. Whether it be getting out of the house during this pandemic, hugs, sex, getting a big check or relieving physical pain. Oh yeah, getting a big check in the mail makes everyone smile. Especially when it means you don't have to go to work. There are some who would much rather take the unemployment check and stay home instead of working. Some have no choice because their employer was forced to shutdown or went out of business. The real slackers need to get off the couch and get back to work. The rest of us are doing your job.

As for the physical pain relief, let's discuss 'Oxycodone'. A very powerful drug introduced as an alternative to Morphine, and now is the cause of another pandemic of overdoses and deaths. The Sackler family are the owners of the company who produced Oxy (as it's commonly called). They too are having their name stripped from institutions because people believe they are to blame. Other companies have had the same consequences like Colt, Remington and other firearms manufacturers. Just because a stick on the ground is used to beat a helpless dog, do we sue the tree for dropping it? The users are the ones to blame. Stiff stipulations and regulations while policing those should be imposed instead.

As much as I know our economy and our people needed a giant boost because of the pandemic, I hope the government really thought through the stimulus check process, PPP program, free Covid vaccines for everyone and everything thing else the governments have done to get us back to normal again. I know it's a lot to wrap your mind around, but we the people WILL pay for this eventually. I know I am because it helped millions of people. But it also stuffed money into the pockets of crooks who took advantage of the time.

I have two more thoughts before I close. I believe everything we pay for should have a warranty. If something goes wrong or breaks, you get a free repair or your money back. That warranty should be without hassle or repercussions. Whether it be a TV, car, surgery or government decisions and actions. I know, it'll never happen but it sure be great.

And lastly, as I get older, I noticed when older people speak, people actually listen. Maybe not like AARP but in a conversation between a group. Hopefully you will listen to my ramblings and comment. Good or bad. Let's have that discussion. Take care and stay safe.

My views today

 First, I want to wish EVERYONE a Happy and Blessed Easter Sunday. Even my Muslim friends, my Jewish friends, my LBGT friends, my non-believing friends, to ALL my friends and family, no matter what color or belief...Happy Easter. 

Having said that, I would like everyone to 'Agree to Disagree'. Don't read this with a confused look on your face. You know we all have our opinions and believes, whether it be about religion, or politics, or whatever it may be, we all have our own views. When people get really angry because someone disagrees with their view, that is called CONFLICT, and wars have started over different views. The Middle East has suffered wars for centuries over differences in views about religion. That is crazy! Religion is the ONE THING everyone should respect about other peoples views. You don't have to believe in their view, but you should respect their view and DON'T disrespect it because they don't see things like you. The same can be said about politics, cars, the way people dress, sports teams or anything else. Debate it, YES. Argue NO! AGREE TO DISAGREE.

On this very high holy day in the Christian community, I ask you ALL to come to together and united to stop this pandemic by wearing masks, get vaccinated and keep practicing social distancing until this thing is dead. Listen to the medical experts and do what they tell us, not some theory person who says drink bleach or 'They are killing our rights by demanding us to wear masks'. Does 500,000 dead from Covid in the United States ring a bell? It is real people, not fake news.

When I started this blog years ago, it was intended to share photos of our trips around the world because a number of people wanted to see them. Then Covid hit and our travels ended. I never intended the blog to become a 'soapbox'. But if I reach one person and their eyes open to things around us all, it's been successful. Plus, it has helped my typing skills. 😊

So, debate your views all you want, but keep it calm and factual. Do your homework, find out the true facts, but above all ... respect the other person's opinions, just agree to disagree and part ways without conflict. If we all can do that, it would make this Easter an even great day than it is.

I love you all, whether or not you agree with me. And Jesus does too.