Saturday, August 1, 2009

One Hundred Things My Mother Taught Me A Million Times – Chapter 10

#10 "Always speak to the wife first."
There's something in me that makes me want to dis this lesson that my mom taught me a million times, but deep in my heart, it rings true.

I was single/divorced for many years, and one of my resulting psychosis, was hating men so that they couldn't hurt me. I was hell-bent to prove that all men are robotic louses, only to be toyed with - a stupid role reversal at best.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Notes From New Mexico - Day Eleven

Day eleven of my vacation was wrought with bitter-sweet thoughts that I would soon have to come back to the reality of grant deadlines, laundry, and bills, but also great reunions with family and friends and the comfort of familiarity.

There's something about the magnificence of nature that can shake your soul and bring you to your knees in gratitude for the blessings in your life. As I drove the "back way" from Salida, Colorado to Aspen, a breath-taking, climb over the continental divide, I had alternating feelings of wishing that everyone I loved (several bus-loads) were with me to witness this indescribable beauty, and thinking that if I plunged over the side of this entirely too narrow road, the tons of money I'd thrown at my life-insurance policy would finally pay off.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Notes From New Mexico - Days Nine & Ten

The Cumbres & Toltec narrow gage train that runs from Chama to Antonito, New Mexico is pretty exciting. Seeing it cross the massive mountain meadows and chugging its way to the tops of the high-elevation passes was beautiful and nostalgic. As Deb and I raced the train to the top of the pass, we were astounded once again by the beauty of this area.


The next stop on our day-trip was to the oldest church in Colorado, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Conejos, Colorado. There were two particularly spectacular things about this church, other than its age.

First, the stained-glass windows were beautiful....

The second spectacular thing.......

ALERT! ALERT! If you're a devout Catholic or Christian, and you do not have a rather twisted sense of humor, please stop here - do not "Read More"

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Notes From New Mexico - Day Eight


With internet access and too much coffee, I'll catch you up on days six and seven of my New Mexico and Colorado vacation, which were filled with what I call monotonous beauty. I mean, how much can one appreciate the majesty of nature. Not enough, obviously, but it is human drama that more often primes my writing. Writing about human drama can be really tricky though. Dragging friends' lives into one's creative expression feels morally wrong. You can fictionalize it, but that won't protect individual privacy within certain circles.