Ennui in the high desert

"The Real Burning Man"

I haven't yet felt the burning desire to attend the Rubber Tramp Rendezvous, mainly because my time for tramping and rendezvousing came after the event caught on. In a huge gathering of introverts, it's hard to park far enough away.

Bob Wells is quoted as saying the Prius campers are the "saints" of the group. I suspect tongue-in-cheek? but we are darned fuel-efficient: heavenly.

While I'm not hankering for high-density low-tech camping yet, I'm looking forward to some time of my own. I've successfully manifested a schedule without gaps, and now I'm looking for that to back down. Meanwhile, I'm getting mightily protective of the tiny spaces that do occur.

Not even phoning it in.

A friend told me I was being lazy with my blog, and so here is a lackluster presentation of some mediocre photos. I hope you blandly tolerate this entry.

Turtleback Mountain

It's a good time of the day to show you The Turtle. If you're seeing An Armadillo, turn around.

Rio Grande with Turtleback in the background

This is the time of year that the small dirt dam is rebuilt across the river. Keeping water behind it maintains the pressure needed for hot springs to flow in the free-flowing tubs downtown.

Looking generally northward toward Truth or Consequences

If you want to be mistaken for a local, you must never say "Truth or Consequences" in Truth or Consequences. It is always "T or C."

It must also be the time of year when people sit on the new dirt dam.

Along with very reduced flow from Elephant Butte Lake, this little dam creates a low-water vehicle crossing just a bit downstream (not shown). 

A Very Good Dog

Long-time friends in Albuquerque.

Widget

Keisha

Cat people, this is the best catitat ... habicat ... catio I've ever seen.

Home Dairy Alley

I went back to Ithaca, after a six-year absence, to meet my new grandchildren. I wanted to tour the new Ithaca Commons, with some old landmarks. Home Dairy was in business in 1979 when I first arrived in Ithaca, and is no more.  Ironically, when the Home Dairy was there, this historic landmark was not. This is the sort of thing that keeps me confused.

It's just a wall.

Notice the dates still on the photos? Lazy.

There was snow for my visit in November, which is just on the friendly side of unforgivable. At this charming moment, my son said, "Nina, that's where the dogs [do stuff]."

What cat?

Didn't take this picture. Lazy.

If there's a time of the year that can fool me into thinking I'm doing life wrong, it's this one. We've come to an agreement this year, Dark Solstice and I, that we treat one another gently. Treat one another gently, too.

Cosmic Campground, New Mexico to Taos. With potty stops in-between.

My buddy, VermontChris, decided my indoor ways had gone on long enough. She invited me to join her at Cosmic Campground, a (very) Dark Sky area.

There are rules at CC, including turning your flashlight into a red light. We had the joint to ourselves, so we did what we wanted. There is much made of dark sky locations; the truth is, there are still many areas in New Mexico where the skies are as dark as skies get. That doesn't detract from the dark-sky-i-ness of this campground, of which there was a lot.

Also a Dark Cow area.

This is an unloading rule...

...loosely enforced.

Spud still has the right stuff.

It's rare when my cabin is "on the way" to anywhere, so I took advantage. Chris is still trying to explain how to take a selfie.

Quite a bit of my time is spent with other people's pets. It's one of the few jobs where clients climb onto your lap or lick your face, but it pays far less than those other career options.

Carly

Cassie

My roommate was injured in a dogwalking incident, and has looked something like this for two weeks. She has CUR-TAILED* her activities since then, and adjustments have been made.

*Puns in capitals are larger than they appear.

"Hello. You've reached the floor of Janice."

With Janice not driving, and even some laying in the back seat, from the position and velocity of the clouds she can tell I'm driving too fast, and in the wrong direction.

Paco is full of dog. In fact, he is MADE of dog.

Paco is one of the four big dogs I stayed with last, along with Oso, Chinita, and Seca (no pics??).

Corrales, New Mexico

Corrales is an unexpected pleasure just north of Albuquerque. Rural, with beautiful properties on the river, and some fun shopping. Twenty-five MPH speed limit is strictly enforced (I've heard).

This week, Janice and I are sharing a catsitting job in Taos. Last time we were in Taos it was brilliant Autumn. This time, it's vibrant Spring. Darn the luck, Taos in the shoulder months.

I ventured out yesterday in my role as Material Girl. Release the kraken (Visa)! Like Wilma and Betty always said, "CHAAARGE it!"

I was going to tell you that Taos drivers are reckless and desperate, but we see things as we are. Instead, I'll describe them as bold and daring. Taos has outgrown its roads, and boldness is sometimes the only way across the street.

In the past I've spent many an internet hour at the Taos Public Library. This time, I'm enjoying the luxury of WiFi inside a house with 360-degree mountain range views, filled with one of my favorite artist's work.

Sophia, the Head Cat, is the most resistant to coming inside at night. We go outside and pretend to stare into a gopher hole until she's intrigued enough to see what's what. NAB!

Another couple of days, and we'll be back in Truth or Consequences. I'll be enjoying a sweet gray cat and the Rio Grande flowing past my morning coffee-couch. Don't hate me because I'm lucky and a little gloaty.

Where the cars are Smart, and the drivers smarter.

Spring at the Springs - hiking opportunities near Truth or Consequences, NM

Something has propelled me into motion. Maybe that's why they call it "spring."

Not Marla Hooch at all.

  

Mud Mountain

You know it's been a while since I showed you poop. Reset your counters now.

Not Mud.

0 DAYS POOP-FREE AT THIS FACILITY

 

There are fascinating rocks to be found on this walk. Directions: From I-25 South, turn right. Drive over places you should not. Arrive.

Almost as unpopulated are the approaches to Elephant Butte Lake. It's not, strictly speaking, legal to let your big dogs run wild and free in these places. 

There are also interesting rocks to be found here. It's not, strictly speaking, legal to let your girlfriend run wild and free picking rocks in these places.

 You'll see these weird "concretions" along the trails. They are formed when blah blah yadda yadda wind and water.

Django asked that his face not be photographed.

We attended a brand-new Laughing Club in Ralph Edwards park Saturday. I think I did it wrong, because I started giggling during the opening description, and continued inappropriately throughout, ending with my own guffaws and side-eye from the instructor. She later advised us privately, "Look for a Sadness Club. There's nothing more I can do for you here."

There turns out to be more activity available here in TorC than time or energy. There is a hiking club, yoga, Tai Chi, water Zumba, and a bunch of things someone else can tell you about. For the contemplative, there are yoga, Buddhist meditation, and Sufi events (included, but not limited to). Poetry readings and an art hop. There's more, but I forgot.

The last few weeks have been especially inspiring because an old friend is in town, and we have had several long, leisurely conversations about everything. Truth or Consequences will be much quieter and emptier when she moves on. Come back, Julie!

Towing the line: news from a mountain cabin

I was concerned. Brooding. Restive and restless. "How," I moaned, "can I have terrifying adventures while I'm living like someone's granny?"

We decided a great idea looked like driving into the mountains for a few days in-between obligations. Nothing can go wrong there, unless there is precipitation that bogs down the roads and turns them to mud-wrestling pits. 

Once one, hypothetically, gets one's Prius stuck in a muddy road, there is nothing to do but walk through the muck in the (theoretical) snow to the (metaphoric) cabin and warn one's (imaginary) girlfriend not to do what one has done.

If, academically, this happens to you, return to the scene not much later than dawn, while the road is solid, to rock yourself out of the situation. If you're smart enough to do this on a road that no one else would ever, in their craziest moment, consider using, it will be easy.

The crisis circumvented, we enjoyed the oncoming storms in the comfort of the cabin Eventually, we set a day to pack up and leave. In-between were some wildly exciting blizzard conditions: we laughed in Mother Nature's face. In one of the moments I wasn't laughing, I suggested we leave sooner, rather than waiting for the next storm, but we just got right back to laughing.

We decided to head back to Truth or Consequences. My driveway is tricky, and there was enough snow on the uphill incline to give me trouble. Janice was right behind with a bit more traction. When I crawled to a stop, I backed up to try again.

This move briefly confused Janice, who thought I had thrown myself into reverse and was utterly out of control. She backed up to accommodate me (get out of harm's way while harm was backing up), and caught herself on the embankment. 

Once we figured out extraction could only happen when the ground was frozen (late night - early morning), we could only wait. Once we figured out extraction was impossible in any weather, we could only wait more. And call AAA. Who sent a lowlander, warm-weather tow service who got himself into a lather when he saw the roads; he tucked tail and phoned in his regrets. He also informed AAA that we lived in an otherworldly hellscape that none may escape.

I have really terrific mental health, so I was most definitely not predicting the worst. While Janice worked herself to a nubbin to fulfill her next petsitting commitment, I enjoyed relaxing and meditating peacefully.

We asked advice of friends and neighbors. We asked for towing suggestions. A friend called a friend who knew a guy, and returned with an idea: J&Y Auto Service in Quemado. Janice phoned Jerry and explained our situation. He understood, agreed that local people knew the same thing: you have to get it while the ground is hard. He was willing to get out to us before the sun warmed our bodies and iced our hopes.

Except now AAA cringed to hear from us. OH NO! WE CANNOT HELP YOU UNTIL SPRING! their silver crosses held to the telephone. Janice tried to explain that we already had a participating service willing to come out, we just needed to set up a timed-tow, but the operator said "LALALALA I CAN'T HEAR YOU  NEVER CALL ME AGAIN  THANKS FOR CHOOSING AAA!"

I'm writing this from a fully-equipped home in Truth or Consequences, so all is well. I want to tell you I was relentlessly cheerful throughout, but my smile was a rictus. Getting off the mountain only took two days, but they were not unworried.

Does anyone want to buy a cabin? Carefree mountain living year-round! 

Sultry winch.

I knew you would get here, Janice.