The Summer of 2010 07/24/2010
This has been the hottest summer I've experienced since living in Albuquerque--we've had frequent days of 100+ degrees (during the summer in ABQ, it normally only reaches the 90s).
Summer started out with a trip to New Orleans on Memorial Day weekend (which I'm still trying to financially recover from!). It was great seeing New Orleans again--hadn't been there since October, 2002. I finally got to stay at the Andrew Jackson Hotel on Royal Street (something I've wanted to do for ten years). The desk clerk was somewhat rude and sarcastic when we first checked-in (it may have had something to do wtih my special request of wanting a "haunted room"), but he quickly became nicer as our stay progressed. We arrived in New Orleans the day before Memorial Day and left on Friday, June 4. I didn't get to do everything I planned to do (like see Mardi Gras World), but we got a lot done during the time we were there. The thing about New Orleans is that it's twice as far from Albuquerque as Las Vegas ... and costs twice as much! In Las Vegas, two can eat at a buffet for about $25 (easy ... and sometimes, a lot less) ... but, every time Robyn and I ate in New Orleans, it was $40 or more each meal! And, I've never been to a city where businesses still don't accept credit and debit cards! We encountered several (among them, Johnny's Po' Boys and Cafe du Monde) where it was "cash only"! New Orleans is fun and our photos can be seen in the New Orleans and Morgan City sections of this website, as well as on www.gatesofdixie.com. I don't plan to make another trip to New Orleans for at least a few years.
On July 4, Gil, Robyn and I drove to Roswell to attend the 63rd anniversary festival of the UFO crash--most of the activity was happening at the International UFO Museum in downtown (that's where I got to meet actress Adrienne Barbeau--who was a guest celebrity!). Adrienne is one of my favorite actresses (I have just about every movie she has appeared in--I had such a big crush on her back in the '70s and '80s--and she is the reason why Robyn's middle name is "Adrienne"). I had a great time meeting UFO celebrities like Stanton Friedman and Don Schmidt. I think that I may attend the UFO festival next year and spend a few days down there--it was interesting and a lot of fun! Not that I'm a believer in flying saucers--I don't know what I think about the subject except that it is interesting. Back in the '90s, I really got caught up in the UFO subculture and read books and watched videos--whatever of good quality I couild find (there is a lot of schlock out there---some people may say its ALL schlock!). Something happened near Roswell back in 1947, but I don't know whether it was a crashed flying saucer with aliens. How fascinating if it was!!! But, I remain a skeptic on the subject (skeptic, in the sense of the word that nothing has been proven---NOT as a "debunker" as many people use the term). You will notice on this website (particularly in the New Mexico section) where I bring up aliens and UFOs (such as in Socorro and Dulce, etc)--these are places that are indelibly etched in my mind through my UFO interests of the early '90s--and now that I have the chance to visit these areas, I do--so that I can see for myself the places I have read about). In recent years, I've tended to lean toward the view of C.G. Jung and Patrick Harpur on the phenomena of UFOs--but, my mind is not closed.
August marks another westward journey to Laughlin and Las Vegas. Since I'm still smarting from the higher-than-expected expense of the New Orleans trip, I'm focusing mostly on Laughlin for this next trip due to pure cheapness ($18 a night at the River Palms Casino can't be beaten!). I want to enjoy the 115 degrees during the day; some cheap gambling; some cheap buffets; and maybe even take-in the wet T-shirt contest at the Loser's Club at the Riverside Casino on Thursday night! And, I can't miss out on buying a mixed-drink at the movie theater concession stand and taking it into the movies with me! I'll make a swing up to Las Vegas while in Laughlin to visit a few places I have yet to see--such as Lake Las Vegas, City Center, South Point, and Red Rock Casino (among those on the list). I'm planning on attending the 1975/76 Class Reunion in Palm Springs in mid-October, and will probably make another trip to Vegas during that brief vacation where I will stay at Treasure Island for two days, and then go to Palm Springs for two days. The plans for this latter trip aren't finalized yet (I have to get past the Laughlin vacation first).
Jazzland/Six Flags New Orleans 06/03/2010
I'm writing this from New Orleans. Yesterday, Gil, Robyn and myself were almost arrested for trespassing at Jazzland/Six Flags New Orleans. The amusement park was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and has been in a state of decay for the past five years. We wanted to get photos of the theme park for www.gatesofdixie.com. We gained access to the property through an open gate and got our pictures. Before we were able to leave, a New Orleans Police officer stopped us and inquired what we were doing; took our licenses and ran checks on us. While waiting, we wondered if we were going to get arrested since the officer told us that we were trespassing on city property. After a few moments of sweating it out, the officer came back and told us that he didn't think it was necessary to give us a summons since we lived in Albuquerque. He told us that we were trespassing and advised us to tell others on our website that they cannot do what we just did--otherwise, they will get arrested. We thanked the officer and counted ourselves as lucky, and drove off happy that we got our pictures and didn't have to spend the night in the New Orleans Jail. The pictures will appear on the Gates of Dixie website.
Brent Leach and the Rosin Bag 05/23/2010
Just got back from the Isotopes game--spent a solid six-hours at Isotopes Park because of a 1:00 P.M. Beatlesmania Again concert and then a four-hour, 10-inning game between the Isotopes and the Las Vegas 51's. After leading the entire game, the Isotopes lost 9 to 8, #50 Brent Leach was the final Isotopes pitcher--Robyn and I counted how many times he used the rosin bag in the 1 2/3 innings pitched and it came to 28 (out of about 33 pitches). I believe it was the Colorado Rockies announcers who first noticed how many times Leach uses the rosin bag behind the pitcher's mound (rosin is used to keep the pitching hand dry) during a game in 2009 when Leach was called up by the Dodgers--Leach uses it excessively--in fact, I remember hearing that an umpire gave him a warning about using a lot of rosin (so much gets on the ball that it becomes a foreign substance--and though rosin is legal in MLB, an excessive amount of it can effect the movement of the baseball when pitched--becoming like a "spit ball" ). It gets comical when you become aware of Leach's addiction to using rosin and begin counting how often he goes to it. I'm sure that it's a nervous tick--but it's funny when you see puffs of rosin exploding from his glove when the ball is thrown back to him from the catcher.
Jesus Christ, Superstar 04/13/2010
Just returned home from seeing the stage production of Jesus Christ, Superstar (starring Ted Neeley) at Popejoy Hall on the UNM Campus. Ted Neeley played Jesus in the motion picture. The show was awesome. The production was in Las Cruces last night; I asked one of the road crew where the show was headed next, and he said "Arkansas". The show had only one performance here in Albuquerque--the theatre was packed. I would go see it again, if I ever get the chance (even without Ted Neeley as Jesus).
Trinity Site 04/03/2010
Today Gil and I drove 120-miles south of Albuquerque to view the Trinity Site--the location where the first A-Bomb was exploded in 1945. The day was beautiful. Trinity Site is opened to the public only twice a year--in April and October. Photos of our visit to Ground Zero are located in the New Mexico section under Trinity Site. After leaving the White Sands Missile Range, we drove to San Antonio and ate at the Owl Cafe and Bar--a place I've heard about for years for their excellent green chili cheeseburgers. The place was extremely busy. The burger was good, but I felt the cheeseburger I had at O'Neil's Pub here in Albuquerque a few days earlier tasted so much better! Still, I would stop again at the Owl Cafe and Bar the next time I'm through there. While on I-25, I spotted a drive-in movie screen on the south-end of Socorro; I pulled off onto the exit to investigate--hoping that maybe Socorro had opened a drive-in which would make for a few fun summer nights--but, unfortunately, the drive-in has been closed for a very long time. Photos of the drive-in can be found in the New Mexico section under the Socorro tab. It was a fun day--a nice three-day weekend due to a furlough day on Friday.
Trees Blooming Earlier 03/22/2010
Just noted something today--not sure whether it falls within natural parameters or whether it's due to global climate change--but the pear trees at work are blooming much earlier this year than they did last--they are in full glorious bloom with green leaves beginning to appear, and they didn't do this until April 28th last year! The trees are blooming over a month earlier--and we just had about a half-inch of snow here in Albuquerque on the first day of Spring (Saturday, 03/20/2010); previous to the morning it snowed we had Spring-like days ... and later in the day after the snow, it became Spring-like again. The weather is all over the place. I know that the trees of which I write are blooming early because I took pictures of them last year with my phone--and the picture info provides the date. We have a nice sunny day today in the mid-60's--beginning later tomorrow, temperatures are supposed to plummet and rain or snow is supposed to fall (depending on which areas of New Mexico one lives). The weather forecast indicated it wasn't sure which direction the storm was going to move (when was the last time you heard a weather man say, "I don't know what the weather is going to do?"
PSHS Classes '75 and '76 Reunion 03/21/2010
I just registered to attend the big reunion for the combined Palm Springs High School Classes of 1975 and 1976 which occurs in Palm Springs on October 15 through the 17th. I had a lot of friends in the Class of '76, so I'm hopefully going to get see a few of them. I will probably make it another joint Vegas-Palm Springs trip like I did last year when attending my own Class of '77 reunion. I'm looking forward to going--it will be fun!
Car Repairs 02/20/2010
Took the car into the shop today to find out where the racket is coming from under the hood (sounded like bearings going out in a pulley). The water pump has gone out, which also means that on this make and model of car, the timing chain needs to be replaced as well. The fix is going to be expensive--I'm anticipating that the tensioner should be replaced too, since everything has to be taken off to get to the water pump. I need to make sure the car is in good operating condition, since I intend to get a few more long trips out of it before it gets retired. In August, I'm planning a Laughlin excursion with an extra jaunt to Santa Cruz to see Papa Doo Run Run perform at the Boardwalk; and then, in the Fall, a trip to Las Vegas. The car won't be ready until Wednesday (02/24/2010) at the latest--bus line, I need you now.
Pedaling for Jesus 02/17/2010
I texted Rodney today to find out where he is; I saw mentioned on Facebook that he had moved on from Golden Shores, AZ to Quartzsite. Rodney responded, not knowing who had texted at first ... and then called me when he discovered it was me. Rodney was at a place called Isaiah 58--I guess that is some type of church or religious place in Quartzsite? Rodney said that he had ridden his bike from Golden Shores to Bullhead City, stayed about a week there, and then caught a ride to Lake Havasu, where he then rode his bike to Quartzsite--spending the night, first, in Parker. Rodney said that he was going to get a ride into Mesa on Friday--his mom is in very ill-health and he wanted to see her. At some point in the next few weeks, Rodney will then head back to Prescott, AZ--where he more-or-less hangs out when he's not on the road.
In many ways, I admire Rodney for the transient life that he leads--to be able to pick up and travel and see the countryside so close-at-hand from the seat of a bicycle--you are actually moving slowly-enough to enjoy the scenery and take it all in! However, Rodney tours the country by bicycle to preach the Gospel, and that would not be my interest in bicycling everywhere. No, Rodney has chosen (I think) a hard life--not knowing where his next meal is coming from, or where he will stay when its raining--I couldn't do that. If I ever decided to see the country by bike, it would have to be after I retire--when I have the knowledge of a pension check being deposited into my bank account every month--and the ability to eat well at local restaurants and spend the night at a motel during my travels. Yes, it might be fun to stay in a tent a night or two, here and there ... but NOT every night! Rodney has faith in God during his travels; I would have faith in my bank account instead--knowing that I could end the trip at a moment's notice and hop on a Greyhound back for home. But still, I found myself a little excited when talking to Rodney and hearing about his past few days in Quartzsite--pretty neat. By the way, here it is February and Rodney said the temperature in Quartzsite today was 80 degrees!
Year of the Tiger 02/14/2010
I attended the Chinese New Year celebration this afternoon at Albuquerque's Chinese Culture Center on Adams Street. This marks the third consecutive Lunar New Year festival I have attended; there is nothing much different between any of them, but I enjoy listening to the music and watching the martial arts demonstrations--and of course, the Lions and the Dragon and the Monkey King--and nothing is more deafening than the thousands of fireworks that go off at the end of the celebration! I understand that Chinatown in Las Vegas has a big food festival at the Lunar New Year--someday, I may get to experience that celebration, too!
Medea--The Vortex Theatre 02/13/2010
Went to the Vortex Theatre tonight to see the play by Euripdes, Medea--which is a story that begins where Jason and the Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece, stops. The Vortex is just two blocks away from where I live in the UNM area and I've been wanting to see a play there for a long time. It so happens that Robyn has a theatre-appreciation class at UNM and one of her assignments was to see a professional performance--what luck that Medea would be showing at the Vortex! The cost was $15 a piece and the play lasted an hour and a half.
The Vortex stage is surrounded by bleachers of seats, and the acting occurs in the center. Props are minimal--in this instance, there is only a single, marble-looking bench which gets used several times during various scenes--otherwise, the actors wear costumes and the rest is all acting. I found the play very enjoyable; it addresses many interesting subjects that have been germane to the human condition for thousands of years--topics like the differences between men and women; the practice of "throw-away" relationships; irrational and/or insane reasoning that people use to justify their actions ... there are so many! I liked the play so much, that I intend to see it again. I would love to go with someone (Robyn doesn't want to see it again), but I don't know of anyone who would probably enjoy seeing it--the few friends I have wouldn't be interested--so, I suppose I will see it again, alone; doing things alone is something that I must get used to doing anyway, since I figure that in a couple of years, I'll be making Vegas trips alone when Robyn finally graduates from UNM and moves out on her own.
Medea is playing for about another month on the weekends; coming up this summer will be a Shakespeare festival featuring The Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Much Ado About Nothing; I intend to see all of them.
Meanwhile, Robyn bought tickets to see Dead Man's Cell Phone for Saturday, February 20--the theatre is on the UNM campus (again, this is production that she has to see for class). In April, Jesus Christ, Superstar will be coming to Popejoy Hall at UNM--we plan to get tickets for that show as well (since we both like the movie). So suddenly, I'm going to live performances--the last one I attended (besides Phantom of the Opera at the Venetian in July, 2008) was in August, 2007 when I went with Connie to Madrid to the Engine House Theatre to see The Pied Piper. I guess a new form of entertainment is opening up for me--going to see live productions.
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