Lord Kadizzle looks forward to a new year

As one year ends, and another begins it is customary for Lord Kadizzle to hold court at the winter palace. During the court session Lord Kadizzle summarizes the years events and sets goals for the new year. 2006 was generally a good year for the kingdom, everyone ended the year in good health. Princess Erin moved into her new mountain retreat with the Duke of Bodine. Princess Megan is still in New York trying to break into the fashion business. The economy for the wealthy has done well, even though the common people continue to go nowhere. Lord Kadizzle reviewed his attempt to help the people of North Dakota throw off the yoke of Republican oppression, but the peasants are content and willing to settle for the relative prosperity they have.

2006 followed the pattern of most years. Lord Kadizzle and the Commander met a lot of nice people that showed great kindness. New people stayed with us and became good friends. The gentlemen from the New York Times that went on the sailing trip became friends, and one may return with his family for another sail. A new hunter made the trip to the Dakotas and became a friend from Arizona we can hike with. Lord Kadizzle loves to host people in North Dakota. He has appointed himself ambassador.

As 2007 approaches plans must be made. The commander has give up her job as the city forester. Many trees are expected to die just because they will miss her. It will be a new chapter for Lord Kadizzle with the Commander home all day. The Commander has always felt Lord Kadizzle should not be left home alone without adult supervision, so now this will be a new test of the Lord's will power to survive.

The new year will start with a trip South around January 10th. Patty will be delighted to see the royal retinue again. The royal coach will continue South until the weather improves. Hopefully Dennis Dietz will join somewhere to explore more of the Cedar Mesa area. Everyone is invited to come and go as they please. If you want to join the expedition the best way to contact is by email. Somewhere along the line we will meet up with Ed. Ed travels full time and does not allow himself to get anywhere that ice can form.

Lord Kadizzle sends his best wishes to everyone for a happy new year. Hopefully the country will either come to it's senses or a least make some progress in the right direction. If the economy does well things will be fine. However, a bad economy could lead to the necessity of either cut backs or work on behalf of the potentate.

As many in the kingdom know Lord Kadizzle lost his ambition gland in an accident when he was young. His doctor has informed him that exposure to sweat without an ambition gland can be fatal. Lord Kadizzle has been very careful not to sweat, but even the thought of work could endanger his life. So lets all pray things go well for 2007.

Lord Kadizz

What am I doing here?

What am I doing here? This is not a philosophical question, but just a simple check of my sanity. Looking out the window and seeing the snow does make one think of cross country skiing, but why not be in the Southwest hiking in shorts? Last year not to far from this time we took this picture of the commander after we had conquored a minor peak near where our camper was parked.

Winter hits the Dakotas

A plate of June berries is thawing on the counter. This can only mean there will be buckwheat pancakes with June berries in the near future. Snow is coming down and peace and quite prevail. Erin and Fran made it to Denver, but not to their house. I-70 is closed to Evergreen. I have fulfilled my morning duties as Hoppy. Hoppy is a rolly polly guy that serves the commander breakfast. The commander says "Get me some milk for my coffee". Hoppy jumps up and runs to the refrigerator. Once hoppy is settled the commander snaps "Make some more coffee". Hoppy comes out of his seat like a snake bit his butt and makes coffee. The commander sits and reads the paper while Hoppy fulfills every command. Around nine Hoppy slowly fades away and I become myself. Hoppy may have to do the dishes, but it will be worth it after those buckwheat pancakes get greased with syrup. It will be interesting to see if the commander decides to attack the cackler today. Lord Kadizzle is one of the foremost pheasant trackers in this part of the world. With the snow on the ground the tracking will be do da. Lord Kadizzle will resume his hunt for a monster pheasant. The pheasant has a limp according to Lord Kadizzle, which makes him easy to track. Some of the smart pheasants learned from the Indians to drag their tail feathers to obscure the tracks, but this rarely foils Lord Kadizzle.

Bird Brains versus Pin heads, Pin Heads eek out a win

One more day in the world of man versus bird. The commander insisted that she cook up the game plan to attack the wily pheasant today. As I tried to tell her from my years of engaging the enemy that we needed to attack from the south. Our troops could come from below the hill and force the pheasants into confusion. Commander Winky would have no part of it. We sent troops in from the Northwest and I tried to block the blasted cacklers from the East. Sure enough they must have had some sharp lookouts. In a variety of flights they moved South into good cover. Just as I predicted they went down the valley and escaped.

This is what I have come to call an Audubon hunt. You have the pleasure of seeing birds in the distance, but shooting is out of the question. The commander did manage to get one fool who tried to hide in the reeds. Normally this is not a place we can hunt, because it is posted; however the commander saw the owner in town and managed to get permission. It should have been a great entrapment, and it saddens me to see the battle lost for lack of tactics. Birds one, idiots nothing.

Next we moved to our next mistake. We have been trapping the birds on a fence line for the last week or so. Megan’s beau Ned managed to do some damage when he took part in this ambush. Commander Winky deployed her troops from the North with the instructions to help Lord Kadizzle put the famous pincer movement on a weed encrusted rock pile we suspected the enemy to be using for cover. Winky jumped a couple, but could not inject the lead. Now, for a reason beyond my comprehension, the commander did not put the final squeeze on the rock pile. I came in from the East, and she was supposed to cover from the West. Winky did not get close enough and the old cackler escaped from me on her side of the rock pile.

As we went over the hill a flock of grouse got up en masse. The commander was originally not going to make the hike across the field with me, but when she saw the grouse, she could not resist. However, when she got out of the car the birds left for China. The commander went by car to the food plot on the East side of the field while I continued to pursue the grouse on foot. Somehow I walked past the grouse and they got up behind me and came my way. Grouse are very much like the commander, once they make up their mind about what they are going to do nothing will change their mind, including common sense. Grouse will fly toward you if the head grouse says to. At any rate they came at me very high and to the North. It was a marvelous bus stop shot and I got one. The bus stop shot is executed by yelling “ meet you at the bus stop”, and then you shoot way ahead of the bird. If the bird and the number four shot get to the bus stop at the same time, you will have meat on the table. With great pleasure Mr. Benelli, alias Table meat, met the bird at the bus stop and the crowd cheered.

Soon after the bus stop shot the commander opened up with some long shots at grouse in the food plot. These were what we call “gun cleaners”. The range is so great you do not stand a chance, but it does insure the barrel of the gun is unobstructed. Just after that episode a flock of partridge got up. The commander made a flock shot. This is equivilant to shooting into a theater; you are bound to hit something. One partridge was wounded in the gang style slaying. I could see where it was from over a hundred yards away, but over the radio the commander yelled “Get over here you nit whit, and help me find this bird”. With simple instructions I explained to her where it was, basically right at her feet. Now we had the trifecta, a pheasant, a grouse, and a partridge.

As we drove to the next spot the commander began to berate me and say I was clueless about where I was going. I told her I knew exactly where I was going and would show her a nice flock of grouse. The ruler of the universe said I was insane to think that just because I had once seen grouse in a spot that they would still be there. I asked if she was prepared to eat crow. I suggested she might find crow good with horse radish. Just as we peaked the hill where I said the grouse would be, fifty of them took off. The commander served crow for dinner with humble pie.

Rumsfields Takes the Piss

Pheasant hunting in snow

Luckily today was warm, but I did have this picture from hunting pheasants in the snow several years ago. You can look under there and see them running around. We call it snow snorkling.

Bob Dylan - When The Deal Goes Down

This is from Bob Dylan's new Album. It is terrific. You got to watch

Press on the little forward arrow and wait. You can watch the video. Since I figured this out I am going to post some very funny videos, so stay tunned. I sort of gave up on Bob Dylan. I thought he completely burnt his brain out, but after hear his latest album, I think he has come back like a shooting star, some of the songs and lyrics on this one are better than anything he has done in a long time.

Megan's dog turns out to be an alien

Things are slowly returning to normal in the land of the North. Megan and Ned made it back to New York. Erin has been staying at Fran's family home in the country. The Bodine family usually has as many as twenty guest at their house. Fran comes from a family of seven, so Quinn's can imagine some of the chaos. The Bodine home has five Christmas trees. I am not sure, but I think they believe the trees attract presents. It seems to work. Each of the attendees buys for all the other attendees. Do the math. Twenty times twenty comes out to four hundred presents.

One of the last pheasant hunts of the season may take place today. It looks like a wonderful day here. Any skeptics of global warming need only visit Norht Dakota in the winter. In the old days when we first moved here it stayed below freezing for 120 days straight. Blizzards were common, and I remember one day when the wind chill was 125 below. In the last ten years we have had little if any snow. Bannanas have ripened in early January, and and Santa has been seen pulling his sled with camels. The gravity has increased dramatically here since we have been home. Our scale shows the Earth is now exerting a greater force on my body. Strangely the refrigerator is lighter. Apparently it does not effect metal.

Little know facts about pies in North Dakota

As everyone knows I recently ran for the legislature. Unfortunately, or perhaps maybe not, I lost. One of the main reasons I wanted to get elected was to introduce new legislation in North Dakota that would require certain pies to be served with ice cream. Apple pie, and June berry pie should never be put on a plate without the proper covering of ice cream. Since I lost the election pies will not have the protection they deserve from the heat that emanates after they have come from the oven.

Yesterday pies were sprouting up everywhere in our kitchen. By the time the mixer blades stopped turning there were five pies. When we got to Bodines with five pies, which included pecan, June berry, and apple, our entourage was also carrying three containers of ice cream. Needless to say we practice what we preach.

A June berry pie is the best pie normally made in common practice. Megan, treasures a June berry pie as much as I do. June berries are found only in certain parts of the Midwest and Canada. In a simple pie contest a June berry pie will always prevail. June berries were used by the Indians as currency, just as gold dust was used by the white man. One berry was worth about a dollar of white man currency, so you can see the true value of a typical June berry pie. One pie can hold as many as two thousand berries. Do the math, that comes out to an expensive pie. If you taste one you will understand why the berry has such value. In North Dakota peace was made with the Mandan Indians by serving them pie with ice cream. The Indians knew nothing about ice cream, so the settlers told them it was magic snow. Of course the Indians bought the story and sold the settlers North Dakota for several pies with ice cream and a promise of farm subsidies forever.

East meets West, birds meet lead, people well fed

Under the expert guidance of Lord Kadizzle, Ned bagged some pheasants at the estate's hunting preserve south of Hazen. A wonderful day for a hunt arrived with the morning sun. Lord Kadizzle shot a wonderful double with two long shots. The birds tried a new tactic. Instead of the usual escapes to the north and south they took an eastern flight today. It seemed easy to follow them into the field of high weeds and give them a dust up, but when we got there they managed to vanish. However, we did find a few of the wiley critters in the CRP field to the east. Some hunting mistakes were made. Someone forgot to take the safety off, and at one time failed to have a shell in the chamber. Another member of the party missed an easy shot. All in all it was a wonderful day. Had the shooting been perfect four more birds would have been in the pot, but such is the nature of the game.

Word fights

At scrabble central we have had some heated words about what are words. A major battle erupted between North and South Korea last night over the word vino. One side claimed it was not an American word, the other insisted it was a commonly used word. Iran came into the battle claiming it was not in the dictionary, however Iraq checked, and indeed it was. The battle raged between the Suni's and Shite's until the word was accepted. Iran claimed it did not possess WMDs, Words of Mass Destruction. However as the game progressed Ned seemed to have a few letters of mass destruction. Ned placed a G and spelled ago two ways. I was so proud when I used the word meme. Of course my family challanged me on a word I just learned last year because I could not spell it correctly. I was wrong in the spelling, and lost my turn. I threatened to withdraw and leave the middle North in utter chaos, but I sat down and committed more troups only to find out what I am sure Bush will, I lost anyway. I hope peace can prevail at the scrabble board tonight.

Snoocher Bear returns to the den

Snoocher Bear (Erin) made it back to Hazen yesterday. So with the exception of Fran the whole gang is here. Fran got caught in the worst snow storm in years in Denver. Hopefully he will make it today. Another big round of scrabble, with some more quesitionable moves. Of course we had pheasant last night Cissie made her own invention called Drambuie (it the liquor, who knows how to spell that one) pheasant. Of course it was good. Ned is enthralled with hunting. Ned is a very good shot, but seems to have some difficulty determining which birds are male, and which are female. Today we may go on another big cackle hunt.

Christmas is coming

Ned and Megan made it to ND with the great rat dog Toni. Yesterday we took Ned on a great hunt for the Wild Northern Cackler i.e. pheasant. I bagged one, and Ned managed to hit the first one he shot at. Quite and accomplishment. So there will be meat on the table tonight. The world championship of scrabble went late into the night. There were some questionable tactics. I was questioned and challanged about the word "scrawling", of course Mr. Webster confirmed my choice. However, I lost. I went to bed to read, while the heated game went on. Snow in Denver has prevented Erin from getting home to Denver. Hopefully Erin can now come directly to Bismarck today. If things go well the gang will be deep in a scrabble game tonight. Ned and I may go out today to comb the prairie for the dangerous quarry. Ned seems to like the great hunt.

One Child Left Behind

Coming from a family of nine children it was bound to happen that some would be left behind. All nine were born prior to Bush's "No child left behind program". I could not imagine why a family of nine would adopt, but I suspect some of my bothers and sisters were adopted. Most of us turned out to be normal loving Democrats, but a few like Tom did not seem to get the good genes. This is his Christmas letter to me:

For My Democratic Friends:
"Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes
for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress,
non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice
holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious
persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for
the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their
choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. We also wish
you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated
recognition of the generally accepted calendar year 2007, but not
without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose
contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply
that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only
America in the Western Hemisphere . And without regard to the race, creed,
color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the
wishes.
By accepting these greetings you are accepting these terms. This
greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with
no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the
wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for herself or himself or others,
and is void where prohibited by law and is revocable at the sole discretion
of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the
usual application of good tidings for a period of one year or until the
issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty
is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the
sole discretion of the wisher."


For My Republican Friends:


Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Every year the Republicans elect Tom Businessman of the year in West Virginia. Tom has been out of business for at least four years. However, he sends checks to the Republican party, which apparently is considered by the Bush people a business.

Northern Lights on way home last night

Last night Cissie and I returned from Bismarck. The Northern Lights were better than I have seen them in a long time. Solar flares are expected to keep them good for then next couple of days. If the skys are clear they should be great. This picture was taken last night by someone in about the same area we were.

Nine Fish learn to swim

Pictured above is where nine Quinn children learned to swim. Surfing the internet I found this old picture that brings back memories. I remember diving in the pool to get enough spare change to come back the next day. Standing on the diving board looking for shiny coins in the twelve foot depth. I remember hitch hiking every day to swim. The pool was built during the CCC days and was one of the most elaborate pools I have ever seen a city build. Above the changing rooms was a ballroom, and small resteraunt. I think to this day the pool still funtions. Many good days were spent in the sun, in the water.

Three shots and an empty plate

The commander and I went hunting yesterday. North of Hazen we saw a lot of grouse. If you could eat pheasant tracks we would have all the meat we needed. My shooting was rusty. The one pheasant I shot at flew into the sun. Tell me how they know to do that? At any rate I fired three quick round, wait I take that back, I forgot to take the safety off right away, so they were not quick rounds. Mr Ringneck flew away laughing. We came home empty handed. Got some much needed excercise. Nice sunny day today. May hunt again.

Back into the Fog

In Buffalo Wyoming Cissie and I drove into the south side of the town, which is less than a quarter mile wide. Exactly on the other side of town was a wall of fog. The fog lasted until we got to Dickenson. There is something very symbolic about driving into the fog. Awake this morning I am wondering why we came back to Hazen from sunny days and clear skies. The fog has not lifted for me, but seeing old friends will be good, and soon Megan and Erin will be home for the Holidays. So up with the tree, and the snow shovel.

Santa decides to use elk this year,

This Elk an his girlfriend wandered through Erin and Fran's yard. The wildlife viewing here is hard to beat. I suggested to Erin yesterday they put out a salt lick and some corn. Even without doing that the deer bed down by the old dog house in the yard. The long drive home will start in about thirty minutes. A light snow fell last night. Cissie and Erin went Christmas shopping yesterday. Fran and I did some small projects and had pizza. Something seems inherently wrong in going North in the winter, but here we go.

Wanted: Mouther-in-law bed

I tried to explain to Fran that in order to get rid of in-laws, you need a terrible lumpy bed. The last thing you want to do is make in-laws comfortable. Now Erin and Fran have an infestation. Get up in the morning, walk out on the deck for a soak in the hot tub. Come in read your choice of two papers, catch up at the internet cafe, and by then Fran has made wonderful breakfast fajitas with the left overs from last nights Franjitas. The Franjita is Fran's version of a fajita, which is as they say to die for. Now sit and sun with more reading on the deck, watch the trophy buck go through the yard followed by his two does and chore time finally comes. Clean the drier vent, which involves sending the midget commander in to a tight space where blumpy would never fit. After a little cussing and trying to get the commander to follow directions the job is done, and time for an ease. Now an ease could be another soak, but Fran is draining and flushing the tub today. I think this has something to do with the grease from me being in it. Well, looks like a snore may be in order. It looks like Monday will be blast off day. Back to the land of nanook.

New Dog Breed tested for pheasants in North Dakota

Good news. Megan and her brave dog Tony, along with her boyfriend Ned will be coming to Hazen for Christmass. Initial trials last year indicated the Chihauhau can be an effective pheasant hunter. According to Megan pheasants confuse the dog for a rabbit. Megan gave up trying to get Tony to point when she realized it was useless in tall grass. Megan believes the dog will be very popular among hunters. Tony can be placed in a back pack to recharge while you continue to hunt. I asked Megan about the possibility Tony could be picked up and carried off by eagles or other large birds. Meg has made a small parachute should such an event occur. In order to retrieve Megan says Tony will use an assistant Chihauhua. The assistant is currently in the U.S. illigally from Mexico, so he or she will not be named. The two dogs have special harnesses they can tow downed pheasants with. The technology has not been perfected. To protect the dogs from partially alive pheasants they will wear helmits and have some body armour. Since Megan is in the fashion business she will design a complete line of clothing for the hunting dogs. In the picture you can see Tony in the cow disguise. Megan believes pheasants are like geese and size does not matter when they see something. In other words to a pheasant a cow is a cow even if it is only a foot tall. Other clothing items include the normal camoflauge, and a special new prairie dog suite rumored to be out this fall.

Vietnamese win in Evergreen

Last night we took off for downtown Evergreen to enjoy a meal out. This followed a day of repairing various and asundry items at the Bodiniem Mountian retreat. I took apart two heaters and managed to get one working. Then I installed a new garbage disposal.

Our dinner was at a Vietnamese restruant. The way these people cook, I can see why we were foolish to take them on in a war. They can do more with less than anyone I ever saw in a kitchen. The meal had so many interesting flavors, and they put the Chinese to shame. Erin suggested I should become a food critic. I love food, I could never become a critic of food. The only food I would criticize is the food that is not on my plate.

After the meal with full bellies we returned to the mountain to play a game called Catch Phrase. Your teammate give you a clue to a word and you have to guess it before the buzzer goes off. If you get it right you pass the timed buzzer to the other team. The team holding the buzzer when it goes off loses. Fran randomly got the word "lazy". I had to guess the word. Fran's clue was "It is what you are". He added in kindness "When you say you get hit by gravity". I guessed, but Fran lost ten son-in-law points.

Settled in at Erin and Fran's

The parents from hell have infested Erin's home. Cissie is hyperactive as usual and going nuts with little projects for Erin. Yesterday she cleaned a huge closet. Our luck with tires has been incredibly bad. I spent two hundred dollars for a new tire which was ruined in Cottonwood on an adventure. Near Jerome I ran over a shell casing for a high powered rife. One tire dead. In the last twenty feet to Erin's house the back of the truck slid off the snow covered driveway and a dry wall screw went through the sidewall of the new tire. Tire ruined, $200 bucks gone. The tire god did smile a little this time because I was able to get a used, practically new identical tire for half price. As always we have been eating well. Erin is following in her mom's tradition and has become a good cook. I have to take up to three hot tub breaks a day to ease my back a little. The morning soak is already complete. Since Erin is in the journalism racket there is a wonderful supply of reading material here, so being lazy sitting around comes easy. The sun comes streaming in every morning from the one wall that is entirely glass.

Yei'bi'chi

After the first frost of the Fall has passed, these nine-day long ceremonies may begin. They generally start late in the evening and last through the small hours of the morning. There may be some dancing in the afternoon, depending on the group. They are healing ceremonies invoking the aid of the Holy Ones and the Talking God. The most common is the Beautyway. These events are funded by extended families. Guests show good manners if they contribute to the host, or bring food to share. Generally, all who come are fed. This is a cost in excess of a hefty fee to the singer. Sometimes Yei dancers, in masks, powdered bodies and dress, will come into a community and solicit donations. There is generally no vocalism beyond the "wu tu tu tu" of the character….Some notes jotted down after attending a ceremony may give you an idea of the atmosphere surrounding a Yei'bi'chi:

Last year Cissie and I attended a Yei bi chi in Bluff. We were invited by some Navajos. Prior to the ceremony a Navajo woman gave a lecture on the Navajo interpretation of the stars. Of course all their constellations are different and have a story to go with them. At the ceremony around a campfire the women danced first, followed by the men. It was a wonderful night and the stars were out in full force.

North of Moab along Colorado River

Multiple Personalities

I am obsessed with the idea that you can show people facts and change their minds. However, I am trying to come to grips with the fact that it just ain't so. Many people just don't want a different perspective, they are fine believing what makes them comfortable regardless of the truthfulness of the belief. Paul Krugman who writes for the NY Times has written an article which I posted on my other blog. http://idignatioin.blogspot.com/

The other blog is called Rightoues Indignation (I know idignation is spelled wrong in the link above, but that is the correct link). I highly recommend the article, but only go there if you are open minded. With two blogs I can have two personalities. This blog can stick to the fun fluffy world that most people like to inhabit. The other one deals with reality in ways some people would just as soon avoid. So by having mutiple personalities I can have the best of both worlds.

Across the Navajo Nation

Yesterday started early at May's house. May is my sister Patty's old neighbor. We are leaving our camper at May's while we return to ND. May insisted we spend the night in her house. May is a host hard to beat. May is 83 years old. May insisted I sit in an electronically controlled chair that both lowers you to a nice nap position, and raises you to a standing postion. After May had me seated she took my shoes off. Cissie walked in as May was removing my shoes. Cisse was amazed to see an 83 year old waiting on her prize lump. May explained to Cissie that a man is like a fire, if not tended they will go out. Music to my ears. Next May put a heating pad under my lower back. It was not long before I was hit with a gravity wave and a snore nap ensued.

In the Morning May had a nice breakfast set out at 5:30 so we could leave early. On our return we are taking May her two request, some pheasants, and a windshield scraper.

It turned out to be the perfect day to drive to Flaggstaff, and then on up through the Navajo Nation. We went up through Kayenta, then over to Bluff. No one should die without seeing this part of the world. Cissie loves seeing the Navajo Hogans. These traditiional buildings are everywhere. The landscape is unbeatable on a nice sunny winter day. We were close enough to Monument valley to see it in the distance.

One of the best parts of the day was a stop at the Black Mesa Trading Post. Navajos must be the ultimate soft drink consumers. Although the store was poorly stocked with most common grocery items, there was an infinite selection of things to drink. I guess when you live in the desert this makes sense. When we left the store Yei Bi Chi dancers appeared from nowhere. These were young Navajo Boys dressed in very strange costumes that somewhat resembled a bird. They were not allowed to talk, but could make bird noises. The dancers held out bags like children would at Halloween. A kind Navajo man explained to us that we were supposed to give them gifts. I threw a candy bar in the bag. Last year Cissie an I attended the fall Yei Bi Chi, which marks the end of summer. We did not know there was a ceremony to mark the begining of winter. The Navajo gentleman explained the ceremony. It somewhat resembles our Thanksgiving. Cissie asked if she could take a picture and of course the answer was no. As we drove away Cissie was going to sneak a picture. I told her to repect their request. Cissie has a hard time with being told she cannot take a picture. In Mexico a soldier with a machine gun told her no, and she was still going to take the picture. I had to explain to her no really means no when the person who says it has a machine gun.


From Bluff we went on up to Moab and on to Erin's. A cigar, eggnog, and a jump in Erin's hot tup completed the day. Almost forgot our major mission, which was to deliver to Erin a nice living room set we got at a bargain. For $150 we managed to buy a two piece couch set that was purchased a year ago for $1,700. Today we will work with the Feng Shwe to place them properly in her living room. Looks like a sunny day here in Evergreen. Later today I will post a picture with this article.

Back to Evergreen

Today we leave Patty's and plan to move to their old house down in Cottonwood. In the morning we will leave the camper at May's, the neighbor and head back to Evergreen. With luck we can make it in one day, but it may be an overnight trip. Another nice day here. The nights have been crystal clear with a full moon.

Sacred Mountain

Two Indian sites visited today. First an interesting petroglyph site. The site had over 12oo different figures. Recently it was discovered to also be an astronomical calander. Long story about how it works, but very interesting. The park host was at the site and had a lot of interesting information about the site.

The second site was Sacred Mountian. It is within a couple miles of Patty's. I have never seen a site with so many pot sherds. The mountian was probably three or four acres on top. No matter where you looked there were pot sherd. Not only on the mountain, but everywhere around it. On the way down the mountian I took a route off the back side not normally used. I found a piece of black and white pottery, which was the only one I saw, and I think it was out of place there. All the other pottery shards were brown, grey, or red. None were decorated except the one I found.

Hiking Secret Canyon

Cissie and I took our first long hike of the season. We choose Secret Canyon near Sedona. The first part of the hike was in the nice warm sun. As we asended the canyon it was a little cooler. The temperature change was amazing. My hands were cold at the top of the canyon. Back at the bottom I had to put on a T shirt to stay cool. The elevation change was only a few hundred feet, but the sun made a big difference.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times

Today we had a great tire ride from the city of Jerome. If you have been in this area, you vistited Jerome. It is an old copper mining town on the side of the mountain that has now become a tourist attraction. We drove about sixty miles on bad gravel roads. The plan was to get close to an Indian site we had hiked to before and then hike about two miles. Even with GPS we were unable to get to the right road. If we took the time to find it we would get there too late. Ended up returning with nothing to show, but expensive flat tire. Apparently a shell casing from a high powered rifel went through the tire and ruined it. Some wapahoney had left all his casings right by the road, right where we pulled over. Now I have to buy a new tire for $180.

Scouting for Indian sites

Ned, Cissie, and I got in a nice hike today. The first area we visited had a very large number of petroglyphs. These were not like the normal ones you see in Utah and other areas. These were done on a different type of rock, it was some sort of basaltic rock. In the genral area were some very nice camping places near a stream that runs year round. The picture above is from a lookout site that once had stone walls. It was part of an area communication system on the top of bluffs. The indians could pass word on from one mountain to the next with fires, smoke, or whatever. The site is east of where the interstate goes from Cottonwood to Phoenix. The day was crystal clear and just the right temp.

Pot sherd at Towel Creek

This is a nice pot sherd found at Towel Creek on a hike near the Verde River. These must be left in place. Brother in law Ned is a site steward for the Park Service and it is his job to protect these sites, and prevent vandalism. Patty will be taking the class this Saturday to be a site steward, and Ned will be an instructor. Cissie and I may play the part of vandals. Very cold here for this far south. It is amazing how much panic there is when temp drops here. Most of these people have never seen ice except in a museum. Hopefully we can get a moderate hike organized today.

Important message from the commander (Cissie)

Because things are the way they are, things will not stay the way they are.
- Bertolt Brecht

The above quote came from the commander today when she lectured Ned and I about sitting in front of the computer too long.

Nice Day in McGuireville

View out the front door at Patty's. Trying to fix hinge on camper that got kadizzled on windy drive down here. May hike today. Have to help Ned replace microwave. Hopefully we can get to Indian sites in next couple days. Need some excercise.

Villaneuva State Park in New Mexico

We spent the night here. Wonderful little park near an old fashion Mexican style town. The back of the camper was right up against the Pecos River. Coranado walked through almost exactly where the camper is. We are now at Patty's. Had good evening catching up. Managed to park the bigfoot right next to their new house. The TV is getting many channels, but too many are fundy preachers. Cissie and I just finished a hike up on a plateau by the house here. Sad to see the damage from 4 wheelers and the beer cans that the red necks leave. Beer companies should be forced to run adds shaming the beer dogs into picking up the cans. Four wheelers are the ruination of the southwest. They allow lazy people to haul trash into pristine areas, waste gas, and add to the polluted air.

Made it to Patty's

Arrived at Patty's new house in or near Cottonwood. Long day's drive. Damn headwind all the way. Stayed at wonderful campground last night. More later with picture.

Where next?

A morning soak in Erin's hot tub is hard to beat. Today we have to decide where to go next. We need to leave the camper down out of the mountians. If it snows up here we could never get it out. Have been thinking about going to Cottonwood and leaving the camper there, and then returning to Hazen for Christmas. Yesterday we hiked up on mountian by Erin and Fran's. Lot of wildlife near here. Appear to be dens within four hundred feet of house. Saw a very large buck right in Erin's yard. I think it is one of largest I have ever seen. I think everyone has gained weight from turkey day. Sun is out and looks like nice day.

Landon, Mike, and Olivia watch horse movie

Keeping these two entertained was a job. When my Grandpa days come, I don't know if I can handle it. Erin helped her freinds kids build a gingerbread house. It was a hit

Turkey at Erin's

Wonderful dinner at Erin's. Erin had freinds over and with them came a pie that will probably take this years prize. It was an apple cranberry pie that involved brandy. With a little whip cream it was an explosive mixture.

Two trips to the dump

We managed to finally get our camper clear up Erin and Fran's driveway. Cissie and I cleaned the garage for the bums. We had to make two trips to the dump. The blasted dump charges 45 dollars to dump a large pickup load. Trash is expensive here. Wonderful dinners here. Lamb last night, tonight it will be chicken. Big turkey day tomorrow. Cissie already has the punkin pie made.

A wasted but good day.

The only accomplishment today of any note was cleaning Erin's driveway. There were several cookings in the hot tub to wash the sins away, but still many sins to go.

Recovering from Defeat

Like Tom Foley and the Local Pastor, Ted Haggard here in Denver I have gone into treatment at a spa for my terrible sins. At Erin's spa they have a special system for baking the devil out of people that run dirty campaigns.

Occupation Messiah

Read the comment on the article below. Very interesting comment. I checked the profile of the person who sent it, and he listed his occupation as Messiah. I wonder what it pays? The last one got fired under the worst circumstances, I hope this one does better. We need more Messiahs. I may put in my resume and see if I can get work. From my travels with Cissie I do not think I am qualified to do anything. We are equipping our truck with a brake and steering wheel on her side. She has been giving me every detail of how to use the ones on my side. Apparently I do not have a brain. I am considering renting one, but it is cheaper just to use hers. I was just shoveling Erin's driveway. To my surprise the supreme commander explained I was not even qualified to do that. First her eminence came on the job site and complimented me for how clever I was. I rigged up the hose so it would siphon water from the stream and melt the snow on the driveway. Since the driveway is all down hill it worked will. Then the commander decided I was forming a puddle she did not like farther down the road in the ditch. It was not a problem, not a least from the perspective of my small IQ. However the commander demanded the process be stopped, so the commander is still outside shoveling. We are considering a hike or a home improvement project.

Science vs Religion

Take the time to go to this link in the NY times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/21/science/21belief.html?8dpc

I am a fan of Richard Dawkins who has written a book THE GOD DELUSION. Dawkins asserts, and I agree that most of our world problems are caused by religion. Many scientist are taking on this problem head on. Dawkins is leading the charge.

Busting Out

We arrived at Erin's today. Had a nice night in a wonderful state park in Wyoming. Perfect place to make halfway form Hazen. First thing I did was jump in the hot tub on her deck. For some strange reason gas is cheaper in Evergreen Colorado than anywhere on earth.

Off to see the Wizard

Cissie and I are in the final stages of packing to go to Evergreen, Colorado. We are going to visit Erin for Thanksgiving.