Did you read Dune, by Frank Herbert? I cannot tell you much about the plot details, but I still remember the vivid desert scenes and the global windstorms that hampered the heroes. I also remember that they rode on giant sand worms who could navigate through the blowing sand. Dune is the most famous science…
Quick! What colors do artists use to depict the beauty of the desert Southwest? Terra cotta, pinks, and purples are among the most common, as seen below. Here are a few Southwest quilts with purple as the dominant color. Yet, the landscape is not purple. Perhaps, on a rare occasion, the sunset reflects purple tones,…
I finally tracked down my busy son and daughter-in-law and shared my summer news. Now I can tell everyone–I will be a camp host for the National Forest Service, right outside of Yellowstone National Park in Gallatin National Forest. This gig is a bit different from most camp host jobs. My main task is to…
I have not fallen into a vat of tequila or impaled myself on a barrel cactus. I have been wandering this past week, a bit further north in New Mexico to meet up with friends who came down from Colorado. Before I write about that, I have something hilarious to report. I was back at…
Positive Developments A coalition of movie theaters have organized screenings, to be shown in May, featuring films from countries named in President Trump’s travel ban. The series, “The Seventh Art Stand,” announced this week, will take place in community centers, museums and theaters. More than 30 venues in states such as Hawaii, Washington, New York, Texas…
I will get to the part about throwing politicians into a creek, but first this: Every terrain excites me: desert, mountain, seashore, prairie, riparian. Naturally occurring terrain, not endless farmland. However, not everyone agrees with me about the inherent beauty in all natural settings. I know people who think of the desert as “wasteland”, or…
Act One Date: mid-1970s Location: Tucson, AZ; Nogales; Puerto Penasco, Mexico I was a student at the University of Arizona. College was demanding, frustrating, all-consuming and, like any other serious student, I did not take much time for fun. Then, someone said, “Let’s go down to Mexico for lunch,” a reasonable and economic suggestion since…
While reading NM news the other day, I came across this: “February marks fewest arrests at border in recent years“, by Alicia Caldwell. The news illustrates the power of fear as a weapon in the fight against illegal immigration. The main points of the story: Arrests of people crossing the border illegally dropped roughly 44 percent…
Today, when Jane and I took our early morning walk, I asked for a turn at blogging. Why should she have all the fun? I have things to say. After 9 years together and listening to her endless audio books, I know about reading and writing. I am a literary dog by osmosis. So, Jane…
The main focus of Jane’s Journals is everyday life, aging, and the nomadic lifestyle, told in the here and now with a bit of humor. Day-to-day living. That won’t change. However, I am adding two additional threads: A more “investigative” look at issues making headlines, including political issues (border wars, budget cutting, refugees), told in…