Vancouver Canada

I'll be flying to Vancouver tomorrow. My life is taking a radical shift - a very joyous and happy one. I'll write a blog when I arrive there - give me a few days and I'll tell you all about it.

In the meantime, just know that I have a cheshire grin on my face. I'll be back in San Miguel the first part of August................and not alone.

Montezuma, New Mexico

Now the name of that town isn't on every tour guide's map. But, it should be. In Montezuma is the Montezuma Castle. It started life as a hotel built by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad. It was built in 1882. It is 90,000 sq ft. It opened in 1886. Because there were hot springs adjacent to the hotel, the feeling was that east-west travelers would seek it out as a popular destination. Some did, such as Ulysses S. Grant, Teddy Roosevelt, Jesse James and even Emperor Hirohito of Japan. It closed in 1903. It went through many other owners until in 1981 industrialist and philanthropist Armand Hammer purchased the empty structure for the United World College.

The mission of the UWC is to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. A lofty goal. There are now twelve UWC schools around the world in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Canada, Costa Rica, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Norway, Singapore, Swaziland, the United States, Venezuela and Wales.

Today, Nelson Mandela and HM Queen Noor of Jordan lead the UWC movement. The high school students are selected by their own countries and the education is free to the student. Many of the graduates have become illustrious leaders of their respective countries and or successful business leaders. You can read more about the UWC movement at www.uwc-usa.org

One of the speakers who came to the college was Chihuly. He was so impressed with the program, the students and the staff that he wanted to do something for them. So he made two magnificent chandeliers for the dining hall. Wow, they are so exquisitely beautiful. This was my first time to see a Chihuly creation in person. I was awed.

The site of this place, watching the students and feeling "the bones" of the building made me wish to be sixteen years old and heading to school there. What an awesome gift for each of these students and ultimately an awesome gift to our World.

Losing the Dream

Or not! Ever since I pulled into this lot on Clear Lake, south of Houston in April, I've felt sad for the owners. That they had lost their dream. I love sailing and I know how I would have felt to have lost my boat. BUT surprise. Yesterday I read an article in The News that States like Florida and South Carolina are passing laws to prevent people from abandoning their sailboats and collecting the insurance money. It seems that the economy has caught up with peoples' dreams.

Now I'm not even remotely suggesting that this is the case with these boats. They succumbed to Hurricane Ike. The photo above symbolizes Ike to me. Tattered and torn like the people of the Coast are from all these horrific storms. These boats, if not claimed by their owners within four weeks were to be crushed and hauled off. Oh horror.

As I walked this yard, which I wrote about back in April though, all I could think of were the lost dreams, but not the lost memories. I doubt any of these boats were used to make a living like the lost shrimp fleet. But they sure brought a lot of pleasure to many people.

Mother Nature never ceases to amaze me in her fury during the storms. Not just winds and water - but the terrifying tornadoes also. I can tell you I sure NEVER want to go through another hurricane as long as I live........never.

I had dreams too. I always wanted to own a Mason sailboat and live aboard six months and charter it six months. I wanted to dock it in Amergis Caye. Well, that dream never happened. I've never even been to Amergis Caye, but, heck, there is still time.

Hopefully one of the people who lost their boat will get another boat and enjoy all the sailing they want, and maybe sail around the world! I've known several who have done just that......a cool way to live - if you're more adventurous then I.

The Art of Diane Moreno

There is no way to explain what motivates people to become artists. In the case of Diane Moreno, it was happenstance, in a way. She was an insurance claims adjuster in Wichita who went to Taos for some cooking classes. She felt an instant connection to the land and in 1988 left Kansas to move to a rundown adobe house without running water or indoor plumbing. She wanted to make art and make a living at it. She has. The photo above is the view from out of her studio/showroom. That is the Pecos River. So tranquil.

The views as we walked down the hill to get our bus after visiting with Diane were so beautiful. Below is the house she has little by little fixed up and lives in to this day.

And, the only piece of folkart that I bought on the whole trip was the piece below - which is amazing for me. Her title is "My Heart Belongs in Texas".

Not sure where she is going to hang, but I really do like her. Diane's work is using old tin cans which are her limbs and head and of course the Texas 1966 license plate for the body. I love the red heart and the fancy red shoes. Also tin cans. Cool isn't it? She's about 16 inches high. She also makes beautiful cabinets out of found wood. Truly beautiful.

Diane still has an outhouse.

Reality is just so REAL!

I've told this story to a few people since it happened a week ago today and since they all fell over laughing, I guess I should share it with ya'll.

I'm at the gym last Thursday morning. Here's the scenario - I roll out of bed, throw on the workout clothes and leave at about 7:15AM BEFORE I've had time to come up with an excuse not to go. By the time I get to the gym I'm awake and ready. It's a basic program that works for me - no brain power required. I "do" two miles, maybe a little more, on the treadmill and then two miles, maybe a little more on the bike and leave. I'm not there for a social event. I look like heck, no makeup, no hairdo and the same workout clothes day in and day out. I do this four or five times a week.

BUT on last Thursday as I was coming downstairs to leave, I ran into my friend Deb and the owner of the gym. They were talking about the new Senior Certified Personal Trainer. One of them said, "Oh you should meet him and have him put a program together for you." Hmmmm.
I thought, "Well if he's a Senior Certified trainer then that makes him more qualified then just a personal trainer. I never got that they meant "senior citizen" trainer. But I did after they talked for a few minutes about his programs. AND when the owner said, "Don't you want to meet him?" I, with a horrified look on my face, said "No way". I left, got in my car and drove home.

I was in a state of shock that they would think I needed a "senior citizen" trainer. I almost had to lay down to recover. (I'm exaggerating). I just don't ever think of myself as the age I am. Never. Not because I'm avoiding it, but it's just not relevant to my lifestyle.........

So, I have thought about it from time to time over the last week and now I think it is so darn funny that I've shared the story. You see I'm 67 but in my mind and heart I'm about 49 or 50 and that doesn't qualify as a senior citizen. Does it?

The last time someone referred to my advancing age was when I was turning 40 and the eye doctor reminded me that I was getting older and would need reading glasses. At 40, egad. I never forgot that either.

A reality check is good every once in a while I guess. But heck it doesn't last long and then I'm tumbling down stairs and having a "new" friend visit me.

Yee ha.

MORE Pez Photos

Just wanted you to see MORE of the "environment" and the Pez characters created by Steve. I sure wanted his Obama Pez and regret that I didn't buy it. Darn.

Here's the group of shoppers while the artists stand by to enjoy the sale of their art. Wacky stuff.....oops art.

And here is our trusty leader, "Narrow Larry" trying to keep the hat on and not fall over from the weight. Larry is a practicing architect in Houston and is a very organized, detailed kinda guy. He sure does do a good job of planning everything to the nth degree and minute. Sometimes seconds. By the end of the trip with this wacky group, Larry is either ready for a sedative or lots of drinks. I don't know why "herding cats" is so much fun for him. We DO try his patience. Every year he swears he's NEVER going to do it again. Good job Larry - keep it up.

The "Pez" Man

It never ceases to amaze me what inspires people to create art. In this case it was Pez dispensers. Who would ever have thought? One of the things I love about the Annual Orange Show Eyeopener Tour is the "unexpected". I have learned over the years to expect the "unexpected". The Pez Man sure didn't disappoint. Prior to arrival I thought, how exciting or surprising can a Pez be? Silly me.......

When we arrived Steve, the Pez Man, was standing out in the street to wave us down. We were in a typical residential neighborhood. Who knew that a whole other world existed behind his house? Not me or probably anyone else. But the sight of the Pez Man just was delicious. I zoomed off the bus, threw my arms around him and asked for a photo. I got it. Fun, fun.

As we were walking to Steve's "environment", I caught this shot of him from behind. Don't you just love the hat? It has to make you giggle. It weighed a ton.

In the backyard environment, which was through a typical gate, was a six hole putt putt course. Also a "studio" where Steve creates Buddhas, the Pope and Elvis, among others out of typical Pez's. What a hoot. He had a musical duo playing and several other artisans there who had created "art". Some of it was assemblages, funky stuff and one guy creates penis art. Although I have a photo of me with this art, I'm not displaying it - this is a G-rated blog. I must tell you though, it did make you grin, it was so darn clever.

Don't you just love the unexpected things of life? No expectations and then you're just plucked down in an other worldly experience that you'll never forget.

Steve entertained us with his "Breaking News" theatre where he satirically did a take on the news programs in the USA. It was hysterically funny.

Steve's Pez's sell for $20US at his studio but in the chi-chi galleries of Santa Fe, New Mexico they were $35 US and up! Go figure.
I'll be telling you about other sites in upcoming days. Stay tuned.

Scurrying and Catapulting

Do you ever start out one place and the next thing you know you're not where you think you should be? It happened to me last night. It's this "season of bad luck" that is continuing.

Earlier yestrday my computer was taken to the Computer Dr's casa to have a hard drive operation. No computer last night. So I read and watched TV upstairs in the living room.

I needed to use the facilities and scurried to go down the two flight of stairs while the commercial was on. I didn't want to miss the show I was watching. The next thing I knew I was catapulting down six hard cantera stairs and ended up in a heap at the bottom of them. In my attempt to break my fall, I pulled a piece of art with me that WAS framed and had glass. No more.

So I laid there for a few minutes and tested my legs, ankles, arms, wrists etc.. To my relief and delight nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Thankfully. So I carefully walked back upstairs, watched the rest of the show and then went back down and cleaned up the broken glass.

In retrospect, I'm sure glad I do live alone because I am sure that was NOT a graceful catapult.
Not in the least. You know, like the ones on the gymnastic shows. In my mind I think it was anything but.........graceful.

I'm afraid to say, "What next?"