Sidetracked Charley

Dawson, New Mexico was a company town. And after the two mine disasters in 1913 and 1923 the company buried the 263 of the 1913 disaster, and the 123 of the 1923 collapse in the company cemetery with cast iron markers in white. Most were Italian or Greek and their extended families were in the old country. They came here seeking a new beginning. And ended up with a small plot and a white cross. There was a world wide depression in the 1980's and in the first decade of the 1900's immigration from Europe increased from 3.5 to 9 million. Many were pulled here by contract labor agreements offered by recruiting agents, known as padrones to Italian and Greek laborers. Hungarians, Poles, Slovaks, Bohemians, and Italians flocked to the coal mines or steel mills, Greeks preferred the textile mills, Russian and Polish Jews worked the needle trades or pushcart markets of New York. Railroad companies advertised the availability of free or cheap farmland overseas in pamphlets distrib...

Garden Progress May 9, 2015 I got the top on the high bows on the 8th of May. The cover had been on the low bows over the 4 x 4 raised high beds since the 12th April. Seeds for lettuce, spinach, carrots, snow peas, and beets as well as sets for onions and garlic were planted. May the 1st I planted starts for rainbow chard, butter crunch and Romaine lettuce. My goal this year was to not over plant. And to be ahead of last year. I almost did not do a garden last year. I had two cataract surgeries to sandwich the garden between. The surgery is quick and easy and very immediately satisfying but there are these restrictions which you dare not violate. Though a friend tells me in India those with restored sight walk back to their homes on the same day and pick up work in the fields the very next. In the United States no heavy lifting or inverted poses or exercise beyond walking for three weeks. Gardening is heavy work. Especially when I wanted to do a larger bow structure than I previ...

Upside down or right side up Three years ago with the Pluto Uranus squares it seems our lives were shaken up and rearranged in ways we never expected. Or so those who watch the stars tell us. And Mercury in Retrograde gives us yet another chance to make it right. But not by effort but by letting it all go. I only obliquely study the stars. Sort of as an appendage of the study of rituals of Wiccans and other Pagans. I think there is probably a lot of truth in the stars but I doubt, like with the Bible, that the translation is always correct. But it was interesting to unearth this bit of information about the Pluto Uranus squares in 2012.Yes, my life changed a lot three years ago. It was not just physical changes but emotional, mental and spiritual growth as well. I am not now the person I was three years ago nor am I the person I was through these last years. I feel as if I have been released from a promise I made. Released to be me. So I am rather looking forward to this Retro...

Morning Salutation to the Sun The desk calendar says it is May 18th. A year ago I did not get the poly tunnel up until this date. Now I have lettuce planted. The outside temperature is 27 F and the temp in the green house is 36 degrees. Sun should be up soon. It has been a month since the kittens came into my life and three hours since they (with the help of Wee Willow) broke the glass on the entertainment center. I just ran the shop vac yet again because of the glint of shattered glass 20 feet away. And also cleaned up the mess they made yesterday with the potting soil. On this day on my calendar I am suppose to begin doing yoga salutations to the sun. I am thinking of going back to bed. Straight to bed, turn the electric blanket up to 9 and assume the prenatal position. Not exactly Yoga. But the desk calendar says I can have the freedom of a total day if I do the yoga. Nothing else on the page but one pet sitting job which I usually combine with walking the dogs after the sun ...

For satisfactory communication to happen there has to be first and foremost a desire to communicate on both parties. In addition to talking both must listen, and the end goal must be a meeting, not a beating down, of minds. I can train a rat to my way of thinking through the use of positive and negative messages like in the Skinner Box. As ever pet owner knows communication does not have to be verbal. And on the other hand verbal communication can be positive and negative. A manipulative person can and does use words to be positive or negative reinforcement. They can even use words to be as damaging as electrified grids or withheld food. Some people are impossible to communicate with. They see their ability to talk as a tool to work you around to their way of thinking. And when they fail at this it is your fault and not theirs. Some people are also dangerous to attempt to communicate with because they will lower your sense of self and harm you emotionally. I do believe some pe...

May Day and can the summer people be far behind? They also go by the name Second Homeowners, and part timers. Definitely not tourists. Tourists have no investment here and behave as such. The Summer People have second homes (called cabins) or condos they let out for the winter peak times. Many plan to ultimately retire here in the mountains. I have several friends who are second homeowners. We will catch up over coffee and lunch, and shared community activities.  They show up in May to get the houses opened up and repairs made and catch up with all the other part timers with coffee or lunch at their favorite place. They come to escape the heat of Texas mostly. They come for the variety of summer activities here, not the least of which is golf and trekking. The highlight will be when the extended family comes in July. I usually hear from various returning couples to check if I am available to pet set some date in the summer when they plan a trip to Santa Fe or up to Pagosa...