Desert Diva

I’d seen this woman traveling around in her power wheelchair while driving in Las Cruces.  I had wanted to stop and ask to photograph her, but I was too shy.

However, you can imagine my surprise when I went to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church on Sunday (I’m a member, but somewhat of a “heathen” so I sit near the back.)  When I went up for communion, who should I see at the very front of the church on my left than the “Pumpkin Lady of Las Cruces.”

After church, during the “cake and coffee” time I asked to photograph her.  She was “quite willing,” and so you have it.  She may be a little “different,” but she’s fun-loving and spirited and obviously hasn’t given up on life.  I think there’s a lesson in there somewhere…

My memories of Halloween are dressing up with my brothers and sister to go trick-or-treating in the neighborhood.  One Halloween, my parents wisely chose to outfit us all in zoo-themed animal flannel pajamas that came with a mask.   After Halloween, we ditched the mask and all had some warm “pj’s.”  That’s what you do when there are seven children in your family.  When we had tired of trick-or-treating, we went home where my mother had spread out cider, fresh donuts, and popcorn.  The only thing I hated about Halloween is that if my mother “ran out” of candy for latecomers, she “raided” our stash to give away to trick-or-treaters.  How could she do that when we worked so hard for our bounty? 

Halloween is one of my fondest memories of childhood - of being loved and protected by my older brothers, and coming home happy and tired to a mother who created a “little magic” for her children…

It’s another Sunday evening and I’ve barely paid attention to my weblog. Since no one was nice enough to do my job while I was recently off, I have some c.a.t.c.h.i.n.g. u.p. to do. My days at work are “really busy,” and I come home to eat, feed the dog, and then retire early. However, approximately 2:00 a.m. seems to be the “magic hour” that I wake up to do some work and eventually fall asleep between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m.

Friday and Saturday evenings are filled with peaceful sleep, but I have a feeling I know what I’m in for next week. I’m adjusting. There have been changes at work that have been for the better, and I’m moving (probably this week) to a new office. A “real” office (albeit small) with a door, some storage space, and a bathroom that I don’t have to walk outside across a field to access.

It’s a busy time at the moment, but I know that it will eventually level off. Today (Sunday) I spend the whole afternoon loading the newest version of Dragon Naturally Speaking Preferred and working with it to train the mother of a student tomorrow. I “treated” myself yesterday by going to El Paso on a shopping spree and bought three pairs of shoes, a new purse, some bath “stuff,” a silk blend 3/4 sleeve top, and a bottle of eau de toilette.

OK, after working all afternoon I did go an buy a bottle of Erath Pinot Noir. (It’s one of the only Oregon Pinot Noir’s that are sold in our “little town.”) My favorite from this summer is Willamette Valley Wineyards 2005 Pinot Noir, but I’m saving those for the cruise to share with my friend (and pay the dining room corkage fee.)

I’m sorry that I haven’t been “commenting and posting” much lately, but I promise to do better! Did I mention that it was a “perfect” day here in Southern New Mexico filled with sunshine and a high in the mid-70’s?

Connie Hansen was an artist and enthusiastic gardener who tended a beautiful coastal garden in Lincoln City, Oregon for twenty years between 1973 and 1993. This pink rose was one of the beautiful photos I was able to capture the day I visited her garden.

1. Kind neighbors on either side of my house. Marvin repaired an antique oak table I got for a song because it was damaged. It’s perfect now! Julia called to me over the rock wall and shared her crop of pomegranates. Delicious!
2. Celebrating the end of the work week by having a martini with Mavis. She likes Tanquerey and I like Bombay Sapphire. However, a man at the bar encouraged us to try Tanquerey No. 10 with a twist. In a word - smooth…
3. Long distance friends who send a personal e-mail to “check on me” and/or tell me they were thinking of me when I don’t post for a week.  Thank you Sandi and Terrie!

I’ve returned to work after my (ahem) “vacation” so to speak, and just as I predicted I’m inundated with “things to do” that no one did in my absence. However, I’m happy to be back - just terribly busy for the time being. I’ve “made the rounds” of visiting schools. The day after I visited one of the high schools there was a news release regarding one of the students had been treated for a staph infection. Due to privacy concerns, the type of staph infection wasn’t reported to the public. A couple of days later two more students at a different high school were reported to have staph infections also. (These were athletic department related.) Yep, I’ve recently been to that high school also. I don’t think I’m being paranoid, but I bought a large bottle of hand sanitizer to keep in my car.

In the world of Flickr, I received this message recently:

“I am writing to let you know that three of your photos have been short-listed for inclusion in the fourth edition of our Schmap Portland Guide, to be published later this month.”

If my photos are included, I’ll receive credit, but no monetary gain. I suppose it’s fine, and gave my permission.

I’m all “signed up” and paid to take a New Year’s cruise on the Mexican Riviera with my friend Mavis. After much discussion, we decided to book a veranda (balcony) as a guarantee. (In the world of cruises, the word guarantee is misleading because it means we’ve booked a veranda, but if the upgrade fairy is kind we may get a better room.) It will be my third time at the “Big O.” Uh, I mean my third cruise on the Oosterdam. (Just a little cruise humor…) Mavis is keen on doing a “dolphin trainer” excursion in Cabo San Lucas, and I think I’ll wander up to Todos Santos. (It’s the hotel site of Hotel California that inspired the Eagles.) We’ve already book an excursion for horseback riding on the beach in Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta is up for grabs. I’m really looking forward to the cruise and have already started buying clothing items I don’t need!

The weather here is cool and blustery - autumn is finally coming to the desert.