Monday, March 04, 2013
Evan arrived and shortly thereafter we went to Rosa's for supper. I was daring and had a bean burrito instead of my usual three cheese enchiladas.
All smiles.
On the way back we visited with Tara and Chris. Little Milo was busy trying to start fire with a stick. He insisted I twirl the stick but I could not start it burning.
Fire-starter.
After Evan headed back north, I took a nap and then took mother to the library, Target, Home Depot, and Safeway. It was a busy day. And then last night I did some genealogy research for a total stranger, hopefully she will find the information I collected useful.
Mummy had beef tamales and refried beans.
The next morning we drove down to Guevavi for the archaeology field school. It was a day of hectic activity and I forgot to take any pictures. Evan enjoyed the digging. I received a sunburn.
The next morning Evan and I did some errands. We looked for line levels at Home Depot and I bought some potting soil.
On the way back we visited with Tara and Chris. Little Milo was busy trying to start fire with a stick. He insisted I twirl the stick but I could not start it burning.
After Evan headed back north, I took a nap and then took mother to the library, Target, Home Depot, and Safeway. It was a busy day. And then last night I did some genealogy research for a total stranger, hopefully she will find the information I collected useful.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Visitors at work. Lately, a couple of times a week, I catch a glimpse of movement out of the corner of my eye and one of two bobcats is walking by. Sometimes I tap on the window and the cat will pause and look at me.
Today the limping female bobcat sauntered by, heading west. I know that if I hurry outside around the edge of the building, I will get to see it. I told Greg to follow and as we peered around, she was jumping up through a notch in the fence.
Jump!
Close up.
A pair of abandoned Huskie dogs is wandering around as well. I have been able to feed them from my hands, but they are too shy to be petted. We are hoping to catch them so that they can go to a Huskie rescue group.
Today the limping female bobcat sauntered by, heading west. I know that if I hurry outside around the edge of the building, I will get to see it. I told Greg to follow and as we peered around, she was jumping up through a notch in the fence.
A pair of abandoned Huskie dogs is wandering around as well. I have been able to feed them from my hands, but they are too shy to be petted. We are hoping to catch them so that they can go to a Huskie rescue group.
Hello human!
In other news, I am so ready...
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
It snowed two days in a row. It was Snowmageddon.
Puff was terrified.
A pair of Hyacinths unexpectedly bloomed, bringing Spring-time fierceness!
Catalina Mountains.
Someone had arrived before me and made a sad little snowperson.
Snowperson.
On Saturday I headed south to the Spanish missions of Tumacacori, Calabazas, and Guevavi.
The 1820 Church at Tumacacori.
I am helping teach the University of Arizona Spring Archaeology Field School. The next couple of months I will be imparting my skills into the sponge-like minds of students. I wonder what mysteries we will solve through our archaeological endeavors?
A pair of Hyacinths unexpectedly bloomed, bringing Spring-time fierceness!
Hyacinth.
I drove to work, the mountains sticking out like a mass of pimples on Maggie Gallagher's left buttock.
Someone had arrived before me and made a sad little snowperson.
On Saturday I headed south to the Spanish missions of Tumacacori, Calabazas, and Guevavi.
I am helping teach the University of Arizona Spring Archaeology Field School. The next couple of months I will be imparting my skills into the sponge-like minds of students. I wonder what mysteries we will solve through our archaeological endeavors?
Soto grave.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
It snowed today. Last night I received a blizzard warning on my phone. People drive like fucking idiots whenever it rains/sprinkles/snows here. It is just crazy.
I had to buy a mouth guard because I have been grinding my teeth like crazy. Mother and work-related stress. It worked, but my teeth felt weird this morning after the first use.
Buddy is sitting on the floor next to me. I need to buy him some heavy-duty chew toys because he wants to chew on other things.
Smile for the camera Buddy.
I've been doing some more family tree research. Discovered that I am related to President McKinley. I think that makes eight presidents that I share ancestors with including Obama, Ford, both Bushes, FDR, and Grant.
I have shared a lot of material that I have researched, posted on a 10-year-old website and also via email. It is amazing to come across on Ancestry documents that do not acknowledge who wrote it. I guess people don't understand the need to source documents, or at least note who authored it.
I'm co-teaching the Spring Field School at a Spanish Mission site. I wonder what exciting things we will find?
Monday, February 11, 2013
Occupations held by my mother's ancestors:
- telephone lineman
- township treasurer
- deputy sheriff
- farmer, barn builder
- grist mill operator, produce shop owner, and dairy farmer
- Grand Traverse County Sheriff and State Legislator
- and the rest were farmers
Lumbering in Grand Traverse County, circa 1880s. My ancestor Elijah Ransom is in the center holding an axe.
- telephone lineman
- township treasurer
- deputy sheriff
- farmer, barn builder
- grist mill operator, produce shop owner, and dairy farmer
- Grand Traverse County Sheriff and State Legislator
- and the rest were farmers
Wednesday, February 06, 2013
Forrest is here for a very short visit. I loaned him my navy blue blazer.
Snowball.
At the parking garage, a woman unexpectedly backed up and ran into my front bumper with her truck. She was very emotional, since the sole reason she was at the parking structure was to attend court where she hoped to get her license back. No insurance. My nice shiny car now has a scratched bumper and some trim that doesn't fit quite right.
Afterward, we visited with Tara. Then we went to lunch at BK's.
Menu.
I had what I always get, two veggie tacos and a green chili caramello.
Veggie tacos.
We went to Star Pass for a hike.
You are Here.
It is starting to be spring time in Arizona.
Desert.
The saguaros are plump with water and the wildflowers are starting to grow.
Tall.
I am out of shape and got real sweaty.
Soon it was warm enough to go topless.
Topless.
Later we went to Food City and bought foodstuffs and some beers. We watched episodes of Drag Race and laughed at the silliness. We visited with Chris, Tara, and Milo. And Forrest goes back east today. It was nice to visit with my best friend.
I have never seen him dressed up.
The cats were happy to see him and the first night they made a fuss, running around the house.
At the parking garage, a woman unexpectedly backed up and ran into my front bumper with her truck. She was very emotional, since the sole reason she was at the parking structure was to attend court where she hoped to get her license back. No insurance. My nice shiny car now has a scratched bumper and some trim that doesn't fit quite right.
Afterward, we visited with Tara. Then we went to lunch at BK's.
I had what I always get, two veggie tacos and a green chili caramello.
We went to Star Pass for a hike.
It is starting to be spring time in Arizona.
The saguaros are plump with water and the wildflowers are starting to grow.
Tall.
I am out of shape and got real sweaty.
Some day I will be a twink again.
Later we went to Food City and bought foodstuffs and some beers. We watched episodes of Drag Race and laughed at the silliness. We visited with Chris, Tara, and Milo. And Forrest goes back east today. It was nice to visit with my best friend.
Monday, February 04, 2013
On the way north I followed this man for a while.
Fuck Obama? That's really gay.
On Saturday, we prepared food for Evan's birthday party. I made pimento cheese wraps and onion-sour cream dip.
It was very rich.
Evan and the guests played music.
On bass.
Then it the time to blow out the candles.
Ready.
The party was lovely and I got to eat lots of potato chips. Evan also got some interesting books. Everyone should have a birthday once in a while.
At work today this coyote walked by.
On Saturday, we prepared food for Evan's birthday party. I made pimento cheese wraps and onion-sour cream dip.
Foodstuffs.
I also made a cake- followed a Martha Stewart recipe and made a cream cheese-butter-Nutella frosting.
Evan and the guests played music.
Then it the time to blow out the candles.
The party was lovely and I got to eat lots of potato chips. Evan also got some interesting books. Everyone should have a birthday once in a while.
At work today this coyote walked by.
Peekaboo.
I'm going to stay up late tonight to go to the airport to pick up a special guest.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
I come home from work and the cats are mad because Buddy is looking through the back door. Mother is looking unhappy, "I think I have shingles!" she announces. I question her, "What does it feel like?" "It itches!" I explain that since I had shingles I know that it is a burning sensation and you get little red dots. I then asked her is she has had a shingles shot. "No."
Sigh.
Spring is coming to Tucson. The wildflowers I planted in the front yard are sprouting. I'm hoping I will have lots of pretty daisies. I'm going to Flagstaff for the weekend. Next week Forrest will be here for a couple of days. I just need to focus on the good things. FOCUS.
My mother made me this sweater in 1982.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Last weekend I drove to Flagstaff.
I was all dressed up.
Flagstaff was not as cold as last time, although there were icy patches and snow on the distant mountains. At times I hid in Evan's bedroom with the electric blanket on.
Erich has moved to Flagstaff to manage a car dealership. We had supper at a nice Thai restaurant with him and his friend Greg.
Greg, Evan, and Erich.
The next morning we made soap. We melted down glycerin while zesting lemons.
Glycerin.
I had brought along some rosemary from the bushes in my back yard.
We made some lemon bars, some rosemary bars, and some lemon-rosemary bars.
Flagstaff was not as cold as last time, although there were icy patches and snow on the distant mountains. At times I hid in Evan's bedroom with the electric blanket on.
Through the window.
The next morning we made soap. We melted down glycerin while zesting lemons.
I had brought along some rosemary from the bushes in my back yard.
Evan ground these up in a blender.
Adding ingredients to the melted glycerin.
Once poured into the plastic containers, they were set outside to harden.
Soap.
They pop out really easily and smell very nice. I am using the rosemary soap now.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Impressions of the 2013 Inauguration.
- Did they have enough porta johns?
- Mrs. Boehner was just as orange as her husband.
- John McCain was busy scowling. Why did he even go?
- Beau Biden is movie star handsome.
- The Obama women are all beautiful.
- The President mentioned Stonewall.
- My favorite line: "Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law –- (applause) -- for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well."
- Beyonce's dress seemed out of place.
Gayest Inauguration Ever!
If I was a fundamentalist Christian Republican I would rightly be panicked. They have spent so many years and millions and millions of dollars demonizing people like me, and the audience fucking cheered when President Obama spoke about gay people.
I bet Maggie Gallagher ate a dozen donuts this morning.
- Did they have enough porta johns?
- Mrs. Boehner was just as orange as her husband.
- John McCain was busy scowling. Why did he even go?
- Beau Biden is movie star handsome.
- The Obama women are all beautiful.
- The President mentioned Stonewall.
- My favorite line: "Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law –- (applause) -- for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well."
- Beyonce's dress seemed out of place.
Gayest Inauguration Ever!
If I was a fundamentalist Christian Republican I would rightly be panicked. They have spent so many years and millions and millions of dollars demonizing people like me, and the audience fucking cheered when President Obama spoke about gay people.
I bet Maggie Gallagher ate a dozen donuts this morning.
Monday, January 14, 2013
We are having a cold spell. It has been freezing every night since late Friday. I have covered the outside pipes, put large Holiday lights on the pipes and my baby lemon tree, brought most of my potted plants indoors, and covered the ones that I could not.
The prickly pear cactus are suffering. Last night I listened as the ones next to my bedroom cracked and fell.
Fallen prickly pear.
I'm expecting more to fall tonight and tomorrow night. Doug and I worked on the brick path extending between my house and the guest house. We need another 150 or so bricks to finish it.
Brick path.
Buddy has had to stay indoors, cooped up in my bedroom. He gets a little bored when I am not in there. But I am pretty sure he is glad to be somewhere warm.
Buddy's favorite toy.
Right now it is 66 degrees in the living room. Tonight the low outside is supposed to be 19. I will be glad when it warms up.
I'm expecting more to fall tonight and tomorrow night. Doug and I worked on the brick path extending between my house and the guest house. We need another 150 or so bricks to finish it.
Buddy has had to stay indoors, cooped up in my bedroom. He gets a little bored when I am not in there. But I am pretty sure he is glad to be somewhere warm.
Right now it is 66 degrees in the living room. Tonight the low outside is supposed to be 19. I will be glad when it warms up.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Whenever I go to an antique store I look for old photographs and check the backs for names. Only a small number have names, it is sad to sort through dozens of anonymous photographs. Of those that do, I buy the ones that are likely to be identifiable, typically those that have an unusual name(s).
So I took Mummy to the antique store yesterday for something to do and as a way for her to get some exercise. I purchased four photographs, including the one below, which was marked on the back "Frank and Mary, Melville and Della." The photo was taken at the J. C. Wertz studio in Chanute, Neosho County, Kansas.
Based on the children's clothing, I thought it was likely the picture was taken sometime between 1900 and 1910.
So who were these people? I started with the 1900 and 1910 US censuses on Ancestry.com. You can search for children by their parents names so I started with Melville and variants of that name, with parents Frank and Mary. Since I wasn't sure whether Frank and Mary were the parents or the children, I also checked to see if there was a Frank with parents Melville and Della. Nothing turned up.
I then checked for a Della with parents Frank and Mary. I quickly found the family. On 1 June 1900, census taker George Winfield walked through Chanute and recorded the people living there. The French family consisted of father Frank, mother Mollie (Mollie is a nickname for Mary), son Melven, and daughter Della.
French family in 1900, Chanute, Neosho County, Kansas.
The father Frank worked as a barber, he had been married for 17 years to Mary, they owned their home, and the two children had attended school for eight months in the last year.
People can create family trees on Ancestry.com four people have connections to this family. I contacted them and three have answered back, all excited by the photograph. I will send it off to the person most closely related.
I've been working on the other three, not so lucky so far.
Wednesday, January 09, 2013
What happened to my testicles?
Well I took Buddy to the Humane Society and he was very sociable in the waiting room. He really is a charmer. He got parts removed, anal gland expressed, shots, bloodwork, worming, a license, and a delightful plastic collar.
Elizabethan Buddy.
Now he is at home and all groggy. The vet tech gave me a long, detailed list of instructions. He's supposed to be inside for the next seven to ten days and of course a cold spell is coming this weekend. I hope he recovers really quickly.
Well I took Buddy to the Humane Society and he was very sociable in the waiting room. He really is a charmer. He got parts removed, anal gland expressed, shots, bloodwork, worming, a license, and a delightful plastic collar.
Now he is at home and all groggy. The vet tech gave me a long, detailed list of instructions. He's supposed to be inside for the next seven to ten days and of course a cold spell is coming this weekend. I hope he recovers really quickly.
Monday, January 07, 2013
Last week I drove west on State Route 86 to spend the day digging. Kitt Peak loomed to the south, across the road.
The road is being widened and our company is excavating at the sites along the side of the road, mostly finding cooking and storage pits, since the portions we are working on are at the margin of larger sites.
Afterward I drove to Topowa to deliver some boxes. There are so many roadside memorials on the way, I lost count. In the distance is Baboquivari, the sacred mountain of the Tohono O'odham.
On the road to Topawa.
It was a nice drive and although the morning had been cold, by the afternoon it had warmed up and enjoyed being out in nature.
Yesterday afternoon I checked my messages on my phone and discovered Rob had sent me one, he and his roommate Jason were in town. I met them at BK's and chatted while they had supper.
I did not win any prizes.
Roasting pit.
Afterward I drove to Topowa to deliver some boxes. There are so many roadside memorials on the way, I lost count. In the distance is Baboquivari, the sacred mountain of the Tohono O'odham.
It was a nice drive and although the morning had been cold, by the afternoon it had warmed up and enjoyed being out in nature.
On the road to Sells.
The weekend was rather dull, grocery shopping, library, and some genealogy work. Tara, Milo, and Chris came over so Milo could open his presents. The next day I took down the Holiday decorations and the tree.
Milo got a Rudolph coloring book and a little front-loader tractor.
Beer.
Afterward we drove to Brody's and they were amazed at how cheap drinks were- $6 for three cocktails, and they were strong.
Rob and Jason.
Sunday nights are Drunk Drag Queen Bingo.
A not-yet-drunk Drag Queen.
Faulty bingo card.
Today I was productive at work and called the Humane Society and Buddy is getting his private parts modified on Wednesday. He is sleeping unaware on the floor next to my desk at this moment, snoring away. I am hoping the reduced hormones will settle his aggressiveness towards cats down.
Looking forward to the weekend in Flagstaff. Wonder whether there will be lots of snow?
