One Photo # 74, Tres Catrinas

Do you ever see your day sort of looking like this?   Today was one of these days?  Just about everything I did today illicit a laugh from a grinning skull type person.  You know that sick laugh that says...pay if you want..you still get charged a late fee.  Or you get these enormous boxes from Amazon and you are jacked because you bought the biggest packing containers known to man.  Only to open them up and find the container you ordered is half the size of the box.  Then you see a Catrina at the recycling trailer when you realize the huge cardboard boxes you pulverized in rage are now beyond hope of a return.   How about the cold boney hand on your shoulder at a 400 lbs. lift assist.  Yes, it was that kind of day and the grinning skulls were smiling.  LJ Short did this drawing.  There are still few prints life in the Art Gallery if you come this way.  

One Photo # 73, A Glass of Chisos

I heard today that when our local Philosopher  "Catfish" was asked what is the best thing about living in Terlingua he said, "the light".  Well, I now have proof that it's all about the light.  The Chisos Mountains have never looked as golden as they were tonight.  Please tip a glass of Chisos in honor the Catfish.  He was spot on.  

One Photo # 72, The Indecisive Moment

The great French street photographer, Henri Cartier Bresson spoke about the decisive moment in his work.  I am here to talk about the "indecisive moment" as it relates to dinner choices of course.  How many of you out there have had those days when it's impossible to come up with what you want for dinner.  Come on....I know you know.  Too lazy or not hungry enough for the big meal and too hungry to just eat that 4 week old mozzarella cheese stick.  Well, I was in the grip of the indecisive moment this evening.  Anyone ever made party snacks for dinner?  Never?  Tonight it was grilled bacon wrapped shrimp as the main course with Tamagoyaki with gouda cheese and diced shrimp inside, bathed in a glaze of yum yum sauce.  To round it off a half of a banana with some sugar free syrup.   Take that for the strangest dinner in recent memory.  UPDATE:  I'm still holding it down.  But forgot I'm on duty.  May the force be with me.

One Photo # 71, Good Morning Moon

The ancient ones out here wrote about those rare times when night and day fade into one.  "Chee coweh manioca kakkao ah la lanano",  they used to say.  Or something like that.  This morning on the way to protect and serve this was my welcome.  No doubt about it.  It has to be good luck.  A morning moon settling in for the day.  It reminds me of that Dan Fogleberg song line, " the songs that the darkness compose to worship the light".   Love that song even though a band member ran off with my date at a Dan Fogleberg concert.  It's time to forgive.  "Ah Ha Lani Chac".   So true.  

One Photo # 70, A Day at the Races

It's hard to believe that it's that time of the year again.  Early Spring can mean only one thing.  The Terlingua Chihuahua Races.  This is the week before the silence is melted by Tourons for Spring Break and the races provide a little culture before the onslaught.  Now the Chihuahua Races are not just for rat dogs.  They have a "Mestizo" category.  Which included some photo finishes this year.  This close race was one by BOOP TI in a laser like sprint.  If you have a rat dog or can borrow one, you might think about the Terlingua event provided Churchill Downs in not on your calendar this year.  

One Photo # 69, A Strange Snack

What do people eat when they are not supposed to eat?  That really is what a snack is, right?  Something to tide you over until you eat that other stuff that is going to be the meal.  Well, years ago an amigo told me about these strange canned snacks if you can call them that...Kipper snacks.  Says it on the can.  Odd oily fish compacted in a slick silver can with one of those big roll back openings.  You know the ones that your parents always said to be careful with.  "It's going to cut you...let your dad to that."  He cut himself of course.  So, I found these odd things in the Cottonwood store here in Terlingua the other day.  Cottonwood is the definition of the country store.  They sell gourmet cheese, tire repair supplies, drill pipe, plants, and medical devices.  And yes, they sell kipper snacks.  All those Easterners must love anything that they can eat without building a fire.

This is not a hot plate gourmet moment but I have come across the perfect pre-meal meal that is not a real meal.  The stuff that is in the kipper can...minus the oil, some mayo hot sauce, a little wasabi salt, and a pair of chop stixs.  Yep, it's so hip Terlingua.  Give it a try and help me come up with a name.

Maybe...Spicy stink fish? 

One Photo # 68, Upping my Game

I have always considered myself a "conservationist" of sorts.  I love wildlife and stopped hunting years ago.  I will swerve to miss a snake and have stopped to move turtles out of the road.  Stop the sniffles please, I have a  darker side.  My lustful hate for the winged insect knows no bounds.  I hate them all.  I have been told that they have redeeming qualities occasionally. Pollination has been mentioned along with their best quality....Honey of course.  I don't really despise those varieties because they leave you alone for the most part.  My hatred is focused at those miserable sideshow freaks the gods put on this earth to sell 100% DEET and citronella candles.  The Mosquitos and the flies.  Out here on the frontier we are starting fly season.  If these beasts have a propose I can't find anyone that knows it or admits it.  Today I have declared war on the ugly buzzing pests and have upped my game.  Gone high tech I suppose. The only thing I'm missing is a good greasy fairway grip and a 50 gallon trash bag to sack them up.  I am decimating the population.  It won't be long before it's like living in Singapore.  You hear the gentle hum of DDT foggers early in the morning...Huge clouds of pesticide slowly drifting down the street.  Little men with blowers and wet rags around their heads marching along....Some of course are blind, and few have buffalo humps but in Singapore you can leave your windows open... Heaven.  Me, I have chosen to face the bastards eye to eye, mano a mano, a duel to the dead.   Fight back I say....I fight back.