sometimes while laying around at night with 100 fans going and still feeling muggy and too hot to sleep, or stepping out of a frosty AC car and coughing (because, lets face it AC air is not how air is meant to be breathed) i remember how much i love winter. i read somewhere once that fall and winter are the “female” seasons because they are all about harvesting what you’ve grown over the years and quiet and introspection and hibernation, where are summer and spring were full of male energy, all that action and production and concentration on (ahem) mating. i also think that because where i live summer is so bright and beautiful that you don’t give yourself any time,  it’s always “i should be running! i should be biking! i should be hiking!”. you feel guilty if you are indoors for more than an hour. this also makes me miss cloudy, dark winter months when it’s OK to stay home and buckle down on a project or listen to records. it’s my favorite fashion season hands down (so much layering! so many scarves! cowl necks in full force! coats!).

kyle knit scarf by mike and chris. cowl neck sweat shirt dress (amazing!) by love ya ya. and sorry for another coat but i am a coat addict, this one is too amazing by elroy. perfect for haunting lonely coffee shops in the winter months, looking like an elysian fields muse.

not to mention it’s the best time of year for tea (delicious, warm, smoothing tea) and making quick pals with someone while standing outside smoking, changing hands so your fingers don’t get too cold!

my grandmother always said her favorite time of year was when the days grew super short because it was so romantic to have those long nights! of course she spent her life in new mexico where it looks like this all winter:

but i think all cities look more romantic in winter. i love being cold and bundling up and walking around snowy streets. here are some scenes from some of my favorite cities in winter from  india, minnesota (gotta love the industrial city scape all bleak and beautiful and snowy) and the czech republic.

and cities i hope to walk their snowy streets soon…sigh. places where even police officers and pigeons  look more romantic. i bet you can tell where these are.

not that there aren’t places i look forward to going (see below) and  things i look forward to doing in those active male months. i like mating as much as the next person.

but i think in my heart i take cold walks and tea and trees bare and snow covered.

then again…talk to me in february and see where i stand on that.

Area: USA, State of New Mexico, Santa Fe County,

!!! ALERT !!!

The name of Hazard: Bubonic Plague (Conf., Human)
Number of death person(s): 1
Damage level: Moderate (Level 2)

Not confirmed information!

Description:

New Mexico health officials say an 8-year-old boy has died after contracting bubonic plague and his 10-year-old sister, who also contracted the illness, is hospitalized and recovering. The state Health Department announced the boy’s death Thursday, saying the siblings’ cases are the first human plague cases in the nation so far this year. Health officials are conducting an environmental investigation at the family’s Santa Fe County residence to determine if there is any ongoing risk to people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says an average of 10 to 15 persons contract the plague each year in the United States. Modern antibiotics are an effective treatment.

Posted:2009-06-05 02:56:31 [UTC]

Jetlags gone, the dry desert heat warms body and soul..the parched desert is full of surprizes sights, sounds and smells..nature at its purest best. After the short stop in Holbrook to photograph the famous Wigwam Motel, we went on to Albuquerque for a quick overnight stop on the way to Santa Fe.

Up early and on the old Route 66 as far as it is allowed…now the new Interstate 40 is the the alternative (speed Vs. charm & visual bon-bons) not a good trade-off, but thats what “progress” does…convenience at the cost of tradition and depth….fast-food culture….quick and dirty.

We took the old “Turquiose Trail” route through Golden, Madrid and Ce3rrillos….all three worth a day each to explore the “old Southwest”. We arrived in Santa Fe in the middle of the afternoon and drove through the Old Town filled with brightly colored shops,art galleries and wonderful cafés full of  delightful scents of freshly baked cakes and pasteries and pots of freshly brewed coffee…knowing will would have to return later for a real southwest calorie orgy!

We arrived at our hotel “Inn On The Alameda” in the heart of the art district right next to the green lush park area with the Santa Fe river running parallel to the hotel property. Such a wonderful mix of southwest landscaping and architecture! We were greeted by friendly professional staff and invited to spend an hour at the bar for wine & cheese tasting…mmm what a welcome!

After bringing the luggage to our room, we were more than pleasantly surprised at the spacious and tastefully styled interiors and spacious terraces, all in the best quality southwestern style integrating the adobe style architecture with the lush green natural surroundings…an oasis in good taste and laid back southwestern hospitality.

“They say that no man is an island.” Bon Jovi was right. Philosophy of Jon Bon aside, I came to a realization that every man needs a man friend. A bromance. The one guy you can lean on when times get tough, and the one guy you can trust with everything you have to say.

Even a playboy needs men he can rely on. We all need a man that can understand ourselves, our humour and our faults.

It’s been plaguing my mind since I saw the film, and it’s as if it was written with me in my mind*.

Sometimes our conversations can go beyond normal and almost border retarded mental instability, but we think it’s okay.

Whether it’s a quick phone call or a 3 am chat, drunk and over food, it’s all good times. I love you, man!

*Most definitly not, but I can dream.

Grupo Habita, celebrated worldwide for exceeding expectations in hotel design, unveils its 8th property, Distro Capital, in Mexico City’s international business neighborhood of Santa Fe, and most resolutely the world’s 21st-Century metropolis. So close to the US, Mexico will focus on travel with easy access, year round warm climate and increasing business. With Distro Capital Grupo Habita once again carries its signature chic and outstanding service to previously unthought-of environments and transforms them into instant classics.

Via & more: Yatzer

Portada Hombre
Benicio del Toro

El camaleónico puertorriqueño da vida al icónico Ernesto

Che Guevara y ofrece una actuación memorable.

Siete años de preparación le han valido el reconocimiento internacional.

Portada Mujer
ANA SERRADILLA

Actualidad
EL CONSUMO DE LA ÉLITE

Eros
RELACIONES PELIGROSAS

Amar a una pornstar. Una idea excitante. Pero,

¿somos capaces de convertir esa fantasía en realidad?

Mundo Raro
SEXO INSEGURO

A pesar de las campañas educativas,

las prácticas sexuales sin protección no cesan.

Tendencias
RESPONSABILIDAD GLOBAL

• 1 ½ lbs. Hamburger or ground turkey
• 1 med. Onion
• 1 pkg. Taco seasoning mix
• 1 can pinto beans, drained
• 1 can black beans, drained
• 1 can shoe peg, white corn, drained
• 1 can beef broth
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 2 c. water
• 1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix
• 1 pkg. Shredded cheese
• 1 ctn. Sour cream.
• 1 pkg. Corn chips

Brown meat and onion together in a skillet. Drain, if necessary and pour into a crock pot or slow cooker. Add dressing mix, Taco Mix, beans, corn, broth, tomatoes and water, stir. Cook all day on low or as long as you want on high. Top with shredded cheese and /or sour cream. Serve with corn chips.

Contributor: Kathleen Galland-Bennett, Robin Horne - Kathleen is Cyndi’s sister

Hyundai Sante Fe 2.4 – Makeshift Camshaft Holding Tool

I recently worked on a 2004 Hyundai Sante Fe, 2.4 Liter four cylinder DOHC (Double Over Head Cam) with 88,000 miles, towed in to our shop with a cranks but no start condition. The engine cranked over normally and sounded like it had good compression, indicating the timing belt was good. If the engine turned over too fast and sounded like it had weak compression I would have suspected a bad timing belt. Also when cranking it over, I noticed that there was no RPM (Revolutions Per Minute) reading on the tachometer.

This usually means that the crank sensor is not providing the RPM reading to the ECU (Electronic Control Unit). After doing a quick scan for fault codes with my scan tool, I found a P0335 CKP sensor (Crankshaft Position Sensor) fault code. A quick check on Identifix, showed that there were several confirmed fixes with the Crank Sensor solving the problem. Replacing the CKP sensor is no quick job, labor time shows 3.1 hours.

The long CKP sensor wire makes this a pain to change

The sensor wire on the Sante Fe four cylinder is behind the lower timing cover and the wire harness is routed behind the PS (Power Steering Pump), it travels up the side of the engine, underneath engine covers by the fuel rail and connects near the throttle body. Needless to say since the timing belt was due to be changed at 90,000 miles anyway, it made since to change it at the same time I installed the new crank sensor.

This brings me back to the makeshift camshaft holding tool rig that is pictured at the beginning of this post. When installing the new timing belt and trying to line up the timing marks, the cams would not stay in place, they kept springing out of alignment. And out of all my thousands of dollars worth of automotive tools, I didn’t have a cam clamp or cam holding tool in my tool box. Luckily, the tie straps, two 17 mm wrenches and my trusty vise grips did the trick though. Looks like I’ll have to add the Lisle 36880 DOHC Lock Tool to my tool shopping list, so I’ll be better prepared for the next time.  

Last weekend we went to Colorado Springs, CO, for my older brother’s wedding. We decided to make a little road trip of it and travel in a loop. From Las Vegas, NV to Flagstaff, AZ. Next, to Sante Fe, NM and up to Colorado Springs. Then the “fast” route home through Utah and back to Las Vegas.

We had never been to Sante Fe before. What a pretty city. We were able to visit the Georgia O’Keeffe museum (to prevent any priceless paintings being destroyed by Sylvia it was a very quick run though.) We then took a scenic drive up through Taos, NM where O’Keeffe lived.

The wedding was a fun outdoor event. It was so great of them to have a fun kid’s table with games, coloring, Mad Libs, etc. Especially since our kids were pretty much the only kids there.

Vern and Clare

Todo empezó con un Madrid preponente, que poco a poco fue bajando la guardia y el Santa Fe agarro el campo, a los 20 minutos Oscar Ruiz expulsa a Michel Salgado dejando al cuadro merengue con diez hombres, lo cual se hace notar y el real no pasa de la media cancha.

A los 41′ el venezolano Luis Manuel Seijas del Sante Fé anota el primer tanto para desparejar el encuentro.

Inicia el segundo tiempo con cambios del Madrid: se fue Dudek, Guti y Robinho y entraron Codina, Robben y Van der Vaart, debutando en el campo con los blancos, el Madrid llega agresivo y a los 73′ logra igualar el debutante Van der Vaart, minutos después llegó Pepe y metió el segundo. El Independiente Santa Fé de Bogotá trató de empatar pero sin éxito. Finalmente gana el Real.

Buen debut para el holandes

AARP’s list of the healthiest cities in the United States was published last week. Ann Arbour Michigan topped the list with 86% of it’s residents exercising exercising daily. Other criteria used in the rankings included the number of physicians per capital; the availability of medical care; the environment; eating habits; and, the number of citizens covered by health insurance.

The top ten cities are:

1. Ann Arbor, Michigan

2. Honolulu, Hawaii

3. Madison, Wisconsin

4. Santa Fe, New Mexico

5. Fargo, North Dakota

6. Boulder, Colorado

7. Charlottesville, Virginia

8. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota

9. San Francisco Bay Area, California

10. Naples-Marco Island, Florida

Read more about the healthiest cities in the United States.

We are interested in your opinion. Send us your top ten cities for any criteria you like!

I am testing wordpress to see if i like it better  than  Blogger.  Look I can add bulleted lists:

• red
• orange
• blue

OOH, I can put a picture in

Color. Even before I leave my house I think of color: Pinks, Reds, Yellows, Blues. Oh Georgia, your use of color: profound.

Spring has almost sprung in Midtown, and the HIGH Museum of Art on Peachtree Street is showcasing the area’s inevitable bloominess by hosting a major show of works by the most celebrated American female painter, Georgia O’Keefe. The Georgia O’Keefe Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico co-organized the show, which runs through May 4th, as part of the Women in Art Series presented by Turner.

First wall, O’Keefe is quoted: “Women don’t make good painters they said. I just painted, that was all.” Unhappy to be defined solely by her femininity in a male dominated profession, her focus was on the work itself and the individual expression in the acts of their creation.

Photographer Alfred Stieglitz did much to ensure that photography was included in the categorizations that the public calls fine art. A prolific photographer and art dealer, he owned the Little Gallery on 5th Avenue in NYC. From its 1905 opening forward, Stieglitz championed European and American modernist artists. Visionary and unique for his time, Stieglitz began to show and promote a number of female artists, believing a woman’s essential femininity was exposed in the creative process.

Stieglitz called early protégé, Katherine Nash Rhoades, the “woman child” for what he saw as her beautiful childlike simplicity in painting. O’Keefe he later cast as the “Great Child.” She in fact studied the children’s way of making paintings. Is something not lost in a natural artist, as life and school and time begin to “teach” them? O’Keefe encouraged the notions of herself as a childlike visionary while rejecting assertions based on sexuality, although vaginal shapes do clearly appear in many of her flower paintings.

Stieglitz and O’Keefe blossomed from business interest to romance to marriage, in 1924. She is the subject of much of his photography; a full room of her as muse is off to the side of the main exhibit space. His champion-artist appears here as sexual and free, a gypsy in the prime of her life expression.

Flowers and Landscapes are O’Keefe’s major subjects. First came flowers, and a complete floral room easily highlights the exhibit. In the center of the room, in your garden, you notice that some are brighter than life, some bright as life.

Stieglitz died in 1942; O’Keefe lived until 1986 and the famous southwestern landscapes became a primary subject after his death and are thus not displayed in this show. Finally, perhaps foreshadowing her later landscape work, we see the piece: “Red, Yellow and Black Streak.” Here color has transcended form in a landscape from Georgia’s beautiful mind, which birthed an explosion of strata colored red, yellow, black and pink. Her magical vision for color most evident where red becomes pink, dark becomes light.  

The Kumusha Marima Ensemble is playing for Juanita and Rick’s party in Sante Fe, New Mexico. I wish Juanita and Rick were my friends! I wish I were at this party. I’d love to give this party myself! I wish I lived in a place where I could go right out and learn to play the marimba myself!

The musicians are playing Zimbabwean Shona music. This music impresses me a lot more than Latin American marimba music (both types can be heard on YouTube). A rough description of Shona music is that the lead player (or singer) selects a pattern, and the other players (or singers) follow and comment upon that lead melody in a repeating, or sometimes improvised pattern. The lead and supporting patterns are interlocking, with repeated notes.

Marimbas are a series of wooden planks (usually rosewood) installed horizontally over the ends of vertical aluminum tubes (called resonators), which are of varying lengths and widths. The instrument is played by hitting the various planks with wooden mallets. Two mallets are used simultaneously, one in each hand. Really good players can use four or six mallets (two or three in each hand, all used together, like fingers on a piano, simultaneously).

The difference between a xylophone and a marimba (similar instruments) is in the material used in the planks, and in the range. Standard marimbas range from three to five octaves.

Marimbas developed independently in two locations, Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, and in Mozambique. In 1960 they were introduced to Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwean marimba was introduced to the northwestern United States by Dumisani Maraire (1944 – 1999). He was a master performer who taught in Seattle at the University of Washington, as the department head of African Languages and Literature, from 1968 – 1972. From there, the music continues to spread.

I checked out a number of African Zimbabwean marimba artists on YouTube, and their skills are no where close to this group. Well worth watching. If anyone is interested in contacting them, their information is as follows:

Kumusha
Instrument: Marimba Ensemble
Contact: 505-474-0002 (in New Mexico, U.S.A.)

CD/Album: Kumusha

Madame Monet

On Thursday, September 6, the City of Santa Fe, NM, hosted the annual “Burning of Zozobra.” Zozobra is a fifty-foot-tall bogeyman, Old Man Gloom in effigy. Each year he is set before an audience of thousands and burned. (Burn, baby, burn!) Most onlookers are ecstatic to see him go; others feel sorry for him in the end.

The ritual was started by artist William (Will) Howard Shuster, Jr. in 1924 and incorporated into the almost 300-year-old Fiestas de Santa Fe. According to the “Will Shuster’s Zozobra” website, Shuster’s “inspiration for Zozobra came from the Holy Week celebrations of the Yaqui Indians of Mexico; an effigy of Judas, filled with firecrackers, was led around the village on a donkey and later burned. Shuster and E. Dana Johnson, a newspaper editor and friend of Shuster’s came up with the name Zozobra, which was defined as ‘anguish, anxiety, gloom’ or in Spanish for ‘the gloomy one’.”

Watch the two-part documentary of the 2005 burning made by producer, director, and writer DL Fitch. You can decide for yourself what you think about the ritual. No matter how you feel, you’ll probably agree that the notion of releasing gloom — letting go of heartache and jealousy, giving up anger — is a powerful intention.

Again from the website, there is this quote from A.W. Denninger:

Zozobra is a hideous but harmless fifty-foot bogeyman marionette. He is a toothless, empty-headed facade. He has no guts and doesn’t have a leg to stand on. He is full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. He never wins. He moans and groans, rolls his eyes and twists his head. His mouth gapes and chomps. His arms flail about in frustration. Every year we do him in. We string him up and burn him down in ablaze of fireworks. At last, he is gone, taking with him all our troubles for another whole year.

 
For this writing topic, watch the videos. Then do a 15-minute writing practice starting with the words, “I want to let go of… .”

 
Now Go!