The Party's Over (Whew!): The Ex-pAtriots, and Others, Have Departed

Looking East, In Frijoles Canyon, Site Of Bandalier Nat'l. Monument

Although Mena's flight got canceled last night. She spent the night at a local motel, courtesy of United Airlines. A Wyndham--At least it wasn't a Motel 6. She flies out this morning.

The event was essentially a success, with the possible exception that we and Dr. Plotke were somehow unable to find one another at the Fair on Saturday.

The sojourn on Friday was an unqualified triumph. Bandalier, after the end of the summer, was almost deserted. The aspens in the Jemez Mountains were starting to turn, having reached the gauzy, pale, chartreuse tone they manifest just prior to erupting into the glorious gold of Autumn. They'll be splendid this weekend, because it's already freezing at altitude here (*and the Valle Grande's @ 9500 feet*), with snow forecast for the FAR north (Chama, and further). Lil Red & Olaf, Ruth, Uncle Smokes and Flory all took a raft of photos which I have begged them to send me, and which I shall post when they do. Smokes was also busy capturing the sounds--and some of the conversations--which accompanied the jaunt. We may expect some snippets on his next audio adventure.

Tena's new 'haos' in Taos is stunning, and she's furnished it in exceptional taste (just as one would expect); the place requires simplicity, almost starkness (say one who lives in the clutter of an abandoned museum--heh). Don Rumsfeld's newest vecina's adobe abode is a SUPER-cool northern New Mexico 'crib': old, wood floors and newer Talavera tiles, thick walls, gorgeous doors, spacious, airy, and happily convenient to the Guadalajara Cafe (north), and The Bean.

And the Beer-Beef-and-Beans-Fest Saturday night was enjoyed, long and loud, by both the visitors as well as some of my local amigos y amigas. We drank a LOT of beer, and there weren't many leftovers from the carnitas, carne adovada, guizado pollo, frijoles, etc; breakfast for a couple of days, is all... There is, however some residual beer, much of it still uncapped.

Flory, Tena, and Mena--who had stayed the night Friday in Taos, and arrove too late Saturday--went to the Fair Sunday. Both Flory and Tena found many lovely baubles, with which the Fair was and is always replete. Also much useful stuff. Along with that whole, wonderful panoply of critters, hooved and winged. And the people-watching is nonpareil (I am planning to go back on Friday to 'assist' Lil Red at the Cuidando Los Ninos booth.)

I saw, though I didn't get a foto of, the ultimate in "On-A-Stick" fetishism: Kid-On-A-Stick. This is a tot-sized tricycle with a long, rigid handle rising up from behind the seat by which an adult maintains actual control of the vehicle to prevent it plunging among the ankles of unwary adults, no small number of them of such girth and substance that the danger would be upon them before they saw, and and too quickly that they could avoid, the threat. Little kids unrestrained, on tricycles, would cast such a swath of wrack and ruin in that crowd as to strain the capacities of first responders state-wide; or they would be ground into the pavement by the vast, ambling herd of humanity before they could so much as level their first pedestrian. In any case, for gruesome carnage, it might rival a day in Bagdhad.

Already, plans are being crafted for another gathering, next year (though with a different itinerary for the tour: Maybe south, through Socorro and the wild-life preserve at Bosque del Apache; green chile buffalo burgers for lunch at the old, original Owl Grill, outside the Stallion Gate to the north of Trinity site; arts&crafts in Mountainair, and then the old pueblo ruins at Abo, Qu'arai, and/or Gran Quivera), with several folks who were unable to attend this year already planning to attend next time: probably Feral Liberal, vaguely mebbe ChiDyke. I could bring Budreau. We might need two vans. Anybody else?

All of which, and the preparations for same, I hope serves as explanation for the almost week-long hiatus from posting (though "who notices?" is a "fair" question).
C-Ya At The Fair!