Friday, December 13, 2013

… A Very Merry Ho-Ho-Ho to You-N-Yours…


Another snowy day here in Santa Fe: Peace on earth, good will towards person-kind, and other worthwhile goals to strive for, makes for annual reflection: We had one of those years you hear about where it was pretty much steady-as-she-goes & without much happening. Oh, we both had our teeth cleaned twice & the house didn’t burn down (yet). So, now you have it: News from Ranch Encantado

Snow falling on the Jacuzzi, in many ways, could be a fitting metaphor for our lives; sitting in hot water surrounded by climate change. Water is such a basic part of all our lives and a principal component of this home: Meme continues stewardship over the State’s water resources, we’ve recently “worn out” our 3rd Hot Springs top & 4th water bed mattress, and for our 35th anniversary we went-n-splashed and made bubbles in the Florida Keys.

Conch Key Resort, FL
We didn’t have any really exotic destinations with our travels this year. Oh, I forgot Palmdale (during my Dodgers & Burbank HS sojourn). Got to visit Kirk & Lynne Harris in Agua Dulce, and with Meme’s step-mom Arlene Medici and part of her 3 generations of super family. Meme’s solo excursions took her climbing near Pagosa Springs (CO) & to the Canyonlands of southeast Utah for a “Climb Like A Girl” adventure. Some of our other journeys included Gilbert, AZ to visit my Mom, sisters & families. In early June, joined there by several cousins and my Auntie Ginny (Virginia) from Ventura. We also shared experiences with Meme’s sister Pat at their cousin Pete’s (& Nancy’s) place in Hayden Lake, Idaho: fun-on-the-waters. Another water-based trip was annual pilgrimage to Pacific Beach/La Jolla area where we paid homage to our sunset ocean.


Sunset/Pacific Beach, CA
Justin continues as a “second year” law student at UNM, having spent the summer term studying Int’l Law in Spain (“where the rain falls mainly…”). While he was abroad, I had a very active fire season: 7 fires on 4 dispatches, as a Safety Officer. It was a tragic year with the loss of too many men & women trying to protect us, like Sandoval County Deputy Sheriff Sgt. (and former NPS Ranger) Robert Baron. I’d also been on the same fire incident as Granite Mountain (Interagency Hotshot Crew) on Granite Mountain (Prescott, AZ) a week before their deaths at Yarnell Hill. When told, I went into immediate denial: “we just don’t lose whole crews.” Unfortunately, this time we did. Our hopes are with all our public safety personnel: you aren’t forgotten.

Lucy & Meme @ Monster Wall
This year Lucy started to really fill-out her punch card for the frequent vet visit program: twice for ripped nails, a rattlesnake bite/envenomation (against the outside our front-yard wall), and a recent teeth cleaning (for her 5th birthday). Of course that doesn’t count the time this Autumn when I took her for a run via my bike-ride: never had a problem before… this time she went 90-degrees starboard behind the bike descending a hill: I ended up on gravel road with her looking at me seemingly saying: “Whachya doin’ down here?” She was fine; I ended up later that day at urgent care (two-broken ribs).


Meme on a lead climb
East Fork Jemez River
… and Meme continues climbing, jogging, tennis, yoga, working and taking care of Phil (me) & Lucy = she’s very busy (and is going to make some holiday goodies now). I continue with tennis officiating, SiteWatch steward activities, “etc. Etc., ETC.” (yes yoga too, but I’m much more… remedial much of the time). Ya know, we sure are blessed… and hope you are too this year & next.

Monday, September 30, 2013

Out in a west Texas town… a revisionist look

Rosa's Cantina


I started to post this a couple of days ago, inspired by our Hayden Lake trip to Idaho in late July: Meme’s sister Pat (a longtime resident of El Paso) presented a photo to their cousin Pete of him in front of Rosa’s Cantina. It got me thinking about the classic Marty Robbins tune and some of its artistic liberties. Glad I didn’t post it on Friday, because last night the song was featured in the series finale for “Breaking Bad.” How is that for timing? Now for a quick review: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIHRgisdbeY

“Out in the West Texas town of El Paso, I fell in love with a Mexican girl.
Night-time would find me in Rosa's cantina; Music would play and Felina would whirl.

Blacker than night were the eyes of Felina, Wicked and evil while casting a spell.
My love was deep for this Mexican maiden; I was in love but in vain, I could tell.
(stop right there: “wicked”… really? In love with someone wicked and evil? Don’t say I didn’t “told you so…” buddy; and "maiden" really? A "maiden" whirling in a cantina: better look up the classical definition instead of the using contemporary e-dicts.)




One night a wild young cowboy came in, Wild as the West Texas wind.
Dashing and daring, A drink he was sharing
With wicked Felina, The girl that I loved. (there is that “wicked reference again, got a clue yet amigo?)

So in anger I Challenged his right for the love of this maiden. (What kind of challenge? “Hey, you dirty dog! You’re drinkin’ with my wicked crush, and your Momma…”)
Down went his hand for the gun that he wore. (...like “the other guy” drew first)
My challenge was answered in less than a heart-beat;
The handsome young stranger lay dead on the floor. (Sounds like self-defense via code-of-the-west? What about "Stand Your Ground," even if Jon Steward will characterize you as some F*@#ing gun nut?)

Just for a moment I stood there in silence, Shocked by the FOUL EVIL deed I had done.
(Aggressive-speak? Survivors remorse?)
Many thoughts raced through my mind as I stood there; I had but one chance and that was to run.
(Law & order in Ol’ El Paso was bought & paid for by cattle interests?)
Out through the back door of Rosa's I ran, Out where the horses were tied.
I caught a good one. It looked like it could run. Up on its back And away I did ride,
Just as fast as I Could from the West Texas town of El Paso
Out to the bad-lands of New Mexico. (about 100-miles to closest malpais/lava badlands, several days ride)

Back in El Paso my life would be worthless. Everything's gone in life; nothing is left.
(it won’t be if you keep a negative train-of-thought going like this)
It's been so long since I've seen the young maiden, My love is stronger than my fear of death.

I saddled up and away I did go, Riding alone in the dark.
Maybe tomorrow A bullet may find me. Tonight nothing's worse than this Pain in my heart.

And at last here I Am on the hill overlooking El Paso; I can see Rosa's cantina below.
My love is strong and it pushes me onward. Down off the hill to Felina I go.
(To the wicked one? I think we can see how this is going to play out… and Felina will probably get your royalties)

Off to my right I see five mounted cowboys; Off to my left ride a dozen or more. Shouting and shooting I can't let them catch me. I have to make it to Rosa's back door. (then what?)

Something is dreadfully wrong for I feel A deep burning pain in my side.
Though I am trying To stay in the saddle, I'm getting weary, Unable to ride.

But my love (sic?) for Felina is strong and I rise where I've fallen, Though I am weary I can't stop to rest.
I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle. I feel the bullet go deep in my chest. (Ouch!)

From out of nowhere Felina has found me, Kissing my cheek as she kneels by my side.
Cradled by two loving arms that I'll die for, One little kiss and Felina, good-bye. (She was evil…).

Other favorite Marty Robbins tunes are many, here are a few-starting with “Big Iron”
(BTW- no “Town of Agua Fria” in Arizona today, but New Mexico still has “the Traditional Village of Agua Fria” [now part of Santa Fe] and considering the historical links of these territories dating back to “la frontera” days it seems a reasonable locale- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agua_Fria,_New_Mexico )




The incredible imagery brought forth by “Strawberry Roan” (I can see him)

Then there is always the “Master’s Call” (AMEN!)

Monday, September 2, 2013

“What I did on my summer vacation…”



 With school back in session, this Labor Day I thought a reflection on the past 3-months might be… worthwhile or fun (?)

Carpenter 1 plume
“Safety Dude” had a summer that was “plume dominated” - I’ve been on several wildland firefighting assignments this year, starting with the Tres Lagunas (Pecos/Santa Fe NF), Doce (Granite Mtn., Prescott NF), Silver (Gila NF), Carpenter 1 (Mt. Charleston/Humboldt-Toiyabe NF), Millville (Utah State Forestry), Santaquin Pole (USF), and Chestnut (H-T NF again; I’d never been to Gabbs, NV before).  As I write, the Rim fire (in & around Yosemite National Park) dominates national wildfire attention, and the little bit of media coverage I’ve been able to see was fairly good. Of course it has been a tragic fire season with the loss of the Granite Mountain Crew and others. The evening of the Granite Mountain entrapment I went into denial when informed. After all, I’d been at briefing with them just 6-days prior (Doce) and we don’t lose entire crews. More information is becoming public and it appears there were many warning signs & established safety signals lined-up as dominoes to come cascading down on that one. As a long-time believer and supporter of “Lessons Learned” I think the best way to honor those that have fallen is to gain knowledge from their story, with the hope that wisdom will follow:
Twenty years ago when I became the Safety Officer on a Southwest Area Type I Incident Management Team, and an instructor for S-520/Advanced Incident Management, we worked to see that medical services were more quickly available to firefighters. I’d been a Medical Unit Leader before being a Type 2 IMT Safety Officer and carried the rule-of-thumb: 1 EMT per division/group per operational period. We’ve come a long way… we usually well exceed that and often have line qualified paramedics. The National Registry is the accepted standard most places, especially in time of emergencies when out-of-area professionals are needed. Recently, the rumor was Rim Fire was (or is) allowing orders for paramedics to go unfilled if they can’t be filled instate. When I was an EMT on the National Registry, this native Californian always found it more demanding than the Calif./Los Angeles County standards. 

Accompanying the grapevine mumbling is that they want to keep the Federal funds (FEMA) in state. “If” the rumors are true: shame, Shame, SHAME… Fire should not be viewed for its local revenue generating aspects: unfortunate that it will probably take death, mayhem & lawsuits to correct = these are a National Forest & a National Park. You use the closest available qualified resources, but sometimes you need to go national to get-the-job-done (remember our 1st objective is health & safety of incident personnel and the public).
           
Rim Fire
sometimes on fires you forget to shave
Other summer subjects I’ve thought about: it was great seeing my mom, sisters, nephew and family, Aunt Virginia & many cousins at a family get-together in early June; TENNIS; this USTA Official missed much of the French Open(so what), The Championships (Wimbledon: DARN!), the U.S. Open Series Tournaments (Que Lastima!) and the opening of the  U. S. Open (don’t miss the jingoistic jabber about this being the best [it isn’t, just because you have the biggest stadium doesn’t make it the best tournament], and certainly don’t miss Martina Navratilova’s incessant blather [shut up and watch the point]); how ‘bout them “Boys of Summer” (Los Dodgers? They were 10-games behind & now 10+ ahead (quien sabe); bet my dermatologist will find much to counsel me about (regardless of the 50 spf applications); Isn’t it ironic that he Mount Charleston Blue Butterfly is threatened & endangered because its fire dependent habitat was been shrunk by fire suppression and this year a fire threatened the population with extinction while creating a lot more habitat? (note: they survived, as they have for a long time, with much more range now); July showers DO bring August flowers (here); Northern Idaho visit to Nancy & Pete Erickson’s place at Hayden Lake as A-OK (we’d do it again; Neighborhood Watch reception is coming up: I move we change the title from “Block Captain” to “Block Head” (since I-r-it); yoga: missed too many classes; grapes: nothing sweeter than your own homegrown…



            

Friday, August 16, 2013

Sometimes it’s the water and sometimes it is water NOT…




Four weeks ago we experienced a thunderstorm in the Eldorado area that put an exclamation point on our Monsoonal moisture season. To put it in perspective, It’d been dry, very dry: I’d been telling folks here it was the driest I’d seen the “greenbelts” in Eldorado during my 24-year residence here. There was little fire danger because of a lack of one-hour fuels; grasses hadn’t grown – just dust (and it isn’t combustible).  We are used to NOT having moisture here: it is the historic norm. I noticed that over a year ago SF County Roads replaced a culvert-end in my neighborhood with an enlarged hole & pipe. When I pointed out to County Roads that the other end was still buried (and had been for decades), they came and placed a stake where they thought the end of the buried culvert pipe should be. I guess they’re not used to dealing with water either, the stake is still there…
The drought in the western US has been greatly noted, chronicled & discussed:
With local commentary & history too   As noted by Heller in his op-ed (linked below), there have been wetter times locally. In fact, during the late 13th & early 14th centuries (common era) the Galisteo Basin supported the largest pueblos and densest populations in what is now the Southwestern U.S.A. Yep, with many having 1,000-2,000+ rooms they were larger than Chaco or Mesa Verde. This came about because of a wetter time period, much like recently experienced in this vicinity. When the more normal conditions of water scarcity returned, populations plummeted as inhabitants moved closer to water sources.
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_view/article_6c9a4b95-06be-5444-b05a-b5d758d2c4c9.html
           
grapes of unwrath
When I think about water & weather impacts, I think of the trends over millennia, not decades. I could point to previous July thunder & hailstorms that stripped our grapevines of all green (ripening grapes & leaves), but the observations of a couple dozen years aren’t significant until placed into the larger-longer context.
The storm here 4-weeks ago was the largest-widespread over-the-area in quite a while. As the author Michael McGarrity  (lives nearby) mentioned to me: “it really changed the landscape.” Indeed, it moved a lot of earth, sand, brush & trees. Plus, brought out a cycle of chorus frogs. But it was nothing compared to the WATER experienced some places http://www.youtube.com/embed/_yCnQuILmsM - like Manitou Springs recently, or North Cascades National Park:
BUT, I want to share a few images of our little micro-event:
doesn't look like much, but debris atop concrete is 10' 6" above channel
trail - used to be level 
Lucy checks arroyo erosion area - had been filled with cut cholla
(once again displaying the universality of studity)
Another trail washout