Despite getting off early on Friday, we didn't get out for a long time, and almost didn't go to Lonely Mountain at all -- Honey got some good news, and it was hard to leave! But the LIW tip waits for no man, and we drove north in good time. Everyone says Lonely Mountain Defender is the best event of the year -- the gorgeous scenery (like a more-lush Flagstaff) and obscene altitude keep people from fighting, and the partying is as good as the weather. Besides, I was on duty.

There's not en... read more

A Straightforward Keepsake
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Thursday 5/24: my boss turns me loose a bit early, so I call Honey, we buy rugs, then go home, and I take the last shower I'll see for a while. We drive the rented van and my last-minute packing to the site, which is at Torrance Cty Park -- same site as the miserable Grand Dustlandish of 2003, the event that kept us from coming back until now. Honey had already set up the pavilion, so all we had to do was unroll the rugs, ... read more

*sniiifff*

Home with hay fever. Anyone who thinks allergies can't be debilitating should visit ABQ after a wet winter. Current aridity keeps mucus membranes dry and open -- which sounds good until you find out, the hard way, that record amounts of juniper pollen can crawl right up into your sinuses. My forebrain is probably being abraded by triffid-like spores even as we speak. My head has been filled with cement and my eyes feel like rolling razor blades. My eyelids are so swollen th... read more

The intro is too long and involved. I'm skipping it for now. But we ended up at Louise and Joe's house, with Tina, drinking and yakking and eating the divine Louisadillas, hanging out with the kids, and getting noisy. Was introduced to the nectar-like (and "ambrosial", what the hell, it's the booze that eats like a meal) Crema de Membrillo -- and liked it so much, Joe sent me home with the dividend. Those poor people -- we really should have crashed there, if only to help clean up this m... read more

I have been desperate to henna for a couple of weeks, now, but didn't have time during the move. Still living among the boxes, but I thought I had everything I needed...and if that sounds prescient to ugliness, it is...but went ahead on Friday night and mixed up some goop, used a citrifying shampoo with no conditioner, and no conditioner. Next morning had a hellish time -- back pain from moving limited my ROM; my hair was fried from lack of moisture, and kept wanting to tangle and not separ... read more