Four days in a row without measurable precipitation in Albuquerque.
But don’t worry. All the moisture in those weeds and plants will soon be turned into pollen in your sinus cavity. One expert I read said the pollen count this fall will be “orders of magnitude” greater than usual.
Swell.
NewMexiKen has written about the Valles Caldera previously. The Valle Grande alone, just the one-fourth of the Preserve that’s visible from New Mexico Highway 4, is magnificent.
As Scott Momaday wrote in House Made of Dawn:
Of all the places that he knew, this valley alone could reflect the great spatial majesty of the sky. It scooped out of the dark peaks like the well of a great, gathering storm, deep umber and blue and smoke-colored. The view across the diameter was magnificent; it was an unbelievably great expanse. As many times as he had been there in the past, each new sight of it always brought him up short, and he had to catch his breath. Just there, it seemed, a strange and brilliant light lay upon the world, and all the objects in the landscape were washed clean and set away in the distance.
Saturday, the Trust that has managed the Preserve since it came into federal ownership in 2000, opened the property to all comers. Normally access is tightly restricted, so it was a big event for many of us — a chance to see the back country, if only from the window of a car. According to local news reports, about 1500 vehicles showed up, more than expected and more than could be accommodated. Rains had washed out parts of the planned tour route and the result was congestion unfitting for such a beautiful place.
Still, we were glad we went. Even driving just a few miles across Valle Grande changed perceptions and made it seem beautiful all over again.
Photos rarely serve the Valle Grande well. For one, its almost too big for the human eye, let alone the two-dimensional reproduction. That said, here a few photos taken Saturday, including some of the traffic. Click any image for a larger version.
Traffic backed up in both directions on Hwy 4 waiting to turn in.
View showing the road into Valle Grande, and a way of travel many of us envied.
Some of the beauty found, especially in our verdant summer of 2006. That’s the East Fork of the Jemez River.
Too beautiful for words. Too beautiful for photos.
Too many car-bound nature lovers snake along at a few miles an hour.
Would you like a rider, good lookin’? How about you? Hmm, maybe not.
Click image to see larger version and learn more about Boopie.
… if a close friend or relative, someone you really liked, was thinking of moving to Albuquerque and coming through for an overnight visit and wanted to check it out by driving around:
Where would you drive them?
And, special bonus question, where would you go to dinner?
[Update: Originally posted Tuesday.]
NewMexiKen intended to take the day off but I think these are must reads:
There is a popular sentiment among the Washington elite that what went wrong in the run-up to the war in Iraq has been sufficiently examined, and that it’s all water under the bridge anyway.
It’s popular in the White House and among Republicans for obvious reasons. But it’s also remarkably popular among top Democrats and the establishment media, because they aren’t all that eager to call any more attention to the fact that they were played for suckers.
There are, however, some people who believe that what led this country to launch a war of choice under false pretenses must be examined in detail — over and over again if necessary — until the appropriate lessons have been learned.
Otherwise, one might argue, history is doomed to repeat itself.
Enter history, stage right.
Once again, powerful neoconservative politicians who just know in their hearts that there is a terrible threat posed by a Middle Eastern country they have identified as part of the axis of evil are frustrated by the lack of conclusive evidence that would support a bellicose approach. So they are pressuring the nation’s intelligence community to find facts that will support their argument.
And, at Slate, Emily Yoffe in a fun, insightful article:
I am a baby boomer, which makes me one of those sickening, self-obsessed, rapidly aging people you nonboomers wish would just shut up and shuffle off already. Although at age 50 I still have a margin of five years of “youth” before I can become a resident of Leisure World, the frequent entreaties I receive from AARP remind me how long ago my youth really was. (And if you think the Bush administration is monitoring you, try keeping your 50th birthday a secret from AARP.) For this Human Guinea Pig, I wanted to preview what old age would be like. Usually this column is about exploring odd corners of life so you don’t have to. But this time, I’m just getting there ahead of you, because if you’re lucky, you’ll get there, too.
Oh, and via Duke City Fix, How Angry Is Your City?. Albuquerque is 14th; Orlando — Orlando ? — is first.
What makes me angry is that when I thought it would be fun to comment at Duke City Fix that Albuquerque’s being ranked 14th made me angry, some commenters had already beaten me to it.
According to news reports, my part of town (Sandia Heights) has received more than 12 inches of rain in the past seven weeks — about 3½ times normal.
That includes this morning’s inch-and-a-half.
There’s a rainstorm at Casa NewMexiKen this morning that began around 3:30 that goes way beyond Biblical. Mercy! If it rained any harder a good swimmer could swim straight up. [Update: About an inch-and-a-half.]
43,443 people were killed on American highways and roads in 2005, the highest number since 1990 and the highest per miles driven since 1986. 4,553 were motorcyclists (10.5%).
But what is amazing is that 55% of the passenger vehicle occupants who were killed were not wearing seat belts. Fifty-five percent!
About 80% of people use belts, so the 20% or so who don’t are really giving above and beyond the call.
Buckle up!
Have you noticed that mens’ rooms are getting busier? Woman have been complaining for years about the unfairness of long waits while men just zip in and out. Not any more.
As the baby-boomer men age — the oldest are now 60, the youngest turning 42 this year — it’s taking guys a lot longer to get the job done. There’s much more down time in mens’ rooms. As a result, we’re starting to see lines at crowded venues. Some are standing-room only.
This situation can only worsen as the male population continues to age.
On this date in 1680, the surviving Spanish settlers under siege decided to abandon Santa Fe and began the trek to Chihuahua. The Spanish did not return to New Mexico for 12 years.
Colonists from Mexico first settled in New Mexico, north of present-day Santa Fe, in 1598. By the 1620s there were 2,000 colonists taking land and forcing labor from the Puebloans, occasionally executing dozens of Indians for the murder of one settler. In the 1660s a drought further stressed conditions for all, especially as Apaches and others raided the Pueblos. Many Puebloans began to feel that deserting their own religion to accept Christianity had brought on these disasters. There were occasional uprisings, but nothing sustainable until Popé, a San Juan medicine man, began unifying resistance among the various independent Pueblos in 1675.
On August 10, 1680, the Indians launched a unified all-out attack on Spanish settlers. Colonists were killed, churches burned, horses and cattle seized. Priests were singled out and killed in all the Pueblos, including Acoma, Zuni and Hopi (in modern Arizona). About 1,000 survivors escaped to Santa Fe and the town was put under siege on August 12. By the 16th the Indians occupied all of the town except the plaza and its surrounding buildings. According to reports, as they burnt the town the Indians sang Latin liturgy to taunt the Spanish.
Three-hundred-and-twenty-six years ago today the settlers were allowed to withdraw from Santa Fe. When they reached El Paseo del Norte in October, there were 1,946 from of a population that had been about 2,500. About 400 had been killed, another 150 escaped to Mexico independently.
The Puebloans removed all signs of the Spanish — the churches, the religion itself, the crops, even the animals (the horses let loose on the plains, eventually transforming the culture of the Plains Indians). One vestige remained: one man rule. Popé declared himself that man and moved to the Palace in Santa Fe.
Spanish attempts at reconquest failed until 1692.
NewMexiKen priced a prize winning Hopi Katsina (formerly known as Kachina) at the Santa Fe Indian Market Sunday. A gorgeous piece, about 18 inches tall, perfectly sized for a nicho I have. In the rain, I figured prices would be reduced.
$8000.
Alas, blogging doesn’t pay that well. It was beautiful, down to the detail in the Indian corn.
Take a look at the rug that won Best of Show at the Santa Fe Indian Market.
‘Burque Babble has a rant about gentrifying New Mexico. You should read the whole thing, but here’s a taste:
What’s this I hear about New Mexico going to two automobile license plates? If it ain’t bad enough that we’re gonna get more than one area code, now we gotta consider getting all cosmopolitan by stickin’ another license plate on the front of our cars. What’s next, High Occupancy Vehicles lanes? Light rail? Thai restaurants in the South Valley?
I’m afraid NM is losing that inefficient, podunk feel that brought many of us here in the first place. …
Thankfully, we haven’t turned all HOV lanes and pad thai yet. As I’ve mentioned before, NM has a stunningly high number of folks who not only don’t have two license plates on their car, they don’t even have one metal license plate. Instead, there is a piece of paper illegibly stuck inside their dark-tinted rear window.
According to reports, two million New Mexicans spent more than $154 million on Powerball and other lottery tickets in the year ending June 30. That’s $77 each (on average) for every man, woman and child.
There was no measurable rain yesterday officially in Albuquerque; just a trace was recorded at the airport.
Less than 10 miles away at San Mateo and Candelaria where I was having dinner, however, it rained as hard as I have ever seen. The streets were running curb high. Driving home I was splashed by a truck and there was enough standing water that the wave went completely over my car.
But it didn’t rain at the airport (where there had been measurable rainfall 16 of the last 25 days).
Update: The storm Friday evening dropped from one inch near Casa NewMexiKen to more than two near where I was having dinner according to news reports.
Pika at Quirky Burque, Albuquerque’s best blogger ever, summed up the relationship between Albuquerque and Santa Fe in a few words and NewMexiKen posted it here two years ago today.
JUST 60 MILES TO THE NORTHEAST, as we all know, the situation is quite different. Our fair sister-city, Santa Fe, prances around LIKE A BLEACH-BLONDE TROPHY WIFE whom writers can’t stop telling us is oh-so-pretty, so popular, and did we mention she married a Texas billionaire? All while poor dusty Albuquerque worries whether she’ll ever get a date to the Prom.
NewMexiKen likes them both, but Albuquerque is definitely the better prom date. For one, we had Pika Brittlebush, though, alas, she went on to other things.
This is the 85th year.
Each year the Santa Fe Indian Market includes 1,200 artists from about 100 tribes who show their work in over 600 booths. The event attracts an estimated 100,000 visitors to Santa Fe from all over the world. Buyers, collectors and gallery owners come to Indian Market to take advantage of the opportunity to buy directly from the artists. For many visitors, this is a rare opportunity to meet the artists and learn about contemporary Indian arts and cultures. Quality is the hallmark of the Santa Fe Indian Market.
Earlier NewMexiKen discussed the 160th anniversary today of New Mexico’s conquest by the United States. Taking New Mexico from Mexico wasn’t too difficult (though it was part of a larger hard fought war). Taking New Mexico from Texas was another story.
Declaring its independence in 1836, Texas claimed the Rio Grande as its boundary from the Gulf of Mexico to the source in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. [Map courtesy Wikipedia.] Even after it became a state in 1845, and even after New Mexico came under control of the U.S. Army in 1846, Texas maintained its claim. The Texas legislature in 1848 established Santa Fe County to include most of the disputed area.
Much of the seriousness of the contention over the land centered on slavery. If part of Texas, slavery would be permitted. If in New Mexico, probably not.
Matters worsened in late June [1850] when word arrived that a small convention in New Mexico had drafted and won ratification of a free-state constitution. [President] Taylor immediately called for New Mexico’s admission along with California’s; southern outrage flared to new heights; and the state of Texas vowed to secure its claims to all of New Mexico east of the Rio Grande, by force if necessary. Taylor ordered the federal garrison at Santa Fe to prepare for combat. By early July, it looked as if civil war might break out, pitting the United States against southern volunteers determined to secure greater Texas for slavery. (The Rise of American Democracy)
Taylor died July 9. Fillmore became president and defused the situation by laying aside New Mexico’s application for statehood. (If Taylor hadn’t gotten gastroenteritis New Mexico could have become a state 62 years sooner!) The resolution came as part of the Compromise of 1850. The boundaries of Texas were established as we know them (poor surveying and meandering rivers notwithstanding). In return, Texas received $10 million in compensation applied toward its debt (worth about $200 million today). The bill also established the territories of New Mexico (which included present-day Arizona) and Utah (which included present-day Nevada and western Colorado). The issue of slavery in those territories was ignored — for then.
Not exactly the dog days here, August in Albuquerque so far — average high temperature 83.4º, average low 64.4º. In three weeks it has gotten above 90º just once.
Time to order some firewood.
Even so, there’s still time to see a great summer movie. How about Jaws in 30 seconds, re-enacted by bunnies?
New Mexico officially became part of the United States 160 years ago today when 1,600 troops under General Stephen Watts Kearny raised the American flag over the plaza in the capital city of Santa Fe, reportedly as the sun broke through the overcast sky. There had been little or no resistance.
August 18. Gen. Kearney proceeded through the pass and at 5 pm reached hill that overlooks Santa Fe.
Major Clark’s artillery was put into line, and the mounted troops and infantry were marched through town to the Palace (as it is called) and his staff dismounted and were received by the acting governor and other dignitaries and conducted to a large room. The general gave the assurance of safety and protection to all unoffending citizens. The stars and stripes were hoisted on the staff which is attached to the Palace by Major Swords. As soon as it was seen to wave above the buildings, it was hailed by a national salute from the battery of Captains Fischer and Weightman, under the command of Major Clark. While the general was proclaiming the conquest of New Mexico as a part of the United States, the first gun was heard. “There,” said he, “my guns proclaim that the flag of the United States floats over this capitol.” The people appeared satisfied. The general slept in the palace. (we democrats must call it the governor’s house.) One company of dragoons ws kept in the city as a guard and the business of the day was ended.
As reported in Niles’ National Register
Guess we won’t have to listen. Despite several grade crossings, the Rail Runner commuter train will pass through Albuquerque at 79 miles per hour possibly without tooting its own horn.
Currently all rail trains are required to issue a warning horn as they approach railroad crossings throughout the city. Federal Railroad Administration rules published in 2005 spell out specific safety guidelines that qualify a crossing for “Quiet Zone” status and waive the horn blowing requirement.
…At a minimum, each grade crossing must be equipped with flashing lights and barrier gates, advanced warning signs and additional safety measures to compensate for the absence of the train’s horn as a warning device.
Under certain conditions, train horns can be heard several miles away from their location.
…Heinrich’s legislation will require all railroad crossings within City limits to become “Quiet Zones” within five years of the legislation’s adoption. It will also require that crossing will be upgraded to “Quiet Zone” status whenever they are scheduled for other substantial work under the city’s capital program.
NewMexiKen understands how the increase in railroad horns can affect businesses and residents. I attended college under an AFB approach and take-off zone. That said, the tracks have been there for 125 years. They’re not some new addition.
A high-speed train crossing at grade level is a serious accident waiting to happen. People violate railroad crossing warnings all the time — and this time the train will be approaching at 116 feet a second with hundreds of people on board.
(NewMexiKen is not arguing for or against the horns. I am saying that high-speed commuter trains shouldn’t cross urban streets at grade.)
There were 783,920 people in the Albuquerque metropolitan area last year (according to the U.S. Census). 407,621 (52%) were born in New Mexico. 296,236 (38%) were born in the other 49 states. 72,015 (9%) were born outside the U.S. (The other 8,048 were born U.S. citizens, but not born in the U.S.)
Of the 783,920, 381,592 were male, 402,328 were female.
Of the 783,920, 357,613 (46%) claimed white (non-Hispanic) origins exclusively, 340,177 (43%) claimed Hispanic or Latino origins. Just less than 6% claimed American Indian origins. 2.5% claimed African origins. Less than 2% were Asian or Pacific Islander.
There were 509,828 men and women 25 and older in Albuquerque last year. 153,026 of them have bachelor’s or advanced college degrees. That’s 30%. (The U.S. average is 27.7%.) 14% of Albuquerque area adults have less than a high school education.
There were 319,677 households. 204,373 (64%) were family households; 147,467 (46% of the total) of these were married couples. 93,015 (29% of the total) were one-person households.
There were 96,588 women between the ages of 35 and 50 in the Albuquerque metropolitan area last year. 61,882 were married and 34,706 were single.
Metropolitan Albuquerque consists of Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance and Valencia counties.
As the rain continues in Albuquerque it’s the talk of the town. especially by Eckleburg & Grumblecake at Duke City Fix. A couple of excerpts:
I love how rain is it’s own special news topic here — I was watching the news in Albuquerque do a full 15 minutes of coverage about the rain, complete with footage of the water in just about every arroyo and flooded street they could find – and after they ran out of flooded arroyos and streets to show, they said, “And coming up next . . . the weather.”
I also like the constant scrolling weather alerts that have taught me that the proper response to being caught in a flooding area is to “move to higher ground.” Some people have been getting their panties in a bunch about all the Californians and Texans moving to the state recently. To me, people from CA and TX are just fine, but the people that don’t know about higher ground — those are the ones I want to go back to wherever they came from.
And, from their “Top 10 ways to know if it was a ‘good rain’ by ABQ standards”:
8. When it is raining at both your house AND your friend’s house across town.
Albuquerque had another half-inch last night (officially).
All us desert dwellers are loving the verdancy. Chantal Foster of Duke City Fix took this photo of the green fields not far from Casa NewMexiKen (click the image to read more and see a larger version).
The high plains of northeastern New Mexico along I-25 from Raton Pass down past Wagon Mound were just gorgeous this afternoon. The rains have turned the plains green as far as one can see, bringing a soft pastoral look to what can be harsh scenery. Even the stock and wildlife seemed to appreciate the beauty — colts playing tag, cattle lolling around, pronghorn by the score nibbling away.
It was, honestly, heartbreakingly beautiful.
NewMexiKen arrived home Saturday afternoon to discover I left last Sunday without ever closing, let along locking one door. Everything is fine and it doesn’t appear to have even rained in, though my neighbor tells me we had a storm that brought one inch of rain in 15 minutes.
Guess the threat I left on NewMexiKen scared all the crooks away.
… they took all the confiscated, potentially explosive-carrying water bottles and toothpaste and mixed it in containers and the airports are taking the containers to trash dumps.
From Atlanta to Albuquerque, New Mexico, airport maintenance crews were ordered to dump any confiscated items along with the rest of the garbage.
— CNN.com
If it isn’t explosive, why’d they take it away? And if it is explosive, why are they dumping it in the trash? Or worse, Sky Harbor may be giving explosives to the homeless:
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport planned to give 11 boxes of surrendered items to the city’s human services department, which will give the unopened bottles of shampoo, toothpaste and other items to homeless shelters, airport spokeswoman Lexie Van Haren said.
— CNN.com
The stuff is, as the report states, unopened. So it could be explosives. But I guess if they can give it away, it must not be explosives. So why did they confiscate it?
And we put up with illogical idiotic nonsense in the name of security, why?