Ban Fireworks

On the Border Rodman

On a recent business trip to So-Cal my inquisitive mind wanted to know -  how are international relations with our neighbor to the south.

What's it like on the border.  So, off to Tijuana - kind of.

The stop at a shopping center brought forth these images:

From US to Mexico - it seemed like worlds away.

There weren't any new walls, that we could see - but there was a facility for handling those who chose to walk across the border - North to South or South to North.

Waiting on the retaining walls, inside the US, were dozens of folks waiting for arrivals from Mexico.  They came, they went, they shopped.

Of note, the stores we visited at the Las Americas Outlet Center didn't seem to accept Mexican money.  I'll bet any of the stores across the border accepted the US dollar.

Back up north, the purpose of the award.  New Mexico State Fair General Manager Dan Mourning accepting the Merrill Award from the Western Fairs Association.  The Merrill award was presented for the work that New Mexico had done in establishing a "sensory station" that allowed our friends and neighbors who are autistic and have similar maladies, a place to enjoy the fair.  The New Mexico State Fair venue has led to numerous other fairs adopting a similar program - a quiet place to get away - if only for a few moments. Here's Dan with Western Fairs Association Executive Director Sarah Cummings.

Then, there was this.  My attempt at international relations for countries across the pond.  Here I am with a famous basketball player, who has played a role in relations with North Korea - the one and only Dennis Rodman.

I'm glad he didn't stand up!

Thursday Morning Tweets in the city

The sights and sounds of the city were evident this Thursday morning.

Shortly before dawn, somewhere in the immediate vicinity of our humble abode (that's abode, not adobe), a typical city street lined with houses.

Front yards that were once grass are now "hardscaped".

In the back yards, far away from curious eyes, came the triumphant echoing call

That was followed, by the hollow call from one of our most persistent hangers-on, the cousin to the pigeon -

Mourning his (or her) way - looking for love.

Meanwhile, a few hundred miles south of us, I captured this picture a couple weeks ago, beach side near Puerto Vallarta.

Here is "Iggy".

Nature, in all it's glory.

Listen and watch, as nature goes about the daily routine.

The natural tweets are much more peaceful than the electronic ones!

Throwback to Grandpa Beimer

La Junta, Colorado Tribune
June 13, 1906

Grandpa and Grandma. 

Grandpa was born in Ft. Madison, Iowa.

Grandma was born in Sweden.

The happy couple many years later in Taos.

Say it again, Sam

You gotta check out my friend Sam Donaldson's takes -  He knows of what he speaks  -  as opposed to so many people that just blabber away...




http://samdonaldsonlive.com/

It's our planet

This is our planet.

Please protect it - from all harms physical and political.

Spring in Minnesota

It is the first week of April, folks, and this is what it looked like on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds this week. 

During this business trip, I also took a side excursion to Austin, Minnesota.

That's the home of Hormel - the folks who bring us SPAM and Cure 81 hams.

There are many other foods in their lineup of products - including Muscle Milk - and close to my heart - salsa!  Who would have thunk!

The drive to Austin, to my surprise, was through The Valley of the Jolly Ho-Ho-Ho Green Giant...

Now, if the the snow will melt, the tractors will get into the fields and all will be good with the world.

Oh, the dirt in Minnesota - as best I could tell - is black.  I think that's good for growing.