Monday, May 3, 2021

Bobby Unser & Me

 It was a foggy, rainy May day at The Brickyard.   

The New Mexico's Official Goodwill Ambassadors, The Amigos, had chosen Indy as a stopping place on the annual promotional tour.

Bobby Unser, in town prepping for The Greatest Spectacle in Racing, the Indianapolis 500, met us at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

We stood in the cool air, on a wet track.

"You wanna go for a ride?"

I climbed in the backseat of the official Cadillac pace car, another Amigo got in the front seat...and away we go.

Now, mind you, it's raining, the track is slick, and we're in a Cadillac.

I glanced down at the speedometer and it was sitting above  110.

Bobby, with his left hand on the steering wheel was watching our faces and regaling life in the fast lane as we sped around!

All I could figure is, he knew every brick, every pole, every turn - and he knew what he was doing.

Thanks for the ride, Bobby!

Rest in peace - enjoy your trip around the track!



 

Saturday, August 15, 2020

Bye Bye Teddy


Teddy

You were so much fun!

December 2010  - August 2020
 

Sunday, June 21, 2020

Dads


Hib Rein & Betty (Connie's Dad & Mom) in Sayulita
RIP





Grand Dad Beimer in Taos
RIP


Dad Sam Beimer holding maybe champion in Taos
RIP




Grand Dad Johnson (Mom's Dad), probably in Taos
RIP


Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

Admiralty Speaks



It sickened me yesterday to see security personnel—including members of the National Guard—forcibly and violently clear a path through Lafayette Square to accommodate the president's visit outside St. John's Church.
I have to date been reticent to speak out on issues surrounding President Trump's leadership, but we are at an inflection point, and the events of the past few weeks have made it impossible to remain silent.
Whatever Trump's goal in conducting his visit, he laid bare his disdain for the rights of peaceful protest in this country, gave succor to the leaders of other countries who take comfort in our domestic strife, and risked further politicizing the men and women of our armed forces.
There was little good in the stunt.
While no one should ever condone the violence, vandalism, and looting that has exploded across our city streets, neither should anyone lose sight of the larger and deeper concerns about institutional racism that have ignited this rage.
As a white man, I cannot claim perfect understanding of the fear and anger that African Americans feel today. But as someone who has been around for a while, I know enough—and I've seen enough—to understand that those feelings are real and that they are all too painfully founded.

We must, as citizens, address head-on the issue of police brutality and sustained injustices against the African American community. We must, as citizens, support and defend the right—indeed, the solemn obligation—to peacefully assemble and to be heard. These are not mutually exclusive pursuits.

And neither of these pursuits will be made easier or safer by an overly aggressive use of our military, active duty or National Guard. The United States has a long and, to be fair, sometimes troubled history of using the armed forces to enforce domestic laws. The issue for us today is not whether this authority exists, but whether it will be wisely administered.
I remain confident in the professionalism of our men and women in uniform. They will serve with skill and with compassion. They will obey lawful orders. But I am less confident in the soundness of the orders they will be given by this commander in chief, and I am not convinced that the conditions on our streets, as bad as they are, have risen to the level that justifies a heavy reliance on military troops.
Certainly, we have not crossed the threshold that would make it appropriate to invoke the provisions of the Insurrection Act.
Furthermore, I am deeply worried that as they execute their orders, the members of our military will be co-opted for political purposes.
Even in the midst of the carnage we are witnessing, we must endeavor to see American cities and towns as our homes and our neighborhoods. They are not “battle spaces” to be dominated, and must never become so.
We must ensure that African Americans—indeed, all Americans—are given the same rights under the Constitution, the same justice under the law, and the same consideration we give to members of our own family. Our fellow citizens are not the enemy, and must never become so.
Too many foreign and domestic policy choices have become militarized; too many military missions have become politicized.
This is not the time for stunts. This is the time for leadership.
MIKE MULLEN is a retired admiral of the U.S. Navy and was the 17th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Nesting Roadrunner Style

Beep!   Beep!


Here are a couple of shots from out the front door. The last few days, as soon as the sun comes up, our state birds are gathering sticks…and they make a return trip to the supply depot about every 4 minutes.  Even the street sweeper didn’t deter them from their appointed rounds.  Time must be of the essence.








And we’ve found the nest high in a pine tree at the corner of the house. 

Question…how do you spot a birds nest?   Look for lots of poop on the ground…

Mommy and Daddy stay together for life.  Have 2 or 3 nests a year.  Lay 2 or 3 eggs.  Mom & Dad take turns sitting.

Our guard dog saw one thru the window the other day and just growled…didn’t bark!   

I think animals know when to just watch and let nature take its course.