Cold Misty Morning In Hot Sulfur Springs

Warmth Of The Sun

What good is the dawn
That grows into day
The sunset at night
Or living this way

For I have the warmth of the sun
Within me at night

The love of my life
She left me one day
I cried when she said
"I don't feel the same way"

Still I have the warmth of the sun
Within me tonight

I'll dream of her arms
And though they're not real
It's like she's still there
The way that I feel

My love's like the warmth of the sun
It won't ever die
-Brian Wilson

Where The Deer And The Antelope Play

A friend and I were driving back to the cabin one afternoon after a visit to Walden when we saw this regal male Pronghorn Antelope at the side of the road. My friend started snapping pictures of him from the passenger seat as I slowly drove along side him. The arrogance that this animal displayed was almost blinding. He was not afraid of us one iota and moved with the confident step of a world leader. He actually seemed to want us to take his photo but only on his own terms. Moving along at a princely pace he would sometimes stop and pose for us . Look carefully at these two photos and then try telling me that he did not realize just where he was standing in relation to us or just how striking the photos would turn out. He was electrifying.

Puppy Update

No new photos yet but we did talk to the dog breeder yesterday. The plan was to have our girl shipped by aircraft (she is in Montana) but the owner's son-in-law will be driving to Denver for the Broncos game on the weekend of October the tenth (my husband's birthday) and will bring the dog with him. My husband will drive to Denver to pick her up that day and considers all this a nice birthday present. I like the new plan because that means little what's her name will be with her mother a week longer. As for little what's her name's new name- we are down to three choices and will pick one after we see her.

I want to thank you all again for your input on what to call little what's her name. What you did not know is that not only were you suggesting a new name for our puppy, you were helping me to pick her new blog name. I used Kate and Emma's real names on this site but decide that since my husband puts his name and phone number on our dog's collars but not their names it probably was a good idea to use pseudonyms here. This means Duke's real name is not Duke but I'm sure you figured that out for yourself. drD suggested the name Duchess to go with the name Duke and that was a strong contender for her blog name but...
I just can not let go of Little Sally Pumpkinhead.

So, after much consideration the new puppy will be known as Little Sally Pumpkinhead here at Santiago Dreaming. I promise she will never be referred to as LSP since Little Sally Pumkinhead is so much fun to write. Heck, it is almost as much fun to write as it is to say it out loud, "Little Sally Pumpkinhead."

"Little Sally Pumpkinhead."

"Little Sally Pumpkinhead."

Birdland

These crappy photos of two very elusive birds were taken by my husband and myself. The owl has been hanging around our friends cabin but we only heard his call and never saw him until the night before we left. I only got to see him swooping through the pine trees. My husband got close enough to take this photo- which was still a good distance away. We are sure this is a juvenile Great Horned Owl but we are cannot tell if it is a male or a female.

The Bald Eagle was perched on a power pole line right across the lake the first time I saw him. I snapped this photo and as you can tell he was even farther away than the owl when I took it. This bird stayed around for two days and then disappeared. We think he was attracted to the numerous dead or dying fish that were in the lake. The dying fish were the cause by two things, first, the lake turned over, a phenomena that has never happened in past years since the upper layer of water never got hot enough for turnover to occur. I guess we can blame global warming again. Second, the fresh water supply that usually flows into the lake was blocked off by humans which lowered the oxygen levels in the lake. When the lake turned the fish started dying. The eagle probably ate until his hunger was sated and then flew on.

Friends of the Saw-Horse

Found these guys living in Hot Sulfur Springs but not sure if they are friends of the Saw-Horse from the OZ books or lost family.

The Wild, Wild West

I was travelling last week and will be posting photos the rest of this week. The top photo is a motel in Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado while the Cowboy was in Granby, Colorado.

Stormy Weather

There's no sun up in the sky but there is a blue one in my south window this morning.

Yum

A friend introduced me to Pampero Aniversario this week and it is my new favorite liquor. Smooth, very smooth.

I See The Lights, I See The Fairy Lights

In the field of observation, chance favours only the prepared mind.
-Louis Pasteur



My sister e-mailed me this photo last week. She took it, I think, Spring of last year when we were in Manitou Springs. The mural I am standing in front of is painted on the side of a commercial building not far from the historical Cliff House Inn.* When we first saw the mural I knew I wanted my photo taken in front of it. As you can see I am holding a flower in my left hand. Only I'm really not, the flower is in the painting. The only reason I stood where I did was to get the fairy in the photo. My sister and I did not even notice the flower. I just happened to hold my thumb and finger right where it would look as if I was holding the painted flower. It was just a serendipitous event. I mean, what are the odds?


*You will find a nice photo of the Inn here since the one on their website is terrible.

Busy Week

Will try and stop by when I can.
(BTW, more names added to puppy list. Lots of wonderful names to pick from now.)

You Lie!

I've been reading articles and opinion pieces at the various news and political sites expressing outrage about or defense of Rep. Joe Wilson after his display of bad manners during the President's address to Congress the other night and found Robert J. Elisberg's post at The Huffington Post one of the less hysterical ones. Well, except for that last sentence.

Read it here.

And They Call It Puppy Love

I know some of you prefer photos of kittens but I think you will have to admit that this is one cute puppy. This is our new little girl at five weeks old. We are collecting names for her and so far we have:

Sweet Pea

Minnie Mae (her mom's name is Minnie)

Gretchen

Gracie

Morticia

Norma

Sophie

Ellen

Little Sally Pumpkinhead

Minnie

Mimi

Levi

Rois- Irish form of rose

Rosie

Roz

Rerun

Ailionóra-Irish (Ali for short)

Any other suggestions?

(added this morning-9/10)

Minnie Me

(added this morning-9/11)

Me Me

B. B.

Be Be

Maya

Dori

Betty B.

Monique

Gigette

(added this morning-9/12)

Duchess

"Madam" ("Madam Gracie", "Madam Mimi", etc, etc.)

(added this morning-(9/15)

Molly

Addy

Aimee (Ami)

Bella

Brigit

Coco

Fifi

Yvette

Gigi

Gabriella (Gabi)

Renee (Rene)

Macy

Madie

Tilly

Variation of Frances (I think that means from France) such as Fran, Franni, Francine, Franci

FYI

Attention Readers:

We have switched our dog Duke from his summer formula dog food to his fall/winter High Energy/Sporting Dogs formula dog food. For the next week or two he will be known as "Mr. Stinky Butt."

That is all.

The Mystery of the Wet Toothbrush

I sure could use Nancy Drew right about now. It started about a week ago when I went into the bathroom after lunch to brush my teeth and found my toothbrush wet. I was surprised by this and thought it must be more humid than I suspected since my toothbrush is usually dry by lunch time after I have used it in the morning.

A few days ago I again found a wet toothbrush when I went to brush my teeth before going to bed. I asked my husband if he was accidentally using my toothbrush but he said no.

Imagine my feeling of slight irritation when I went to brush my teeth after lunch the next day and found my toothbrush wet. My husband was washing the lunch dishes in the kitchen and I stuck my head out the bathroom door, held my toothbrush up, and asked him who's toothbrush was I holding. He said it was mine. I then told him it was wet again while his was dry and asked if he had used it. He said no and added that maybe I wasn't shaking the water off it after I rinsed it and put it back in the toothbrush holder. I admitted that this was true and made sure that I shook the water off before putting it away from that moment on.

Saturday I again went to brush my teeth after lunch and found my toothbrush wet and my husband's toothbrush dry. I went into the living room and asked him if he had just brushed his teeth. He said yes. I then told him my toothbrush was wet and his was dry so he must have used mine. He went into the bathroom to feel his toothbrush and after finding it slightly damp said he could not understand it as he knew he had used his own toothbrush.

Now, there are three souls living in this house and if my husband is not using my toothbrush then our dog Duke is the only other possible suspect. But, since Duke does not have opposable thumbs and is not tall enough to reach the toothbrush holder, it is unlikely that he is the culprit. So, who is using my toothbrush?

Nancy, are you reading this? I need your help.

It's Labor Day

And that means most people in the US of A are enjoying the last day of a three day weekend. According to the United States Department of Labor:

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

I'm willing to bet five dollars that 99.9% of the American population does not know this. I was part of that 99.9% until I Googled the words Labor Day yesterday.

Today, as I enjoy my Labor Day feast, I will pause and raise my beer glass in honor of all the the working men and women whose have contributed to the well-being of our country. Maybe, in a nod to the contributions made to the labor movement by the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU), I will sing their anthem.

Look for the union label
When you are buying a coat, dress or blouse.
Remember somewhere our union's sewing
Our wages going
To feed the kids and run the house
We work hard but who's complaining?
Thanks to the I.L.G. we're paying our way
So, always look for the union label
It says we're able to make it in the U.S.A.

Jim!

One enjoyable website I visit is James Lileks', Lileks.com. Lots to peruse there including the Matchbook Museum and Comic Sins. One of the sins listed is this comic book from the mid nineteen-fifties:





Recognize our hero?

News Of The Weird

I don't know whether to laugh at this story, be disgusted by it, or just feel pity for the poor dope who got himself into this situation. After surgery to have a penile implant inserted, a Florida man developed gangrene and had to have his penis removed. He is now suing the doctor who preformed the operation.

His lawyer had this to say about the suit:

"The man will live the rest of his life without his penis. When he has to urinate, he has to sit down and urinate like a woman. He can't go to the beach. He can't make love to his wife. He has not worked since the procedure. He's basically living his life in complete seclusion."

So, the number one bad outcome of this, according to the lawyer, is that the man will now have to sit down and pee just like a women. And this is bad....because...any time you do anything like a women it makes you less of a man? How sexist can you get?

Second, he can't go to the beach...because...people will know he doesn't have a penis? If he wears the right swimming trunks no one will be able to tell if he has a penis or doesn't have a penis.

Third, he can not make love to his wife. That would be bad if it wasn't true that he could not make love to his wife before the surgery.

Fourth, he hasn't worked since the procedure...because....he has a job where you absolutely had to have a penis to do said job? He must be either a military or an airline pilot.

Fifth, he's living a life of "complete" seclusion ....because....he doesn't want anyone to know he no longer has his penis? Well, then filing a lawsuit is the last thing he should have done. Or is it that he is too devastated about the loss of his penis to leave his house? That is tragic but courts rarely allow for pain and suffering.

It may seem that I am making fun of this poor man but I am not; I am making fun of the members of the legal profession who try to make a buck off the misery of others. All the points I made above are reasons why his lawsuit will be thrown out of court. The article does not say but if the man knew the risks this procedure presented to him before he had the surgery or if he did not disclose all of his health problems to the doctor before the surgery, well, then he is out of luck.

I hope this man knew enough to hire a lawyer who only gets paid if he wins the lawsuit.

Sorry Doesn't Cut It

Hearing the name William Calley always brings two images to my mind. First, the photo of some of the dead at My Lai in March of 1968:



And then, the cover of Esquire Magazine in November of 1970.



William Calley is the Army Lieutenant who ordered his men to kill unarmed elderly people, women, and children in the village of My Lai during the Vietnam War. At least 300 souls died that day.

Last month Calley, at a Kiwanis Club meeting in Columbus, Georgia, apologized, sort of, for what happened that day saying:

"There is not a day that goes by that I do not feel remorse for what happened that day in My Lai, I feel remorse for the Vietnamese who were killed, for their families, for the American soldiers involved and their families. I am very sorry.”

Then, according to the article in the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer,:

"When asked if obeying an unlawful order was not itself an unlawful act, he said, 'I believe that is true. If you are asking why I did not stand up to them when I was given the orders, I will have to say that I was a second lieutenant getting orders from my commander and I followed them — foolishly, I guess.' Calley then said that was not an excuse; it was just what happened."

So, the man feels guilty about what happened that day but still insists he was just following orders. You can't give an sincere apology unless you accept responsibility for your own actions. Calley's words show that he is still that insensitive, ignorant buffoon who had his photo taken back in November of 1970 with children who could be mistaken for some of his innocent victims. His apology rings hollow for me. Plus, I'm not sure that any "me culpa" he makes can atone for what he and his men did that day back in 1968. It was just too horrific of a crime.

Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da, Life Goes On

Well, I'm back. What did I do while I was gone, you may ask?

Well, I worked at the library every day including Saturdays taping bar codes onto library books and entering said books into the Northwest Kansas Library System database. I am happy to report that we have reached the point where it no longer seems to be an overwhelming job. We have finished Adult Fiction and are now working on Adult Nonfiction. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Then I spent a few minutes each night sitting in a lawn chair outside under the ornamental pear tree sipping a Bloody Mary* and listening to the sounds of the cicadas in the trees and the workmen on rooftops as they hammered new shingles onto all the hail damaged roofs in town. It did get loud but sometimes I also heard the calls of robins, doves and other birds as I sat out there staring up into the blue Kansas sky. Just the other night I watched a flock of 20 to 30 Nighthawks as they silently winged their way eastward. There are advantages to living out here.

Let's see, I've been watching the new episodes of Mad Men. Sundays are turning into my favorite night.

Lastly, my husband and I decided that it is time to get a new dog as Duke is starting to drive us crazy. He is no longer grieving Kate and wants us to play with him all the time, which is something we cannot do, so it is definitely time to get him another playmate. The hunting season is almost upon us and he also needs a new hunting partner. After an intense period of research my husband decided that a French Brittney (Duke is an American Brittney just like Kate and Emma were.) was the dog for us. We have put a deposit down on a puppy and will be bringing our new little girl home in about a month. It will be wonderful to have some puppy energy in the house again.

Life does go on.



* 1 glass
4 ice cubes
1 shot glass full of Vodka
5.5 oz. can of tomato juice (I buy small cans because they stay fresh)
1/4 teaspoon of horseradish
2 wedges of lime
Worcestershire sauce
Tapatio hot sauce (Or whatever brand you like. I prefer the taste of Tapatio.)
celery salt

Put ice cubes and then Vodka into glass. Add horseradish and stir until horseradish has mostly dissolved in the Vodka. Add tomato juice and stir again. Add three dashes of Worcestershire sauce, two to three dashes of hot sauce and two shakes of celery salt. Squeeze the juice from the lime wedges into the glass and then add the wedges to the glass too. Stir one last time.

Note: My tongue says the two hots give the Bloody Mary a "fuller" flavor.