If Halloween Is Fading, Day of the Dead Is Rising

As appeared in the Albuquerque Journal Rio Rancho section 11/7/09

Having put Halloween in the rear view mirror, I have to say the steady stream of trick-or-treaters at my front door last Saturday night was more like a trickle. And that goes for what I saw on the street as well.

Where were all the little ghosts and goblins? While trick-or-treating with my youngest daughter and our usual group of friends, it was quite obvious that the numerous decorated houses with multiple jack-o'-lanterns, spider webs and 2D witches clinging to the trees in years past were few and far between. In their place were deliberately dark porches, sans decorations.

I am not alone in this observation; my friend Dave in Florida said this was the first Halloween that he had candy left over.

As I called dibs on his remaining fun-size Almond Joys, a sense of sadness came over me. Is the act of going house-to-house begging for candy on Oct. 31 becoming a thing of the past, like pet rocks, Red Ball Jet sneakers and disco?

Life has changed dramatically in the last 30 years, and the world isn't as safe as it once was.

But where there is a yin, there is a yang. Whereas Halloween may be losing its popularity, another timely tradition continues to become more prominent every year.

Day of the Dead is a Mexican and Mexican-American celebration of deceased ancestors that occurs on Nov. 1 and 2 and coincides with the similar Roman Catholic celebrations of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.

Day of the Dead celebrations are gaining in popularity, proven by the many parades and parties that now take place about this time every year. Many artists find this spiritual celebration captivating and that's reflected in their highly whimsical and colorful art that is found at craft shows, gift shops and museums.

This weekend you will find a plethora of folk art commemorating Day of the Dead at the Arte de Muertos Expo at the Santa Ana Star Casino.

Hank Estrada is the creative energy behind Arte de Muertos Productions, and although the event is relatively new, it's already a sellout.

"Just within its first year, the Expo has grown to become New Mexico's largest assemblage of Day of the Dead artists ever," Estrada said. "Our artists come from all over the state. We have now even attracted artists from the neighboring states of Texas, Arizona, Colorado and old Mexico."

I attended their summer event and ended up spending more than I had planned on a couple of folk art pieces that were not Day of the Dead-inspired.

"We pride ourselves in featuring both traditional and contemporary examples of art," Estrada said. "Among this year's Expo, artists will be representing the art forms of papier mache, carpentry, glass, jewelry, masks, mixed media, feather craft, and even a local woman who makes authentic coffins," gleamed Estrada.

I saw this craftswoman at the July event, and if you can get over the shock of seeing coffins at an arts and crafts fair, the artwork is really beautiful.

One of my favorite authors, Antonio Garcez, will be at the Expo today signing his collection of ghost story books including his latest book, "Colorado Ghost Stories."

"The Expo has a great atmosphere, a real sense of family and fiesta," Estrada said. "We have lots of music, and today, we have numerologists, Ouija board psychics and tarot card readers."

Honor your ancestors or just get a jump on your holiday shopping and check out the Arte de Muertos Expo today or tomorrow. I'll be the one with the skull-painted face with too many shopping bags to carry.

Quote of the Week: "The past is a source of knowledge, and the future is a source of hope. Love of the past implies faith in the future." — Stephen Ambrose, historian, 1936-2002

Some Candy Little Ghosts Won't Touch

As appeared in the Albuquerque Journal Rio Rancho section 10/31/09

I hope everyone survived last night's pranks during Devil's Night, or as they say in the north, Gate Night, and no one has to clean eggs off of their windows or smashed pumpkins off of their front walks. With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, I can only imagine how many parties filled the night. My loyal readers may remember last year's Halloween column, in which I explored the truth about what your costume says about you. So, all you French maids, Tarzans and witches, we know what you are really trying to tell us.

Besides pumpkins, costumes and pranks, the most important part of Halloween has to be the candy, and we all know it. Haven't we all sneaked Mounds bars and Almond Joys from our children's stash when they weren't looking?

Yes, Halloween begins that time period that goes through Jan. 2 when temptations like candy, stuffing, pumpkin pies, Christmas cookies, pecan pies and champagne are ever present and our willpower is put to the test.

I thought one's sweet tooth is supposed to subside as one gets older and mine has, to some extent. But there is just some candy I still cling to. Huffingtonpost.com has come out with "The Nine Grossest Kinds of Candy No Adult Should Give out on Halloween," and I take issue with some of them.

In clarifying their study, they mean gross as in "no one wants to eat them" not gross as in, "I can't believe I let my child put that in their body." The article goes on to say that Pixie Stix are gross in the latter sense but kids love them, so they didn't make the list. Here are the ones that did:

• Wax Bottle Candy: Just bite off the top and suck out the artificially colored and flavored water sweetened with high fructose corn syrup, then chew on the wax for the rest of the afternoon. Sold by the pound on amazon.com, I don't see a problem here.

• Necco Wafers: A roll of flavored, multi-colored wafers that some may say have a chalky taste and texture, (much like original Tums, but thinner). Who cares? These babies are fat-free.


• Pumpkin Candy Corn. This one I have to agree with. The pumpkin shapes are too much for one bite and tend to stimulate the gag reflex.


• Fruit-Flavored Tootsie Rolls: I agree with this one. You don't mess with the original.


• Circus Peanuts. This one hits too close to home. I will agree Circus Peanuts have an indistinguishable chemical and/or paint aroma, which is really sugar, corn syrup, coconut, gelatin, salt and artificial flavors. I have yet to outgrow this one.


• Bit-O-Honey. I never liked this one — not so much for the flavor as it was just a boring piece of candy. A conservative, tan-colored piece of taffy with crushed almonds just says yawn.

• Root Beer Barrels: I am just stupefied about why Root Beer Barrels made this list. This is one of the best candies ever. I dare anyone to e-mail me and tell me you don't like Root Beer Barrels. Nobody can eat just one.

• Gumdrops: Or dare they call them "spice drops," this old standby really should be relegated to grandmother's candy drawer and gingerbread houses only.

• Sesame Crunch: I have to admit this is one candy I have never tried, nor do I want to. Peanut butter, honey, corn flakes and sesame seeds just sounds too healthy.

It's Halloween, and I hope everyone has a safe and happy day, and may you get all the candy you every wanted.

Quote of the Week: "But Charlie, don't forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he always wanted. He lived happily ever after." — Willy Wonka.

Volunteering

As appeared in the Albuquerque Journal Rio Rancho section 9/12/09

Much like the volunteers who erect houses for Habitat for Humanity, the same sort of house building took place yesterday in the form of temporary dog kennels at two PetSmart locations in town. Volunteers started turning out Thursday evening to unload trucks and put together makeshift kennels for a three-day dog and cat adoptathon.

Events like this don’t just happen by themselves. And they don’t happen by hired laborers who get down on their hands and knees to build cages, fill water bowls or drive animals hundreds of miles and reverse the whole process on Sunday. They happen by the dedication of volunteers who don’t expect anything in return other than finding loving homes for the stray, lost and abandoned animals of our state.

New Mexico’s largest no-kill animal shelter, Watermelon Mountain Ranch (WMR) is hosting a fall adoptathon this weekend at two PetSmart parking lot locations: Coors west side location just north of the Cottonwood Mall and 350 Eubank Blvd., NE. This adoptathon promises to be a big event with lots of purebred and not-so-purebreds coming from dozens of shelter and rescue groups from around the state including Espanola Valley Humane Society, Siberian Husky Rescue of New Mexico, Rio Rancho Animal Control, A.I.M Rescue, Raton Humane Society, Enchant-MUTTS Rescue, Animal Amigos, Northern New Mexico Humane Society, Clovis Animal Rescue, Hobbs Animal Services, Arizona Animal Welfare League, Colfax County Pet Rescue, SPOTS, ANEW and Santa Fe Pit Bull Rescue.

It's interesting to see how a large number of shelters & rescue groups from all over the state converge under one tent with their animals and work so well together to accomplish so many adoptions in one weekend. A well oiled machine is what it takes to get 300-600 puppies, small dogs, big dogs, cat and kittens into new homes in one weekend.

Connie Kuresman knows what it takes to put together adoptathons like this one, she is the Mobile Adoption and Special Event Manager at WMR. Connie and her volunteer crew are out every Saturday in the Walmart parking lot at Southern Blvd. and Unser with a new group of homeless dogs looking for warm homes. It takes a team to run the WMR mobile adoption unit, a team of volunteers who take their precious Saturdays and dedicate them to helping the animals. “I have a very close team and we are all friends. I couldn't do it without everyone who faithfully shows up every Saturday to help me,” says Kuresman. “It is so wonderful to see these dogs go to their new homes with their tails wagging,” says Kuresman, who is always looking for new volunteers. If interested please call (253) 951-0207.

Whether it’s riding a bus up to Denver with the RRHS marching band or building kennels for WMR or making sure an insurance binder is intact for the Corrales Harvest Festival, volunteers are as essential to our community as water is in the desert.

Word is there will be loads of puppies and small dogs out there today and tomorrow. You might find me in the tent cuddling the cats, walking dogs or filling water bowls. And please, if you see me standing in the adoption line with another dog in my arms, remind me I already have two at home.

Quote of the Week: “Unselfish and noble actions are the most radiant pages in the biography of souls.” -David Thomas

And One Band Becomes Two

As appeared in the Albuquerque Journal Rio Rancho Section 10/17/09

Last spring when it was officially announced that Cleveland High School was opening in the fall, a wave of unrest and sadness rolled through the marching band practice field at Rio Rancho High School. There was a crack in the universe and the unthinkable became reality. This tight knit group of musicians who had memorized the Rams’ fight song together, played numerous football games together and had competed together against other schools was now going to be split in two.

When the band camps started in August in the scorching sun, there were now two marching bands at two high schools in Rio Rancho for the very first time. Keith Gilbert took the helm at Cleveland High School and had the daunting task of bringing together former RRHS band members and creating CHS’s first marching band ever. Kurt Schmidt, Director of Bands at RRHS did what he does best and continued the tradition he created in the award winning marching Rams; albeit somewhat smaller in size now.

Football games happened and each band grew stronger and better as the weeks went on. Coming off the heels of the Pomona Marching Band Festival in Arvada, CO in September, the RRHS marching band competed in the NM Pageant of the Bands last weekend at Manzano High School in Albuquerque. Twenty-four marching bands from around the state strutted their stuff and flashed the brass including newly formed CHS. I have to admit it was a little melancholy seeing former RRHS kids wearing Cleveland uniforms. But this was Cleveland’s debut in a competition and everyone was eager to see just how powerful the Storm would be. Turns out the band was more like a tornado.

RRHS band took first place in their class. They also won Best Drum Majors, Best Color Guard and Best Percussion. CHS took first place in their class. They also won Best Color Guard and Best Drum Majors. Rio Rancho sweeps two classes with two high schools and you could hear the roar for miles.

I teared up every time Rio Rancho won an award. I teared up every time Cleveland won an award. What was even cooler than the teams winning was how the once-teammates-now-rivals still cheered each other on whole heartedly and in a way, were still one team. These bands may be from different schools but they now find camaraderie being from one town. Change can be hard, but not impossible.

For those of you who didn’t make it to the Pageant of the Bands last weekend you can catch the performance on YouTube; just type in RRHS marching band. Or better yet head on down to UNM today where both bands are competing in the 2009 Zia Marching Band Fiesta at University Stadium along with 32 other high school marching bands from NM and surrounding states. It is truly a fun event to see and I suggest if you are not doing anything today, go cheer on our town’s marching bands. Your last chance to catch both bands will be Friday night, October 30 at RRHS when the Rams take on the Storm. It will be the first time the two high schools play each other. I can feel the excitement already.

Go Rio Rancho! Go Cleveland! We’ll all be in the stands today cheering you on. Pom pom in one hand, hankie in the other.

Quote of the Week: “Marching band today isn't your grandmother or grandfather's marching band where the band walked out onto the field, stopped and played a couple of songs and walked off the field. These students are moving thousands of steps at high tempos all the while playing an instrument or using a piece of color guard equipment during one show.” - John Mashburn

Corrales Harvest Festival

As appeared in the Albuquerque Journal Rio Rancho section 19/19/09

What does a hat wearing llama, a country western singer, a jewelry maker, a red t-shirt wearing tractor driver, a bun wearing wiener dog and you and I all have in common? We are all going to be enjoying the crisp fall air at the Corrales Harvest Festival next weekend.

Kicking off the festivities next Saturday morning is the ever-popular Pet Parade. The Halloween costumes are out now and I know they make all kinds to fit your four legged friends so there is no excuse why all your kids shouldn’t be in the craziest and most colorful event of the festival. “We are gearing up for our best Pet Parade ever,” said Jasmine Tritten, Coordinator for the Pet Parade. “Children and pets of all ages, sizes and breeds are welcome to walk Corrales Road on Saturday morning and show off their imagination and animals. Bring any sized pets. We have even had crickets in the parade, believe it or not,” said Tritten.

There will be judging and prizes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place in four categories: Most Colorful, Prettiest, Funniest and Most Unusual/Strangest. For those not walking the walk, your place will be on the sidelines with cameras firmly in hand.

One of my favorite parts of the festival has to be the Mercado Aniguo. Didn’t get to Spanish Market in Santa Fe last July? Here’s another chance to see some of New Mexico’s top Santeros at the Old San Ysidro Church during the festival. Talk about beautiful art in a beautiful setting. The Old San Ysidro Church, listed on both the state and national register of historic places, is a classic example of New Mexico Hispanic village religious architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries. Hispanic artists will be selling retablos and bultos (arts of the santeros or saint makers, which are carved wooden statues of the saints and pictures of saints on wooden boards), weavings, embroidery, tinwork, furniture and carved wooden crosses, just to name a few of the treasures that will be for sale. You know where to find me.

A new event of the festival this year is the highly anticipated Harvest Festival Horse Extravaganza on Saturday. Local horses and riders will be demonstrating equestrian disciplines including dressage freestyle, western reining, Horsemanship, Vaulting, Jumping, Roping and a special Equestrian Flamenco Dance Routine. Be sure to get there early so not to miss the grand entry of costumed equine breeds from around the world including Andalusians, Appaloosas, Arabians, Drafts, Friesians, Haflingers, Icelandics, Lipizzaners, Miniatures, Morgans, Mustangs, Paints, Pintos, Paso Finos, Peruvian Pasos, Quarter Horses, Rocky Mountain Horses, Saddlebreds, ennessee Walkers and Thoroughbreds.

Runners don’t miss the Corrida de Corrales, a 5K or 10K run on Sunday morning. If you haven’t walked among the giant cottonwoods in Corrales, you don’t know what you are missing. A run through the flat, shady, dirt trails along the tree-lined acequia through the heart of beautiful Corrales is a must. I may skip the Reeboks and put on my moccasins, grab a latte and enjoy a laid back morning stroll. Walkers are welcome, you know.


Talk about a top rate festival, there is something for everyone. “The arts and crafts fair this year is the best we’ve ever had, said Chip Babb, president of the Corrales Harvest Festival. “Our entertainment lineup includes Chris Dracup and Tommy Elskes, the Duke City Swamp Coolers and many more. We have a corn maze, petting zoo, pony rides and a pumpkin patch. We also have some great food vendors as well: JP's Custard Cart, Jimmy Yepa's Navajo Tacos, Kettle Korn and much more. Check out our website,” said Babb.

So head down to the village next Saturday and Sunday, hop aboard the Corrales Rapid Transit, a.k.a. a John Deere tractor ride and make your way to La Entrada Park. My poster and t-shirt designs were chosen to represent the festival this year and I will be signing posters at the admissions booth from 10am-12pm both days. Come out and say hello. I would love to meet you.

Quote of the Week: “Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile.” -William Cullen Bryant

I Was a Stranger in a Strange, Storm Trooper-Filled Land

As appeared in the Albuquerque Journal Rio Rancho Section Saturday, September 05, 2009
I've never been one to shy away from new experiences — and don't even get me started on my first and only whitewater rafting trip.

But I was a stranger in a strange land last weekend as I accepted an invitation from a friend of mine and drove down to the Albuquerque Grand Hotel to attend Bubonicon 41, my first science fiction/fantasy convention. I jumped in with both feet, grabbed my press pass and tried not to stare.

Let me just say that I am not a science fiction fan. Personally, my literature genre of choice mostly falls under the categories of nonfiction and biographies. But I will admit I used to love watching "Lost in Space" and my favorite, "The Twilight Zone." So, on the surface I may have been a "stranger," but my inner Rod Serling came shining through about a half hour inside the door as I began to assimilate on the inside.

"There's zombie face painting," suggested the alien maiden in the crowd after overhearing me explain to Francis Hamit, my fellow geek and host for the day, that I felt under-dressed in my jeans and white cotton shirt amid the Imperial Storm Troopers, slime maidens and zombies.

If I would have known cats are a very popular subject in the fantasy genre, I would have worn my calico ears and tail I keep at my desk.

After seeing some very dead-like zombies in the hospitality suite munching on Triscuits, cheese puffs and M&Ms, I didn't think the joke would go over well when I picked up my 11-year-old daughter at her best friend's house all bruised and bloodied.

Next, we sat in on the History of New Mexico: Land of Oz panel discussion with speakers Terry England, Sally Gwylan, Victor Milan and Pati Nagle and moderated by Pari Noskin Taichert. The discussion was very interactive with lots of audience participation.

The question was posed to the many science fiction and fantasy writers: "What is unique about New Mexico and what are the creative seeds that spawn so many stories?"

One zombie wearing Levi's and gold hoop earrings offered her observation that shrimp brine live in the desert. Yes, the small sea creatures do live right here in our land-locked state and when it rains, they grow legs, mate and die.

Many others chimed in on New Mexico's very inspiring weather. Some thought our isolated thunder storms were unique and amusing, and how it could be raining at your house but sunny down the street at your neighbor's. A star maiden commented on our triple rainbows and our distinctive snow storms and dust storms that can be accompanied by thunder.

Another stimulating part of our culture that is more prominent here than in other parts of the country is the Day of the Dead tradition and that our dead ancestors inhabit our bodies during the celebration, entering through our mouths when we eat. Now if that doesn't conjure up a great science fiction short story, I don't know what does. Pass the sopaipillas.

For those zombie wannabes out there who are looking for another chance to get out the face paint, put on your musty clothes and head over to the Guild Cinema on Central next Friday for the 2008 horror/comedy "Dead Snow." But don't worry about your safety; the Sandia Mountains apparently are a barrier against all kinds of negativity thanks to the Harmonic Convergence that happened in '87.

May the force be with you.

Quote of the week: "Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before." — Captain Kirk.

Tell the City Where You Want To Shop

As appeared in the Albuquerque Journal Rio Rancho section 8/22/09

Surveys are very popular on the Web these days, and many of my clients have requested surveys on their own Web sites. It's a great way to pick their customers' brains and find out what their favorite cake flavor is or how they can improve their motocross track.

Facebook is notorious for quizzes and surveys, which I try to avoid, fearing that after taking the "What's your hippie name?" I inadvertently tell the whole world I am Tiny Tim. I did put myself out on a limb and took the "What dead rock star are you?" as did my 16-year-old daughter.

Turns out she is Jim Morrison. Hello? I surveyed out as Jerry Garcia. Go figure. I never was a huge Grateful Dead fan, and if I had to pick, I see myself more as a Rick James. Or maybe it's just his song "Super Freak" and memories of dancing on the beach with naval aviators at Fort Story, Va., in 1982 that I relate to.

But, I digress.

As part of the development of a comprehensive retail plan, the city of Rio Rancho has published an online survey of its own, asking residents which retail and restaurant chains they would like to see in the City of Vision. I took the survey, and let me just say, it definitely raised my level of anticipation.

The survey asks residents to select their level of desirability from highly desirable to no interest for a variety of restaurants, clothing stores, furniture and electronic stores, sporting goods and entertainment stores and department stores.

The first category is women's clothing stores, and among the prospects are Chicos, American Eagle, Ann Taylor, Pac Sun, Coldwater Creek, Talbots and Gap. I am almost salivating at the thought of having a Talbots or Ann Taylor this close but fear it is just a dangling carrot in front of my nose.

Next came the shoe store question: DSW, Jarman Shoes, Naturalizer, Famous Footwear and Payless shoes. Being a woman, I checked "Highly Desirable" on each one.

On the grocery store question, I remembered how many years it took to get a Trader Joe's in my former town in California, so I put a hopeful check mark next to Whole Foods Market and TJs anyway.

Ruth's Chris Steak House? Somehow I cannot imagine one of those in the state. But Macaroni Grill, Panera Bread, P.F. Chang's and Cracker Barrel (I go for the Mallo Cups) are easily doable.

Do we want furniture and electronics stores? Of course we do. American Home Furniture, La-Z-Boy, Ethan Allan, Best Buy: check, check, check, check.

Do we want a Pier 1, Cost Plus, Crate & Barrel, JoAnn Fabrics, a Hallmark store and a Michaels? Absolutely.

I suppose we could use another sporting goods store, and I'll take a Barnes & Noble and a multiplex movie theater. And while we are at it, why not make the movie theater an IMAX?

The best part about the survey is the comments box at the end where it allows you to add your own write-in candidates. I think the city should make it easier for businesses to set up shop here. I think a Dave & Busters would do well here, a grown-up version of the Chuck E. Cheese eat and play restaurant. I would love to see a children's zoo and more local restaurants from Albuquerque open up branches here.

The survey runs until Sept. 18 and will be used to entice more businesses to the community, so I say, as a resident of Rio Rancho, go to ci.rio-rancho.nm.us and make your opinion count.

Quote of the week: "She's a very special girl. The kind of girl you want to know. From her head down to her toenails." — "Super Freak" by Rick James

ART & COPY Movie Trailer - I've got to see this documentary!

As School Starts, We Look Back

As seen in the Albuquerque Journal Rio Rancho section 8/15/09

Summer is officially over with the start of the 2009-10 school year Friday in Rio Rancho.

Starting school before Labor Day is a hard pill to swallow for me, having always started the new school year the Tuesday after Labor Day. But with year-round school and schedules shifting nowadays, seems kids west of the Mississippi see starting school in August as normal as Christmas in December.

Psychologically, for kids there is much to do to prepare for a new year of school. Many kids will be going to new schools, including Rio Rancho Middle School and the new Cleveland High School. The angst, the worry, the anticipation of a new adventure sends some kids sky high and others under the bed with fear.

"Where are my classrooms?" "Will I find my friends?" "What time do I start?" "What if I have to sit alone at lunch?" "When is my lunch?" "When do I get my violin?"

Emotionally, the thoughts and worries kids are dealing with right now are hard. Think back. I am sure everyone can recall the butterflies.

For parents, it is more of a physical marathon that goes on in the weeks leading up to the first day of school. Oh, sure, ask any parent and they will tell you it is an emotional roller coaster for them as well. As parents, we will miss the "SpongeBob" marathons, or Bob-a-thons as I call them, the lounge lizard mornings and trying to get our summer vacationers up before noon, and those sweet, bored faces staring back at us asking, "What can I eat now?"

My recent weeks have sounded something like this: "Do those jeans fit?" "They are too tight, you can't get them." "How many new shirts do you need?" "Are you sure that is within the dress code?" "What's wrong with pink polka dot Converse high tops?" "What about a backpack?" "Why not this one?" "We still need to get all the paper and pencils and calculators." "I'm here to pick up my daughter's class schedule." "How do I change her schedule?" "Your computers have been down all week?" "So, when should I pick up her new schedule?" "Where do I pay the band fees?" "Yes, I bought a yearbook already." "My registration fee total is $175? You're kidding."

As my daughters were wrapping their minds around the concept of school these past couple of weeks, synchronicity blew through my Facebook pages and a few high school classmates and a former swimming coach found me. Nothing like a little icing on the collegiate cake to remind you what back-to-school is all about.

It has been 30 years since I have seen or heard from Coach Howenstine, and from his Facebook profile picture, he hasn't changed a bit. Although this good natured, smiling man had the kindest things to say, seeing his face still makes me nervous, and waiting to hear him announce the workout: 10-400s on the 6:30 descending from the 5:30. Go!

"I have often wondered what happened to you," wrote Coach Howenstine. "And after reading your blog, I now have somewhat of an idea."

It's funny how 30 years can change a relationship from a teenager and coach to two adults sharing tales of their lives and families.

"I will never forget you with your mouth wired shut," coach wrote, reminding me of the time I broke my jaw in a car accident the week before the valley championships and he lost his team captain. Coach Howenstine is coaching again and the captain of his team this year is the daughter of my former teammate. Circle of life.

I am sure everyone out there has an interesting story about high school. Send me your favorite, goofy or embarrassing school memory to match mine and hopefully I will get enough to write a follow-up column soon.

Quote of the week: "On Friday we'll be jacked up on the football game. And I'll be ready to fight. Were gonna smash 'em now." — "Be True to Your School," by the Beach Boys.

Six Year Old Has a Heart of Gold

As Appeared in the Albuquerque Journal Rio Rancho section 8/8/09

When one thinks of a typical 6-year-old girl's birthday party, one imagines lots of pink and purple. Usually a big jumpy is inflated in the backyard, probably a princess castle or 'Finding Nemo' theme. And of course presents, clothes, crafts and anything Hannah Montana nowadays.

But one little girl wanted to give instead of get last week at her sixth birthday party, and she did it in a very big way.

Taylor Remington is a 6-year-old from Rio Rancho with a heart of gold. She didn't want another typical birthday party. This year, Taylor didn't want her guests to bring presents for her. Instead, she asked the guests to bring dog food and cat food so that she could donate it to Watermelon Mountain Ranch.

According to Jim Putnam, IT manager at Watermelon, the ranch sees generous donations from young people every so often. A local Eagle Scout is about to begin his project to beautify the patio area of the cattery (Earl's Catnip Inn) by painting boards and rafters in rainbow colors.

"Several times, we have been the recipient of donation drives instigated by very young members of the community. Sometimes it has been for money, sometimes for goods, but this would be the youngest donor we have ever had," Putnam said of Taylor.

Christine Remington called me up last week and thought she had a great idea for my column. Her daughter was having a very unusual sixth birthday party, one unlike her first five, and she wanted to share her story. "We've been reading a lot about how so many animals are at the shelters right now," said Christine, Taylor's mom. And Taylor came up with an idea.

"Taylor did this on her own," said her dad, Sean. "In lieu of gifts, she thought to collect food for homeless pets, she had the idea on her own," said her proud dad.

The Remingtons drove out to Watermelon Mountain Ranch and delivered the goods on Wednesday. As I walked around the property, the need for donations became clear as an endless stream of animals made their presence known, with curious barking from the dog cottage and the high attitude diva stares coming from the cattery.

"Our trunk is full of donations, 350 pounds of toys, biscuits, food, kitty litter, you name it," Sean said as he unloaded the numerous 50-pound bags of pet food.

"She hasn't just helped our animals, she has helped the whole state," said Sophia DiClemente, founder of Watermelon Mountain Ranch. "Our Chuckwagon Food Bank project, based here in Rio Rancho, supplies pet food to over 15 shelters around the state, from Las Cruces to Springer," DiClemente said.

When asked how it feels to give to the cats and dogs that need it so much, Taylor replied: "It makes me feel happy."

Taylor's goodness is contagious. One random act of kindness can spread like wildfire. As our young citizens learn to reach out and help others, they acquire a habit that will last a lifetime. This feeling will spread from child to child and truly help make this a better world.

Way to go, Taylor. Who's next?

Quote of the week: "While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about." — Angela Schwindt

Snail Mail Is Slowly Slithering Into Sunset

Al was the only mailman I remember ever delivering our mail while I was growing up.

When Al was sick or away on vacation, a total stranger delivered our mail. He or she wore the same blue uniform but walked faster, didn't smile and definitely would not ring the bell and hand our letters to us with a warm smile. No, the substitute mailmen coldly placed our mail in our mailbox and left — what nerve.

Al was like one of the family. My sister and I would leave notes for Al in the mailbox every once in a while. My mother gave Al a 13-ounce pink tin of Almond Roca every year for Christmas. Nowadays, things are so different.

Do you have an "Al" or a stranger delivering your mail?

Who gets mail anymore? I mean the traditional paper letters that gets delivered to your mailbox out front. Snail mail is slowly on the decline, and although it has to be saving some trees, I find it terribly sad.

I still exchange picture postcards with my former neighbor who became a pen pal when I left home for college long ago. I have saved almost everything she has ever sent me. Real treasures I will keep forever.

With the decline of snail mail comes the decline of the snail shells. Yes, you know these. Those familiar squat blue mailboxes on the corners that you used to try to cram your little brother into, those are known as snail shells and they are disappearing right along with snail mail picture postcards.

The U.S. Postal Service says it is removing "underperforming" mail boxes from the nation's streets, mailboxes which collect less than 25 pieces of mail a day. During the past 20 years, 20,000 big blue boxes have disappeared as the volume of mail declines. Snail mail is a dying venture because Americans are paying their bills online, sending holiday greetings online and communicating through short e-mails rather than the old-fashioned pen and paper.

That downward trend is only accelerating. According to an article in the Washington Post, the Postal Service projects a decline of about 20 billion pieces of mail the next two years, going from a high of 213 billion pieces of mail in 2006 to 170 billion projected for 2010.

Nowadays much of our mail appears in our inboxes on our computers. The infrequent paper cut from opening an envelope has been replaced with carpal tunnel. Click. Click. Click. Delete. E-mail is instant gratification, and I will admit I like it.

It does have its drawbacks, though. It has no tone, no emotion to convey and comments can easily get misinterpreted, unlike the way a handwritten note with hand-drawn characters can. Who has heard of printing out typed love letter e-mails and saving them? OK, I have, but it's not the same as a hand-written "I love you," I swear.

No snail mail. No snail shells. No Al the mailman. It all goes hand in hand, and what is next? Gone are the friendly faces who deliver the handwritten notes of love with Hershey's candy bars tucked inside (thank you, Kay). Gone is the personal connection and gratitude knowing someone took the time to write a note, put a stamp on it and put it in a snail shell with your name on it.

As long as snail mail is around, you can count on me to help keep it in business.

Quote of the week: "For want of the nail the shoe was lost. For want of the shoe the horse was lost. For want of the horse the rider was lost. For want of the rider the battle was lost. For want of the battle the kingdom was lost. And all for the want of a horse shoe nail." — Horse Shoe Nail

Ice Cream and Camp Maqua; It's Definitely Summer

The other day I met a bear, out in the woods, oh, way out there. And while I was out there, I saw that Alice the camel had five humps.

Are you on to me yet?

If you ever went to summer camp, chances are you recognize those words as songs you may have sung while eating your beans and weenies in the dining hall.

Nothing screams summer like the ice cream man, high utility bills and summer camp. I had a blast from my past last week during an afternoon of treasure hunt antiquing. I was quite taken aback when I came upon the exact same tin watering can I had as a child, same little girl motif, same rust.

I was even more stunned to find an old J.C. Higgins aluminum water cooler with the red top, just like the one my grandpa had back in Ohio so many years ago.

But the timing couldn't have been better when I came upon an army green foot locker like the one I used to pack for camp every summer.



There it was sitting on the floor in an antique shop on Central Avenue in Albuquerque, just like it used to lay at the end of the bunk bed in that cold cabin in the woods in upper Michigan. Of course, I had to open it to see if it had the same interior as my old one. Sure enough, it did.

Was I about to discover the wool blanket, mess kit, travel toothbrush and Cutter's bug spray next? All of a sudden, I could smell the mildew that would seep from the laundry bag that hung on the bunk next to my trunk.

It was getting to be too much, so I pressed on, trying to escape memories of cooking hobo stew over a modified Folgers coffee can, but it was no use. Camp Maqua was back.

Revelry blasted over the loud speakers at the crack of dawn, and that meant it was time for the "hoppers" in the cabin to get up to the dining hall and set the table for their cabin mates. The "apple polishers" stayed behind after the meals to clear the tables and clean up. All campers were up at the flag pole for the raising of the colors every morning before pancakes and sausage. Pranks were to be expected, like the time the horseback riding councilor's bra went up the flag pole with the flag.

Everyone's favorite class was the crafts class, of course. We were girls. My sister and I bestowed exquisite gifts upon my parents, including a Popsicle stick keepsake box with a blue marble handle, handmade sand candles and an endless supply of lanyard key chains.

The nightly ritual began when everyone gathered their soap, towels and toothbrushes and headed to the "brownie" to get ready for bed. Girls crowded around the communal circular sink known as the bird bath and stepped on the foot pedal to activate the fountain effect.

Ah, fifteen girls in their pink flowered bathrobes brushing their teeth together and wishing they were home in their clean clothes watching "The Partridge Family." A memory burned into my mind forever.

When the sound of taps came over the loud speaker, it was lights out. All the happy campers were worn out from their nature hikes and junior life saving classes and ready to go to sleep until a flash light flicks on and a voice begins, "It was a dark and stormy night ..."

Whether your campers are enjoying day camp, music camp, sleep-away camp or sports camp, it's what summer is all about. Just don't let your hoppers and apple polishers off the hook when they get back.

Quote of the Week: "Great green gobs of greasy grimy gopher guts, mutilated monkey meat, little birdies' dirty feet, all wrapped up in, pretty purple porpoise pus, and me without my spoon. But I've got my straw." — "Gopher Guts"

The Eagle Has Landed....

Remembering the First Awe-Inspiring Moonwalk

As appeared in the Albuquerque Journal Rio Rancho section 7/18/09

With the recent passing of Michael Jackson, the famous moonwalk has brought back memories from when he first performed the dance 27 years ago on the Motown 25th Anniversary show. But there is another moonwalk making an anniversary this week: the real moonwalk, performed by Neil Armstrong 40 years ago this Monday as it was broadcast on televisions around the world.

Where were you when you watched Armstrong's boot touch the lunar surface? I was sitting with my mother on our couch in the living room. I still remember to this day feeling so nervous for the astronauts wondering if they were going to sink into a quicksand-like surface or land safely on hard ground. But that's an 8-year-old girl for you; a mother in the making even then.

Landing on the moon made us one with the world and it was like magic. But watching the space geeks at Mission Control in Houston riding an emotional roller coaster had to have been one of the high points. These young baby boomers brought home the human element. When they looked worried, we were worried. When they threw their arms up in the air in victory, we cried.

"Apollo 11: The Untold Story," an article on www.popularmechanics.com, is filled with quotes from the young men who were part of history; sleepless news correspondents and operations engineers, flight directors and even astronauts themselves telling their personal tales of those historical days in the summer of '69.
Robert Sieck, spacecraft test and launch operations engineer, Kennedy Space Center said, "Since I was the backup engineer, I was not out at the Cape. I could watch the launch with my wife and my 1-year-old daughter. The highway was absolute gridlock, and the cars and trucks weren't trying to move. Everyone was there to watch history. The vendors were sold out of everything—no more T-shirts, caps, buttons or pins. People were pulling plugs of grass from the side of the road and stuffing them in Ziploc bags as souvenirs."

After a three-day coast from earth, Apollo 11 entered the moon's orbit and circled 11 times before attempting to land. Watching the lunar module get closer to touchdown and eaves dropping on Mission Control questioning the safety of landing was when everyone stopped breathing.

"Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed," Armstrong announces, breaking the tension in the control room as a controller tells the crew "You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue, we're breathing again."

Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin would spend two hours on the moon July 19, collecting souvenirs and leaving a few of their own; an American flag and a plaque that reads, "Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the moon. July 1969 A.D. We came in peace for all mankind." I would be fortunate enough to see two of the souvenirs in my lifetime: a moon rock at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry and the actual space capsule at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., Much smaller than I expected, I might add.

With less than 20 percent of its employees under the age of 40, NASA Office of Program Analysis and Evaluation calls the space agency "mono-generational," meaning it is composed almost entirely of members of the Baby Boomer generation. I think its time to reignite the spark of awe there once was in our space program and inspire a new generation to shoot for the stars.

Quote of the Week: "There is a photograph that shows splashdown inside the control room. There's a guy standing by the console with a huge piece of paper. That's me. I got the signatures of everybody in that room and in the back room. Every time I did that I would ask them their age. Well, I sat down and ran it out. The average age the night we had splashdown was 28." When Space Shuttle Atlantis left Earth on May 11, 2009, the average NASA civil servant's age was 47." H. David Reed, a flight dynamics officer during Apollo 11.

I had this Chuck Mangione album...right along side my KISS and Cheap Trick albums