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May 2010 Stories (64)

Grandpa's War Memories

Today I am reading through the transcripts from tapes my grandfather sent to my mother over 30 years ago. My mom had asked him to tell his story and he became obsessed with the telling. He sent her no less than 5 tapes per week for over 10 weeks. My mom, ever the stenographer, typed everything out as best she could considering his nasally, twangy, Kentucky drawl and the constant manner in which he dropped consonants.

He begins the telling just before boot camp and the how’s and why’s… Continue

Added by Natalie on May 31, 2010 at 1:38pm — No Comments

Sweet Little Ruby

A few weeks ago, my mother found a stray dog wandering around her front yard. It was a scruffy little dog. With the help of my brother-in-law, my mother coaxed the dog in her back yard so that she could give it some water and food and check her tags. It was apparent the dog was blind and obviously scared.

My mom gave her water and she gulped it down like she hadn’t had a drink in a while. My brother-in-law checked her tag on her… Continue

Added by Adelita on May 31, 2010 at 1:00pm — 24 Comments

Happy Memorial Day to all our Fathers, Mothers, Brothers, Sisters

J.F.Hartzer,Jr.

Captain, USMC; WWII era:South Pacific

THE PERFECT FATHER

Making peace that's the hardest part

the most difficult phase

the last part of the struggle

When I can admit to my deep down woundedness

I am touched I am opened

I am ready then

for that rescue copter to come

to touch down

to lift me from the field

to take me to that healing… Continue

Added by Jeff Hartzer on May 31, 2010 at 12:30pm — No Comments

Morning Fix - Daze Off

Something out of Hollywood's old west meets some weird sort of high school - level maturity. Read the comments as well... (Also, have you donated to NMI to help support their not-for-profit online brand of journalism yet?)
Wow,…

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Added by Masshole in Fringecrest on May 31, 2010 at 5:00am — 4 Comments

Remembering Dennis Hopper

Having been an Easyrider fan it was quite the treat when we started seeing Dennis Hopper around town. I even did a blog post last fall on what I observed him have for breakfast at the Flying Star. He and his lovely wife and a small entourage sat next to Karla and I on the back patio of the Rio Grande Star. He's really a beautiful man.

I was able to snap this photo of Hopper last July at the Albuquerque Film Festival awards ceremony.… Continue

Added by Kelly Vickers on May 30, 2010 at 6:34pm — No Comments

Loving Life in Albuquerque

I'm grateful, every day, to be living in New Mexico! It's almost been 2 years now (June 4th is the anniversary), and I've never regretted moving "out west".

I'm delighted with my growing, thriving massage therapy practice, the clients and friends I've met, and with working on my Masters' degree here.

And I'm excited about all the great live music happening in town - Crosby Stills & Nash tomorrow night, Robert Plant in a few weeks, Sonny Landreth playing at the… Continue

Added by Karla Linden, NMT, LMT on May 30, 2010 at 8:15am — No Comments

The Sunday Poem: Karla Linden... Rising Sun (Between Our Legs)

Sometimes, when we are busy concentrating on the big issues, maybe our mind needs to wander to the person across from us, whether big or little, and what that love feels like. At least for a little while.

Nob Hill poet Karla Linden has a medical massage practice and is studying for a degree which will allow her to be a Doctor of Oriental Medicine. She has published two books:… Continue

Added by The DitchRider on May 30, 2010 at 7:30am — 6 Comments

!st Street Rail Yard Fire

So what did you do Saturday afternoon of the Big Memorial Day Weekend?...We ran out and filmed this fire behind the Orpheum (aka 500 2nd Street) downtown...Quite a stay-cation of excitement and a lot of smelly smokage...A dozen photographs follow without captions. The last one shows that AFD was able to deal with the fire efficiently and successfully.…

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Added by Jeff Hartzer on May 29, 2010 at 7:30pm — 8 Comments

Recovery Cat 5.29.2010

Every place we pitched our tent, they sank an oil well. Every time they sank a well, they hit oil. And every time they hit oil, they made us pack up our tent and go somewhere else.

Joseph Heller, Catch-22, p. 50…

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Added by J. Paul Lanier on May 29, 2010 at 6:00am — 2 Comments

Morning Fix: How Much Is That Doggie In The Window?

Jobless rate in Albuquerque dropped .2% in March. That's POINT 2%.
Violent crime in Albuquerque down, while property crime rose in 2009.
I guess not being in the movie business, I had no…

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Added by Adelita on May 28, 2010 at 6:00am — 4 Comments

How to Wear Flip Flops This Summer

Before I get to my "fashion" statement, I want to reiterate something a friend said to me. In the middle of the existential angst of moving or perhaps my temporary economic crunch or some other generalized whining, I called a friend and said, "Blah-Blah-Blah-Blah-List-of-Woes, what am I going to do?" Without hesitating, he said, "When in doubt, see a play."

I couldn't argue with that. When I thought of the theater productions I'd seen… Continue

Added by lisa gill on May 28, 2010 at 5:30am — 1 Comment

Everybody Loves Hakim

This year Hakim Bellamy and Lisa Gill were voted best poets in the Best of Albuquerque round-up in the Alibi. It’s nice to feel part of popular taste for a change. I’ve already written about Lisa’s work, so let me say something about Hakim now.

His list of achievements at a tender age is considerable: two-time National Champion in the Poetry Slam scene, three consecutive University of New Mexico LOBOSLAM titles, former Poetry Club coach at South… Continue

Added by Richard Read Oyama on May 27, 2010 at 6:24pm — 2 Comments

Yard Volunteers

Here's the next entry in a round of gardening posts. It felt good to complain about the silverleaf nightshade last time. Now I'd like to turn my gaze to some garden volunteers that are actually wanted. I will also show off my impressive lack of knowledge when it comes to identifying plants. Maybe you good DCFers can help put a name to the biggest mystery in my backyard:

This Plant:…

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Added by Edith Grove on May 27, 2010 at 12:51pm — 14 Comments

some people are SO easy to upset ;)

I have just been banned from Democracy for New Mexico for asking for proof that the much-maligned Dennis Montoya, the "vile" Dennis Montoya, the "cowardly" Dennis Montoya as the blog says... I asked for some proof he was either one.

Apparently that's an ad hominem attack.

But "vile" is not.

Oh.

For the benefit of logic students everywhere, I reproduce below the horrible things I said.

You know what, this stuff doesn’t even make me angry any… Continue

Added by Dana Tierney on May 27, 2010 at 11:00am — 1 Comment

Morning Fix: I Heart Neil Patrick Harris

Jet fuel on KAFB has seeped into the water table almost 500 feet below the southeast heights...and this happened decades ago!
Orange barrel time. Be aware!
One day you are in and the next day you are out. Auf wiedersehen…

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Added by Adelita on May 27, 2010 at 6:00am — 9 Comments

Silver Bike Blvd. Speedracers

I work at place on an intersection along Silver, just south of UNM. We watch and hear dozens of cars every day that go flying along the bicycle boulevard at speeds far above the posted 18 mph limit. That strange speed limit is supposed to catch drivers by surprise and make them slow down because of how eye-catching it is. Of course, that assumes that people are even reading posted signs. (And that the visual clutter along our roadways is somehow helpful.… Continue

Added by hettie on May 26, 2010 at 5:35pm — 1 Comment

Shameless Plugs are OK, When There's No Personal Gain, Right?

I know one person at The New Mexico Independent. She's a friend. We throw that word, friend, around a lot, but this sense of friend is the truest sense. You know favors, caring, genuine affection, the whole nine yards. (Guys aren't good at doing what i'm trying to do...) I was really excited when she took on the job of working in this new paradigm of… Continue

Added by Masshole in Fringecrest on May 26, 2010 at 11:00am — 9 Comments

I DIG DOUG

JUNE 1: VOTE DOUG TURNER

Added by Bill Turner on May 25, 2010 at 5:00pm — 2 Comments

Viewing the Wall with Scott Kuykendall

CENTRAL & CORNELL SE--I can't think of an artist with a bigger or better "gallery" than Scott Kuykendall. He must have 600 linear feet of paintings on one of the busiest corners in the state of New Mexico. And his work has become part of the lives of literally thousands. Kuykendall did the murals surrounding both the Frontier and Saggio's restaurants. He also did Marc's Guitar's mural and the work on the interior walls of Saggio's as well as… Continue

Added by Johnny_Mango on May 25, 2010 at 8:00am — 6 Comments