Bobcat (the tractor) Action Video

To kick the landscaping into high gear, i rented a little Bobcat. See the Action videos. Everything went real quick after this.
bobcat.mov In Quicktime format.

Spiders & Thistles

Found these interesting things at my parents house a couple weeks ago. One huge spider and its web. And this thistle seed pod from some sort of native plant. Ouch.

Weekend Warrior: Build Castle Wall - Grunt!

This was my Saturday. Woot! We're making progress.
See the building progression in a photo merge animation.

More Mud

This is a classic. Finally I got to use my little Subaru Forester in some mud. A few weeks ago when my sweetheart and I were on a short anniversary outing - we took drive up to Cerrillos and Madrid, NM. Through some mud. It was great! I came up slowly to the huge pond of water which was covering the whole dirt road, stopped, discussed briefly with my bride - which way through to take and then gunned it. As I was just about to cut a bit to the left to higher and more solid ground, suddenly saw a huge piece of metal in the way, thus forcing me a smiggen off course. Plunge goes the right side of the vehicle into deep water and mud. It's spraying everywhere - Daniela is screaming, I'm laughing having too much fun and within a few seconds we were out on solid dry ground. We did it! We passed some folks in a Mini Cooper coming the other direction - told them not to try it. That would've been a sight.

From the Archives

By popular demand. I've posted a photo of the infamous mullet in 1994. Yikes! I'm incriminating myself on this one. The big question is: Why did I or anyone in their right mind sport a mullet in 1994 or 95 or even - i hate to say it all the way into 96. But it didn't get past March or April of 96. I know you're laughing and gasping for air. Me too.

Slowly I Become One With the Mud

"Rain, rain on my face
It hasn't stopped raining for days
My world is a flood
Slowly I become one with the mud

But if I can't swim after forty days
And my mind is crushed by the thrashing waves
Lift me up so high that I cannot fall
Lift me up
Lift me up - when Im falling
Lift me up - Im weak and Im dying
Lift me up - I need you to hold me
Lift me up - keep me from drowning again"

–Jars of Clay, Flood

This song comes to mind often these days because Albuquerque has been breaking records for the amount of rain. It's unbelievable! I've never seen this place so green. I mean - you look out across the river to the west volcanoes and it's green. Not the usual dirt brown. But you know what that means in 6-12 months. It will dry up and all those new weeds, grass and native plants are just kindling for the fires. I hope not. Well, here's to all who normally live in sogginess - I don't know how you do it. Cheers.



Here's my backyard getting drenched (I've always wanted my own swimming pool of mud.) and even better a rainbow afterwards.

1966 Plymouth Sport Fury

No, no, it's not mine. It's my Uncle Denny's - who lives in western PA. Pretty sweet though. I think he's planning on restoring this puppy. An interesting note, is that he and my dad were rummaging around in my late Grandmother's garage and found some actual parts (in their boxes) dated to the late 60's or early 70's, but never used that would fit the Fury. Left overs from the Byers Y Esso service station that my late Grandfather (Frantz Byers) used to own. Wow!