Sun Lakes 10/5/2018 I walked 35 minutes or so. No beer for the third day. Doing well. Tomorrow I go to the Fat Tire bike ride with Jan. I'll drink near beer. It will be a test of my resolve. Dieting too. Getting ready to sue Ray Jordan. Reading Sally Field's autobiography. Sun Lakes 10/4/2018 Walked 31 minutes after talking to Roberto in Madrid. It isn't so hot anymore. Went to Jazz Ensemble. A lot of trouble figuring out where the B-part began in one song. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 10/3/2018 Went with Nancy and Larry at 8:00 AM. Lloviznando un poquito, chispeando. Afterwards, I had lunch with Jan Kegelman at the Wildflower Cafe. I bought Sally Field's new autobiography next door at Groping Hands Bookstore. Sun Lakes 9/29/2018 Guys were taking that bale of hay away. They had two actually. Don't know where the other came from. I told the guy about the bale of cotton that disappeared but he didn't understand my Spanish. I thought he was Hispanic but he was Native American. Silly me. I was right on the Rez. Sun Lakes 9/25/2018 There were horses on the rez. I took a picture. Sun Lakes 9/23/2018 Sally and Wendy and I saw the yh blackbirds. We attended the barbecue for Susie Bahlman yesterday. Sun Lakes 9/21/2018 Sun Lakes 9/17/2018 Haven't got much done. Too much dumb Facebook and junk. A lot of web page work. I made a page that lists ALL my youtube videos. Sun Lakes 9/16/2018 Took a walk early in the morning. Still working on the album that I may call Pastiche. My new Mahogany Taylor Grand Symphony Mini guitar came in on Friday. Today's Sunday. I put the Baggs pickup in it. I'm pleased with it. Played the spruce mini at the jazz ensemble on the day before. I got the Billy Tipton album on Friday too I think. Sun Lakes 9/8/2018 Haven't done much today. Talked to Roberto. Studied. Practiced guitar. Generic Place Anywhere 9/7/2018 Went over and brought treats and carrots for the dogs and diet cola for Steve. He is paintins his cabinets green. Sun Lakes 9/7/2018 Talked to Roberto. Studied a lot. Yesterday I went to the Jazz Ensemble class. Haley a high school student joined us on the drums. We played "I Can't Believe You're in Love with Me," Dulce Ambiance by Django and some other tunes. Sun Lakes 9/1/2018 831 South Sidney Avenue Tucson Arizona 8/27/2018 Came down Saturday the 25th for our birthday Steve and I. We went and ate pizza. I ate a lot of pizza. The next day we went to Frank's for breakfast. I bought a Frank's T-shirt. Then at 1:00 we went to Boyer's and walked to the Cartel coffee house/brewery. I had two blonde beers. Afterwards, we went to a metal arts festival. The band wasn't very good. Some of the art was very good however. I drank two beers. On Monday the 27th, our birthday, we drove back Steve with the dogs in his car and me with myself in mine. Next today we will go to the barbecue place with Sidney and eat FREE. All three of us as we all have birthdays today. Generic Place Anywhere 8/27/2018 Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/27/2018 Came back from Joe's Barbecue BBQ with Sid and Cuca and Steve and Joe. It was delicious. I went to E&C roads afterwards and then picked up that old Chinese variax of mine. I was in Tucson and Sun Lakes and Gilbert and Chandler today celebrating my birthday. I'm 67 years old. Sun Lakes 8/22/2018 Sun Lakes 8/17/2018 Recording Without a Song in Your Heart Sun Lakes 8/16/2018 Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/15/2018 I had gone to see the lawyer about easements. That was on Cooper and Gilbert or thereabouts, so I went here. No binocs but it didn't matter. Someone lying dead or asleep inside the K9 training place. The cap had been removed from that post where the geocaching cache had been left and removed by officials leaving a note saying why. I wrote on the note (gone now) "Don't you have something better to do?" Generic Place Anywhere 8/12/2018 Went to see Ron Rutowski in Scottsday with Rio Trio but he wasn't playing. He doesn't play on Sunday. It was a 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM gig at The Blind Pig. I sat at the bar and when I turned I didn't see Ron. The guy next to me told me that he was replaced on Sundays by a guitar player. Oh, but they were really good. The guitar player was excellent. The guy at the bar with me was 71 and the ex prosecutor for Ajo, Arizona. Kind of a disaster. The web page mentioned the guitarist's name but it didn't say Ron wouldn't be there. Sun Lakes 8/6/2018 Took a walk down Fun Lakes Boulevard at 7:10. 35 minutes or so. Came back through the ponds. Trying to write the sheet music for "Sunday" and the software just fights you and doesn't work. I need to learn to write it in. Sun Lakes 8/5/2018 Went to Mysterious Puddle and Rez Pond at about 8:45. Hot. Sun Lakes 8/3/2018 Still fighting with CreateSpace idiots. Sun Lakes 8/1/2018 Sun Lakes 7/29/2018 I'm editing Planet Busters. It's better than I thought. Sun Lakes 7/26/2018 Walked over at ten or so and it was already really hot. Jan came by a couple of days ago and used his roto rooter to unplug my sink. He's a HELL of a nice guy! It was hot too! I tried lots of plumbers: two never showed and the last one was a flag-waving nut who wanted to charge too much so I cancelled telling him I had a friend who wanted to have a crack at it first. Then I called Jan to see if it were true. Sun Lakes 7/24/2018 Thundered in the morning. I went out to find puddles. Went to these places at a quarter to nine. It was rather cool. They say it'll be 116° Fahrenheit today. Going to Charlie and Marie's for dinner and a concert. Django. Sun Lakes 7/21/2018 My sink is plugged up. HELP. My kitchen sink is plugged up. It has two basins. Lake Mary 7/5/2018 Steve and I were driving back. Mormon Lake 7/5/2018 Happy Jack Arizona 7/5/2018 Pine Arizona 7/5/2018 Strawberry Arizona 7/5/2018 Steve and I drove through. That motel seems to be in the process of being torn down or is dead or something. The one where Noodles and I stayed. Didn't I have the liver and onions or something? No, here are the notes from May/17/2002 Noodles and I stayed at the Strawberry Lodge. No TV. I dropped by the saloon across the street but stayed for only one beer. It was kind of a rough place. I had the chicken parmigian or however you spell it with buttered noodles and garlic toast at the lodge. There was a very forgetful lady there. She'd forget everything we just talked about. She was really suffering from dementia, but she seemed very nice and smart otherwise. They charged ten extra bucks for my dog Noodles. The other places wouldn't have her. Next time I'll stay at the Alden Inn just before or is it after? Pine. Flagstaff House 7/3/2018 Steve and I went up in a U-haul van to put all the books and stuff in and take it all back. ELK AT NIGHT. Many elk with one baby running around playing LIKE MAD! Put all the books in boxes in the van. Lots of other stuff. Went home through PAYSON. Sun Lakes 7/1/2018 I'm out of shape. Harlan Ellison died the other day. Watching Broadchurch on Netflix and started Frasier from the beginning again just a week or so ago. Research Park 6/30/2018 I hadn't been in a while. A while? MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS. Can't believe it; I checked my records and I had recorded birds there only FOUR TIMES. Only 17 birds ever recorded there. On 12/30/1992 Dad and I went and got the life lister for me of the Ash-throated flycatcher. We were looking for towhees but saw none. Got the DE Junco though. I had gone on 5/24/2010, 01/22/2005, 09/29/2001, and 12/30/1992. Anyhow, it was very quiet and no one was there. The sterile quality of the place was how I have described it before. It's deserted. It was Saturday and there were no cars in the lots. None. There was one homeless person's sleeping bag in the distance and a young woman fishing. About three seniors like me. Of course there are lots of lakes here. Sun Lakes 6/27/2018 There is a big bale of cotton there at Mysterious Puddle. I've been fixing up Planet Busters for CreateSpace publication. I went to the U-Haul place to see about renting a cargo van to take junk back from Flagstaff. This is all stressful. Went to the Spanish meeting and I think I'm quits. Talking with gringos drags your Spanish down. You have to take turns talking to the group when you should be chatting with partners like at a cocktail party. Even speed dating style would be better. Thus you get told to shut up if you try to say anything and if you talk to the person next to you, the table gets pounded angrily and there's yelling and if you look at your phone you're accused of cheating by breaking some rule about no dictionaries and if you mention that the exgobernador de Arizona was tuerto you're scolded for being political (by someone who has made lots of political cracks) and one of the members is really hostile though she wasn't there this time and you get no practice and there is only one native speaker that shows and some people talk at length and get the floor while others aren't allowed this courtesy and it is forbidden to correct anyone because this is a "social" group and I don't really want to be social and when there are new people in attendance you have to look out or you might be accused of scaring them away if you speak Spanish well as Marta from Veracruz apparently did and she and someone else was going to get a dressing down and there is a hostile air about the whole thing and I'm not going back. Sun Lakes 6/25/2018 I mailed those flyleafs to Fernando so he could put them in the books I didn't sign. I scribbled on them. I also sent Roberto the albums and the lyrics. Talked to him today. Sun Lakes 6/22/2018 Hot. My feet got a little hot walking to Mysterious Puddle and Rez Pond in reverse order. WATER at the puddle. There was a puddle. Sun Lakes 6/21/2018 Sun Lakes 6/16/2018 Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/16/2018 The 40,000th bird I've recorded is the Great-tailed Grackle at E & C Roads! Sun Lakes 6/15/2018 St. John's Newfoundland 6/11/2018 Today I started back to Arizona and arrived there late the same day. Toronto 6/11/2018 I didn't see much of Toronto: JUST THE AIRPORT IN FACT. It seemed very spread-out at first glance from the air. St. John's Newfoundland 6/10/2018 Had the whole day so I went to Signal Hill. Huge climb but I am fit and nothing tires me. These cannon I NOW think aren't the ones in our movies. The background is all wrong. I doubt if the ones in Halifax were the ones either. I think they were in Quebec! Oh, well. I tried anyhow. I also went to The Yellow Belly bar on Water Street down by the sea. I saw that Ron guy there but he seemed in a bad mood so I didn't talk to him. I walked there from the hill. Caught a bus back to Economy Suites by Homeport. Nice place. Long wait for the bus. London 6/9/2018 I flew from Barcelona to Gatwick AP in London and it only took about an hour and a half. I don't know why. I stayed in the Airport Inn and then flew back to the New World in 5 1/2 hours the next day. St. John's Newfoundland 6/9/2018 I went and drank beer at Holiday Inn. They had 16 varieties of beer and three IPAs on the tap in front of me. I had THREE LARGE Goose island IPAs and their Canadian peperoni and bacon pizza. Food is better here than in Madrid or Barcelona. It wasn't very inexpensive but it was delish. Barcelona 6/8/2018 Barcelona 6/7/2018 Sun Lakes 6/7/2018 Barcelona 6/6/2018 Barcelona 6/5/2018 Barcelona 6/4/2018 Barcelona 6/3/2018 Took the Alta Velocidad Española to Barcelona yesterday the second of June. Top speed: 300 km/hr (186.41 mi/hr Went and got a hotel and then today saw Fernando in Tarragona. Generic Place Anywhere 6/3/2018 Heading down to Tarragona to see Fernando Nacher. Tarragona Spain 6/3/2018 Fernando Nacher took me to old Roman Ruins and we walked all around Tarragona. It was sprinkling a little. We went to the beach. We went into stores. We went to a restaurant. He had the black rice which was black because of the squid in it. Before that we went to a bar and had a beer. Or I did. He had a coke I think. Madrid 6/2/2018 Madrid 6/1/2018 Saw Guernica and other Picasso paintings today with Dali ones and others. Madrid 5/31/2018 London 5/30/2018 London 5/28/2018 I walked over to Hyde Park. Nice place. St. John's Newfoundland 5/26/2018 Where the hell is the bird list for this tour? Halifax Nova Scotia 5/25/2018 St. John's Newfoundland 5/25/2018 Halifax Nova Scotia 5/24/2018 Boston 5/23/2018 I stayed overnight so I could pop over to Halifax the next day. The Comfort Inn was next to a bowling alley with a craft brewery in it. Very interesting mix of young and old from all walks of life. Halifax Nova Scotia 5/23/2018 Sun Lakes 5/17/2018 Slept 9 hours straight yesterday and 7+ straight last night because I'm drinking near beer. Getting ready for my trip abroad. Sun Lakes 5/14/2018 Only near beer last night and tonight too I promise. I went fishing and a dust devil hit me and blew my hat into the pond and I had to snag it with a spinner to get it back. Twice the fish yanked my pole down. Hot dogs for bait—those ancient ones that have been frozen. Steve's coming back and may have landed as I type. From Spain. With Dits. Getting ready to go myself to Europe. Sun Lakes 5/14/2018 Sun Lakes 5/13/2018 Sun Lakes 5/12/2018 Walked about an hour. After mys pud and rez pond, I did the whole loop. Northern Arizona Museum 5/11/2018 Driving home. Montezuma Well 5/11/2018 Talked to the rangers and gave one a young woman with tats the Jack Beckman web page and then I realized it was the wrong address and when I got home I tried to make a page that would bounce from the address she had to the real one. I had to chat with ipage and finally get it fixed as it wouldn't update. Christ. There was also a big, dark flycatcher flying over the water. Like a great-crested, but no red and so uniformly dark. Montezuma Castle 5/11/2018 There was a Jack Beckman-type volunteer there. I talked to him. I used my senior pass for the first time. Saved ten bucks! Gave out the Jack Beckman web page address. http://www.tomhascallcole.com/Jack Beckman A History of Montezuma Well.html Or Jack Beckman.html (now) Flagstaff House 5/8/2018 Sally and Wendy and I were there to do the paperwork for selling the house. There was a pair of weird heron-like birds that flew over. Sun Lakes 5/6/2018 I think it was the sixth. Sun Lakes 5/5/2018 Sun Lakes 5/4/2018 Sun Lakes 5/1/2018 Some guys showed up in the puddle so I split. They had bikes. Did the last jazz class yesterday and tomorrow we play. Guitar doesn't work. Need to bring another. My black guitar's g string doesn't sound very loudly. Sun Lakes 4/29/2018 I went to the Perfect Pear Spanish meeting. Steve is in Spain with Ditsworth. Sun Lakes 4/28/2018 Walked over. I'm fat. I'm slow. I must lose weight. It was a little warm. Sun Lakes 4/26/2018 Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 4/22/2018 Went with John and Peggy Dole and Larry and Nancy. Afterwards, I went to Queencreek to see Susie Bahlman Susie Martinez. Sun Lakes 4/19/2018 Later Wendy and I went looking for him. We went on the rez and to Oakwood. Sun Lakes 4/17/2018 Wendy and I went. Later, Steve and Wendy and I toasted our adventure at the Cottonwood Bar. Sun Lakes 4/16/2018 Wendy's coming tomorrow. Sun Lakes 4/15/2018 I just walked over. Not too hot today at all. Too cold for me actually. It was 98 the other day. I am drinking too much beer and I'm getting fat! Ran a mile on the machine the last two days and walked a mile too. Both days. Sun Lakes 4/12/2018 Sun Lakes 4/10/2018 Slept at Steve's last night Jeff is hear. I slept like a rat. Sun Lakes 4/9/2018 Jeff and I went. It was hot. Sun Lakes 4/7/2018 Didn't get a lot done today. Re-did Grass on the Hill for Createspace and I'm working on the new Notes in Spanish pdf's from season two and listening to them. Practiced guitar. Walked 50 minutes. Trying to diet but I love drinking beer. We'll see. I had a Sierra Nevada Torpedo IPA and then I went and drank a tall can of Bud last night. Sun Lakes 4/6/2018 Went to jazz class last night. Starting a diet today. I'm not that fat but need to shed five or six pounds easy. Getting hot. No ducks in the ponds! Sun Lakes 4/4/2018 And other birds. Turned the air conditioning on today. airconditioning It was 91 yesterday and only 89 today. Tomorrow it will be 92. Went to the SL Spanish meeting. Generic Place Anywhere 4/3/2018 91° Fahrenheit today. Sun Lakes 4/2/2018 90° Fahrenheit Sun Lakes 4/1/2018 Went to the Cottonwood Bar yesterday and then to Mulligan's for just one. It's Easter Today and April Fool's day. At 4:00 I go to Steve's Spanish group as they invited me and the Perfect Pair is closed for Easter and we're going to some dry place called The Early Baker. Sun Lakes 3/31/2018 I went to the Casual Pint yesterday and drank two beers. One bar tender was drinking and tended to spill the beers he brought to the guests. He remedied this a bit when he served me by not filling the glass all the way up. Dave the neighbor seems to have gone as his flag is not waving. Sun Lakes 3/30/2018 Played guitar in the jazz class. My solos sucked. Sun Lakes 3/27/2018 I saw other birds as well. Sun Lakes 3/26/2018 Went to a concert last night with Charlie and Marie and am going again tonight to see some accordion players. Sun Lakes 3/25/2018 Walked over there. Will go to a concert tonight with Charlie and Marie. Steve's back from Mexico. Sun Lakes 3/23/2018 On the Rez actually. I drove over there for fun. Never took those roads before. Very close to Sun Lakes. Sun Lakes 3/19/2018 At mysterious puddle I ran into that wildly bearded guy with the big camera. He seemed to know a lot about birds. He was photographing them. Sun Lakes 3/17/2018 Nothing written here except this. Sun Lakes 3/15/2018 It was forty-five years ago today. I should really put in the mating call for the verdin as I have heard it in March. Lots of wc sparrows. Generic Place Anywhere 3/7/2018 I went and found a dirt road along a canal that led to the cottonwood trees. I took some pictures and made a slideshow with my cottonwood song as the music. Sun Lakes 3/7/2018 Sun Lakes 3/2/2018 I noticed today the the word ELEVEN is kind of interesting looking. I don't know why. Sun Lakes 2/26/2018 I have to go to Kerry Vesper's house to practice those three songs for the synagoque. I have neighbors. Two women. Pretty quiet. They like to sit out. I went to the Mastersons concert the other day. Sun Lakes 2/22/2018 I went to the Masterson's concert. I was on a waiting list for tickets and they called me a couple hours before the show. I wrote to Wendy: "Well, I went. They were spectacularly good. Everyone said they wouldn’t meet and greet the fans, but during intermission I saw them walking along and I came up and showed Eleanor a picture of her dad’s plane and his old VW. She was polite but not especially interested so I gave up on that. I felt a little foolish. They greeted fans for a little while at the table with the T-shirts and stuff but they left in a little while. I bought their album and had them sign it and got a picture of me. “Send Wendy my love,” she said. Anyhow their musicianship was amazing. I noticed that he had a Collins guitar that interested me but I forgot to ask him if that’s what it was. I’d like one but they cost $5000 dollars and no guitar is worth that." The mastersons did a forty-minute intro for the Wood Brothers who were very good too but not as much to my liking. They had followers who cheered and knew all the words. However, I couldn't understand almost anything they sang. The volume and effects were wrong and how much is missing when there are really no lyrics? A lot. Sun Lakes 2/21/2018 Half to practice guitar. Gaining weight. Did I say I finished my album but I recorded one track too hot and it's a little too loud and a little distorted. Green-winged Teal 2/19/2018 I went to Middleton Tax service today. Came here on my way back. Stopped by Steve's and brought dog treats for Frankie and Skippy. Sun Lakes 2/12/2018 It was gray and cold yesterday. The day before it was 80 degrees perhaps and nice. Sun Lakes 2/10/2018 I played my gig at Mulligans for Fred Hill's send-off. It went fine. That little guy who was talking about politicaly incorrect gave me a bunch of money. I thought he had collected it, but it was from him and his wife or girl friend. I went to bed had had the weirdest dream. Among other weird things I dreamed that I was drinking rum kind of in my sleep. I awoke and couldn't turn on the bed light. I finally was able to get up and found that there were knives stuck in my bed and I tried to call 911 but there were no buttons on my phone and I talked to someone on the phone and told them to call for me. I went out and the floor had been waxed and there was someone there so I ran out and there was a young woman there and it turned out that they were three gabby girls who were just trying to help out by cleaning my house. Sun Lakes 2/5/2018 Sally left for Van Horn this morning. I took a walk for an hour. Generic Place Anywhere 2/4/2018 Sally was there. I went there. We took the dogs for a walk. They sniffed over at that pond. Sally and I walked. There were cops talking to some girl who was sleeping in a tent in the vacant lot. Sally and I went to Changing Hands and Trader Joe's. We were looking for a computer before at Best Buy. Instead I gave her my PC. I was worried that I had missed the gig for the memorial service for that bartender. I went over to the bar. It's NEXT week. ¡Qué alivio! Sally stayed at my house and I fixed up the computer for her. She got up the next morning the fifth and left early for Van Horn, Texas. Then she'll go to Denton. Then Washington. Then Brooklyn. Sun Lakes 2/3/2018 Walked over there and spent an hour fooling around. Sun Lakes 2/2/2018 I worked on this software. I studied. I found a new way to make the flash cards easier to work with. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 2/2/2018 Sally is staying at Steve's and I drove over and took them to the Water Ranch. We ate at a pizza place afterwards. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/2/2018 Before Steve and Sally and I went to the Water Ranch (Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads) we stopped here. Sun Lakes 2/1/2018 People staying next door. The for sale sign is still out, however. Generic Place Anywhere 1/29/2018 I went to Memorial Airport and took pictures. I made a page about it. 831 South Sidney Avenue Tucson Arizona 1/27/2018 I went to Sally's and we met Boyer the next day Sunday the 28th. We went to his house and then walked through his neighborhood which is really nice. We went to a coffee bar that had Craft Beer. Sally and I walked in town and coyotes were there with us. I tried to call Neria Ryder, but she didn't answer phone or email. Generic Place Anywhere 1/27/2018 I was driving to get to the freeway which was closed because someone walked out on the freeway and a truck hit them and so it was closed. Took a long time to get to I guess it was Casa Blanca Road. Traffic crawled because everyone was doing it. There were cottonwood trees in the distance. A grove. I may go back and take pictures. Sun Lakes 1/21/2018 Last night I went to Charlie and Marie's house because I had posted delicious Banquet spaghetti was and they invited me over for tortilla soup. 'Twas very good. Today I plan to go to the march at the capitol. (Later I did go. Saw Gailynn and Jan Kegelman. Didn't hook up with Charlie and Marie for some reason. I thought they'd call me or Gailynn and by the time I called them to check they had already emprendido la vuelta. Sun Lakes 1/18/2018 I put all the files for the Leitmotif album in their own folder nice and organized. I hope. Sun Lakes 1/17/2018 Trying to get my projects in gear. All the other birds are around. Cabo San Lucas 1/10/2018 Well I flew to Cabo having bought the ticket the day before. I will write more later. Went January tenth and came back the 13th. Sun Lakes 1/9/2018 I just may buy a ticket to Cabo in a minute and leave tomorrow for three nights. It's pretty straightforward. Sun Lakes 1/8/2018 Sun Lakes 1/7/2018 I drove down to NW Pond and walked to NNW pond on Old Price and Riggs. Saw these birds. Went to the drugstore and bought ice cream. I'm a pound up even though I walk two miles a day, eat veggie, and drink only near beer. Higley and Ocotillo Roads 1/2/2018 I just drove over. I first ate a mac muffin with sausage and egg and a chocolate dipped ice cream cone and a small bag of chips but later I walked for 45 minutes. Gilbert and Riggs Roads 1/2/2018 Just stopped on my way back from Higley and Ocotillo. Veterans Oasis Park 1/2/2018 No Notes Entered Generic Place Anywhere 1/2/2018 I thought I'd get blackbirds galore at these stock yards and there were thousands of eurasian collared doves. Sun Lakes 1/1/2018 I went shopping. Only near beer. Went to Steve's with treats for Frankie and Skippy. Steve is making saw horses. Sun Lakes 12/30/2017 Steve was here doing the blinds outside. Sun Lakes 12/29/2017 Steve came over yesterday and today and worked fashioning a custom-made screen to block the neighbor's light. Sun Lakes 12/27/2017 Michael the handyman came by to put in my OUTDOOR CARPORT blinds and it was a big fracaso because I bought a crummy product and the light shines through it? No. It's transparent and the wind will blow it off and it is worthless. Steve and Sally were there. Last night I drove to the airport to pick Sally up. It was a madhouse there. Steve is going to build me a new light blocker. Sun Lakes 12/25/2017 Dad would have been 100 years old today. Mom ninety-five. I'm writing on New Year's day 2018 to fill this in. Sun Lakes 12/13/2017 I got stuff to fix the toilets but I couldn't get one of the bolts off and my arm hurt and so I called that Michael who didn't call back. He hasn't called back all the last times I called him. Funny; he lives close and came over here in ten minutes when I called him to put in my blinds. He said my name when I first called. To my surprise. Drinking near beer. Getting one Nathan to master my songs. I guess. I am resubmitting Parece mono and bilingual and Green Grass and even Recuerdo. Always errata to fix. Sun Lakes 12/12/2017 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 12/10/2017 I played yesterday at Mulligan's for that Jim guy who passed away. Al got me the gig. Higley and Ocotillo Roads 11/26/2017 Someone said they saw the Northern Beardless Tyrannulet here but I couldn't find him and there was a couple there that couldn't either and the guy was bitter about it. Veterans Oasis Park 11/26/2017 Just stopped by for a minute after I went to the Oco-Higley site. Veterans Oasis Park 11/25/2017 Drove over for the heck of it. Steve is in Mexico driving to the beach. Gilbert and Riggs Roads 11/25/2017 Actually Gilbert and Chandler Heights. NW CORNER. Sun Lakes 11/25/2017 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 11/24/2017 No Notes Entered East Verde River 11/20/2017 I went up and winterized and came back the next day, the 20th. Cold. Power failure in the morning before dawn. I used the space heater. I drained the hot water heater. Went through Payson. On the way back I wanted to go to Control Road and look for crinoids but there was some guy there with no car and so I left. Stopped at the East Verde River. Strawberry Arizona 11/20/2017 I wanted to go to Control Road and look for crinoids but there was some guy there with no car and so I left. Stopped at the East Verde River. Pine Arizona 11/20/2017 No Notes Entered Flagstaff House 11/19/2017 I went up and winterized and came back the next day, the 20th. Cold. Power failure in the morning before dawn. I used the space heater. I drained the hot water heater. Went through Payson. On the way back I wanted to go to Control Road and look for crinoids but there was some guy there with no car and so I left. Stopped at the East Verde River. Sun Lakes 11/18/2017 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 11/14/2017 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 11/13/2017 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 11/10/2017 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 11/5/2017 Went with Ditsworth at 6:30 in the morning. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/5/2017 Went here after the Water Ranch. Sun Lakes 11/4/2017 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 11/2/2017 Took my walk. Near beer fourth day. Went to jazz class and stayed until nearly 8:00 to avoid the traffic. Generic Place Anywhere 11/2/2017 No Notes Entered Gilbert and Riggs Roads 11/1/2017 I bought a Cube amplifier. Traded in that awful Peavey. That was after I met Steve and Sonny at the taquería. Jaime greeted me. Steve and I went to the hardware store next to where Gallagher's used to be and then we went to Dollar Tree. After that I bought the amp and went to this two-pond Gilbert and Riggs site. Sun Lakes 10/28/2017 Walked to NW pond Generic Place Anywhere 10/27/2017 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 10/21/2017 Sally and I went to Mysterious Puddle and Rez Pond. Sun Lakes 10/12/2017 Jazz ensemble class canceled. Sun Lakes 10/11/2017 Walked. Yesterday I had my teeth cleaned and I went to Whole Foods and drank two beers. I brought home some vegan junk and I even ate a bison burger and I'm going to gain weight but today I walked for forty minutes and also yesterday I brought home Old Rasputin or whatever you call it and also San Tan Moon Juice Galactic IPA. Sun Lakes 10/9/2017 And other birds as I walked and talked to Wendy on the phone cause it was her birthday. AROUND THE PONDS 831 South Sidney Avenue Tucson Arizona 10/1/2017 Sally's house. Jeff and Sally and Wendy were there and we had Boyer over. Sun Lakes 9/2/2017 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 9/1/2017 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 8/27/2017 Ditsworth and I went. It was my birthday. I watched Searching for Sugar Man a couple of days ago. We ate and the Chicken Coop diner. Or someplace with a name like Henhouse hen house. I went to his house. He lent me a camera. Afterwards, I went to Joe's Barbecue and had free food with Sid. Then to Elliot and Cooper Roads and then to Steve's house. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/27/2017 Birthday trip to Elliot and Cooper Roads. Victoria British Columbia 8/12/2017 Will copy green notebook here. Vancouver 8/10/2017 I need to write up my notes on this trip. I mean copy then from my green notebook. Sun Lakes 8/5/2017 Water under the trees of Mysterious Puddle. Rather a lot but the rest has drained since it was completely full. Sun Lakes 7/24/2017 Water pouring in from both ends. Rained like hell last night and a couple of days ago it rained harder than I can remember it doing before. I have my light blocking plywood up and it works good only this morning it was so cloudy that one of his blasted lights was on for a couple of minutes. Patagonia Lake 7/10/2017 Went to Patagonia Lake. 15 bucks to go but they let me in for fifteen minutes to look. WHITE FACED CATTLE ON THE CLIFF. Went to Nogales. Crossed the border and came back. More later... Nogales Mexico 7/10/2017 I went there. It's only 18 miles from Patagonia. I parked my car for three bucks. Easy. Walked across the border. Hawkers there were annoying. Cuban Cigars--No Bullshit! I bought some sunscreen. Cost about eleven bucks. It was kind of hot. I left in about ten minutes. Nasty place. I saw a huge line. I asked the Mexican official if it was the only line. He asked my age and when I said sesenta y seis he put me in front of everyone and I was out in five minutes! Nice. Patagonia 7/9/2017 I must write up a report. Loved the Stagestop Hotel. Stayed two nights. Went to Patagonia Lake. 15 bucks to go but they let me in for fifteen minutes to look. Went to Nogales. Crossed the border and came back. More later... 831 South Sidney Avenue Tucson Arizona 7/8/2017 I stopped in and Sally and I drank beer. The next day I went to Patagonia. Sun Lakes 7/1/2017 Today Michael Came in and put in my blinds! Then I went to see the Cafeteras with Lori and Marie and Charlie and someone else who said she was 78 years old. Organ Pipe National Monument 6/22/2017 No Notes Entered Estero Morua 6/21/2017 Steve and I went down. Spent 2 nights. It was about 90° Fahrenheit as a high. Only Sweeney there. Sun Lakes 6/20/2017 Going to Estero Morúa tomorrow Estero Morua. Veterans Oasis Park 6/19/2017 Hot. 116° Fahrenheit I went in and looked at the visitor center there. Sun Lakes 6/18/2017 Drove to the NW Pond. It was 112° Fahrenheit. Will be 117° tomorrow. Veterans Oasis Park 6/17/2017 Jackrabbits as big as elk. Dead owl. Pretty hot. Sun Lakes 6/16/2017 In Mysterious Pond I saw a mourning dove trying to lure me away from its nest feigning injury. Then I found I was wrong; it was a sick young mourning dove. I picked him up and was going to take him home for a drink of water. He died in my hands however. Sun Lakes 6/14/2017 I didn't go to Mysterious Puddle today. I went to the Sun Lakes Spanish meeting. No beer. Tomorrow (I'm writing tomorrow) I will weigh 174 even! July 14, 2016 I weighed 193. Got down to 171 but that's almost a year being 193-174=19 pounds down and considering I was 199.4 a few years ago, I think that's all right. Sun Lakes 6/12/2017 Finished bilingual version of Parece que fuera ayer. No beer. Only near beer! Sun Lakes 6/11/2017 I was working on the bilingual version of my latest book. I have not drunk anything but near beer for five or six days. Sun Lakes 6/10/2017 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/9/2017 Went and got my perky new Toyota Corolla washed and then went to Steve's and played with Frankie and Skippy. Then I went to E&C Roads. Fourth day with only near beer. Steve is on a diet too. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/7/2017 Went to the dentist to have my teeth cleaned and with x-rays and it came to 231 bucks. Darn it. I drove to E&C Roads. Then to Steve's and then home. Claushauler dry-hopped only yesterday and today. Sun Lakes 6/6/2017 Went to see the Hot Club of Cowtown on Sunday June 4 2017 with Charlie and Marie. The Salt River 6/3/2017 Dits invited me and I got up really early and drove over and we went to a burned area. The area burned so we could get through it. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/3/2017 Drove here in my perky new Toyota Corolla after walking around the Salt River with Ditsworth. Sun Lakes 6/1/2017 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 5/28/2017 Steve is on the boat to Cuba today. Sun Lakes 5/22/2017 Put these in. The next day I weighed only 174 pounds. Sun Lakes 5/21/2017 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 5/20/2017 Working on recording music. Sun Lakes 5/19/2017 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 5/18/2017 Not drinking and I am losing weight again. Not hot. It's a cold spell. Sun Lakes 5/17/2017 Funny; I found a reclaimed water pond just above Mysterious Puddle. No wonder I always heard killdeer at Mysterious Puddle. Fresh water Asiatic clam Corbicula on shore. Sun Lakes 5/16/2017 Today the baby curve-billed thrasher got killed by grackles. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 5/13/2017 I drove down from flag to do this bird walk. I got there fifteen minutes late. I misjudged. It took three solid hours to get there in my perky new Toyota. Nancy and Larry and Steve and I went. Buffalo Park Flagstaff Arizona 5/12/2017 I walked and jogged. There was a herd of mule deer crossing the trail. I took a movie. Northern Arizona Museum 5/11/2017 No Notes Entered Lowell Observatory Mars Hill 5/11/2017 Sally and Wendy and I also went into the gift shop. Flagstaff House 5/10/2017 Sally and Wendy and I went. First night was very cold. Much better later. Went to Beaver Street Brewery. Went to the guitar store and an antique shop. Sun Lakes 5/5/2017 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 4/30/2017 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 4/27/2017 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 4/26/2017 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 4/23/2017 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 4/22/2017 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 4/8/2017 Jeff left for Tucson this morning. Sun Lakes 4/7/2017 Hud came by. We ate at the Cottonwood Grill and drank two beers each at noon. Jeff is here. Steve and Jeff and I went to see Lacey in Tempe. Generic Place Anywhere 4/6/2017 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 4/3/2017 A couple of days ago the neighbor with the Harley who sends ashes to his sister left. I can tell because he took his American flag down and there's no motorcycle there. I guess he left the 29th of March or so. Generic Place Anywhere 3/23/2017 I sang Stardust not very well though.We did Swing 39 too and Paul brought in Hit that Jive Jack which I recorded the next day. Sun Lakes 3/15/2017 It was 44 years ago today. Sun Lakes 3/14/2017 Yesterday I put on the AC the airconditioning for a while. It's hot. Judy her husband Rusty and son Drake are next door. Kid from Spain with them. They had some guys over to clean so I hired them to cut down my oleander and blow the leaves away. Nicer. Used my new 200-dollar juicer to juice a lot of grapefruit. Neighbors there and it's good. Judy said that Dave sent her ashes and talks about death and that she should look out for her lug nuts getting loose. Scary stuff to me. Sun Lakes 3/10/2017 No Notes Entered Generic Place Anywhere 3/9/2017 No Notes Entered Superstitions 2/25/2017 Went with Dits and Steve and Sonny Generic Place Anywhere 2/23/2017 Played Swing 39. Will Goble worked with me to get the rhythm chop on 2 and 4. Generic Place Anywhere 2/16/2017 I'm taking a jazz ensemble class. Paul Morris suggested I join. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 2/11/2017 Went with Dits at 7:00 Am Sun Lakes 2/6/2017 I wrote my Trump essay a few days ago. Today I finished the cedar waxwing story and sent it to Ditsworth. Sun Lakes 1/16/2017 Last night I dreamed the same old dream about teaching again. Nightmare. I have been having nightmare after nightmare. Strange nightmares involving animals. One was a pixy or fairy-like creature stuck in a plastic box. He wanted out! It was very sad and horrifying. Sun Lakes 1/14/2017 Spent all day doing Spanish and diddling with my database which I am going to give a BREAK. I sent a copy of the Sluggards to Sally after I made a pdf. I put corrections in my Spanish books. No end to the correcting. I weighed 175 even this morning even though I've been drinking tons of beer. Yesterday I was under 175. I'm not gaining. Sun Lakes 1/4/2017 Went to the store and then drove over to the baseball diamond and ponds. Walked across the highway to NW Pond. Generic Place Anywhere 1/1/2017 First day of this year. I stayed at Steve's the night before. Sun Lakes 12/31/2016 Music from the casino or something. Suddenly I looked at the date was Dec 31. I said, "It's New Year's eve! That's why they're celebrating." I was wrong. It was 2:00 AM and new year's eve is later "today." I hope I don't hear that damned music and drums and junk again. Sun Lakes 12/25/2016 I didn't go to Elliot and Cooper Roads for Xmas Christmas. Should have. Forgot. Anyhow the bar was open although at first it seemed so dark that I didn't think it was. LAST NIGHT Christmas Eve Steve and I went to Cis Sullivan's house. Gift exchange. We brought dishes to eat too. Some Bolivian girl there. Generic Place Anywhere 12/20/2016 Went to the doctor's but just saw a nurse who took my blood pressure. It was 110/60 so they don't think I should change my meds. Sun Lakes 12/19/2016 Went to Steve's today for a while. Yesterday, I went to the Livingroom Wine bar and ran into that Chad Gregory whom I gave 16 first takes and singing with the birds. I was hoping he'd get me a gig. Sun Lakes 12/10/2016 Weighed 174.2 lbs this morning. If I'm under 175, it's good. Spent all day inside diddling on the web page. Estero Morua 12/4/2016 Tom Alone. I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE SINCE October 2011! I got my truck repaired for 1367 dollars and it worked fine. (hoses, belts, timing belt, oil, water pump, etc.) I HATE Maricopa. What a train wreck of a strip filled with cars and traffic. I forgot that the Maricopa Road exit was north of Sun Lakes and so I took the Casa Blanca Road exit and drove through the rez. An Indian girl assured me that I'd get to Maricopa that way and she was right. No one knew how to get to Gila Bend from there but all you have to do is drive down Maricopa Road through town clean to Pete's Corner and right to Gila Bend. Worked good. Got TOTALLY lost. Signs on the Caborca Road kept saying straight to Playa Encanto but they were in error. A guard at Playa Dorada gave me the right directions. I WAS THE ONLY ONE THERE AT THE BEACH FOR FOUR DAYS! Nobody to speak of at Playa Encanto either. DESERT on the way down is spectack! Ceiling panels hiss with the wind sucking air from the house. A BLANKET OF STARS. I saw a Herring Gull pecking at a fish that was flipping. It was a miniature grouper thing quite big enough to eat. It reminded me of Dad's entry: Gerald A Cole wrote: "November 15, 1980 Saturday some Mexicanos, netters, were pulling in nets down by the campground. I went down to the beach with a crisp 20-peso note, eager to purchase sierra mackerel or other choice piscine bits. To my horror, they were throwing back all the fish, the species looking like leatherjackets. (They were farther offshore than I had guessed.) They were a little rough on the fish and as I was returning, I looked back to see some gulls had carried a fish up to the shore. I went back and spooked the gulls away finding the fish was still flopping. We had it for lunch. It was something new, a rooster fish Nematistius pectoralis, the papagallo, a member of the separate family, Nematistiidae. Very small scales. Delicious, sweet white meat." I took a movie of MY fish but it somehow isn't in the camera. Antonio came over and fixed the water pump whose lines were full of air. Oscar Moreno the other guard helped me with the electric lines and brought me tamales. One Lupe came by. He speaks English but we only spoke Spanish. Oscar and Lupe let me use their phones to call Steve and Lupe helped me with the wifi. Antonio had given me the wrong user name. It's Estero1 and password pelicanbeach. He told me EsteroMorua. Generic Place Anywhere 11/26/2016 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 11/25/2016 No Notes Entered Veterans Oasis Park 11/25/2016 I drove over and walked for forty minutes. I took a picture of a sign that said SHOULDER WORK AHEAD. I thought I would make a T-shirt out of it and give it to the surgeon who replaced my shoulder. Har. Then like a fool I went over to that wine bar on Chandler Heights and Alma School and drank IPA. Three of them. I ruined my diet again and risked a DUI as three of those have kind of a lot of alcohol and I had quit having even one beer out and driving home. I have Bud 55 at home. 3.2 beer with only 55 calories. That means you can drink SIX of them and it's only 330 calories. I'll bet those IPAs are about Flagstaff House 11/19/2016 Steve and I went up to winterize the house. There was a cat that kept bugging us. He was a nice cat though. We searched the house before we left and he was not locked inside. He couldn't easily be because he loved to get into everything and get on tables and rub on you and you knew he was there. We used special antifreeze that was NON-TOXIC. We drained the new pump totally and drained every bit of water out of the hot water heater. We put that anti-freeze in the toilet tanks bowls and traps and sink traps but I forgot the bathtub drain and so I had to use REAL antifreeze. We went to the ski lift lodge. Some girl from Dallas bought us a drink. Steve declined. It was TOLUCA, a liqueur. There was a power failure at night and our space heaters failed. I was dead asleep. In DEEP and NEEDED REM sleep when Steve woke me up. "Tom! The power's out!" Like there was anything I could do about it. I forgot my binoculars. We went to the breakfast at the Lodge but didn't eat much. Very good indeed. A couple of dead elk on the freeway back down. Lots of other road kill. Sun Lakes 11/13/2016 Haven't got much done today. I made a page for Edna http://www.tomhascallcole.com/Edna.html Spoke Spanish for an hour with Roberto. Generic Place Anywhere 11/12/2016 Went to see Jan and his new dog Buddy. A crash at queencreek slowed the traffic and it took me an hour to get there at least. drank some beer. Jan feeds cats. Yesterday I HAD THAT GIG at Charlie and Marie's. Sun Lakes 11/9/2016 Yesterday was a black day for the world. The worse person I have ever witnessed on the scene became president elect of the United States. That such a thing could be possible makes me nauseated to associate with a large part of humanity. I went to Steve's I think it was this day or the next and camped on his floor. The dogs came to visit me early in the morning. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/7/2016 Had the urge to go to that bookstore on Main Street. Hell of a drive. All the streets were torn up too. Easy parking in the end, but I was starving by then. It's a good bookstore. I got an Astounding Magazine with an Eric Frank Russell story and a 16-buck first edition of Invation from Mars with picks from Orson Welles and One Patricia Gardner had her bookplate in it. 206 Walnut Street Nogales, Arizona. No zip. Her note read January 1, 1950. Can't find her on Google. Well it's been 66 years since she had the book first. Need to practice for the party. I'm forgetting the songs. Haven't played a gig in a YEAR!! THE LAST WAS EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO TODAY at Mulligan's at Sun Lakes 1. http://www.tomhascallcole.com/SUN%20LAKES%20GIG%20NOVEMBER%2011,%202015.html The bushes in front seemed huge. Everything was a little run down but there were some sawn-up palo verdes. A few cadrs out front and the cops are storing their motorcycles and DWI Van in the garage. The geocaching pill bottle is gone. Sun Lakes 11/6/2016 TURNED ON THE HEAT TODAY. turned off the ac cooling and air conditioning and put on the heat. I can smell it cooking gas. Golfers were gone for a good two weeks I think. They're back now. Dave next door with the Trump signs hasn't come back this winter so far. Went to the saloon even though I was recovering from drinking too much darned beer. I am almost 22 pounds down 171.1 from 193 and I'm going to try to go on a maintenance diet, but I can't drink that much beer. Last night Riff Raff played at Mulligan's and I hung around and some people sat with me and looked at my books that I was reviewing and then we talked about Zane Grey and stuff and I left. The security guard there Len or Lenny I guess talked to me a while. Sun Lakes 11/2/2016 Yesterday, Tuesday, I went and drank three beers at the bar. I mumbled about the smokers and didn't really know anyone could hear because I had my earphones on and I learned I had said it in front of two of the most rabid anti-smokers ever. He was pissed about the smokers. Angry and was raising hell with them. There were HOA board members at the smokers' table. He's got the state to make them put up no smoking signs and stuff and the HOA people hang up on him when he calls. He's really after them. I didn't ask Darlene about playing there because it was really crowded and busy for a Tuesday. Man. I went home and I had a 24-ounce Total Domination IPA and I drank it as I watched Netflix. I woke up sick with a hangover and disappointed to be off my diet. My stomach is still quite flat compared to how it used to be. My shorts fit. I am also depressed because that absolute madman, cheat, sociopath, and pig Trump is rising in the polls. Six days to go before the election. If he wins the country is just ruined. Hillary is still well ahead and I hope I don't curse it by saying that I hope to God she wins handily and we can put these long long days, weeks, and months of misery listening to that foul-mouthed lying ripoff punk Trump. May he rot in hell. God save us from this vile slob and unamerican lunatic. God let Clinton win and may Trump disappear on the trash heap of our worse nightmares and never return to poison us and our country again. Sun Lakes 10/31/2016 Computer restarted on its own today. I watched last night Doctor Foster, a series and the main character caused a scene. Oh, it was so bad! I loved it. Har. Sally and Wendy don't seem to be back from Cuba yet. The guy next door Dave hasn't come back from Minnesota yet but there are Trump signs in his front yard. I've been trying to water his dad's citrus trees so they don't die. Generic Place Anywhere 10/21/2016 I went to the Perch to see if maybe they would hire me to play. Actually, I had just been to the Chandler City Clerk's office to have them check my ballot for bleed-through and they said it was all right and even if it weren't, any weird stuff would be caught by the computer and a worker would look at the ballot to see how I voted anyhow. A STRANGE THING HAPPENED. Here's how I describe it in an email to family: For months I had envisioned a person at the Perch brewery in a daydream. In the daydream, I talk to the CEO of the three big Valley hospitals about the phone call he had made to me. He didn t tell me that the guy I was pissed off at one Philip Fracica, who sent me a brush-off letter was no longer in his employ. He only said he was no longer chief medical officer. Naturally I had told him jokingly, Well, looks like I got him demoted. I didn t know until later that this knucklehead was no longer working in Arizona when I sent my complaint about him. When the CEO called me I thought the guy had been set straight and admonished and after the call I felt a little betrayed to find online that he had been long gone through all of this. Thus I always dreamed of talking to the CEO again to square this, but writing him back or calling him would make me look a little strange. I went to the Perch yesterday to see if I could get a gig. As I sat at my little table, I saw a guy with a ratty T-shirt on. He was about 5 foot 5 and 135 pounds. He looked like the picture I had seen of the CEO online but smaller. When he passed by I asked him and it was he! We chatted. I told him I wanted to write back but didn t want to press. It was a good conversation. I told him a few of the things that I had left unsaid in our phone call. He introduced me to his wife and I told her that her husband had read five pages of my finest rant. He said it was a very good rant. I agreed. I have never had a daydream come true in this way. It was remarkable. Anyhow, I talked to the new entertainment guy at the Perch. He is booked up with music. I check back in January, etc. etc. I m not sure if they re interested. So it goes. I ended up drinking two beers. This ruined one day of dieting. Ruined it. I weigh only 171 pounds down 21. I have about 9 pounds to go. Progress is so slow and India Pale Ale doesn t have a place in this project. I pledge as Scarlet O hara did, God as my witness, I swear I shall never be fat again!" OH, I DRANK THE NEXT DAY BECAUSE I WENT AND DRANK A BUNCH OF BEER AFTER THE PERCH AND NEEDED THE HAIR OF THE DOG. I WEIGHED FIVE POUNDS MORE THAN MY LAST WEIGH-IN. How? Seems impossible! I don't care. It's October 23rd now as I enter this. A Sunday. I am officially back to starving myself and I will weigh myself in another week, Saturday the 23. The computer restarted again yesterday. CURSES! Sun Lakes 10/18/2016 Didn't do much. Thought of finishing Douchebag Messiah, but after writing two pages, I found the Herbert's book too boring to lampoon. Practiced Rosetta and other songs. Oh, I talked to Roberto in Spain as I had 30 minutes of time left and he had a 30-minute spot open. It went well. Walked for 35 minutes and ot my 10,000 steps in. Dieted. Will weigh myself the day after tomorrow. Sally says that Eight Days a Week is excellent. It's by Ron Howard the producer. Last night I started to watch the rest of the Odd Couple episodes. It's creepy that Randal and Klugman are dead. They are both much younger than I in the show. They're something like 53. I'm 65. Christ. Oh, the Rasmusssens got my books and junk. I didn't return my truck to the shop. I didn't feel like it. Maybe the day after tomorrow. The GDMFCS computer restarted today. I zapped the pram and did other things. It's that damned Pixelmator that done it. The other day I also opened Kompozer. But I had no issues for months and I didn't use Pixelmator and the first time I used it, I had the restarting problem again and they have confessed that their older version used to do this and said it was solved and it apparently wasn't and they said it was solved in 2012 or something. Sun Lakes 10/15/2016 Walked to Sun Devil to get my truck. Some schmuck who needed glasses nearly ran me over in the crosswalk at Dobson and Riggs. Idiot. Got my BALLOT! Was it today? They hadn't repaired my truck. No one can figure it out. Sun Lakes 10/14/2016 Water low in the ponds suddenly. Went and got my truck back unrepaired from Goodyear. They gave a list of things that needed doing. I took it to Sun Devil as they put in the distributor TWICE and may give me a break. If they don't I'll take it back to Goodyear or go to another place. I have the price it should be. There's a website were you estimate prices and then you go to their affiliate garage and get that price. Good idea. Trump is getting stomped. He is quite mad and the sickest worse human being I have ever seen on the scene bar none. He is not right in the head. There is something drastically wrong with him. Sun Lakes 10/13/2016 Taking my truck to goodyear to solve its starting problem and get it checked up and get the sensor light off or the engine light off. I went and now I'm back and the truck is still there. It's like trying to fix my computer; they're going to the forums. BOB DYLAN won the nobel prize. Sun Lakes 10/12/2016 Saw Jan Kegelman at the IHOP on University and Rural. Then I went to the Spanish Club and then to See Cis Sullivan at the Hungry Monk. I didn't drink. Steve came. He didn't either. I weighed in at 172.6 pounds today! That means I've lost 20.4 pounds! No more beer for a month or so. No more fried chicken etc. Not until I lose TEN MORE POUNDS. 162.6 is PLENTY FAT. Then I will try to KEEP IT OFF. Sun Lakes 10/11/2016 Losing weight I think! Weigh myself the day after tomorrow! I went looking for the chestnut-sided warbler. There was a weird warbler but I couldn't tell what kind and I took pictures that didn't work out. And I don't have a generic warbler button. Sun Lakes 10/10/2016 I don't know if I can find that chestnut-sided warbler. The ruby-crowned kinglet looks like it. Sun Lakes 10/8/2016 Went to see the Chestnut-sided Warbler that I didn't see but there were some birders there who had seen it. One guy, Steve Valasek, showed me where. I went. I thought I saw him. It was a pine cone. A guy came down the road on his golf cart. His name was Mark. He lives here. He knew the guy who found the warbler. The guy who found it is named Dale Clark. I will go back. I am dieting and feel weak and wish I could eat chocolate and fried chicken and hamburgers and drink beer but I can't. Want to learn "Lonesome Town," "Loretta," and other songs. Still writing my Western Tune ala "I Was Born under a Wandering Star." Sun Lakes 10/7/2016 My package to the Rasmussens never got there because Wendy gave me the wrong address. I wonder if it'll come back to me. Trump got in huge trouble today over the release of a tape where he bragged about grabbing women's private parts. It is a disaster deluxe. I haven't drunk. So today is day 2 of my new diet. Very low calorie. I don't have as much energy as I should because of this and haven't worked hard on my projects. I hope to be very thin in a month for my "gig." Sun Lakes 10/6/2016 Drank only near beer today and not much of that. Thus, I will wait until a week has passed and check my weight. I have a gig to play at Marie and Charlie's on Nov 11, 2016. Sun Lakes 10/4/2016 No Notes Entered Veterans Oasis Park 10/3/2016 I drove over and realized I didn't know where it was anymore so I called Steve and found that it was on Chandler Heights and Lindsay. I went. It is really nice indeed. Veteran's Oasis Park. Lots of natural-looking desert. Sun Lakes 10/1/2016 I still drank beer today and at night I had a nightmare as usual. It happened to be about a mean dog. Sun Lakes 9/30/2016 Sent Rasmussens my books. Generic Place Anywhere 9/27/2016 Took Wendy to the airport. Jeff left for Silver City, New Mexico via Globe, Arizona. Sun Lakes 9/24/2016 Jeff came up from Tucson and from Xalapa. We spoke to Roberto for 20 minutes as I was chatting on skype. All three of us. He and I went to Steve's and played with the dogs. We went shopping all three of us at Walmart. Sun Lakes 9/21/2016 Returned the stool. The shorter one seemed pretty comfortable, but I decided not to make an exchange. Talked to Danitza Sun Lakes 9/20/2016 I bought a very tall stool for my computer because my back was killing me from looking up. It's not comfortable, however. I want a tall, soft swivel chair. Ikeda was where I got it. I may return it. I'm up so high it's hard to type. Sun Lakes 9/19/2016 I heard voices out in my carport and it was the patrol guy and someone else. I HAD LEFT MY WATER ON. They told me I had watered the Gila River Indian Reservation. I have been working on my song-- that is the western one and also "Stars Fell on Alabama." Some Jehovah's witness sent me a letter. Weird crank mail. Sun Lakes 9/14/2016 I went to the Spanish Club. It was a little uncomfortable for me. Sun Lakes 9/13/2016 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 9/10/2016 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 9/9/2016 Steve came by in the morning with coffee. Sally was here. We sat around drinking coffee. Sally drove home. So did Steve. Sun Lakes 9/7/2016 I talked to Fernanda in Guatemala and before that I walked about 25 minutes. IT WAS SPRINKLING WHEN I AWOKE. Storm coming in and smashing Mexico. I went to the Sun Lakes Spanish Club. Spanish speakers. I went. 831 South Sidney Avenue Tucson Arizona 9/6/2016 I came down on the fifth and we went to the Zoo. We went to Frank's. I forgot Neria Ryder's address. I bought a beetle t-shirt beatles really. Sun Lakes 9/5/2016 I'm going to Sally's today for the heck of it. Sun Lakes 9/4/2016 I was going to go to Sally's for the hell of it but I didn't. I will go tomorrow and it is tomorrow now and I'm writing this. Sun Lakes 9/1/2016 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 8/31/2016 I went and got my blood drawn and quartered and there was a National Review on the rack there with the name and address of the subscriber torn off. Then I brought over a bottle of beer to Sid and Cuca. They weren't there, so I put the beer at their door and then they came driving in and I spent a hour or more there. I didn't exercise today but I got some vegan chicken salad with Gardein chicken in it and it was delicious. I got this before I went to Sid's and had eaten a bunch of it. I also got a whole bunch of that vegan egg salad. I bought tonic water because I thought its bitter taste might be a good substitute for the near beer I'm drinking on my diet. Near bear is low in calories but the tonic water is diet tonic water with zero calories. Sun Lakes 8/30/2016 I caught a big tilapia in my pond and a bluegill in the other pond. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/27/2016 Steve and I went after going to Joe's Barbecue for free food on our birthdays. Joe Emery, Sid and Cuca went with us. I was on a diet, so I didn't eat the bread. I had beef brisket and pork barbecue. Sun Lakes 8/27/2016 My birthday and I caught a really little bass in Middle Pond and he was on the grass while I was trying to get my camera to work and he kept flipping and flopping until he flipped back into the lake before I got his picture. I caught a fish on my birthday anyhow. Sun Lakes 8/24/2016 I walked more than 13,000 steps. Did a mornin walk. The next day I woke up and I was still just over 10 pounds down. Maybe eleven. Not losing and I'm eating only 900 calories a day and walking. Must have been those two beer days with lots of beer and no exercise. Well, I have to look out for that. I want to be THIN! I weighed in at 181.6 a few days back but I'm about 182 point something now. What gives?? And I still have that biethday feed coming up with Sid and Steve at Joe's Barbecue on the 27th. IF YOU DON'T DRINK BEER, YOU SLEEP THE SLEEP OF THE DEAD AND YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE IS LOW LOW LOW. Sun Lakes 8/23/2016 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 8/18/2016 I went to the Living Room Wine Bar and go the email of the guy who does the music. I drank THREE BAD ASS BEERS and when I got home United Health had left me a message and when I called back I found that I still had their coverage. They KNOW I have medicare... The poor girl on the phone told me I was shooting the messenger but I had to rant and vent like a madmad with three beers in me. I used no dirty language but I did rave. Nice bar with a high-rise next to it and I would love to live there if I were a wino because I could walk out my door and into this kind of cool wine bar and a lobster bar next door and junk. Sun Lakes 8/16/2016 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 8/15/2016 Still dieting. Back to near beer! Just as good as real beer. Well, it is 100 percent real beer! Sort of. Got my ten K steps. Sun Lakes 8/14/2016 You know I went to the Hungry Monk and had two IPAs. I had a Two-hearted Ale and some other bitter and yummy IPA. I drank some Sierra Nevadas when I got home. No enjoyment so I'm back to NEAR BEER after this little trip up and I'm losing weight! Sun Lakes 8/13/2016 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 8/11/2016 I went. Business there is good. No fields except the far east side. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 8/11/2016 Drove over because I haven't been out of the house much. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/11/2016 Overgrown. Zero water. No cars even in the parking lot although the dog area is well maintained. Deserted. Dead toads. Three birds. Sun Lakes 8/11/2016 Water is up now even in my pond. Sun Lakes 8/9/2016 You know, there was a gekko on my curtain the other day. I eep dieting but I'm staying and barely nine pounds down and nothing changes. What gives? Sun Lakes 8/6/2016 I hope I'm not losing data. This is a test. Hope it's here. I'm on my diet and living kind of like a spider in here hoping to get my projects done, but this darned computer and my web page are taking up my time. I practiced guitar today--my polka gig and it's really coming along. Thinking of just using My Taylor Grand Symphony Mini for everything with lots of reverb on it for the Merle Travis stuff. Caught a big catfish on a bass diving lure. Took a while to get the hooks out. One tine was stuck for a while. I threw him back and he bubbled off in search of friendlier company. Sun Lakes 8/4/2016 Sally came by from her reunion meeting. Two days ago I had my starter on my truck replaced at Goodyear. This have to get those sensors fixed; there are codes coming out of the truck and the engine light saying repair engine soon is on. Sun Lakes 8/3/2016 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 7/31/2016 I'm still walking my 10,000 steps a day or more and on my diet and drinking near beer only. Sun Lakes 7/29/2016 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 7/28/2016 Called Jan. Will go over tomorrow. Straightened out my closet and arranged other things. Wendy sent a bunch of pictures. I did my 10000 steps. Hillary did her nomination acceptance speech. Chelsea introduced her. Sun Lakes 7/27/2016 Went to Fry's electronics to get a five-pin MIDI cable to USB but they had nothing and it sucked. I caught a mourning dove that was sick on the carport. He's in a box with water and trusts me not to hurt him. He seems badly injured. UPDATE: The poor thing died in the night. I thought he would. He was badly injured. He made it just in time for garbage pick-up. At least he died with air conditioning instead of on that hot cement. Sun Lakes 7/26/2016 Five pounds down today. Went to La Quinta Inn and saw Andrés for the first time. Sally Steve Davy Angela Andrés. They went to Flag. Sun Lakes 7/25/2016 Hope I got the date right. I thought I had everything in but don't see it. Sun Lakes 7/24/2016 I went to the atheist meet-up at Papago Brewery. I only had near beer because I'm trying to lose weight. I recorded myself playing Green Grass Polka, but I wasn't very good. Sun Lakes 7/23/2016 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 7/21/2016 Went and got my driver's license renewed. It wasn't bad. I had fun gabbing with the clerk. Then I went to Az Custom T-Shirts. Didn't like the guy. Unsocialized. Won't go back. I found an online store for the same price! Sally called about the key to the valve that that darned Bannon shut for us. Sun Lakes 7/18/2016 Walked. Deposited Wendy's check for the pump and then went to the D-Vine Wine Bar and Bistro, where I bought two NEAR BEERS--St. Pauli Girl with the green bottle so it was spoiled. I was the only customer. I little boring and near beer is no fun but I'm dieting. The barmaid didn't know what near beer was. Sun Lakes 7/15/2016 I have been dieting for one day--this is the second. I drank no beer yesterday, just NEAR BEER. Three of them at 75 calories each. Walked today for forty minutes and swam at the pool down the street. No one was there. Hot! An Islamic terrorist drove a truck over people in France killing 80 of them. Trump picked his running mate. Turkey is having a coup right now it seems. Sun Lakes 7/14/2016 Started my diet today and drank ONLY near beer meeting my Fitbit diet plan. Montezuma Well 7/13/2016 Sally and I went. We went all over the place to the riachuelo, the bench for Jack Beckman, the limestone canals, the park with the little crick. Lowell Observatory Mars Hill 7/12/2016 We went in the museum there on Mars Hill and I bought a postcard. Northern Arizona Museum 7/12/2016 Abert's squirrel Flagstaff House 7/11/2016 Sally and I went up to unwinterize. That Gerald Redsteer didn't drain the pump so it was cracked and ruined by frost action. Fixed the toilet with new guts and I didn't get the post long enough and it shuts off below the best water level. guy has made a road from his house to ours. Karen Bannon came by. Sun Lakes 7/7/2016 I caught a bluegill! My saguaro is lumpy from Gila woodpeckers making holes but the cactus expert at the Botanical Gardens says it won't hurt my cactus. Got a fitted sheet for my bed and threw out the mattress cover. Sun Lakes 7/5/2016 I tried to walk to the Cottonwood Bar, where I went yesterday, and I got pretty near, but it was too hot and I was overheating. It was about 105° So I went back. Sun Lakes 7/4/2016 Went for 8000 steps or so. Chatted with the patrol guy. They're draining that little pond because Pima Utilities screwed up and has a dead pump somewhere. Weird. I went to the bar at Cottonwood. Carded me. They've got IPA there on tap. Better than Mulligans. I got the names of Daniele and David who are there in the mornings weekdays and who hire the music. They only have music on Friday. Mulligan's is much better. I don't know if I'm interested anymore in Sun Lakes gigs. They're close, but there's no way to invite Facebook friends or friends from my meet-up group because the bars are private. That's why they carded me. Sun Lakes 7/3/2016 Walked 7000 steps and that was 45 minutes in the heat. I've been working on my webpage and spending too much time at it. It has become an obsession but it is the greatest family scrapbook yet made, my friends. Made pages for everybody. Then I will email the address. I called Rebecca Lavenue yesterday. She was out of town to escape the heat and we talked about my playing there again. Seems a go as far as I can tell and I will talk to them in a couple of weeks, a little later than I wanted, but I can work up my 'toire. Sun Lakes just isn't hiring me. Sun Lakes 7/1/2016 Took a fifty-minute walk. Later I went to the Perch to see if I could catch Rebecca. She wasn't there and I drank two beers. One was a Perch Black IPA. THEY MAKE ME SICK! Never again will I drink one. Went to Steve's. Sun Lakes 6/27/2016 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 6/26/2016 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 6/24/2016 Walked 40 minutes but still didn't get even 8000 steps. Had to walk to the saloon and back. That couple was playing there. They had me do a sound check. Sun Lakes 6/22/2016 Got a 777-dollar royalty check yesterday and I put it in the bank. Maybe the day before yesterday. Yes. Sun Lakes 6/20/2016 Using my FITBIT. I have been walking more. Sun Lakes 6/19/2016 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 6/15/2016 Went walking. It's going to be 120 degrees fahrenheit on Sunday. That's 48.8889 celsius. Sun Lakes 6/14/2016 No Notes Entered The Salt River 6/11/2016 Went here instead of the Water Ranch because the cops had it taped off because they found a dead woman in a pond. Steve and Dits and I. We went in Dits's truck. We went to a nasty area first where everyone poops and it stank and was awful. Then we went to Blue Point and there was trash there. Lots of tubers and kayakers. Drove to Saguaro Lake, but we didn't stop. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/11/2016 I went because it was on the way back from where I had parked my car near the water ranch. Pima Canyon 6/5/2016 I entered this nov 26 of 16 as it wasn't in here! Sun Lakes 6/3/2016 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 6/1/2016 Sally came by and the next day we cut fronds down. Sun Lakes 5/25/2016 Jan came by to help me with my truck. This is the last entry in my notebook. I lost the notebook on the way back...well here's what I wrote in Facebook: I didn't go to the Fun Lakes Saloon for a week or so but that amazing fact is not the point I wish to make. I want to say that on the way back I seemed to have lost my latest bird notebook. As you know, I have them dating back to 1971 with some gaps but I have all the rest except one perhaps. I retraced my steps in vain--twice. Yesterday, I went to the saloon, and there it was lying in the road. Oh, happy day. The last page was written on and it is now time to write the ending date, May 25, 2016, and to put it on the shelf with all the rest. The 37,862 birds written down longhand in the notebooks are also in my database, with which I can extract any specific finch from all of the flocks of sparrows and finches I have ever seen. I can sort out any that wear size 9 shoes or who use Ice Blue Secret or who can be depended upon to plead the fifth... Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/22/2016 Drove to Steve's. Yesterday I went to the perch and drank two beers at two o'clock. I went home and felt absolutely tired and sick. Horrible feeling. But today I went to Steve's on Danyell and then went here. My goddamned computer restarted again yesterday! Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/19/2016 Went to Steve's house on Daniele and then here as I needed exercise and the Water Ranch was next and I got it. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 5/19/2016 It was a little hot and so it was good exercise for me. I went my usual route. I had stopped at Steve's new digs beforehand. When I got home I had put one of my home brews in the refrigerator and it was pretty fizzy, but has a homemade taste. Kind of infected and green. Just a touch of that. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 5/15/2016 I just drove over. I left a phone message for Nancy and Larry but we didn't hook up. Getting hot. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/15/2016 Drove by on the way back from the Water Ranch. No fire station there for some time now. Dog training for the police. One car. Deserted otherwise. Sun Lakes 5/11/2016 Walked thirty minutes. Drank only near beer today. Sun Lakes 5/10/2016 Walked 45 minutes west north south Generic Place Anywhere 5/7/2016 Go to www.tomhascallcole.com/HuHuGam Heritage Center.html to learn about this little old half-hour trip. Sun Lakes 5/7/2016 I went to the atheist meeting at AJ's. Ate pizza afterwards there and got sleepy. Bought "The hottest hot sauce in the world." It wasn't very hot. They had some little 6 or 7-dollar bottles that had warnings on them. Keep away from children. I'll bet they WERE hot. Sun Lakes 5/3/2016 Testing one two three. Sun Lakes 5/2/2016 computer restarted twice today. new imac 27-inch San Francisco 4/15/2016 On the way to Eugene, Oregon for Katie Cole's funeral. Eugene Oregon 4/15/2016 Wendy and I went to Kate Cole's funeral. She wanted me to record the peacocks she saw and now I have. Sun Lakes 4/11/2016 First white-winged dove of the year over by my pond. It is also Sally's birthday. She is sixty-seven! She's driving tomorrow from New Orleans to Tucson. Generic Place Anywhere 4/2/2016 Was heading to the atheist morning coffee and my car broke down on the ramp to the freeway. Just stopped. Guy from Sun Devil auto came by and picked me up and I left the goddamned keys in the locked car so we had to go to my house for the spare set. The alternator seems to be out and I had it replaced just a year ago. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/31/2016 Went over to get my guitar, but it wasn't ready. So it goes. DEAD DUCKS ALL OVER. Eight dead in pond nine and two or three sitting there waiting to die of what I guess is a resurgence of the year 2000 BOTULISM. Scott Anderson retired and so I sent a message on the Riparian Institute's webpage about the problem. Paseo Park 3/31/2016 Just drove up on top on the way home. LOTS OF ANTELOPE GROUND SQUIRRELS. Higley and Ocotillo Roads 3/24/2016 No water except in that canal thing. Vast stretches of beige baked earth. I went to get my computer from UPS clean across town. What a hassle. Sun Lakes 3/20/2016 Awaiting my new $3048 computer. I wonder if I could have solved this prolem with a 200-dollar RAM upgrade. OMG. Generic Place Anywhere 3/20/2016 I went here because I had just gone to another site I wanted to see. It was a long dirt road over on Dobson where Intel is sort of and there was a canal and mesquites and a girl suprised me running by. Sun Lakes 3/16/2016 Steve came by. Sally and I worked on her book and got CreateSpace telephone help that finally worked. I ordered a new Mac the other day. Macintosh Imac with 1 terabyte of flash storage and it cost a walloping 3048 with three years of Apple Care. I became so discourgaged with the performance of my computer that I snapped. Great decision because for once I'll have a GOOD computer. Bad ass. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/12/2016 Went and got the digitalized home movies. I thought they were quite graining and a bit out of focus. The color was too light as well and I upped the saturation in Imovie. They are still amazing. Took stuff to Goodwill with Steve. Went to the saloon and drank two small pitchers. Slept from 10 to 4 and then 4 to 7:30 with those awful school dreams. I never have sweet dreams; only bad dreams. OH, this is no longer a FIRE STATION. No one's there except one cop car and the back area is a K9 training area. Sun Lakes 3/9/2016 Woke up and started phhotgraphing pictures from Steve's box. I didn't know there were so many and it took me forever but by evening I had a new photo page on the website. Still eating just veggies and parmesan but I drink too much beer to lose weight very fast. Sun Lakes 3/9/2016 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 3/6/2016 Almost finished with the editing of RECUERDO DE AMNESIA. Out of hours. Found a good script for writing pop-up window html code. Adding Cindy Walker's "Dusty Skies to my 'toire. Haven't really tried out my new Variax. I think I will. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/4/2016 Went to the video transfer joint to have our home movies digitalized. He wanted a 500-buck down payment. I left them ALL with him. A seven-day turnover! 13 cents a foot. Mesa Drive is not Lindsey; it is MCQUEEN. My three album CDs are in Phoenix ready to be delivered. About two days ago I got my new Variax, a sunburst model. I haven't played it plugged in yet. Its neck seems a little cheap and the Chinese black one is far better made--like a high-end strat, but the articulation and sound of this unplugged makes me think it will indeed be my main axe as planned. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/1/2016 Coming back from my meeting with the surgeon because my shoulder hurt but I think it's just that old old nagging shoulder injury. Sun Lakes 2/23/2016 Went to the fashion mall to have mycomputer fixed. They said to reinstall the operating system. I did. But coincidentally I think Cox is busted so bad they don't even answer their phones so I can't do some tests. I'm hoping this will be an improvement. Sun Lakes 2/20/2016 I went to Craft 64 in Scottsdale and it was a hell of a drive and I only got to talk to James and Susanna a minute and Roger was there too. Cis RSVPed but didn't show. I ended up talking to that gal Gail from Whole Foods who was getting ready to go to jail for FOUR MONTHS for her FOUR DUIs. Sun Lakes 2/14/2016 Went to the bar and drank three tomato beers. New bartender asked for my ID. Saw the great horned owl on the way home. Recorded "Every Word They Said" for several hours today. sunny ans warm. Sun Lakes 2/13/2016 Still working on my album art but I'm about done. Will send the CD of Singing with the Birds to California and Thank You Friends! and Sixteen First Takes are virtually done to a turn too. On my diet for some time now. Actually I started February 8 and so it's been six days. I walk forty minutes two days and then a day off and then two days and a day off. Doing photo album back-up with my camera and website. Will do digital versions of family movies soon! Caught a slight cough in Matzatlán but it isn't nagging and is going. Didn't much like the cruise. Seven days and seven nights trapped on a floating mall. Los Angeles California 2/7/2016 I couldn't carry my luggage and had to use a wheel chair in both airports. I just couldn't manage. No way. I am now starting a program of weight loss and excerise! Weight watchers. But I'll never be able to carry a suitcase like that again. Not for very far anyway. Puerto Vallarta 2/4/2016 Went swimming with sea lions. Amazing friendly intelligent animals! They thought I was Mexican and asked if we could do the presentation in English. I was embarrassed cause I was clowning around in Spanish. I didn't mean to trick them. Oh oh oh the sea lions were wonderful. Huge. Kind. Happy and optimistic. Caught a terrible chill riding back in wet clothes. Oh! Missed the magic show because I was too sick. Also I went to a bar and they had Mexican craft beer and I didn't try any and I regret this. Mazatlán México 2/3/2016 When on the city tour which is called the topless tour because I went in a bus and was on the top. It had a top so I don't get it. We also stopped at a glass blowing factory. I bought a green glass, a big one that holds two bottles of beer. This seems to be the factory where my green wine glasses were made as they match. We went and got free beer at a bar too. The tour guide kept telling us that everything was RELATIVE and that the master glass blower didn't make much money but it all evened out in Mexico. He said, "I'm doing FINE!" Sadly it isn't relative when he tries to step foot on a cruise ship. He can't do it. He doesn't have the bread. I felt a little cough. It was hot topside on the bus. I was catching a chill... Sun Lakes 1/31/2016 Great Horned Owl hooting outside as we speak. 6:24 AM. I'm going to fly to LA in a little while. Steve picks me up at eight. Then I take that Mexican cruise. Sun Lakes 1/26/2016 Working on the artwork for my albums. Soon I go on that Norwegian Cruise Lines cruise to Cabo and Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta. The dermatoloist cut a chunk off of my face--a tiny chunk actually as I can hardly see it now. Sun Lakes 1/23/2016 Took a walk. Sun Lakes 1/22/2016 I went to the doctor to have him look at the mole on my face. It doesn't look too bad, but I thought I'd best have it looked at. I got a Nurse practicioner who sent me to a "derm." Sun Lakes 1/20/2016 Pete Huttlinger died on the 15th. Scott says he's coming by here with the CD of that concert. Where is the DVD? I don't know. Going to go on the Norwegian Cruise to Mexico. Worried they won't have good beer aboard. Sun Lakes 1/10/2016 Yesterday I went to the mineral show with the atheists. Today I talked to Fernando since David got a job with the newspaper. I have been eating too much to state it lightly. At least I walked over there to nnw pond and maybe I can do this 2x and a break and 2x and a break as Sally does, but it's so boring! Sun Lakes 1/9/2016 I went to the Mineral Show at Mesa Community with the atheist meet-up group. Al Tomas was there. He's having trouble walking. We went to the Boulders on Southern and Alma School-- not the one on Broadway. Al drank five beers. I drank one. Luckily Al was not driving. We yucked it up. We saw lots of minerals. Al bought a couple of three long blue popsickle-shaped and sized blue minerals. Sun Lakes 1/7/2016 Sally came back from her talk last night. She was very upbeat and relieved to have finally gotten that task out of the way. She had a glass of wine and I had only had one beer all evening because I spent my time making an instrumental version of "Nevermore to Be." I drank several beers even though it was late. I did this listening to my recordings instead of watching Netflix or my Odd Couple DVDs. In the morning this morning I could have sworn it was Wayne knocking on my window, but it was Sally knocking on my door. She was ready to leave at 6:30 and she did although it was raining a little. Rained rather a lot today and I got little done. Sun Lakes 1/2/2016 Yesterday I played at Mulligan's for New Year's Day. Sally helped me set up. I wasn't very satisfied with my performance. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/23/2015 Drove over this first day with Steve and Dogs in Mexico and I drove to AJ's on Val Vista afterwards to get dry-aged beef. Not cheap. I'll report back. ITS DECEMBER 16TH AND I'M REPORTING BACK. (THE MEAT WEIGHED ALMOST A POUND AND I ATE IT ALL. IT FELL INTO TWO PIECES AS IT WAS TENDER. HOWEVER, IT WAS NO TASTIER THAN WHAT YOU GET IN THE SUPERMARKET USUALLY.) Long drive. Weather was all right. Yesterday it got cold in the afternoon. I thought it would snow or something. I'm working with David on another editing of Misteriosas Noches--after all these years. We're about half done. It is so much fun and you learn so much. Then we go on to Recuerdo de amnesia. Perfection is what I seek. 831 South Sidney Avenue Tucson Arizona 12/16/2015 Went leaving Steve and dogs at my house. I photographed the photo albums but couldn't finish and brought back a bunch of them to my house to photograph. I bought a Frank's T-shirt. Purple. We went to a place and I had a tomato beer type thing with a bottle of beer STUCK in it and it was good for a minute and then tasted awful and the food SUCKED. Sir Veza's was the same of the place. Worst most confusing menu I had ever seen as well. We had gone to another Mexican joint the day before. Frank's breakfast with the burger had a nice aged piece of beef and so I got interested in aged beef. Look and the next entry or so for more on this. Sun Lakes 11/23/2015 yesterday I went to Carlsbad Tavern and saw Ron Rutowski. Sun Lakes 11/16/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 11/12/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 11/7/2015 PLAYED AT MULLIGAN'S. Sun Lakes 11/2/2015 All the other birds as well. I went to the saloon and met the woman's whose husband's memorial party is Saturday and for which I am going to play music. Sun Lakes 10/30/2015 Almost finished with my screed again Dr. Fracica. Weather is NICE! Saw Gina Bagnoli at Whole Foods today and we talked for 3 and a half hours. Sun Lakes 10/26/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 10/25/2015 Mark Gregory and Steve and I went to look at houses. Sun Lakes 10/16/2015 Sitting out with Frankie and Skippy. Sun Lakes 10/15/2015 Sitting out in the morning with the dogs Frankie and Skippy and Steve. Generic Place Anywhere 10/15/2015 I went to Simpleton's and saw Larry and Nancy and John Dole and Peggy and Everett and Thiel and John and Janet Hayes. I drank one of those awful Kiltlifters which finishes poorly. I also drank a fresh squeezed IPA. That was all. Sun Lakes 10/14/2015 Sitting out with Steve and the dogs. Sun Lakes 10/12/2015 All the quail and junk. Towhees. etc. Dogs Frankie and Skippy are here. Today Skippy bit Mark Gregory's shoe and nearly got his ankle and Skippy was VERY bad. I think he left red marks on Mark's ankle. Sun Lakes 10/11/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 10/7/2015 The little bladder totes, Skippy and Frankie are here. They are fine little bladder rats. Walked the loop today and yesterday. Went to the doctor and he gave me some anti inflammatory 14-day doses of dusty inhalant to get rid of my kennel cough. Sun Lakes 10/2/2015 Frankie and Skippy. Steve and I took them all around my pond where we say White-crowned sparrows. Sun Lakes 9/27/2015 Steve came back from one night in Tucson. I had kept the dogs. I went to the Atheist Meeting at the Papago Brewery. Cis was there. I hate Willard and Stuart Kron. Tonight there will be a supermoon super moon lunar eclipse. Sun Lakes 9/17/2015 Steve's here with the dogs. I'm putting this in on the nineteeth and he's still here with the dogs. They are a gift from God. Sun Lakes 9/12/2015 I was chatting with David from Madrid and suddenly someone knocked on the door and it was Steve and Dits. They had been on South Mountain. We went over to the saloon after a while. Dits drank a small pitcher of beer as he was driving. Steve had a club soda. I had a hot dog and a near beer. Dits ate wings. We also ate some jalapeño poppers. Sally is in Flagstaff and the new neighbor's dogs are barking nonstop and the keys didn't work and things generally are sucking over there right now. Sun Lakes 9/9/2015 DROVE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN Got up and started the car. The battery had almost no juice but turned about an eighth of a turn and fired. I noticed my arm was working well so I drove it around and then I drove it to O'reilly's for a new battery and they gave me one free and installed it as well. I drove to Tempe for Maria Sulli's birthday bash at the Vine. There were four of us. Sun Lakes 9/8/2015 Jan took me to the hand doctor who said I get an A+ and I don't have to see him anymore. It's perfect and will be healed in a year with regard to swelling. Sun Lakes 9/7/2015 I walked around the pond areas and back from the south rez to the road back past the pool to my house. Arm working better. Sun Lakes 8/31/2015 Last night a storm blew in and tore Ralph's carport roof off, slung it across his house and into my carport and back yard and roof and the sheet metal would have cut me to ribbons (to coin a phrase) had I been out there. I couldn't figure out what all the noise was but I wasn't going out there because it sounded scary. What a mess. I wake up every morning WIPED OUT. My hand is a claw that I have to get closed and I feel creaky and weird. I still don't sleep on my stomach yet, but I'm going to go for it soon. I have my pulley system to stretch my poor arm. I keep trying to flatten my hand on the other arm so it will heal without a bridge shape. Sun Lakes 8/27/2015 Sid and Cuca came by and took me to Joe's Barbecue in Gilbert, where you get TEN dollars of meat on your birthday (or whatever you want). Steve drove to Sun Lakes and I wasn't there; my damned phone went on silent! WE all met at Sid's. He has a dog that is just chained to a spike. It's a shame. Sun Lakes 8/23/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 8/18/2015 Sonny's birthday. I called him and as I was talking I saw nighthawks. The letters to Scott Siebel and others went out! I also wrote up and submitted the animal cruelty and grafitti documents to the HOA. Sun Lakes 8/16/2015 Yesterday sid joe and cuca came by. Cuca got her earring. Steve came by earlier to help make envelopes to out that jesus freak siebel Sun Lakes 8/13/2015 Jan drove me to the shoulder surgeon's. He changed that lightbulb. Sun Lakes 8/11/2015 Morning storm with high wind and heavy rain. Sun Lakes 8/10/2015 Jan took me to the hand doctor. Sun Lakes 8/9/2015 Sid and Cuca came by. Cuca lost her turquoise earring and I found it the next day on my carport in a crack. We went the the saloon for 1 small pitcher. Ate wings and jalapeño poppers. Went to the pond. I thought Sid was just being lazy when didn't want to go but his body hurts when he walks. I wouldn't have asked. Sun Lakes 8/4/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 8/2/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 7/30/2015 I got a ride to Bashas' Pam the pt worked on my arm/shoulder Steve took the bus to Flag and then to the Grand Canyon Sun Lakes 7/28/2015 steve drove me to paterson's office took out staples got xrays viewable only through an .exe executatble. used my pc laptop and 2 flash drives success Sun Lakes 7/27/2015 therapist came by ithink the nurse did too Sun Lakes 7/26/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 7/25/2015 gayle bob charlie and marie came by at 4:00 with food and near beer Sun Lakes 7/4/2015 today the pain is less Sun Lakes 7/3/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 6/29/2015 at 11:30 (and hospital midnight the 30th) broke my shoulder dislocated+broke 2nd finger left and fractured index finger left HERE ARE DATES: waited until 7/10/2015 for morning surgery. Anesthesiologist tried to lead me in prayer in the operating room, the lunatic scumbag pig! Stayed Friday the 10th of July, Saturday and most of Sunday in the hospital and late Sunday sent to Desert Cove Nursing where i stayed until the 23rd Sun Lakes 6/26/2015 Today same-sex marriage became legal and a right it all fifty states! Yesterday, the supreme court upheld Obamacare, which was a huge victory. Today Obama gave a very good eulogy at that black church in South Carolina. Today I went to the saloon and had a small pitcher. Today I watched a Brian Wilson special on channel eight. It was a concert. Al Jardine was excellent singing. Sun Lakes 6/23/2015 This is a sad anniversary. Sun Lakes 6/20/2015 Got that darned effects box that plays drums and bass and I'm not really interested in it. I'm going to send it back and get a refund or a store credit. Went to Steve's and played with Skippy and Frankie. I bought a twelve-pack of Bush nonalcoholic beer and some good O'doul's amber. I have a couple of those Claushaler good ones too. I haven't had a drink in a long time. Over a week! Wait... 12 days twelve days. My blood pressure is really low and there is no chance of heartburn at night as I am also virtually vegan. Losing a little weight but I haven't weighed myself as I don't want to be too disappointed when it says 192 or something. I have been talking to that David on Skype from Spain. I wonder if he speaks English. I have never asked him nor heard him speak any but I think he knows a bunch about it. I have 6 hours left and one scheduled to talk on spanish 121. I went to Mysterious Puddle, which is actually a dry hollow now. Hot. 115 or so yesterday. Really hot today but only 109 but it burned my face and I started back after 25 minutes and by then I had only a minute left to get home. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/16/2015 I went to Steve's and went swimming. Played with Frankie and Skippy. We watched Shark Tank and made plans to see Love and Mercy the movie about Brian Wilson the next day (and we went and saw it the next day at 9:40 at Harkin's. Talked for an hour in Spanish with David. Still no booze. Only near beer. Only vegan except for parmesan cheese. Sun Lakes 6/14/2015 Walked with my dumbbells. This is my sixth day of no drinking. Well, I have plenty of near beer. Claushaler's amber dry hopped unfiltered and O'doul's amber, my two favorites. Talked to David in Madrid at eight o'clock in the morning. Last night there was a HUGE swarm of tiny green gnat-like insects around the outdoor light. There were ZILLIONS of them. I went in and lot came in with me. Sleeping like a rat powered with near beer. Sun Lakes 6/12/2015 Haven't drunk any beer. Only near beer. I sleep heavily on account of that I think and I wake up completely wiped out! I walked with my dumbbells for about an hour. It was hot and my left foot started burning on the cement. I think I burned it earlier by walking with those brown tennis shoes with the hole in the sole. Steve's in Mexico again. I spammed the group in Mexico to sell my book. I have been doing my old weighwatcher's diet for the last two days. I've got to get rid of this weight and I enjoy the near beer just fine. Doing Broadjam and getting reviews. Fantasy and Science Fiction sent me a note about "the Sluggards." The editor said he liked the guitar part but in the end the story didn't win him over. Here's what he wrote online: www.tomhascallcole.com/rejection%20slips.html Sun Lakes 6/11/2015 I walked an hour with my dumbbells and then I went fishing over at the little bass pond. No strikes. Nothing. Then I went to the saloon and had one non-alcoholic beer, an Odoul's Amber. Oh, on the earlier walk I went to the stand pipe. It was roaring with water and I made a video. I cooled off too. Sun Lakes 6/9/2015 I was going to stay away from the computer today, but I didn't. I am drinking only near beer today. I went to Target and their shoe selection stinks. My shoes are ALL worn through so walking is a pain as there are holes in them all and my feet get burned. I bought socks and two dumbbells to strengthen my arms. Sun Lakes 6/7/2015 I drove over to Steve's and we went to Fry's and there was a guy with a gun in there. Sun Lakes 6/6/2015 Spoke Spanish 121. Stayed home all day. Ate only vegetables. Practiced guitar. Etc. Sun Lakes 6/5/2015 I discovered that there was a Goodwill Store near me. A new one I guess. I bought a couple of books. Three actually. Judge Judy's Don't Pee on My Leg and Tell Me It's Raining, a Herbert Zim flower book a hardback, and a book in Spanish. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/3/2015 Lots of dead toads. Steve was talking with some Chileno in Germany, so instead of going directly over there I stopped by E&C roads. I went over to Gila Lane. The Downunder Wine Bar is now the Cuisine Wine Bar. I drove by my old house. The cactus had been chopped up. Ugly. Tiny house and what a dump! Glad I sold it and moved. I went to Steve's and we went to Fry's for Senior Discount Day. Oh, what a big time we had. I played with Skippy and Frankie and went home. Sun Lakes 5/28/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 5/26/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 5/24/2015 I went over to the atheist meeting. Drank a Two-hearted Ale and ate a bacon cheeseburger. One guy was there and I thought he had a dogmatic libertarian (or something) view of the world and would respond to people's ideas with ambiguous dog whistle answers. Generic Place Anywhere 5/23/2015 I took care of Skippy and Frankie. I took a dip. Frankie slept with me and Skippy came up a couple of times. Oh, it was a good sleep and didn't the three of us have SUCH a big time! I went over to Spokes to meet the atheists but it was not schedule for Saturday but Sunday. Silly me. Sun Lakes 5/21/2015 On the 19th of May I submitted to Fantasy and Science fiction. They replied: Dear Tom, Thank you for submitting "The Sluggards" to F&SF.Your submission id is: 555b7ab20d21d You may check the status of your submission at any time by visiting this link: http://submissions.ccfinlay.com/?page=status&pub_id=20&id=555b7ab20d21d&email=tom.cole%40asu.edu Sincerely, The F&SF Editors Sun Lakes 5/19/2015 I walked over to Mysterious Puddle, which was full of water. I blocked Diane Grant/Diane Hull on Facebook today. She posted a Fox News crackpot Benghazi video. This is done by people with such alacrity. I can't have that. It saves me from sending her a broadside salvo. I should have just removed her from my feed and no one is the wiser. When you unblock, they're unblocked and are unfriended. I did this to another person the other day. Should have used the other feature. Now I look like a prickly twit and feelings are hurt when they see I have done this. But I don't even know that person. I don't think we've met. Just the same, she's hooked up with people in the local beer culture. Her crime was posting a "type AMEN" if you believe. (This part of a poster that told of how god is working up some great stuff for us all. Wish I knew the mind of god. I just can't have that right-wing shit. I listened to the minister's speech which Diane had liked. Unintelligent. Practiced guitar.Didn't see any nighthawks last night. I think it was a little windy for them. They don't like wind. Oh, I sent the Sluggards to the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction via email. The submissions place is in Surprise Arizona, so I guess I regret not having mailed it I should have. Here's the sausage link to check on its progress: http://submissions.ccfinlay.com/?page=status&pub_id=20&id=555b7ab20d21d&email=tom.cole%40asu.edu Sun Lakes 5/17/2015 Worked on some songs and added "Such a Fool as I" to "Rambling Rose" as they are both in the key of A. Went to the saloon. Put in Steves 4/25/2015 logbook entry online. Sun Lakes 5/13/2015 Walked over. Took forty minutes. Went fast. Sun Lakes 5/8/2015 Carbonite buys said I could have my money back if I wanted. Cox Com guy came buy and put me on a new channel but it still goes off at night. Sun Lakes 5/2/2015 Sally came by on her way back from Flag to get some grapefruit. 30 had been blown off my tree and I gathered them up and made them into juice the next day on Sunday before Jeff came up to play at that Gold Bar coffee house. Delish! Flagstaff Area 5/1/2015 11.85 Gallons in 225.3 miles = 19 miles per gallon Northern Arizona Museum 4/30/2015 Shoot. No pygmy nuthatch. Flagstaff House 4/29/2015 Went to get the overflowing deal fixed. David Stephans fixed it for 160 bucks. Leak from the upstairs sink. Not thinking it's ice related. Guys came to fix it and charged rather a lot. Sally showed up and then Wendy. Slept well. Ran into Cindy May before Sally arrived. I took a picture of Penny, whom she had with her. Sun Lakes 4/28/2015 Heading up to Flag in a couple of minutes. Sun Lakes 4/27/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 4/25/2015 Coyotes calling when sirens way out west started blaring. Sun Lakes 4/24/2015 Today they closed the patio bar because all of the snow birds have left and the patio will also get hot soon Sun Lakes 4/22/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 4/20/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 4/19/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 4/18/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 4/16/2015 My notes say I will call helicopter guy tomorrow, mix music, call grafitti control. All of these tasks have been done but it's the 25th as I write, friend. Generic Place Anywhere 4/15/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 4/14/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 4/12/2015 Today I woke up and then snoozed again at four o'clock. I dreamed that Heidi and Pete were still with us and yet when I looked at Pete I thought he looked different. Had we lost track of what dogs we had??? And they died and we had replaced them somehow with others without even realizing it??? I walked outside with Dad. I said, "We came to Tempe in 1958." "No," said he. "1959." He was wrong but I said okay. 59, 69, 79, 89, 99, 2009, 2015! No dog ever lived that long." We walked outside 2015 Sierra Vista and I said, "Don't you remember? We buried Pete in the back yard!" And then I burst into tears and I awoke. I was still crying. And I cried the whole day through. Oh, how deep these things strike us. There are some that will say it was a symbol for the people like my mom and dad and that's the reason I cried. Horse shit! It was for Pete! And Heidi. I remember some Arab telling me he hated dogs. Fuck his religion. Sun Lakes 4/9/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 4/7/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 4/6/2015 Rock squirrel jumped over to my AC unit. I left him two pieces of sourdough bread and he seems to have taken one. Working on archiving. Storeroom still not cleaned out or even close. Sun Lakes 4/5/2015 Went to the saloon. Before that I didn't get too much done. But I have just bought a new taperecorder and CD player. It works good. 6.99 at Goodwill, but I had to buy the 1.99 power cord too. It's now the sixth as I write and I just dreamed I went back to 2125 and was trying to get out before the new owner came back. They were tearing up the street in front of that house. (They've been making terrible noise recently in front of my real world house lately putting in new power lines. I think they'rre done with my area. Thank goodness.) Anyway in the dream, someone next door to 2125 was thinking of moving in. Bye drummer boy. They played unamplifed electric guitars as they looked. I had my red one or one similar and I played a little. Then I tried to get the truck out of the garage. There was a cat there. the kitchen was like that of 2015. Today a dust devil came roaring in and blew my chairs around the saguaros down and broke some of my tiles when the tables fell down. The saguaros swayed. I hope they don't fall down. Sun Lakes 3/31/2015 Went to Sun Devil Auto where I paid 1075 to fix my busted distributer and put in new spark plugs... Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/26/2015 Went to Middleton's tax and found that the difference between my 7.31 CreateSpace royalty that I sent to the IRS and the correct 18.81 one didn't matter. They thought I said 18 HUNDRED and 81 dollars. Har! There was a COTTON TAIL here. Sun Lakes 3/26/2015 Big cats (catfish) in the pond. Sun Lakes 3/23/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 3/22/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 3/19/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 3/18/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 3/17/2015 No Notes Entered Superstitions 3/12/2015 Went to see Riders in the Sky. Food mediocre at the Mining Camp Restaurant. Sun Lakes 3/11/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 3/10/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 3/9/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 3/7/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 3/6/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 3/2/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 3/1/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 2/27/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 2/26/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 2/25/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 2/21/2015 Recorded that polka with Green Green Grass of Home as the intro. Generic Place Anywhere 2/15/2015 No Notes Entered Paseo Park 2/15/2015 I didn't know what to do today so I drove over to that Paseo Park in Chandler. It's that raised area on McQueen and Ocotillo. They use old busted pieces of cement for decoration and the place looks like Mexico. Run down. Archery Range. Dog Park. Sun Lakes 2/13/2015 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/4/2015 Went to have my taxes done. Dropped by here on the way back. Eating too much. Fell off vegan wagon. I was vegan for two or three weeks I think. FAT. I AM FAT. I must lose and quick drinking all that beer. That kegerator is my downfall. I must put light beer in it instead of that high-cal high-alc India Pale Ale. Sun Lakes 2/4/2015 All the usual birds. Sun Lakes 2/2/2015 Steve and Frankie and Skippy came by and we walked over by the lakes. Sun Lakes 2/1/2015 You know something has left a turd on my little patio by my sliding glass door. I put bread out in case it was hungry. Hasn't eaten it yet. Skunk? Sun Lakes 1/28/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 1/26/2015 I've gained all my weight back. Now I'm vegan again but I've been putting a lot of oil in the fried squash, onion, and mushroom dish. Also I have the kegerator filled again as of yesterday with HOP KNOT IPA which is high calorie. I hope I lose. If I walk, I'll at least be healthy. Sonny is on a cruelty free diet. Generic Place Anywhere 1/25/2015 I went over to see Sid and Cuca. The dogs were very friendly to me. Lots of chickens. Then I went over to Steve's and played with Frankie and Skippy. Sun Lakes 1/24/2015 You know, I just walked there to Mysterious Puddle and around up to the first street and back and it took me about a half hour. Easy short exercise. Sun Lakes 1/23/2015 I sent anthony andrews a letter today or yesterday. I found today that I have misidentified male goldeneyes for female buffleheads. Plus I've been calling male buffleheads hooded mergansers! Sun Lakes 1/18/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 1/18/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 1/7/2015 Those Islamic killers did their thing I think it was today the seventh to those cartoonists. Walked for 45 minutes to the Northwest Pond and back. Gained weight! Tons. Fat again. Heavy boy. Sun Lakes 1/1/2015 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 12/30/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 12/29/2014 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 12/27/2014 Met Larry and Nancy there and Steve as well. Atheism. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/27/2014 Came back from Larry's house. It was getting dark. Gets dark early 'round the solstice. Generic Place Anywhere 12/26/2014 On Christmas or thereabouts I saw ducks in this pond on Ocotillo and some had a lot of white and so I came back and the white was the shovelers' breasts but there was a bufflehead in there that was a female. Ruddy ducks too. Generic Place Anywhere 12/25/2014 I went to Steve's and we ate prime rib. I bought Sonny a beer and fifteen bucks worth of beef jerky. Generic Place Anywhere 12/21/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 12/18/2014 I went to the saloon and drank three cheladas. Sally is driving back to the Big Easy tomorrow. Steve arrived home from Chile today. Generic Place Anywhere 12/16/2014 Went to Gannon's and had my physical. I am in tip top shape. Sun Lakes 12/16/2014 Two jerks in a golf cart chased all the ducks into the pond. They had Vets against Cancer on their cart. Creeps. Sun Lakes 12/14/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 12/13/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 12/11/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 12/10/2014 I just went for a five-minute walk. I walked an hour yesterday and today is a break I guess. Decent day. Generic Place Anywhere 12/10/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 12/9/2014 Walked for at least an hour. Went down Mysterious Puddle way and then back onto the streets and then to the south reservation and then past that stand pipe that wasn't going and back past Little Pond to my house. Working on Merle Travis and it's getting better. Sun Lakes 12/8/2014 Walked only about 30 minutes. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/7/2014 I went to Total Wine in Gilbert to get a keg of Devil Ale for my brand new kegerator. Then I went to Gilbert and Warner roads to get the C02 tank filled. 10 bucks plus for that. The keg was with tax 116 bucks but that included the 30-buck deposit. It contains. 60 beers. The math doesn't work well for the cost: let's say nine bucks a HIGH price for a six pack of this special brew. Divided by 6 = 1.50 per beer X 60 = 90 bucks. Well I paid 116 - the deposit is 86 bucks. Four bucks in savings? But I didn't count the tax so it's better. I will look into this more later. ANYWAY I was only two miles or so from Elliot and Cooper roads so I went over for my 1428th trip there. Oh there was ground fog last night at 8922 sun lakes out over the golf course and it was still there in the morning. It burned off after awhile and golfers came to play. The KEGERATOR FOAMS too much, but what else is new? I will see how that goes later. Sun Lakes 12/7/2014 I got the kegerator working and drank half a beer and then knew I had to take a walk. Only thirty minutes this time. Sun Lakes 12/6/2014 Walked over to the nw pond. It took an hour. Canyon Lake 12/5/2014 Decided to drive to Tortilla Flat. I went. There was a Ford Transit Connect there. Perfect car for me as it is a very small bread van or camper that can have a bed and porta potty and can transport equipment and is easier to park than my giant truck. I walked up to where I was when I was a kid at Tortilla Flat. There was a Black Phoebe there. It was kind of hard getting in. I was on the right side of Apache Trail towards Fish Creek hill. I couldn't see that crashed car down the ravine this time when I came up approaching Canyon Lake. Sun Lakes 12/5/2014 Mysterious Puddle was full of water because it rained yesterday and my carport roof leaked right where Jan and I fixed it. Sun Lakes 12/4/2014 Called benefits gov or whatever for my healthcare 602-542-5008 and confirmed that I have it all set up for 2015. December 8 2:00 PM appointment with Gannon. Rained last night and my carport roof was leaking right where it was before. Steve is leaving for Chile with Dits today soon. It's still raining lightly, sprinkling, raining... WALKED 50 minutes down to the little pond and over to the bass pond near Riggs and back down the streets to my house. Steve called from Houston ready to get on board. Sun Lakes 12/3/2014 Walked Mysterious Puddle way for 50 minutes or so. Big dog tracks. Coyote poop. Went to Steve's afterwards. Looks like Wayne and Lori have gone to Hawaii. Generic Place Anywhere 12/3/2014 2172 Harrison. Steve's house. We played with Frankie and Skippy. Sun Lakes 12/2/2014 Walked over to mysterious puddle. Then I went to Steve's to help him with the dogs who had to go to the vet. My baggage is still lost flying around the world. Minneapolis 12/1/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 11/23/2014 I was at the NNW Pond cause I drove there and stopped to get the phone out of my pocket. I went to see Mary Poppins with Tricia Ditsworth playing the part of Mary. I went for the 2:00 PM show. I had two beers and one at intermission. Camelback IPAs. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/22/2014 Went to three places: Elliot and Cooper Roads, Higley and Ocotillo Roads, and Veterans' Oasis Park. Still can't see over the palo verde tree into the pond. Higley and Ocotillo Roads 11/22/2014 Well, I haven't been here in a while and the housing development is well on its way and folks are moving in. Looks like a nice place because you can look out your back window in many of the houses and see the ponds. I couldn't go in the back way anymore but I could stop and look at different angles from the housing area. Veterans Oasis Park 11/22/2014 I didn't stay long or walk far. Went to THREE PLACES TODAY: HERE, E&C AND HIGLEY/OCOTILLO. Sun Lakes 11/20/2014 Went and drank three beers at the North Patio Saloon at the club house. Some guy bought me a beer. I ate like a pig today. A whole pizza that I bought at the supermarket, a tamal, a piece of chicken, tons of beer... Sun Lakes 11/18/2014 Heard GH owl. Wayne drove up on his golf cart under my window at 4:55. I don't mind at all. Sun Lakes 11/17/2014 I went to Steve's to get my keys. On the way I stopped at Target on Arizona Avenue and bought a blue flannel shirt. Saw the warbler at TARGET. Sun Lakes 11/16/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 11/15/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 11/12/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 11/11/2014 Well this is kind of a joke because there are so many birds out here but I didn't leave the house because I was enfatuated with making a Hemingway story generator. Steve called. I didn't speak Spanish on Skype. I recently watched "The Score" with Robert De Niro and Marlan Brando and Edward Norton. Norton was in fight club. Very edgy Character. Sun Lakes 11/8/2014 I dreamed I was going to a Richard Dawkins talk but the time flew and I missed it because I was so late. I had papers and I was finally able to read that it was at 6:45 and since it was 8:45 I missed it big time. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/5/2014 Whipped on by. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/4/2014 Two young guys came in on bikes with army green packs or army brown. Weird packs. They knew about geo caching and I showed them the hiddle pill bottle. The Republicans took the house. Now there will be racist mischief. Sun Lakes 11/3/2014 Drank a beer and a strawberita and then some jackass said the nonsense about Obama killing Medicare to support Obamacare which is total horse shit so I left in a snit. Sun Lakes 10/31/2014 Last night I dreamed I was in a Huge fancy spaceship being launched and everyone was there Wendy, etc and suddenly this giant thing turned and headed into the salt river bed. I was interested to know that I'd die on the river rocks. There wasn't much time to say anything but after we crashed we entered a fuzzy but servicible black and white world that soon repixilated itself and became full color. Everyone was there and it was an afterlife and we lived forever. I met some girl who had been murdered and her sister was with her. And also we were trying to figure out if the place was regularly updated with newly dead people. The conclusion was that it was. HALLOWEEN. No kids came. Sun Lakes 10/29/2014 Went to the North Patio bar and drank a bloody Mary and a beer. I scheduled my trip to Spain with Jeff Dorris today. Sun Lakes 10/28/2014 I went to the saloon and talked to some old hippie and when I went back I stubbed my toe on a raised crack in the golf cart sidewalk and ATE CEMENT. Bled all over, but the worst part is that I hurt my arm again and now I can't reach up on the shelf. Sun Lakes 10/27/2014 All the regular birds. I went to the sun lakes saloon. North Patio. Sun Lakes 10/23/2014 I went to the saloon. New bar maid. Didn't like her as she was playing fast and loose with the joint's money and winking at me over it. Sun Lakes 10/22/2014 I went to the sun lakes saloon and Bill Butler called. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/18/2014 I drove around and then said to myself, "Why not go to E&C Roads?" So I did. No one there. They had cleaned up there but the trees still need to be cut down. I HOWLED and a COYOTE came out immediately and ran away. I played with Skippy and Frankie on the way back because Steve is in Mexico. Generic Place Anywhere 10/18/2014 Planning a trip to England and Spain. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/14/2014 I had to get my guitar from Mtroniks and so I swung by here. There was a guy there who had seen one of my talks. He had roof prisms and a nice dog named Jazz who was kind of a border collie thing. Friendly. We talked and looked at the birds. He had a POWER SHOT camera which he thought was very good. COYOTE sleeping in pond ten. The guy took a picture of him with telephoto lens and it was good. Nice 'yote. Went and got my guitar and they also had my Chinese Variax that they were going to use for parts but they fixed both my RED GUITAR and the sunburst Chinese one, so I still have two working (actually 3 with my other black tortoise shell Chinese one) Variaxes!) I then went into the comic book store and they were very nice and told me about a bookstore next door and I went and they had old Burroughs hardbacks and I bought some paperback SF titles from them. One by Frederick Brown. Sun Lakes 10/10/2014 I drove over to Steve's. I'm drinking Odoul's and eating vegan Tofurky and the like. Talked to Fernando via Skype. The day before yesterday I sent Boyer DUNG and Singing with the Birds and one Kathleen Singing with the Birds and Sixteen First Takes as I had attended three days ago the bluegrass jam. The players were extremely basic. Generic Place Anywhere 10/10/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 10/7/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 10/6/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 10/3/2014 Got my fishing license and the lady said there were bass in a pond on the map so I walked over to look. There are three more ponds in there. I'll call them the Bass Ponds. Sun Lakes 10/2/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 9/30/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 9/29/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 9/28/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 9/23/2014 I think it's the the 23rd. The owl is definitely the 23rd. This is the first time I haven't had the exact date. Almost the first... Sun Lakes 9/22/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 9/21/2014 Walked nearly an hour. Sun Lakes 9/20/2014 The water has sunk in but there is still a pond at Mysterious Puddle. Walked 35 minutes. Sun Lakes 9/19/2014 walked and then went to the bar and drank beer and read DUNG. Laughed myself silly. Then went home and FINISHED BREAKING BAD. Thank God! I wrote "My Yodeling Cowgirl" today and recorded it. Sun Lakes 9/17/2014 Went out at night and there was a HOG-NOSED SKUNK in my yard! Sun Lakes 9/14/2014 Walked forty minutes down the streets and out onto the south res. Went to the bar and drank a bunch of beer and walked back with my pack and a guy on a golf cart asked me if I lived there. I said sure. I kept walking and a cop yelled at me and I had to go talk to him and convince him I wasn't going to burgle any houses. His name was WALT. Oh, the next day (September 15th) that Navajo lady was over at the pharmacy and I gave her and her daughter a ride to the bus stop. Her daughter fell in some rocks before they got to the truck and her mother wasn't strong enough to get her up, so I lifted her up. It was hard and I had to hold her steady and she told me she had had a stroke. Kind of young for a stroke. She was cut and bleeding from the fall. As I drove them I noticed she smelled of alcohol and she said she drank too much and it made one side of her body feel heavy. She said having had a stroke made everything so boring. She bled all over the back of my seat and told me about it so I'd know I had a mess to clean up. They were very polite but not as jolly as the last time. I went to Good Will and bought a spatula and spoon. Got my meds before and bought lights for the store room. This was all the fifteenth! Sun Lakes 9/13/2014 Jan came by and we patched the carport roof. Sun Lakes 9/11/2014 Dreamed of an Isis-like embedded culture that had captured Steve and me. I only walked about 25 minutes. It is 911. Sun Lakes 9/10/2014 Went by Mysteriuos Puddle again. STILL water pouring in from north and south. Walked 45 minutes or so. Sun Lakes 9/9/2014 Went to Mysterious Puddle. Water pouring in from North and South. Sun Lakes 9/8/2014 Went to Mysterious Puddle Sun Lakes 9/7/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 9/6/2014 Walked to NNW Pond and backk. Sun Lakes 9/5/2014 Went past Little Pond on the way to the south res. Sun Lakes 9/3/2014 Only 25 minute walk. Hot. Tired. Good exercise though as I really hoofed it. Spend the day writing a song called I Ain't Chasing after Love No More. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/2/2014 Steve and I had food at Tokyo House. I had the chicken teriaki and he had the obento plate. I went by Mtroniks. Main was closed and I carried the Chinese sunburst Variax over from behind the store. Then I came back on Stapley which turns into Cooper Road and came here. Nice coyote puppy! Afterwards, I called Rebecca Lavenue and told her I was on vacation from playing. She said I could play every other week or whatever and to call her back when I wanted to play again. Sun Lakes 9/1/2014 Took my walk and went past the swimming pool and out onto the south reservation. On the way cop cars passed slowly by me and a helicopter was roaring around. I walked down the dirt road on the res and even more cops passed me. One waved at me. They were looking for a bad guy obviously. I went to the standpipe that was roaring and filled my hat twice and dumped it over my head. I was drenched with cold water. I kept walking. More cops. I think I want a security door. Sun Lakes 8/31/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 8/29/2014 Walked only about a half hour. Maybe a little more because it was 107 out I think. Sally said so anyway. I went to Mysterious Puddle, which is full and took the second street back in. Sun Lakes 8/28/2014 Walked forty minutes to the NW pond. It was hot! Afterwards I went to Albertson's and bought oyster mushrooms. Then I had ONE Devil Ale at the Whiskey Rose Saloon and went home. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/27/2014 My birthday. Jan came by and we fixed the roof. Hot, hard work. I drove over to Sid's but he wasn't there. Steve was going to meet me there but it all didn't work out so I went the E&C roads as I always do on my birthday. I will play at the Perch tonight and Sid and Cuca will come. UPDATE: Steve came too and spent the evening with Sid and Cuca and Joe and company. Joe bought me a bottle of merlot and put it in my guitar case and that along with five bucks. My Red Guitar fell off its strap and crashed into the cement floor jamming the quarter-inch plug through the setting and into the guitar body. I had to get my black guitar, which sounded great. I've got to get it fixed. Steve and I agreed that where I'm playing is awful; there's no audience; there's no light. There's no room. I have to change that. I went home with the growler of grapefruit Hefe that Cuca bought me. Sun Lakes 8/24/2014 Sally's coming by. Today Jan came and washed off my roof. Sun Lakes 8/23/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 8/17/2014 Lazuli bunting. A first for Sun Lakes I believe. Dreamed of chewing tobacco copenhagen last night. Saw a mirage at the south reservation. Wrote a letter to Susan Hampshire and mailed it the next day the 18th. You know from the Forsyte Saga Sun Lakes 8/16/2014 Lots of water at Mysterious Puddle. It was so humid I took the first street back after the puddle and was home in a half hour. I bought a frying pan today. I went to the Whiskey Rose Saloon and read Recuerdo de amnesia. I worked on the lyrics to Don't Tell Me about the Good Old Days or perhaps the title is The Golden Age. Sun Lakes 8/15/2014 Walked to the NW Pond. Sun Lakes 8/14/2014 Last night I blew up both sound systems at the Perch. The Gigrac started going BRRRRRRRRRR! It was covered with dew from the misters. My guitar and I were drenched. I got my back-up. The the Behringer sound system went POP and was dead too. Today they both work fine. What gives? Sun Lakes 8/12/2014 Walked 40 minutes or so to the NW Lake. Talked to Sally on the phone as I walked. We talked about the bill Bannan was laying on us along with one Ray. Sun Lakes 8/11/2014 No Notes Entered Veterans Oasis Park 8/11/2014 Walked a half hour or so. Not many people there at all. Sun Lakes 8/10/2014 Walked to the NW Lake. Started writing a poem about drummers: Let me tell this tale of hell s travail....That happened just this summer ....I was in a four-piece combo....Three musicians and drummer Sun Lakes 8/8/2014 Walked forty minutes or so. Went to the saloon the Perch. Drank two beers. Sun Lakes 8/7/2014 Walked a little more than an hour. Sun Lakes 8/6/2014 Went and played. I got a few good recordings. Sun Lakes 8/5/2014 Got my colonoscopy today. Yesterday, I had to drink a ten-ounce bottle of some lemon-lime laxative and eat four dulcalax pills. THEN I had to mix seven big old scoops of powered laxative into a quart of gatorade and drink it in one hour. Then in an hour I had to repeat that. That made FOURTEEN SCOOPS. Steve drove me over today. When they finally took me to the room I talked a minute and then couldn't remember anything. I woke up feeling great. I was SO COMFORTABLE. Then they put me in the most COMFORTABLE chair. I can't remember how I got dressed. Steve drove me home and I ate egg burros. Then later I had TWO big steak-ums sandwiches and a candy bar, a Mr. Goodbar. I was only 179 lbs today so I'm only four up from where I like to be. Sun Lakes 8/2/2014 Talked to Tania via Skype. Wrote the intro to flip side of love. I found an old intro and rewrote it. Nice enough. Tomorrow I must buy that awful shit for my colonoscopy. Veterans Oasis Park 8/2/2014 Walked for thirty-five minutes. Biting midges got me when I walked across a dried up area of one of the ponds on the way to the water. I was bleeding. Muggy. Not many people there at all on a Saturday. I went to a Basha's where I hadn't been before. There was a music school near it. Sun Lakes 7/31/2014 I walked fifty minutes. Hot. Sun Lakes 7/30/2014 Walked about an hour and ten minutes to the south reservation. 110 degrees fahrenheit. Sun Lakes 7/28/2014 I went to Steve's and then drank two Two-hearted Ales at the Monk so I didn't excercise. Before I had the Sherrif come by to look at the earrings. He took them all away. Sun Lakes 7/27/2014 I walked down Player Drive but couldn't find anymore earrings. I filmed the ants after I caught a butterflly and gave it to them. I walked to the nw lake and back. It took an hour. Sun Lakes 7/26/2014 Walked about one hour and ten minutes. I found a bunch of earrings at the end of Player Drive. Sun Lakes 7/25/2014 I think this walk was perhaps only 35 to 40 minutes. Sun Lakes 7/23/2014 It was 111 degree or so. Hot! Mysterious Puddle was FULL and there was a GB heron there and mallards. I went to the south res and the canal was dry. I poured water over my head and later found that stand pipe on Dobson roaring and I filled my hat and put it on twice. Very refreshing. I've been working on Merle Travis style and Strangler on the shore (stranger) is in my toire now. Sun Lakes 7/22/2014 Walked for almost an hour but it was so hot! Sun Lakes 7/21/2014 I walked for an hour as I did yesterday, but I went over to the west res this time. Sun Lakes 7/20/2014 I walked over to the south reservation. The canal was dry. Sun Lakes 7/19/2014 Walked over to the west reservation. One-hour walk. Went at eight thirty. Sun Lakes 7/18/2014 I went to Steve's and looked at his videos from Africa. I played with Skippy and Frankie. I drank on beer at the Hungry Monk. A guy there had a Mexican accent but had been to Mexico one time and said he spoke Spanish but I don't think he understood me at all when I spoke Spanish to him. I had a Two-hearted Ale. Then I went to the new bar at Sun Lakes. I liked it better at the club house. A guy there had a guitar case that looked like a jumbo. I asked him what kind it was and he told me it was an Epiphone. I thought it would be a J-200 acoustic but it was a GRETSCH knock-off. He didn't know it was a Gretsch? Weird. Veterans Oasis Park 7/13/2014 Drove out rather late in the day and walked for a while. When all the way around one lake and back behind the houses and then around the other side of a lake. Sun Lakes 7/12/2014 I've been putting my SINGING WITH THE BIRDS album out on my web page. I recorded it at the perch. Sun Lakes 7/11/2014 It was twenty-one years ago today. Sun Lakes 6/30/2014 Walked for about an hour. Jumped in the canal over on the south reservation. I went at nine, so it wasn't too hot. Accidentally put two Coors in my pack instead of two diet colas. Still watching Dexter and the Forsyte Saga. Sun Lakes 6/29/2014 Walked 50 minutes or so. Started at 1:03. Very hot. Poured water over my head. In Dexter, Deb discovered last night that her brother is a serial killer. I didn't watch the Forsyte Saga last night because I kept watching Dexter episodes, but I am on DISK four of seven, so I'm getting through the stories of the Forsyte family. Sun Lakes 6/28/2014 I walked to Mysterious Puddle and then to the South Reservation. The field there smelled kind of rotten with the standing water in it. I walked from 7:30 to 8:45. Last night I dreamed I was by a desert wash with water and rattlesnakes. Nightmare. Also dreamed I went back to work but just for the summer. Nightmare also. Will speak to Fernando on Skype today. Talked to Tania for two hours yesterday as I accidentally booked two sessions in a row. Sun Lakes 6/27/2014 I walked down Player to the reservation and actually I jogged a little. However, jogging is no good because you get too hot when it's over 100 degrees fahrenheit. It will be 108 degrees today. Sun Lakes 6/25/2014 I've been watching the Forsyte Saga and Dexter every night. Sun Lakes 6/24/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 6/23/2014 No Notes Entered Generic Place Anywhere 6/22/2014 No Notes Entered Generic Place Anywhere 6/20/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 6/19/2014 No Notes Entered Generic Place Anywhere 6/17/2014 Yesterday I bought a pan to bake chicken in. Sun Lakes 6/17/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 6/15/2014 I took a walk to the wheat fields to the west on the reservation and they'd been harvested already. Went to the corner pond there and walked back. There were three dead white-winged doves on the ground and one dead grackle in the neighborhood. Sun Lakes 6/14/2014 I went to the Perch and drank two beers. Then I came home. I bought a bunch of steak and chicken. Sun Lakes 6/13/2014 This morning some grackles were drinking water from the puddle at the neighbor's house as his pipes were dripping so I talked to Lori who told me Wayne was watching the house and that the old fellow next door had died so Wayne's taking care of the leak. Sun Lakes 6/10/2014 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/7/2014 I went to Steve's and saw Frankie and Skippy and fed them some green beans. Then I went to Sid's and looked at his birds and dogs. Then I went here. Today the Forsyte Saga came in the mail. Sun Lakes 6/6/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 6/5/2014 No Notes Entered Northern Arizona Museum 5/30/2014 No Notes Entered Flagstaff House 5/29/2014 Went up to take care of the broken well line. Met the guy. Expensive. Recorded my polka. Sun Lakes 5/27/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 5/24/2014 Had breakfast at the club house. Bacon and eggs and sausage and then I had a porterhouse STEAK at home! Steve called from Mexico twice. I'm a grunkle now as Angela had a baby. Sun Lakes 5/23/2014 Funny; it's cool out. Steve drove to Mexico today at around ten o'clock. Jeff must be deep in Mexico by now on his way to Querétero. Montezuma Well 5/20/2014 Funny; it's nov 26 '16 and I found this in my book and it was never entered! Northern Arizona Museum 5/19/2014 No Notes Entered Lowell Observatory Mars Hill 5/19/2014 They had a new kalaidescope and some other sculpture. Northern Arizona Museum 5/18/2014 One guy there on a cell phone. funny; it's so deserted he left and then the next days I had the place to myself too. Flagstaff House 5/16/2014 Went up to get the line to the pump fixed. Toilet broke because Gerald Redsteer didn't put in antifreeze. He had a Mexican friend in tow for digging. 722.58 bucks. No charge for toilet replacement labor. Weather was nice. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/15/2014 I just felt like going. One green heron in Pond Nine on the wet mud and that was it out there. It was hot. I drove by the Perch and drank two beers and fell asleep on my stool. Bought a growler before that from the Elliot and Mcqueen fast food joint. I bought Big Two-hearted Ale. FED COYOTES Anthem Arizona 5/15/2014 There was some wreck and the traffic up I-17 was slow so I stopped in this dumb town to let it clear up. There were desert areas behind the fast food joints. Sun Lakes 5/11/2014 I walked to the reservation south and there were fields of course. I thought I might have seen a Violet Green Swallow, but I don't know. Walked 55 minutes. Sun Lakes 5/10/2014 I walked an hour. Sally's coming here today as someone has invited her to some bar the Sail Bar in Tempe. They are the class older than hers. Robbie Wines and Jim Bab crowd. Has to do with Alligators in the Baby Pool. Bees were buzzing around the pipe and cement on the NW corner of Price and Riggs. I called the city but they aren't open. Generic Place Anywhere 5/9/2014 I drove over to Steve's and played with the dogs. Steve gave me a beer booster cup that had flavoring in it and it tasted AWFUL. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/9/2014 Fed the coyotes as usual. Sun Lakes 5/8/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 5/7/2014 I met one Al who told me all about fishing for big bass in the ponds. Sun Lakes 5/6/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 5/5/2014 No Notes Entered Veterans Oasis Park 5/5/2014 I walked quite a ways. It was warm but not especially hot. I talked to a fisherman about sunfish. Gilbert and Riggs Roads 5/5/2014 Drove by and slowly went by the pond on the gravel. I guess I missed the pond to the north. There are two. Hard to see in with all the palo verde trees. Sun Lakes 5/4/2014 I turned on the water to my tree. I forgot. I went to the cantina where some jackass made an Obama crack and I moved to another table muttering in Spanish. Later I saw my gate open. I said, "The water!" I looked it was off. I said to myself that I couldn't even remember turning it off. Then I realized that my NEIGHBOR had! There was water going down the street. Later: I went to sleep only to dream I was back at my old house doing something or other and desperate to get out because the house no longer belonged to me and the owner was coming back. I walked to my door and there was Rodrigo and I helped him carry something. I guess it represented drums. This is a DREAM remember. I told him I had just found my dream house in Sun Lakes and no banish the thought it was not his drumming that had anything to do with it. Then I dreamed I found and advertisement for a Grateful Dead concert and someone shook me down for it saying he had friends on motorcycles who also wanted it so I had to give it to him. 2125 North Villas Lane 5/2/2014 I found that I had no cables that would connect my new Behringer sound system to the speakers. You have to have a special kind so I went to Brindley music and got two cables. I talked with Bruce and I'm afraid I blabbed and boasted a lot. Then I went to Sidney's and saw all of his pigeons. There were lots of them. I spent an hour or more there and went home. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/1/2014 My gigrac failed last night and I had to cancel my show. Larry and Nancy were there and had a glass of wine, but they weren't going to stay that long anyway as they can't see at night or Larry can't and they were going to leave early. I brought the canvas cooler they brought to my party and left. Mark Gregory and klan came but I was already on the way home. I had left him a message. Doggone it! Today I went and bought a Berringer sound system at Guitar Center and also dropped off the Gigrac at Mtroniks on Main Street in Mesa. I fed the coyotes here at E&C roads. Trees block your view of pond eight. Almost no water. Lately I have seen turkey vultures flying happily when it's really windy. 2125 North Villas Lane 4/30/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 4/20/2014 Well, I had my party yesterday. Jeff slept out a la intemperie and had trouble with the noise of coyotes and birds. Sally and Wendy came and so did Erica and Mark gregory and sid and cuca and steve and jeff and cis and milton and scott wagy and marie and charlie and jan and dits and shirley and larry and nancy. I have a full list. 21 came Sun Lakes 4/19/2014 This was the day I had the party and here are the guests who showed. 21 PEOPLE: JEFF COLE--JAN BRADBURY--MARK GREGORY--CHARLIE MITCHELL--MARIE MITCHELL--SHIRLEY DITSWORTH--TOM DITSWORTH--SALLY COLE--ME COLE--NANCY SIMKINS--LARRY SIMKINS--SCOTT WAGY--ERICA SCHLATHER AND HER BOYFRIEND--CIS SULLIVAN--MILTON SULLIVAN-- Wendy--Steve--Sidney--Cuca--Hudnall Jeff slept out back and coyotes and birds were very noisy. Steve wore his lobster shirt. Sun Lakes 4/17/2014 This was when Wendy and Sally and I were drinking dumb old coffee on my bench out back. Sun Lakes 4/16/2014 Wendy and Sally Came up for the show. Boyer Sidney Richard rickel diane rickel cuca steve mike hendershot came to the perch to see my show Sun Lakes 4/13/2014 Put my lawn chair over there on the lake and caught a big old catfish. He forced me down the shore with no net but some guy with a dog named Noah got my net and brought it to me and I netted the gasping, slick-skinned denizen of the lake. Later I threw him back and he bubbled off in search of friendlier company. Sun Lakes 4/12/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 4/11/2014 I'm gaining weight darn it. I walked an hour. Ate just tuna and veggie burger. Drank only a zillion light beers. Had a 30-minute spanish appointment that I thought was 55. Sun Lakes 4/10/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 4/8/2014 DUCKS ARE GONE AND HAVE BEEN FOR A LITTLE WHILE. What gives? Sun Lakes 4/6/2014 Finally finished Dung and put the files on CreateSpace and I'm about done. Nice. Next is the Guitar book, but I've got to get my housewarming party going and I'm thinking of a brunch. Put the AC air conditioning on and I don't think it works. Steve's in Mexico and is coming back tomorrow. Sun Lakes 4/6/2014 Mark Lackey came by and put my blinds up my curtains up. Also the air conditioning ac airconditioning buy came sent by the insurance company and my AC works now. Hope it lasts. Steve came back from Mexico today. I'm having a little get together week after next. Finished Dung and today (well I'm typing on the 8th) and on the 8th I approved it for sale. Sun Lakes 3/30/2014 Helicopter flying around at two AM. Police with big spotlight. Shone it on me when I went out to look. I went back inside and locked the door. Some bad criminal nasty nasty was out there! Yesterday at 11:25 I prepared Sea Monkey water and today I have put in packet two at 11:30. So far none of the adorable pets has hatched. Went back to the thumb pick today. Watching Cosmos tonight. Sun Lakes 3/29/2014 I went swimming in the lap pool. Mourning Dove,3/29/2014,Sun Lakes,Pretended to have a broken wing in my back yard 8922. Did the achy breaky wing deal. I found two babies against the little wall in the back. Sun Lakes 3/27/2014 Waiting for my Dung copy to come from CreateSpace. Also, I have bidded on a Relco TX60 metal detector on ebay. $35 Sun Lakes 3/26/2014 This morning (or was it yesterday morning) at 3:30 a crop duster was flying all over the NW end of Sun Lakes 1. Very breezy. I had to take down my wind bells. Played guitar at the Perch and Steve came. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/26/2014 I went to the Val Vista Guitar Center to avoid Rodrigo. I needed some cables; a stereo 1/4-inch and regular quarter inch. They work great. No hiss. Problem solved. I went to the Perch and played and Steve came. Windy later in the day and I had to take down my wind bells. Sun Lakes 3/25/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 3/20/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 3/18/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 3/17/2014 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/16/2014 COYOTE I went over to feed the dogs at Steve's house. Sun Lakes 3/15/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 3/14/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 3/13/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 3/10/2014 Date isn't for sure! It's between the 8th and the 13th. The other day I dreamed that I had gone back to my house on villas lane and had to get out before the new owner came in and I couldn't get all my stuff out and Rodrigo's drum kit was in the house too! Terpret THAT Sun Lakes 3/8/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 3/6/2014 Dreamed the other day of an ancient Egyptian airliner like thing and the sheet metal devices they used. We examined the flat sheets that were under the seats. Some were mirror images, reversed of others. The "airplane" slid down into the bushes or something. Met Kim Wilson at the Perch. She came to see me play. I dreamed last night that I had taken anthropology from Paul Morris but quit showing up and then I had a Spanish final to take but couldn't find out where is was going to be held. It was a nightmare. Caught a big old catfish today. Sun Lakes 3/2/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 2/27/2014 Played at the Perch last night and got $25 in tips. I had decent sound and got some compliments. Sun Lakes 2/26/2014 Caught a big old catfish last night. I dragged him up to the rocks but I didn't have a net and I knew the line might break if I tried to hustle him up and it did. He bubbled off. Mark Gregory and Chris came by today. Later he brought some clients over to see the view. Practiced more guitar and also diddled with my Dune book. I play tonight at the Perch. Sun Lakes 2/25/2014 Practiced guitar today for tomorrow night's performance. Saw these birds out back. Internet out for the evening gosh darn it. Sun Lakes 2/24/2014 Just my 45-minute walk. Sun Lakes 2/20/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 2/17/2014 Sonny came by and we did his lab report. It wasn't very good because Sonny didn't understand the material and his teachers didn't give him good instruction or good directions. Sonny called Steve in Mexico. Steve said he'd come back the next day. Sonny told him not to. I hope Steve stays in Mexico to enjoy himself. I think I'm going to quit putting in ALL the birds I see. It's getting to be a waste of time. Just the good ones or ones of interest should go in. Sun Lakes 2/16/2014 Walked inside Sun Lakes rather than going west and north to the two lakes there. Today I signed up for truefire and got great stuff from Frank Vignola! Sun Lakes 2/15/2014 It's getting warm. Walked fifty minutes. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/14/2014 The Perch opened today. I went to McKnight guitar to diddle with a compressor effects box. Went to the perch. Fed the coyotes all that was left of the dog food which was a lot. Sun Lakes 2/13/2014 Sally was here yesterday and she left her sandals and so popped by on her way back to Tucson. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/11/2014 I met a guy there with roof prism binocs. He said his wife was in the hospital with parkinson's disease. He said he remembered me from before. He made a crack against climate deniers so I liked him. I went to Middleton's to get my taxes done. I went to Steve's. Steve came to my house and borrowed my computer and took some boards and stuff. Naturally I mean my house at Sun Lakes as I don't own the other one anymore. Sun Lakes 2/10/2014 Just a forty-minute walk. At 5:00 AM music from the reservation res rez stopped after a little while. Netflicks the Talented Mr. Ripley with Matt Damon Gilbert and Riggs Roads 2/10/2014 On the way to that guitar store where I bought 10s and top light bottom heavies. Two big ponds. One less obscured by trees and actually a little ways from the other. It was nice to be back here at Gilbert and Riggs as it is a place in the database and a part of my memories starting in around 1998. Sun Lakes 2/9/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 2/8/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 2/7/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 2/4/2014 There was a yellow crop duster flying under the telephone wires. Sun Lakes 2/1/2014 Biplane Sun Lakes 1/31/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 1/30/2014 Saw a rock squirrel. Department of the Interior cadastral Survey. Sun Lakes 1/28/2014 No Notes Entered 831 South Sidney Avenue Tucson Arizona 1/26/2014 Went to see Davey play. We did. Jeff was there at the show and Steve came and Sally was there and Boyer came. We went to Frank's Diner in the morning. Steve and Frankie the dog went to Mexico. Sun Lakes 1/25/2014 Drove my bike over to the eastern ponds. Sally and Davey came by a little later. Sun Lakes 1/24/2014 Steve drove me over as he was visiting. I wanted to see if I had seen a Surf Scoter. I think it's just a weird RB mergie. Sun Lakes 1/23/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 1/22/2014 Just on my walk. There was a lady reading down Player Avenue. She was reading a western and thought that La'More (spelling) and Grey were overrated. I told her about Louie Lamore's autobiography. Sun Lakes 1/21/2014 There was a big rock squirrel at Mysterious Puddle. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/20/2014 It's Jeff's birthday. I fed the coyotes. Last day in my house on Villas Lane? I leave without tears. Sun Lakes 1/19/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 1/18/2014 Ran and walked for more than a half hour. Have to lose the weight I've gained. It's only four or five pounds. Sun Lakes 1/17/2014 On my walk/jog. Superstitions 1/13/2014 Steve and Tom Ditsworth and I went. We hiked way up and looked for the giant saguaro which we couldn't find. Rather chilly at night. Ate at Elvira's Mexican food restaurant on the way back. Sun Lakes 1/4/2014 Last night I went fishing and got skunked. Brought half of my books over with Steve's help yesterday. Sun Lakes 1/3/2014 WALKED for over an hour. Got my ID picture taken for Fun Lakes sun lakes. Sun Lakes 1/2/2014 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 1/2/2014 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/1/2014 LAST DAY OF 2013! So this is the last entry for 2013 for Elliot and Cooper Roads. I fed the coyotes. I drove and took Germann Road to get here. LITTLE WATER NOW. This is the 1411th trip to E&C Roads. Sun Lakes 12/30/2013 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/27/2013 Went to my Villas Lane house very early and got some stuff and straightened up. Then I went to Steve's and played with the dogs. Steve was heading out to the Superstitions to look at the biggest saguaro he had ever seen because yesterday he went and found to his disappointment that it wasn't very big -- but he had gone to the wrong cactus so now he's going back! I FED THE COYOTES AGAIN. Still have dog food left for another feeding. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 12/27/2013 I drove over and afterwards got two new curtain rings and a tan curtain with loops. Lots of people at the site today. Veterans Oasis Park 12/23/2013 Steve and I went in his car from my new house. We walked around and visted the center inside. Sun Lakes 12/23/2013 This was the evening that the drunken insane vigilante neighbor came over drunk and disorderly and shining a flashlight in my eyes and screaming. Sun Lakes 12/15/2013 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 12/15/2013 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/12/2013 Steve and I went and fed the coyotes. Then we went to Goodwill and I bought a turquoise T-shirt with Mickey Mouse on it. Then we went to the taquería. I will CLOSE on my new house today as we have found the AC WORKS. Sally's coming today to give her speech and I hope my computer works. Sun Lakes 12/12/2013 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/10/2013 Two coyotes. One was in pond nine and slowly walked across it. The other was that big one with the red back of his head and neck. I fed them lots of dog food. My realtor called with info on the house. Looks like the seller is going to finally make it possible for me to move in. 2125 North Villas Lane 12/9/2013 Seen here only in 2005 and 2009 and now 2013. Sun Lakes 12/9/2013 I guess I'll make this place active in the database even though I haven't moved in yet. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/7/2013 Steve and I went in his car. We fed the coyotes with the big big bag of dog food that I bought yesterday. They had eaten everything. Then we went and I bought the washer and dryer. washing machine Then we got new reading glasses at the dollar store. Someone called to come by and see my house as the "as is" people flaked! Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/6/2013 Steve and I went and fed the coyotes. They had eaten all of their food like GOOD dogs. My crippled arm is no good for throwing dog food over the fence. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/4/2013 Steve and I fed the coyotes. They had eaten their other food like good dogs. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/3/2013 Steve and I fed the coyotes. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/2/2013 Trip 1403 here. Steve and I went and looked and the coyotes hadn't touched the big pile of dog food by the southwest corner. They hadn't eaten that fat that the firemen had left for them either. We didn't bring any more dog food. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/1/2013 Steve and I went. Fed coyotes again. They had eaten the other stuff again. 2125 North Villas Lane 11/30/2013 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/30/2013 TRIP 1401. Steve met me there because he wanted to feed the coyotes and I had the dog food. I came over from Changing Hands Bookstore, where I was giving them books to buy or donate. I finally got 7 dollars and some change in credit. The coyotes had eaten the food we left for them yesterday. I went back to the bookstore and then drove clean to Sun Lakes and watered the citrus trees. Oh, at Weight Watchers today I weighed in and weighed 30.6 pounds less than when I started. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/29/2013 FOURTEEN HUNDREDTH TRIP! Steve and I went. It was a good trip. Coyotes big time. Nice Vermillion Flycatcher and five duck species. Also, I hit my 19000th bird there today so it's a special day; the 19000th bird was the Greater Yellowlegs. Sun Lakes 11/27/2013 Drove down the first day anyone called to see MY 2125 house. Water on but the water heater wasn't connected. Western Canal 11/27/2013 Found a cell phone in the drained canal. They're cementing it. Some had water later on. I was there on my bike because a realtor was coming over. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/17/2013 I think the date is right and this is one of the first times, maybe the only time, that I didn't have an exact date. I went to sell my recording equipment at the guitar center on Val Vista and I sold my reference speakers to a guy for fifty bucks. Good deal for him. I came back and stopped at E and C Roads. Can't remember all of the birds. Like a fool I didn't write anything down. Sun Lakes 11/11/2013 Looking forward to moving to Sun Lakes. Sun Lakes 11/9/2013 I went to weight watchers and I had lost another 2.2 pounds bringing it to 28 pounds total. Nearly to 30 lbs. Just 1.6 to go. There was a sheriff that was parked by the field. I wanted to go to the right, but he would have been nosy. I looked at the houses. I love the pre fabs without stucco or trees. Sun Lakes 11/6/2013 I walked to the lake from the nasty old clubhouse. Sun Lakes 11/5/2013 No Notes Entered Sun Lakes 11/3/2013 Steve and I went to see the pre-fab houses. 1600 square feet for 78K. Nice. Steve loved it there. Generic Place Anywhere 11/1/2013 No Notes Entered Lowell Observatory Mars Hill 10/26/2013 No Notes Entered Northern Arizona Museum 10/25/2013 There weren't any birds. Flagstaff House 10/24/2013 I went up early and then Sally and Wendy came. We watched the World Series. Bat in the basin under the big window. Dead chipmonk in the toilet. Mice all over. Killed them horribly. Penny has lost weight! I have lost 27 pounds. Elk screaming like children at night. One night a coyote was screaming. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/10/2013 I finished Recuerdo de amnesia by writing the ukulele story and the ant lion one. Tempe Town Lake 10/5/2013 Osprey. One flew over Tempe Beach where Jan and I were attending the Tour de Fat. I rode his pink bike. I hurt my rib yesterday. Killing me. Fell off my bike. Plop. Ouch. I Bought this computer yesterday. We drove through the Tempe neighborhoods. Some of the houses were like desert houses. Lots of interesting azulejos type tiles with Great-tailed gracks and Inca doves. Pima Canyon 10/1/2013 I had to take an injured Gila woodpecker to the east valley wildlife folks to take care of, so I went here while I was at it. Afterwards I went to the Huss Brewery which had once been long ago the Rio Saldo Brewery and where I used to go after hikes on Mineral street and since somebody told me it was open I went and I drank two beers. Oh, it was a long time ago when I used to go there. 2125 North Villas Lane 10/1/2013 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/30/2013 I went here and it was fairly cool so I put my chair under the palo verde tree next to the parking lot and wrote most of the essay "El pozo de las robaletas negras de Samuel Eddy." Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/16/2013 Hot and humid. No water. They cleaned up the place and the toad trap was empty and clean. Paloverde Trees growing up to block pond eight. 2125 North Villas Lane 9/16/2013 Been working on my web page and having that Columbian girl review my writing. Generic Place Anywhere 9/14/2013 I drove down Germainn Road and went to the dump. Looking for puddles and fairy shrimp. the little canal was grown over. Dump was nice. At Mysterious Pond there were puddles out front but no fairy shrimp. I didn't get too near the pond. Pump now enclosed but the canal is still there so you could swim. I drove around to find Mysterious Stock tank and there were abandoned canals everywhere. I took pictures. To go directly to Mysterious Stock Tank take Willis Road west. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/12/2013 Sally drove steve to the airport and then came back here. Steve is taking the bus shuttle from the airport to the Grand Canyon. I RODE MY BIKE HERE. IT WAS A LITTLE HOT BUT NOTHING LIKE IT HAS BEEN. Western Canal 9/12/2013 Rode my bike to Elliot and Cooper Roads. It was warm but not too hot. A breeze was blowing lightly. Carp in the canal of course. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/11/2013 Fire station flag at have mast because it's 9/11. To hell with religious pigs. Sally came and I played at Whole Foods. Jan and Charlie and Marie and Steve came. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/8/2013 RAINING LIKE HECK. So I drove over. Generic Place Anywhere 9/6/2013 Rode my bike to Whole Foods. It had rained and there was a puddle on Warner Road with a dead black-headed grosbeak in it. It's surprising how much they look like spotted towhees. He however had a bright yellow belly. Oh so a BHGB. 2125 North Villas Lane 8/31/2013 Went to weightwatchers today and I have lost SEVENTEEN POUNDS in five weeks. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/30/2013 It was humid. I pulled that tree limb to the side and cleaned up some of the trash. Almost no water. WW doves are gone it seems. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/29/2013 Humid. Virtually no water or birds either. Pond ten had some green sludge. Today I wrote about camarones de hadas. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/27/2013 My birthday. Hot. Humid. No birds really. I bought Steve a gift certificate to get his guitar fixed at McKnight's. A big squall came in early last night-- perhaps seven o'clock. Wet. Lasted only a half hour. Sally was here a couple of days ago to put more books in the bookstore (Changing Hands). I went to the guitar store McKnight's. The first string was fretting out on the third fret of my black variax. He hit one of the frets with a ball peen hammer and fixed it. I showed him how to play How My guitar gently weeps and California Dreaming. I have lost 15 pounds in one month. Exactly one month and exactly 15 pounds. That was measured three days ago at the weight watchers meeting. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/15/2013 Steve had to go to Mesquite High so I went with him. Hot and muggy. Not very nice. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/12/2013 Steve and I went. Big coyote. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/9/2013 DEAD TOADS. LITTLE FELLAS. I thought I saw a Lazuli Bunting, but I wasn't sure. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/1/2013 My arthritis or whatever it is was so bad I couldn't lift the binoculars to my eyes. I talked to Hugo at Spanish 121. I'm losing weight like crazy so far on Weight Watchers. I went over to see the new bar that James is talking about. It's called the Perch. Big and expensive parrots outside of the cage. It's over in that mini mall area or a place very similar there on Arizona Avenue. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/28/2013 I worked on Merle Travis stuff and made a circus-sounding polka like tune. Nice. Arms hurt. Shoulder hurts but it's so much better. This is my second day on Weight Watchers. Without beer, I'd be stuffed! I'm working on my guitar book. Will go to a movie tonight and drink 14 points of beer before I go in! Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/21/2013 Sprinkling. I talked to one Carolina in Bogotá. Writing my guitar book. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/18/2013 Played at Whole Foods last night. Steve came. Skully even showed up. So did Kenton. That was it. Made six bucks, but when I was through I was aching terribly. Felt like I was eighty-nine years old. That terrible pain wasn't back, but I had a Celebrex when I went home and one today in the morning. HOT and Humid. Coyotes cried at the sirens. They were in Pond Ten this time it seemed. Kokopelli Golf Course 7/18/2013 I stopped in the parking lot and afterwards I went to Native New Yorker on Guadalupe and Dobson. I drank one 22-ounce beer. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/12/2013 Just popped over. Had a doctor's appointment. He says to go off celebrex whenever it doesn't hurt anymore. Use it sparingly. Generic Place Anywhere 7/11/2013 I went to get my prescription for Lotrel. The Celebrex is working fantastically. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/11/2013 It was twenty years ago today. We will all drink a toast to Mom at six o'clock today. Hot and muggy at E&C roads. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/9/2013 Steve came by and we threw my branches into the trash can in back. We put mulch on my garden and Vigaro, too. Steve brought over a bunch of old journals and stuff by dad. Photos too. I went to E&C roads. It was hot. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/8/2013 AGAIN LIKE YESTERDAY: One sleeping coyote on the north side of the island in Pond Nine. HOT AND HUMID and miserable. TOO HOT TO STAY. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/7/2013 One sleeping coyote on the north side of the island in Pond Nine. HOT AND HUMID and miserable. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/6/2013 Drove over. Hot as hell so I didn't stay and read my books, Sally's book Alligators in the Baby Pool and the Spanish book El naufragio del Stefano. I then went to Good will and got a new door mat and a couple of rug-like things. My arm hurt so I couldn't sleep last night so I got up at five and cleaned the back and front. Cutting down bushes. Looking nice. Things are looking up. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/3/2013 Coyotes sleeping on the west side of the island in Pond Nine. I threw a hot dog to them. They saw me. I guess they have eaten it by now. (The hot dog was a Diamondback hot dog from Circle K which I bought on account of they were out of the jalapeño cheese dogs and it was awful.) HOT AS HECK and I didn't stay too long. TOO HOT TO HOOT. I played at Whole Foods and Sue Hendershot came and two atheists who left and then a new atheist later. Holly RSVPed but didn't show. It was a lot of fun but later my arm hurt so much I could not sleep. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/30/2013 Well plenty hot. 112 or so. Few birds. A little water in pond nine. That's where the BN Stilt went. I went first to target and got a mirror for my bike and two pairs of tennis shoes. 2125 North Villas Lane 6/29/2013 Drove my bike to Whole Foods at 6:30 and when I got there I was half dead it was so hot! I must be more careful. It was 118° in Phoenix today. Western Canal 6/28/2013 I rode my bike to the canal and went south well past price up to McClintock and back. I didn't cross McClintock. Went swimming at that one area just west of Dobson and then again at the Pump site and then swam again at the pump site on the way back. I think you could get sucked in at the pump site. Very nice. I fed the mallards. Some were in the water fighting the current and weren't ravenous. Some came right out of the canal up onto the road and I fed them moldy sourdough. It was 118° Fahrenheit today. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/27/2013 Two coyotes lying in the grass just north of the island in pond nine. One female and both very big. A third sammler coyote ran north across pond nine. I read Sands of Pima Arroyo and found a couple of small typos. It was good! Went afterwards to Steve's for a swim but I didn't swim. We watched some of Django. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/26/2013 Well, I didn't do anything on app skinning today because I was being jammed head first into an MRI machine. They're crazy. All they have to do is put the patient in feet first instead of shoving his head into a cannon. That's terrifying, but then I found the other end was open, so it was all right, but why put me in head first? Both ends are open. What's the difference to them? I couldn't move for a half hour, so my arm started hurting so much that I thought I would die in that tube. Torture. Worse pain I've had in years. I wanted out but they said I had only three more minutes. Three long minutes. You see, I must move my arm and readjust my busted shoulder or it will start hurting. I suffered appalling vicissitudes, as Edgar Rice Burroughs might put it. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/25/2013 I was going to ride my bike, but it got hot. Steve came over and gave me 159 bucks for fixing his garage door. I didn't fix it. I paid a guy 159 bucks to fix it. Some tattooed fool bum walked by while we were out in the street. He turned around and went away. I deposited the check. Then I drove to E&C Roads. Perhaps tomorrow I will ride my bike over earlier. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 6/25/2013 HOT. I put my shirt in the crick and put it back on. Walked the usual route. One couple there were the dunlins were. Nobody else. Too hot. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/24/2013 I just drove over for a little while. Some punkish teens came up when I was in my car and they went up there. I'm glad I was leaving. I went to the othopedic doctor today. They x-rayed and said I had arthritis but no fracture and they were going to get me an MRI and I have to wait. My arm hurt like hell today! I made a conference call with Chris, Don, and Joe about the message triangle software. Look! me at asu retired! https://webapp4.asu.edu/directory/person/44144 Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/23/2013 Spent hours here and wrote song lyrics. I had my guitar. A guy came by who liked to run. The vegan "egg salad" I ate didn't agree with me. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/22/2013 I drove over with Big K cola and my chair and dictionaries and song lyrics. I worked on some song lyrics, but I was lazy as it was later in the morning and I left after one o'clock. Tomorrow I will go VERY EARLY and try to be productive. IT SEEMED HUMID. Hot. Western Canal 6/21/2013 Jan and I rode our bikes all down Western Canal and this is how it happened. Jan called at 8:30 and told me to call when I started, but I dallied and he called and said he was starting and I met him at about McClintock and then we went west clean into Tempe and had breakfast at some joint and then drove down lots of trails and canals. Really nice. Western Canal 6/20/2013 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/20/2013 Coyotes SCREAMING at the fire trucks from the island in pond nine. Other howls heard from other places. One small coyote walked across the road. Hot. Played last night at Whole Foods. Jan and Andrea came by to hear the last four songs or so. Charlie and Marie came and they brought me the beer glass I had left at their house. My arm hurt but I was able to play. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/19/2013 Hot as the devil. I drove over here. Steve called as he was having a taco over at the taquería with Sonny. He just came back from China yesterday. I went off at the guy at Frye's for making a crack against Obama. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/15/2013 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/11/2013 Hot. No birds. But they cut down some more of that brush and have left only one Paloverde in the middle. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/4/2013 Drove my car over. I did my therapy exercises and my arm actually feels better. HOT. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/30/2013 I drove back from Simpleton's where I hogged the conversation like I was king shit. Larry and Nancy and Peggy and Dole were there. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/29/2013 Drove over. It's getting hot. 831 South Sidney Avenue Tucson Arizona 5/26/2013 Went to Sally's party. Wendy, Jeff, Tom, Sally, and Boyer were there. I played guitar. We went over to Jeff's new digs. Western Canal 5/23/2013 Jan and I met on the canal and rode to Elliot and Cooper Rds. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/23/2013 Jan and I rode our bikes. Jan rode much further to get to E&C roads. Jan helped me with my new odometer device that does all that stuff. Then we tried to put goop in the tire but we didn't have the little tube to squeeze it in. Instead we (with Jan's monkey strong hands and arms) pumped up the tire until it was ready to pop. Jan swore it would never pop. It didn't. A small toad trapped in the Hell Pit couldn't get up the toad ramp. I took him out and put him under a bush and poured water on him. I thought he needed a drink. Jan and I drove back west and passed my usual exit to visit the old PUMP where we used to swim and recreate and drink in the mid-sixties. The pump wasn't on this day, but we hung around there for a while. Then Jan drove back home and I did the same. 2125 North Villas Lane 5/23/2013 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 5/20/2013 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/18/2013 Rode over on my bike. Jan's bike was stolen. Western Canal 5/16/2013 On my bike. Western Canal 5/15/2013 Coyote woke me up in Flagstaff early so I got back to Chandler early and took a ride on my bike. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/15/2013 Two small dried-up toads! Doggone it. Why didn't they use the stairway? Why oh why... Northern Arizona Museum 5/14/2013 Not very birdy. I might have seen a pygmy nuthatch. I went in and asked about the Lewis's woodpecker, but they hadn't seen one lately. I dropped by a day or two later and saw nothing special. Flagstaff House 5/12/2013 Windows had popped out. I met Gerald Redsteer and his friend and we looked the water heater that gushed water and he rigged it so I could have water though none hot. I bought a new water heater for 206 dollars minus 25 when I got the Home Depot card. I took it back and put it in the livingroom. I put Thompson's Water Seal on most of the deck above the front door that leads to the master bedroom.Started home early Wednesday because a coyote woke me up. He was the LOUDEST COYOTE I have ever heard. He was screaming right behind the house at 5:20 AM. It was light. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/10/2013 I drove my truck and took my computer and my guitar and stuff to read and did none of that. Western Canal 5/9/2013 On my bike! Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/9/2013 Some schmuck tore up my stairway and there were FOUR DEAD TOADS in the hell pit! I had clamato beer this time. Western Canal 5/7/2013 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/7/2013 Brought beer. Read a little naufrago. Cool day. Nice trip. Western Canal 5/6/2013 I was at Jan's last night. He said it would rain today. It was cooler, but it didn't rain and there was a blue sky. Rode my bike. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/6/2013 Someone cut down one of the paloverde trees so you can see in! I will write to Scott Anderson and ask him if he can get them to finish the job. Read a little Naufragio and drank FOUR BEERS. 2125 North Villas Lane 5/5/2013 Went and play guitar at Charlie's last night for Marie's retirement party. Western Canal 5/3/2013 Too my bike. A little wind. Not too hot. I forgot my sunscreen. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/3/2013 I read Naufragio and drank beer. Some guy came by with a bucket of toads. He jumped the fence and threw them in Pond Eight. Western Canal 5/1/2013 Rode my bike to Elliot and Cooper roads. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/1/2013 Rode my bike. Read a little of Naufragio. Western Canal 4/28/2013 Road my bike to Elliot and Cooper Roads. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/28/2013 Afterwards I think this was the time I went to Fibber McGee's and drank beer and ate wings. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/27/2013 I drove here I guess. Western Canal 4/26/2013 Went on my bike with my bum arm and smashed ribs. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/26/2013 Went on my bike with my bum arm and smashed ribs. Western Canal 4/25/2013 bike ride Later today at ten at night, I crashed my bike and hurt myself. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/25/2013 Rode my bike and then that evening I crashed and hurt myself and I'm going to the doctor in a few minutes as my ribs are smashed and I can't use my arm very well. Western Canal 4/23/2013 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/22/2013 I met Jan and his friend Andrea at Dobson and the Western Canal. We rode to Elliot and Cooper Roads. Then we drove back. Western Canal 4/22/2013 Jan and his friend Andrea met me at Dobson and the Western Canal. We rode to E&C Roads. 2125 North Villas Lane 4/22/2013 No Notes Entered Western Canal 4/21/2013 Coyotes howling. I rode my bike. Drank beer. Rested and snoozed. Western Canal 4/19/2013 I went today but there's nothing for the twentieth because I GOT A FLAT. Steve picked me up at Gallagher's and I went and got it fixed right away. But that was THE NEXT DAY. Now is the day before. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/19/2013 Rode my bike of course. Western Canal 4/18/2013 Wind against me on my bike and when I came back it had shifted 180 degrees for my convenience. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/18/2013 Drank THREE beers and a V8 there. Win shifted to oppose me on the way back. Nice weather. I have a gig tonight. Drove here on MY BIKE. Western Canal 4/16/2013 Rode clean to E&C. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/16/2013 Still working on my safe safe bike route. It was easy to get here and I'm very healthy and monkey strong. I drank two beers there and it was fun. It was only 1:00 too. Har. Western Canal 4/15/2013 On my bike. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/15/2013 I road my bike. Brought the book El Naufragio de Stefano and read a little. Brought lots of pop and V8. There was a toad in the gravel road. He made it to the pond I think. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/14/2013 I met Jan at Dobson and Western Canal and we road our bikes all the way to E&C Roads and then to Gilbert. TWO BIG COYOTES at Elliot and Cooper when we rode up. They walked away. Later I road my bike to Whole foods and came back at night. Jan gave me a bike!! Western Canal 4/14/2013 I met Jan at Dobson and Western Canal and we road our bikes all the way to E&C Roads and then to Gilbert. Later I road my bike to Whole foods and came back at night. Jan gave me a bike!! Sally's expression at the superstitions: a dog's dinner. You made a dog's dinner out of this! Superstitions 4/6/2013 Steve and Sally and Dits and I went. I drove everyone in my truck. We went to Boulder Canyon. NO SNAKES SEEN. Ten preppies from Chicago were being chaparoned by two teachers. They camped near us. I had to take off my flannel shirt at night because I was too hot. Woke up with Acid Reflux. Dits drank SCOTCH! Dits had EVERYTHING. My air mattress went flat. Must fix. Long hike. Went to the Mexican place afterwards, but it was out of business so we went to another that didn't have air conditioning. Ate too much. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/5/2013 I decided not to walk. Didn't feel like it. I read El Naufragio del Stefano. Some guy was there taking pictures. He was a computer programmer guy with a card. Knew nothing about birds. He went to the Water Ranch afterwards. I played last night at the Downunder, and Brandon came with some girl who was young but knew all the old songs and was into swing dancing. Sally is here today because we're going hiking in the Superstitions tomorrow. She's at the library. Nice, sunny weather. Beer night tonight. I finished the first draft of the transformation of the screenplay The Reluctant Cowboy to a short story. It's 69 pages long. Not that short. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/4/2013 Spent the morning turning the screenplay into a short story. I felt a little tired and perhaps hungover. I had gone the night before to wine night. I only had two wines, but I had some beer before I went there. I drank a light beer at the observation area and I read a little of Naufragio but not more than a couple of pages. It is very good indeed. I called Raúl before I left for E&C Roads and asked if I could play tonight. He said sure. I went from Elliot and Cooper to Gallagher's and drank two twenty-ouncers. Now, I've got to go play. It will be fun, but I won't make any money. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/3/2013 I read El Naufragio del Stefano and I then walked to Neely Road and back. Today was Wednesday senior day at Fry's so I went there and spent 77 bucks. I got roasts and corn beef roast that I'm cooking. I didn't buy any Griller's Primes this time. I'm not sure they have done me any good. We'll see. Working on the short story version of The Reluctant Cowboy. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/2/2013 I walked to Neely Street after I read some of El Naufragio del Stefano. Warm and nice. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/1/2013 I kept reading Naufragio del Stefano. I walked to Neely and back. Warm but nice. Yesterday I went to Jan's house and went to Jesse's party. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/31/2013 I will go to Jan's in a little bit to go to Jesse's Barbecue. We're going to crash it, Jan says jokingly. I read El Naufragio del Stefano at the site with my lawn chair. I'm only on chapter three and it's been tough going frankly especially with the words halyard and yawl and a million nautical terms in Spanish. Generic Place Anywhere 3/31/2013 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/28/2013 I only walked halfway up the canal road if that. More water in Pond Nine. I got a call from Raúl and so I'm playing at the Downunder tonight. I played at Whole Foods. Steve came and so did the atheists and hipanohablantes and Rodrigo. I put a piece of cardboard to help the toads get out. I will make another tomorrow. I will label it CAMINO DEL SAPO. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/27/2013 Have to play music tonight at whole foods. I've been making an html pagemaker for the Estero Morua bird. It works great now. I ordered Naufragio del Stefano from Amazon. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/24/2013 Later I went and saw that movie about Osama Bin Laden. It stank. Also saw Hansel and Gretel but left when it wasn't worth watching. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/23/2013 I went to Whole foods at night. I worked most of the day on Software and junk. Nice walk clean to Neely. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/22/2013 Copies Mom's 1963 Mexico Journal and also the 1958 trip to Phoenix. I sent the copies to Sally. No Pintails and no Yellow-rumped Warblers. Sunny and warm. Played last night at the Downunder. Brandon came. Place was mostly empty. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/21/2013 Walked all the way around. Nice. A little hot. I woke up this morning with HUGE bags UNDER MY EYES. They're gone now. Generic Place Anywhere 3/20/2013 Cooper and Queencreek Roads I went to the emissions station by the Chandler Airport and wound up here. Turned left at Cooper and it was a dead end because the airport was in the way. Helicopters and planes buzzing around and landing. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/20/2013 After getting my emissions done I went to a place by the airport in Chandler. Then I came here. I walked to Neely and back. Went to Wine night. Woke up the next morning with the most awful bags under my eyes. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/19/2013 I walked to Neely and back. I went a little earlier. Then I ate a Big Mac and a Dairy Queen dipped cone. Warm day. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/18/2013 Dropped off a copy of my book for William Quigley and I missed his office by turning in the wrong place out of Fry's which is beyond it and I thought I had alzheimer's disease for a minute there. Then I drove back there and then to this place. I didn't walk again. I came too late. Tomorrow I will come early. Kind of hot here. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/17/2013 It's Saint Patrick's day and went I went to Circle K they were towing cars out of their parking lot two at a time. Fibber McGee's had an event and everyone was parking at Circle K. Lots of people. I went to Elliot and Cooper Roads and I didn't end up walking. I went to the Downunder and the whole crew was their drinking. That right-winger Bob bought me a beer. The staff was drinking and boogieing. Raúl said I never ever had to pay there. I went to see the movie Lincoln a little later. It was all right but it was really not about Lincoln but about getting the thirteenth amendment passed. Generic Place Anywhere 3/16/2013 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 3/16/2013 I drove down to Guadalupe to get some Spanish comic books. I went in one place and asked and the woman was that Susana from the Spanish Meet-up Group. This was in Tianguis. Not much happening in there. Then I just drove over to Pima Canyon and walked a while. I took two rusted beer cans which I guess I should return for the sake of aniquities of the desert. I used duct tape, but the damned batteries fell out anyway. I went to Fry's electronics to see if my cable for the Line6 Backtrack was busted. It wasn't. They had products advertised on TV. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/15/2013 IT WAS FORTY YEARS AGO TODAY. I walked up to Neely. It was hot again. I looked in a paloverde tree and saw something that looked like a wallet or purse. I went in there and it was hard because of the thorns but I got it and it was some girl's who was five foot two and weighed 190 pounds. There was some change in it and lots of cards. It had been there a while as it was full of vegetable matter. I gave it to the firefighters and they said they'd give it to the cops. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/14/2013 Not so birdy. Shovelers ruled, however. Hot. I walked to Neely and it was hot Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/12/2013 Mom would have been ninety-one today. Sally was in Tempe and I went here at around three thirty or later. I walked to Neely Street and back. Nice weather as usual. Later Sally and I drank beer (I) and wine (She) in the back yard. Then we went to that wine bar on Ray and ate a GIANT PEPPERONI PIZZA! Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/11/2013 Today Christopher talked at the hotel in Tempe. I hosted the atheist group and a lot came. There was a girl on stilts. Steve and Sonny came. Sally was there. We all went to the Vine afterwards. They had dollar fifty beer. Oh, what a big time we had. Christopher wants me to make an app for him. Great weather here. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/10/2013 Nice weather. I walked forty minutes up to Neely and back. It wasn't very vigorous walking, but I got exercise. Got 33 birds as you can see, friend. Generic Place Anywhere 3/9/2013 Walked over and drank some beer. Ate some pizza, which ruined my diet. Went back to Steve's and watched TV for a while. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/8/2013 HUGE RAINSTORM. Wind THUNDER! I drove and it all stopped at E & C Roads and I saw blue sky and I walked from 1:31 to 2:08 up to Neely Street and back. 37 minutes. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/7/2013 No pintails at all and no yellow-rumped warblers. Don't know why. I'll check the charts. NRWS was perching. Nice and sunny and cool. I walked up to Neely and back and it took me forty minutes. I guess I went slow. NRWS flying over the pickleworks along with a few BN stilts. Afterwards, I went and played at the Downunder. Tom Ditsworth came. So did Steve. No one left a single tip. Dits put money in and I kept telling him to take it out, but he left a few bucks. Not many people at the wine bar. Superstitions 3/6/2013 I went with the atheists. Three dogs went. One hurt his foot and his master had to carry him out. This was at the First Water exit, one of the first trailheads on the right to the MASSACRE GROUNDS. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/5/2013 Got up and raked leaves. Practiced songs like Paper Moon and Just across the Alley from the Alamo. Entered birds. Went over here and at 1:44 I walked up to Neely Street and little to the right and then back the way I came. It all took a half hour and and needed the exercise badly. I went to Jan's yesterday. Yesterday. We went to the Four Peaks Brewery near his house (There are two now.) We yucked it up. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/27/2013 Have to play guitar at Whole Foods tonight. I went to Brakes Plus and got my oil changed at 1:00 and then to E & C E&C roads. And then to Oreilly's to get my hydraulic deals for the camper shell window. And then to Frye's for some hair bands olive oil and clamato beer. Nice weather. Changing the strings on my guitar. Am dutifully entering the beach house log every morning. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/26/2013 Drove over after I went to O'Riley's to get those hydraulic deals on the window of my camper shell replaced. Then I went to E&C Roads. Then I went to Brakes Plus to get an oil change with my coupon. They wanted me to wait two hours. I made an appointment. Then I went to Applebee's and drank two 3-buck beers. I went home and burned CDs. Superstitions 2/25/2013 John Dole, Steve Cole, Tom Cole, Larry Simkins, Nancy Gallagher, Tom Ditsworth, Phillip. Dutchman Trail. Saw a very large rock squirrel. Walked off trail. Horses with cowboys with their six shooters. One girl all alone. More horses. More horses. Nice and crisp and cool. Dole and Phillip stayed overnight. Walked from 10 to about four. South Mountain 2/23/2013 Went to box canyon to see petroglyphs with the atheists. Walked up to the place where long ago we rode horses and ate at night. Al was there and Tyger and MaiLe Keller. The place had a cancer event and they turned me back. I called Al and went down mineral road and found an alternate entrance where everyone was. Not much of a hike. There was a new atheist who was in the Navy and he brought his wife and two kids. We yucked it up. I took pictures of petroglyphs. Not much of a hike. I climbed a rocky hill. I saw few birds. Most were heard only. We went to Dos Molinos afterwards. Al drank a pitcher of beer and I had just a side of beans and a tort. I'm trying to lose weight. I didn't think much of Dos Molinos on Dobbins and Central Avenue in Phoenix. Noisy music and the food seemed icky. I have a touch of a cold and I'm getting a bit of a cough. I used my cpap machine again last night. It's a little uncomfortable, but I get a good night's sleep. It isn't too inconvenient. Woke up in the night and went back to sleep. Did it again and fixed a bean burro and then slept again. Worked good. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/22/2013 Used my Cpap for the first time last night. No water in it in the morning. Had horrible dreams. Woke up to find someone had smashed a rock on my sidewalk. Rodrigo's drumming has got to stop. I called the police. Nice cool day. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/19/2013 Just whipped by after I walked all around the Water Ranch. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 2/19/2013 Walked all around it. There were rather a lot of birdwatchers there. Good weather. Cool. Some teenager said, "That's a sick camera." I take it that that's a compliment. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/18/2013 I went over after going to that Heart place. Nothing wrong with my heart. 10-12 thursday the sleep people will come with my machine. The weather was nice. I took a little snooze on the cement under the roof there. I feel a very slight cold coming on. I have to sing Thursday. Papago Park 2/10/2013 Went hiking with the atheists. This was the time that Tyger started talking his delusional fanatical quasi religious libertarian idiocy. Some atheist. I pushed back. Afterwards, we went to Papago Brewery. Al had at least three pints of stout, probably four and bought a growler to take home. I had the T-Rex pizza. Then I had to go have meatloaf at Steve's. We watched a movie called Flight about a black pilot who's a drunk. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/8/2013 Went with Sally and I had my picture taken for the Arizona Republic. It was a good visit as we saw a lot of birds. And the cameraman the photographer enjoyed learning. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/6/2013 Went here after my interview with Srianthri Perera for the Gilbert Arizona Republic. Woke up gasping a little this morning. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/4/2013 I got hired yesterday to play at the Downunder. I auditioned there. Played 22 songs. They thought I was king shit. Nice weather as usual today. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/2/2013 Got up early and drank beer. I went to circle K and had a chili dog. Drove to E&C Roads. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/31/2013 Played guitar at Whole Foods last night. I wrote this in Foolbook after Brandon posted a fodoe of me playing: "The small but mighty Grand Symphony Mini Taylor guitar. Bobby came and Gailynn came and JAN BRADBURY CAME on his bike, and Gayle from work and her husband Bob came and about eight people from my Spanish Speakers Club and about five from my atheist club. I made 12 bucks in tips and got free beer and snacks! ¡Era un triunfo de primera!" I've already got nine likes. NICE WEATHER TODAY. TEN MONTHS have passed since I saw a cinnamon teal here. Well I saw one today here. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/27/2013 I had that sleep test for apnea last night. Nice. Went to Whole Foods and a loud drunk was there and he knew it all and swore there was no French in English and wouldn't listen about 1066 and hated Affirmative Action but knew all the tales about it and nothing else and thought the word car was invented by Henry Ford and that carro was a Spanish bastardization of car and I later looked it up and car is a French word entered into Middle English in 1150 and the Spanish carro comes from the French via Gallic. Christ. Western Canal 1/22/2013 Walked from McClintock to the next street and back. Two miles. Then went to Trader Joe's and the bookstore. I bought a big IPA, some sea weed, some blue cheese, and some crackers. Sally came down. We went to Rosita's. When we came back someone had smashed a big limestone rock on my sidewalk way inside. We couldn't figure it out. It seemed as if it had fallen from the sky. It was actually a rock from the Del Rio formation in Austin or it was from Wendy's house in Texas. It had a fossil on it. Rodrigo told me the next mourning that someone had smashed some tile of his and knocked over all the garbage bins. I found that someone had knocked my lizard off the gate. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/21/2013 I pledged last night that I would walk every day so I walked clean around E&C. There was a couple close to my age perhaps. Younger. They had a spotting scope and had been there a lot of times. I couldn't tell them much about the place. A couple of days ago, I learned that they're inviting me back to sing at Whole Foods. They paid ASCAP. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/19/2013 Two woman and a man came up with binocs. They were counting aquatic birds. They decided the mystery duck now dead was a GW teal. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/18/2013 There was a weird duck out there and I wanted to take its picture but the batteries had fallen out of my camera and were at home on the piano bench. I bought some more and took pictures of the thing. I think he was dying all alone there in Pond Nine. A Cooper's Hawk came by and took a pass at him. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/16/2013 Weather was nice and cool. The roofer sent me an estimate of $7987! Manuel looked at it and will fix everything for 1500 and that includes reshingling the whole pitched roof as well. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/15/2013 Had the roofer come by to look. Says it's a disaster. Probably right, but I'm not going to pay thousands, which is what he will likely give me an estimate for. Cold at E&C roads. I bought some clam juice and celery and Accent© monosodium glutamate to make clamato. It didn't work but the result was tasty. Saw a ganster film at Harkin's last night. Not very good. I stopped in and watched Barbara Streisand in Guilt Trip which was low key but interesting. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/14/2013 It was quite cold to my surprise. Tons of dowitchers. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/13/2013 Went over. I hadn't gone for a few days. Last night I watched movies at Steve's. They were AWFUL. I took them back the before I came here. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 1/13/2013 I checked out the fishermen there as Steve wanted me to do. They were fishing for rainbow trout but hadn't caught any. Lost of people here on this slightly chilly day. I talked to many bird watchers. Afterwards, I went to the Downunder Bar. Roger is rather retired they told me. I had one malbec. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/12/2013 I went over. It was really cold last night they say. Water froze in the tuna can I left for the pidgies and my hose was frozen, but when I went out there in the morning in my u-trou it wasn't very cold. Last night I went to the Peña's house for the Spanish conversation club. It was fun. We ate fud. We played a game. We also sang Karaoke. Steve was there. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/8/2013 I stopped by at night after my speech for the Desert Rivers Audubon Society at the Gilbert Community Center. It was a triumph deluxe cause I made 160 bucks with books sold and honorarium. Western Canal 1/8/2013 Took a walk before I went to my talk at the Gilbert Community Center. Some idiot was driving a tote goat motorcycle down the canal. A bunch of beefy jerks were out fixing their 'cycles out next door to the house that I thought might be nice to live in. At least I don't have those jerks living around here. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/7/2013 Went over to see where I'll give that talk tomorrow. I bought a new flash drive. Colossal Cave 1/6/2013 Went to Colossal Cave and took the tour. Ramsey Canyon 1/5/2013 I went to see Carolyn Martn play over at that place Dolan Ellis made in Ramsey Canyon. Not very birdy. I stayed at the Quality Inn for 60 bucks. Hot breakfast with EVERYTHING! I saw in Tucson some 29.99 places: Travel Inn I think. I wrote down all of her songs. ON THE WAY BACK I went to Colossal Cave and took the tour. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/1/2013 Weather's nice and cool. Sunny too. New Year's Day. Thought I saw a snipe up in pond 10 but he never moved. Might have been a tiny duck. Last night I saw The Life of Pi and Silver Lining. That way I could be out and not drink when there were so many cops out. Not that I want to drink and drive anyway. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/31/2012 It was kind of cloudy and overcast and cool. I had a Circle K hotdog before I came. I couldn't help it. I first went to the post office and mailed both of my Audubon Binocs to get fixed in Houston with Land Sea and Sky. It's New Year's Eve and I ain't having a drink today. Cops everywhere. Will go to see The Life of Pi and Silver Lining tonight at Harkins. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/28/2012 Went to the taquería and had three taquitos de carnitas. That was after I had my CARPETS CLEANED. In the big bedroom it looks much better and I haven't cleaned it for 30 years! Yesterday I had Michael put in a new light in the kitchen. We went to Home Depot and bought one. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/25/2012 Went after I saw Django the new Tarantino movie. I was grumpy before I saw the movie because I had had nothing to eat and no one told me until a half hour before that they had bought a ticket for me and expected me to attend. I ate a hotdog at the theater (It was VERY good.) and two tiny White Castle cheeseburgers. I slept over. I slept outside on the couch for a long time. It gets noisy out there. At four in the morning I came back in. I slept with Skippy until eight o'clock. I slept in that fleece rabbit suit. I gave Steve the book Sicario. Charle Bowden edited it. I was confused because I was pretty sure he didn't speak Spanish and then I realized the book had been translated from English to Spanish. I hope he finishes it soon because I want to read it. Maybe I'll just order my own used one from Amazon or Ebay or something. It was a little overcast at E&C Roads. I entered more from estero morua into the other database. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/22/2012 Went over with a hangover. On the way a sign was flashing: East Valley DUI Task Force. I did something I almost never do. I drank two beers at E&C. Then I took a nap in the warm sun. It was NICE. Felt much better. Tonight I go to Erica's for food and beer. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/21/2012 Try to write a little here and then hit upon the fact that I really want to write the book on musical bridges. Went home. Drank wine and went to Whole Foods. Drank too much. I first went over to see steve at urgent care as he has been sick with a terrible chest cold. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/20/2012 Two coyotes out in pond ten. One had red on his neck. Nice cool day. Not as much water in the Pond Nine as yesterday. Soaked in. No dowitchers. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/19/2012 Nice and cool. I stayed awhile. Then later I went to the doctor and it was not the real doctor and he wants me to go and sleep somewhere to test apnia and I don't want to go. Later I went to Rosita's for the Spanish Conversation. Steve was there and he was still disheveled and sick from this awful cold he has had for days. Cis broke her ankle. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/17/2012 Woke up at six and decided to go to E&C Roads. I got here at 7:30 or something. Ate a hot dog at Circle K first. Then chips and bean dip. Pond 8 and 9 were full but you can't see into eight anymore. Last night I was pissed at one of the guys at Whole Foods for saying, "He's still alive?" when Obama was speaking on the TV about the murder of 20 children in Connecticutt. Northern Arizona Museum 12/9/2012 No Notes Entered Walnut Canyon 12/6/2012 They guy inside showed me their picture of the Coatimundi that had been hanging around the place, the first seen since 1950 or so. I didn't go down. I walked around the edge, which happened to be the birdiest place. I walked into the woods and saw lots of mule deer prints but I didn't see the coatimundi. Snow Bowl 12/5/2012 I drove up and you couldn't park by the ski lift. I took some beautiful pictures, but otherwise it's kind of boring up there. Northern Arizona Museum 11/30/2012 You know, there's a dam and a pond up behind the museum. Flagstaff House 11/27/2012 This trip, I found a tumor in the palm of my hand. Went to VFW steak night Monday with Cindy and Mike in their car which had a Mitt sticker. Crazy dog a friend of Penny's who liked to chase imaginary mice. Neighbors Mike and the other guy talked of rich secretaries and the evils of unions. Unwelcome nonsense. Wrote in Spanish on about the last day and realized that that was what I should have spent my time doing. I loved it. Read five autobiographies: Valeri Bertanelli's, Dick Van Dyke's, Carrie Fisher's, Michael Fox's, and James Garner's. Also read a Mexican comic. I shut the place up using a new kind of antifreeze. Hope I put enough in the toilets. Saw one elk on the hill behind us. Went to Snowbowl and Walnut Canyon. Went to the Lumberyard Brewery I think twice. Had one beer at the Ski Drift Lodge. Twice I went in and didn't like the crowd, so I left. Went to the library several times. Ate and drank a lot, but when I got home, I hadn't gained an ounce. VERY LIGHT DUSTING OF SNOW ON THE PEAKS December 3 in the morning, gone quickly. Sun reaches the sun room at 1:00 and later at 12:30 (bad observation). Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/24/2012 Funny; no killdeer. One of the firemen was cleaning the elk head of the elk he had shot with an arrow. I walked to Gilbert. Water flowing there. When I got back, I talked to one of the firemen for a while while the other guy kept picking away at the elk. Western Canal 11/24/2012 Walked from Cooper Road to Gilbert. Water flowing everywhere. I took pictures. Today is the last day for Annie at the Hale Theatre. Next is A Chrismas Carol. Western Canal 11/20/2012 I walked from Dobson two miles to Arizona Avenue and back. Four miles. Chandler Airport 11/19/2012 I went to the dump to throw out my mac plus and Mom's mac plus. The airport was nearby. These birds were seen on the cow farm there. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/19/2012 Saw Ron Rutowski last night. Very good. I went to Gallagher's of all places afterwards because I was hungry and went to the taquería and Gallagher's is next door. One couple was there. It was dead. Then some people came in. I put my books on the bar and went to the restroom. When I came back the books were gone and so were those people. I went out and asked them through their pick-up window in Spanish what had happened. They said they didn't know. I think those people took the books. Damn. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/18/2012 I walked for an hour and went over the that fair towards taht water tower. Funnel Cakes. Ring of Fire. Lots of rides. los despiadados indios salvajes Lark sparrow was on the western canal. Recorded him there. Western Canal 11/18/2012 Went to the carnaval with rides and stuff. I just looked. Funnel Cakes. Nice rides. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/17/2012 I worked on the Flash Cards program all day and I also came here. I didn't walk, or I haven't so far. It was cool and a little gray. Western Canal 11/16/2012 Went from McClintock to Rural and back. Two miles. Western Canal 11/15/2012 I got new tires in the front. They said my brakes needed 670 dollars worth of repair. I took the truck to Goodyear and they fixed it for 288! While I waited for my tires I walked clean to Dobson down the Western Canal. Western Canal 11/14/2012 Took an hour walk to Gilbert and back. I wore jeans. I wore sun screen because the sun was hot. There was a fair being set up with rides. Funnel Cakes. Ring of Fire was one ride. Another the somethingorother Faroah. I took pictures of the 1958 sidewalk. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/14/2012 I went and then walked for an hour to Gilbert, Arizona. Generic Place Anywhere 11/12/2012 I went and drank wine and then I watched TV with Steve and then I went BACK to Whole Foods. Some guys wanted to know if I had a CD or webpage of my music. They remembered me. Western Canal 11/11/2012 Walked from Alma School where I parked all the way to Dobson and back. Ate at the taquería two tacos. Western Canal 11/10/2012 walked from McQueen to Cooper and back. There are giant houses on that lake. Giant. They are private homes I think. IT WAS COLD. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/10/2012 It was almost cold. Walked here from McQueen Road. Western Canal 11/9/2012 Walked around the place. Yesterday I found that Gayle hadn't been talking about me in her post on FB. Thank goodness. I hung out last night with Milt. He is a navy man. We talked to a guy who went to catholic school and became an atheist. Cara and Kyle are moving to Nevada. I came to the bar very early but it was so packed I couldn't find a seat. Some guys let me sit with them. It was STOUT beer day. Western Canal 11/8/2012 Walked four miles. I was a little hungover. It got dark and sprinkled a bit. Western Canal 11/7/2012 OBAMA WAS RE-ELECTED LAST NIGHT IN A LANDSLIDE! YAY! At whole foods last night there was a lunatic who hated Obama, so he kind of spoiled the fun. I worked on the yard yesterday so I didn't walk. Jan came by today. Then I walked from Dobson to Alma School. Western Canal 11/5/2012 The security man at the canal and Price kicked me out of the parking lot. It's private property. I went a mile down and parked near McClintock and then walked to Rural and back. Rodrigo's having his roof fixed. Police had a ribbon cutting off Colt Road there on the left looking south. The fireman told me there was an incident but no crime. Western Canal 11/4/2012 Walked to Alma School and back from the Dobson Park. Generic Place Anywhere 11/3/2012 I walked over and had a beer and it was dark when I walked back with a $2.99 bottle of wine in my pack. I watched TV with Steve and he went to bed but I stayed up because I drank half the bottle of wine. Later when I was alcohol free I went home. Western Canal 11/2/2012 Walked 2 1/2 hours from McClintock to Rural and way beyond past the golf course. Western Canal 11/1/2012 Walked to Az Avenue as I recal from alma school alma swirl Western Canal 10/31/2012 Started at Alma School and walked east to Arizona Avenue and back. It's Halloween. I ruined today's diet because I ate candy. Snickers bars. Little ones. I could not help myself. I am throwing all that candy out. Generic Place Anywhere 10/30/2012 WALK TO WHOLE FOODS FROM STEVE'S 25 MINUTES THERE AND 25 BACK. Not very birdy. I DRANK A BLACK LAGER EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T EVEN THREE O'CLOCK YET. When I got home a helicopter started hovering over my house and I went and found that a motorcyclist had been killed and was lying under a blanket. He's lying there still I think and it's been over an hour. I thought it might have been a motorcycle cop because there were about ten police motorcycles there. But I'm thinking it wasn't. Three cars were involved too. Update: there were four cars involved I guess. The poor foolish 22-year-old motorcylist was weaving through traffic at 80 mph and someone turned in where I always turn in to Walgreens and he hit her SUV and bouced off her window and flew down the road. She went to the hospital but was all right. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/29/2012 Read a little Spanish comic first and then went walking to Gilbert. Walked 50 minutes. Western Canal 10/29/2012 From E&C Roads to Gilbert I walked. 50 minutes. Western Canal 10/28/2012 I parked west of price in that parking lot and then walked west and then back and it took 55 minutes. There were people on bikes and walking. Western Canal 10/27/2012 Went to Shepler's first and bought some wrancher pants. Mesa Library Pond at Dobson Ranch 10/27/2012 Just driving by. Western Canal 10/25/12 The neighbor put out her recyling, so I guess she's all right. She picked up the can too. Walked to Alma School Road from the Dobson park there. I went to the oral surgeon and he said my graft was better and it didn't need any more diddling. Western Canal 10/24/2012 You know maybe it was this night that I found my neighbor on her garage floor. I walked to Alma School and back from the park. Western Canal 10/23/2012 Anyway, I walked to Alma School from the Dobson park there and back. Western Canal 10/22/2012 Walked from Dobson to Price and back. Had two taquitos first. Superstitions 10/19/2012 I found Jim Greentree, an 81-year-old man under a bush in the Superstition wilderness, lost and dying of dehydration miles from his truck. He was from BC and had never hiked in the desert before. It was hot. He couldn't even swallow his raisins because his throat was dried up. We gave him ice water and candy. He barfed it up but drank some more. We were the only ones who walked down that trail that day. He hadn't seen a soul out there all day and had been walking in circles. He'd made it down into a canyon and done the tough hike back out but couldn't go any farther. Bill and Dits walked back with him to the car which took a couple of hours. The old fellow rallied and they told him to set the pace and then they couldn't keep up with him. He will likely be able to attend our funerals-- that is if he stays out of the desert. This was the time I put my pack next to a black-tailed rattlesnake. Sally and Steve and Bill and Dits and I went. We saw a wildcat track. We walked to the Indian paint mine and afterwards I fell asleep while everyone was gabbing, but I kept sleeping. I dreamed the first night that a snake was coming at me and I screamed and woke everyone up. It was a tough hike out to Hackberry Springs. Hot. Rough. I hate snakes. Western Canal 10/17/2012 I walked from Rural westward. There was a golf course on the right with no one there and lots of irrigation spraying and nets to protect walkers. Big canal. Big water. Nice. I went to breakfast with Jan Kegelman. The chicken sammy I had was awful. I was late because I didn't take the freeway and the doggoned traffic held me up and College Avenue was closed. Western Canal 10/16/2012 I went from McClintock to Rural. Really nice. I'm quitting Atkins today. Jan Kegelman called me while I was walking. We're meeting at I-Hop tomorrow at eight in the morning. Nice weather. I made my own calorie counting software and will do my own diet. Western Canal 10/15/2012 I went at 5:34 and walked to Alma School from Dobson or near there. You know, from the park. It was dark by the time I got back at 6:20. 46 minutes. Day 7 of Atkins and I think I'm quitting. It isn't natural. Shawnee Bark Park 10/14/2012 Went because the Atheist meeting was there but I went an hour late at ten o'clock and no one was there that I recognized. Western Canal 10/14/2012 Walked EAST from Alma School to Arizona Avenue and back. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/13/2012 Weather good. I walked to Gilbert to the water tower. Bought new earphones for my "ipod" and my laptop. DAY FIVE OF ATKINS. I miss my V8! Western Canal 10/13/2012 I went to the water tower in Gilbert from E&C roads. Nice. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/12/2012 Nice weather. Cool. I went over late and then didn't walk two miles to Gilbert and back as planned. Tomorrow. I drank two glasses of white wine at Whole Foods last night. Two carbs. Why not? Then I drank vodka at home. 0 carbs. I was four pounds lighter in the morning but it came up two pounds later in the day, but it's still really a net fall of four on account of I always weigh myself in the morning. I went to E&C Roads today after going to Fry's for Big K Cola. I bought some cauliflower and broccoli and also a bottle of white wine. Needless to say, I'm finishing the whole damned bottle right now. I can't help it. That makes 6.5 grams of carbohydrates. Shit. And I'll drink the cheap, two-dollar wine tonight at Whole Foods. But I'm really low on carbs. Really. Induction low as I learned when I peed on a testing strip and had it change color showing I'm burning fat. Last night Biden kicked Ryan boy's ass around in the debate, but I didn't watch. Can't stand it. It turns my stomach. I bought Kroger brand skinless sardines. Oh, my goodness they are fantastic. That oily taste! Great. Western Canal 10/11/2012 Rather cool and breezy. I started at Alma School and walked all the way to Dobson. I parked in that parking lot at Alma School and the Western Canal. I am doing Atkins. I drank vodka last night. It seemed to have no effect on me, so I drank some more and feel only just a little strange today. Working on Sibelius and I am making a rule that I can't touch the program until I've done my other projects because it's so addictive and time-consuming. Western Canal 10/9/2012 Nice orange dragonfly. I started the Atkins diet yesterday. I drank a club soda at Whole Foods and had some vodka when I got home. Cheaper that way. No carbs in vodka. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/7/2012 Decided to diet. I'm so fat. I bought new underwear and got some shorts at the Goodwill by the Downunder. Then I went to E&C, but I never walked as I was going to. It was hot and I chickened out. Tempe Town Lake 10/6/2012 Jan and I went to the Tour de Fat at Tempe Beach Park. I wore a vest and cowboy hat and bolo tie. Jan wore shorts, pijamas, and a big bow tie. There was a show where the girl gets in a fabric tube and comes out with new clothes. I drank two beers. It was hot. I finally went home at about two o'clock and took a nap. Western Canal 10/5/2012 Hot. Started at about 2:30. I left my phone at Whole Foods and had to get that. Walked to Alma School and back to the park. Western Canal 10/4/2012 Walked down to Alma School Road and back. When I got back, Jan called and wanted me to help him move a pinball machine. We went to that old Fire House Restaurant now a dive bar and took it out. Then we drove to Thomas Road in Phoenix to the Long Wongs there (very weird place full of crazy junk) and we took one of Jan's machines out of there and put the one from Tempe in there. Then we went back to Jan's and put the pinball machine in his house. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/3/2012 I went afterwards to a house to watch the debate. What a disaster. I'm giving up on politics. Obama let that callow, lying punk punch him and never punched back. Ridiculous. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/2/2012 It was hot. I was going to take a walk, but it was too hot. I bought Klondike bars at the store. Ate four of them. I couldn't help myself. Last night I had a McDonald's chocolate sundae, but I haven't otherwise had icecream for ages. I read the náufrago book and other Spanish stories. Not very good at practicing guitar for three days. I have only been drinking two or three beers a day. The secret is not drinking any until I go to Whole Foods at around seven-thirty. Then I have two. When I go home, I might drink one more. Now all I need is exercise. Hey, I saw Sid and Cuca over at Fry's. How can it be that we haven't run into each other for so many years? I am loving each day as I study and do things I want to do. This retirement stuff is fantastic. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/23/2012 Took Diario de un naufrago over and read the intro and the first chapter. With my chair and all. Jeff sent me info on my new introduction for the bilingual edition of my book. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/22/2012 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/21/2012 There was a fire and lots and lots of trucks went to it. I drove over, but they blocked the street so I left. Pima Canyon 9/18/2012 Gosh, I clean forgot to enter this one. Well, I'm putting it in now. Jan and I went. I didn't bring quite enough water and Jan wanted to keep hiking so we went clean up the arroyo and back on the National Trail I guess it was. No snakes. azjsbrad@aol.com Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/17/2012 I bought sibelius first today. I went to E&C roads at two thirty or so. Tomorrow Jan and I will go to Pima Canyon. I worked on Sibelius and I practiced guitar picking. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/4/2012 Didn't stay long. Drove back and bought a vegetable chopper at Fry's. Watched the Democratic convention for a while. Played my new song "Nothing Left to Do But Cry." 2125 North Villas Lane 8/28/2012 Picked up Sonny from MCC. His car's in the shop. I voted in the primary, but I'm not sure I liked my decision. I should have voted for the other one. Oh, well. Jan and Harry Mitchell wanted me to vote that way. I didn't do much. In a minute I will go to Whole Foods and translate. I've been drinking near beer, so I am so sober. I was at Whole Foods last night and that young feller who complimented me so much asked me if he could come up and play for fifteen minutes or so with his telecaster. He had some "noise music" he wanted to play. I said, "Heck no. This is my only gig." I don't want to turn my only gig into open mic night. No. Hell no. God knows what the guy would sound like and James would say who the hell is he and what are you doing? Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/27/2012 Steve and I went. It's our birthday. Then we went to Rich's auto to pick up Sonny who was there with his car. Hot. I went to the taquería and ate four tacos for breakfast. Steve came with me. Spend the day diddling with my spanish flash cards and junk. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/24/2012 I went here at night after I saw Bye-bye Birdie. I heard some ducks. It was VERY DARK. Western Canal 8/23/2012 Muggy but not that hot. Pretty hot. Glumpy water with algae. Walked from Dobson Park there to Carriage Lane and back. Western Canal 8/22/2012 Listened to telanovelas. I walked down from Alma School to the Park there on Dobson. I walked west this time. Not very hot. Big black clouds coming in. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/20/2012 Muggy but not super hot. I walked around the site. Tonight is Steve's Spanish night at Rosita's. I'm feeding the pigeons bread. I went to the atheist meet-up on Saturday night. I didn't like it as much because there was too much shop talk and no good chat. Tyger had some theory about some people being resistant to scorpion stings. I am the expert on them having been stung a zillion times, but I had to listen at length to the story of how he got stung. Lots of medical pot smokers. They didn't smoked any but talked about it. I said I had two tame pigeons that I was feeding bread and got the usual insane nonsense about how it will kill them. Food quackery has become so ridiculous that even the staff of life, bread, is now considered poisonous. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/18/2012 I can't find the notebook. Perhaps it fell out at E&C Roads, but it'll turn up. (It did! I found it in the truck.) I went to Liza's (one of the atheists) house last night. It was rather dull. They had a 4000 square foot house and it didn't have nice furniture or anything. Food was good. I brought tamales. A lot of teacher and other shop talk. A lot of marijuana talk. You can't get a word in edgewise. Mesa Library Pond at Dobson Ranch 8/14/2012 Only one duck on the water. I saw two rather big bass. Hot. I returned Brad Paisley's book. Then I got Gene Autry's autobiography and William Shatner's and the biography of Jim Thorpe. Bought some shorts at Goodwill. Steve didn't get a job today. Generic Place Anywhere 8/13/2012 Pond on Ray and Dobson by Steve's. Steve didn't get a job, so he went fishing and I came too. Behind Coffee Rush. Steve caught a small catfish and a fat tilapia. We used lawn chairs. Western Canal 8/4/2012 Walked from noon to about 1:00 from the park down to Alma School and back. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/2/2012 Walked here from McQueen Park on the western canal. I was hot and drank all my ice water and Steve came and picked me up. I sat at the firemen's picnic table. Western Canal 8/2/2012 This was from McQueen Park to E&C Roads. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/30/2012 I didn't walk. I was interested in altering standard thumb picks using velcro. I went to Gallagher's afterwards and drank some beer. It was a little after three and there was Blain, the only other customer drinking. Steve's event for the spanish meet-up is at five-thirty and it's 5:27 now, so off I go. Western Canal 7/29/2012 Walked to Alma School from the park at 3:15. Two miles. Muggy and hot. Lots of big fish. Western Canal 7/28/2012 Walked to Alma School and back from the park. Some guys were throwing a line in for fish up ahead. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/27/2012 I decided not to do my walk. It was 2:26. I went home. It was 106 degrees. Western Canal 7/26/2012 I drove down past Price and the Freeway and got to the canal via back roads through contruction. I walked to McClintoc. Nice nice nice. Nice houses. Big carp. Nice breeze but it was very hot. I sat near some stairs into the water and almost dove in with a mallard there, but decided against it. Wish I could live in one of those big, beautiful houses on the canal. Shawnee Bark Park 7/25/2012 I went here because I had to do my walk for my health and I had a dentist's appointment at 11:00 AM so I couldn't drive to my favorite walking areas. I walked for only a half hour. When I went to the dentist, they cleaned my teeth. Steve had gone in the day before. Then they found a cavity that they had found before I think and forgotten about. Then they didn't like the recession of gums in my lower front tooth and have referred me to a specialist who may have to graft a chuck of gum on the receding area to prevent it from receding more and exposing the bone and getting infected. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/24/2012 I didn't walk. I had eaten a chili dog and chips. My shirt was the Itasca shirt, which is blue and hot in the sun, so I chickened out. I drove around Guadalupe and Cooper and alma school and dobson to look at houses. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/23/2012 Ate another chilli dog what the heck. Had sunny seeds and also ate bag of Chester's Fries. Last night I had insomia and had to fix something to eat: vegetable soup which I spiked with a mini burger. Drank V8 and woke up at 8:30! Came here to E&C Roads and started walking at 12:28. HOT and MUGGY. I walked all the way around the site. Western Canal 7/22/2012 It wasn't too hot. I started walking at 9:49 and was gone a long time. Clean past the freeway I walked. Mexicans playing soccer. Four teams. I think they were from Mexico. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/21/2012 Walked all around the site. I had tomato juice and Pepsi and water. I ate a big hot dog before I got there and also a back of Chester's potato fries. Well, that is bad. Western Canal 7/20/2012 Walked forty minutes, but it was just down to Alma School and back. Lots of fish. BIG CARP. Bought Rock Hudson's wife's autobiography at Good Will and then I went to the library and checked out some real estate books. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 7/17/2012 It was hot. I walked up there on account of I had to get that mic stand adapter for the new monitor I bought and UPS is on Inverness and HIGLEY. Way out there, so I thought I'd take advantage of being near Greenfield and Guadalupe. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/16/2012 Muggy. Hot. I walked from 2:30 to 3:00 up to Neely Street and back. Western Canal 7/15/2012 Walked more than an hour down to Price from Dobson. Muggy and rather hot. Yesterday I went to Nancy's memorial party over at Jan's. I saw Rick and Jaime and Gayleen, and Brigham and Lou Dog and Jan's work mates and Julie and Artis Bradbury and Doc Greenley. It rained. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/13/2012 I walked around the place. I made a red bandana hat. Last night it rained and it thundered in the morning. Someone shot off fireworks behind my house last night. At first I thought it was gunfire. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/12/2012 I think I left because it was so hot, and I didn't walk. I walked to Whole Foods and drank canned beer as it was canned beer night. I talked to this guy who brought of free masonry and then we were talking about religion and some other guy came up and started talking and James told them not to. It was embarrassing, because I was told before. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/9/2012 very hot very very hot 109 No walk today. I practiced Pennies from Heaven." Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/8/2012 Jan's Nancy died yesterday. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/7/2012 Very hot. I walked from 2:15 to 2:40 up most of the way along the canal and then I turned back. The coyote puppy was happily walking across pond ten and didn't see me. I took a movie of him and he saw me then and walked back over the road to pond 8. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/6/2012 Went over and ended up starting my walk at 2:30. Walked around the place. It wasn't too hot. Well, it was darned hot, but I had a Circle K big gulp poured into a plastic bottle. Today I started work on the estero morual database. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/5/2012 I have a gout flare-up in my right toe joint. Last night I played at Whole Foods and used the variax, which threw me. Bobby came. Charlie and Marie came again. It was the fourth of july so the store closed at EIGHT! Here at E&C Roads I took my walk and a cop car came screaming by lights and siren blaring. He turned and blocked Cooper Road. There was a crash at Guadalupe and Cooper and they were working on some poor soul. I walked all around the place. It wasn't so hard. It wasn't too hot. But it was humid. Yesterday it was 71 degrees at two in the afternoon, a 100-year record for the coldest fourth of july. Northern Arizona Museum 7/2/2012 No Notes Entered Montezuma Well 7/2/2012 The RED birds were seen at the place were Josephine Cawthord said, "See if you can't find some crabbies," and her boy said, "A crabbie!" and I saw it was a scorpion. The water there was nice. This place is down where Dad used to camp when he researched the place. Nice and cool down there under the trees. The Ranger there said, "Cole? Well, that's a pretty big name here." Red Mountain 7/1/2012 Got crystals of augite with the atheist group. One guy climbed up and I thought he would fall. Very nice. Then I drove to the canyon. The Grand Canyon. Grand Canyon 7/1/2012 I just drove up from Red Mountain. It was kind of hot. I parked and walked and I was tired. Saw lots of tourists from Japan and other places. Mount Elden 6/30/2012 Went with Al and Tiger and some other atheists. I found a HORNED LIZARD! Good hike, but we took the wrong turn at the end. It was an easy hike but I ate too much for breakfast and didn't feel well until the end of the hike. We went to Mary's Cafe afterwards. Northern Arizona Museum 6/29/2012 Still no Lewis's. I also went back on July 2, 2012. Northern Arizona Museum 6/27/2012 There weren't any Lewis's woodpeckers. Flagstaff House 6/24/2012 Stayed until July 2, 2012, when I went home. I went to Mt. Eldpm with the atheists and to Red Mountain with them too. Then I went to the Grand Canyon. I went to Flag to write songs and I wrote "I've Got the Goods on You," "Dream the past away," "Pack a Snack," and the words for Farewell to the wind. I went over to Erica's and helped her plant an apple tree and drink her beer. I walked her dogs with her. I dreamed that I had a car called an Elkhorn and Jan kegelman was telling me the word elkhorn and when I woke opening my eyes I saw two elk out the window. Coincidence. Went home and stopped at Montezuma Well. Western Canal 6/22/2012 Walked down for forty minutes or so. Hot. Walked back and drove to Jan's. We hung out at his house. Western Canal 6/21/2012 I went swimming. It was very hot. Very hot. I walked for more than an hour. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/20/2012 Took a very hot walk around the site. I have to play tonight at whole foods. Davy and Sally are coming down from Flag to attend. Generic Place Anywhere 6/19/2012 It was very hot. I drank three beers. Two Mexican "loggers" hah. And one Alaskan Bock something which was good but too much alcohol. Good and tasty for a dumb old bock. 831 South Sidney Avenue Tucson Arizona 6/15/2012 Went down to see Davy play. Jeff and I went to the riders in the sky concert at the Tucson Fox Theater. We met and greeted the singers afterwards. On Saturday we went to the Congress Hotel. On Sunday, Davy's gig was a bust because there was no electricity so it fell through. We all went to an organic pizza place and ate like pigs. The watiress came out complaining about her tip. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/14/2012 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/13/2012 Went earlier than yesterday and was able to get to Gilbert without being too hot. I stopped to sit on the park bench in from the Liberty Market, which is a restaurant -- oh, there's another restaurant next door too and there I sat and the waitress came out and asked if I was waiting for someone and I told her I was just cooling off from my walk. She offered me water, but I said I had plenty. There was a mister that helped a little. I left rather quickly as I think she thought I was homeless or something and the customers could see this scruffy bum there. I went back after getting water on my shirt. Still too hot, but there was a breeze and so I walked the blazing trail back. Western Canal 6/13/2012 See E&C Roads for notes on this. Mesa Library Pond at Dobson Ranch 6/12/2012 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/12/2012 I was going to walk to Gilbert, but it got too hot. The radio said it was 99 but I think t was more like 105. It will be 108 today. Anyway I found a puddle and put my shirt into it to cool off. I drank my only coke. I found a jet of water over the grass and cooled off. I had eaten a bean burro and pintos and cheese and that didn't help me at all. I felt sick and it's was dangerous. Couldn't cool off until I found the puddle. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/10/2012 SIX COYOTES on pond ten HOWLING. Several were puppies. More coyotes were howling from the island. I played the crappy guitar there and tried to write a song. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/9/2012 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 6/9/2012 Walked up there for about an hour. Hot. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/8/2012 Walked for an hour or more. When I got to Gilbert, I saw the HALE THEATRE. It was nice. They let me in and THEN I WENT TO THE SHOW AT SEVEN THIRTY. To kill a mockingbird. Very good. In Gilbert on my walk I went to the water tower. NICE. The postino restaurant was packed on a FRIDAY NOON. McQueen and Elliot Roads 6/8/2012 No Notes Entered Western Canal 6/8/2012 This was when I first saw the HALE THEATRE and went to the show the same night. TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD. I went to the water tower too. Nice. Walked more than an hour. The Postino Restaurant was packed on a Friday noon. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/6/2012 Ray Bradbury died. I played at Whole foods. 24 atheists came. Higley and Ocotillo Roads 6/5/2012 Giant jackrabbit. Kind of a long drive for nothing much. Generic Place Anywhere 6/4/2012 Went over to Sonny's. I took Chandler Boulevard instead of Pecos Road so I was a little late. I gave him my Polygamy Porter t-shirt. Skippy was very excited VERY to see me. We listened to singers on YouTube. Western Canal 6/3/2012 Walked to Alma School, and it took forty minutes. Looked at houses. Slept at Steve's outside. Oh, it was great sleeping there except some shouting neighbors woke me up at one in the morning. Couldn't hear what they said. Still haven't got my bread from my annuity. I guess it was a Satruday/Sunday collision. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/2/2012 Practiced Merle Travis on site. Long gone john, Say That You'll Be True to Me, See You in My Dreams. Hot. Didn't Walk. Went late to the Atheist AJ market coffee at about 11. Too late. Western Canal 6/1/2012 Hot. Walked down to Carriage lane and then took the streets to see the neighborhood. Western Canal 5/26/2012 Some schmuck pulled in next to me and stayed in his car. I think he was with a girl, but I walked back and left. I didn't trust him. I drove to the Marlboro area and at the park there there were three youngsters throwing rocks and clods at the slides and stuff. I was annoyed. I walked from there to AZ Avenue and back 45 minutes. Generic Place Anywhere 5/25/2012 On the way to WHOLE FOODS FROM STEVE'S. IT WASN'T TOO HOT. I got there and drank four beers though because I was thirsty. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/24/2012 Later I went and walked to Whole Foods for my walk, but I drank three beers there! HERE'S MY GIG REPORT: I will yodel next time. Only did a little this time. Next time, I'm going to debut Merle Travis picking with a variation of Hobo's Lullaby and my very own pickin' tune called Be True to Me. I will also tidy up Slow Boat to China. I stuck it in a Bb medley with All of Me and W.C. Handy's three-key Loveless Love only I didn't get a chance to practice on account of I learned about this beer gig three hours before. I did a rather a lot of howling cowboy tunes in vanilla E, and vanilla D and vanilla G with open-stringed, campfire hamburger chords. TIPS: four dollars! Free beer. HERE'S WHAT I PLAYED: 1. IT DON'T MEAN A THING 2. I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH ME 3. WRITE MYSELF A LETTER/I WANT SOMEBODY/IT'S A SIN TO TELL A LIE/EXACTLY LIKE YOU 4. MY BUDDY/HAPPY COWBOY 5. YOU DARLIN' 6. I'LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS 7. TREE IN THE MEADOW 8. RIDING DOWN THE CANYON 9. BOOTS AND SADDLE 10. AS SOON AS THE ROUND-UP'S THROUGH 11. ARMS OF MY LOVE 12. IF I DIDN'T HAVE YOU 13. TEXAS TO A T 14. LULU'S BACK IN TOWN 15. BLUE SHADOWS 17. SAN ANTONIO ROSE/MISS MOLLY 18. YOU DON'T KNOW ME 19. TAKE ME IN YOUR ARMS 20. TUXEDO JUNCTION 21. BACK IN THE SADDLE 22. BYE-BYE BLACKBIRD/SHEIK OF ARABY/DEEP WATER/ROLY POLY/EXACTLY LIKE YOU 23. SMOKE THAT CIGARETTE 24. DANCE WITH WHO BRUNG YOU/BLUE BONNET LADY/DOWN THE TRAIL TO SAN ANTONE 25. DON'T BE ASHAMED OF YOUR AGE/WHAT WOULD I DO WITHOUT YOU/EXACTLY LIKE YOU 28. TEXAS ECHO 29. ALL OF ME/SLOW BOAT TO CHINA/LOVELESS LOVE 31. OLD FAITHFUL/IDAHO 33. DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE 34. FLIP SIDE OF LOVE 37. UNDERNEATH THE BAMBOO TREE 38. DON'T FENCE ME IN 39. LET'S FALL IN LOVE 40. EVERYONE SAYS I LOVE YOU 41. WITHOUT A SONG 42. HERE'S TO THESE GOOD TIMES/PRAIRIE LULLABY McQueen and Elliot Roads 5/24/2012 Just driving by. Western Canal 5/22/2012 Parked over at that McQueen Park and Walked to Elliot and Cooper Roads but I had already been there, so I just went back. It was really hot, so I put my shirt in the park lake and put it on. Then I was freezing. There was a couple lying under the tree in the grass. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/22/2012 I read a library book, a children's book on Cabeza de Vaca. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/20/2012 Not a cloud in the sky. Went over at about 10:15. Started down the canal road at 10:29. on the south side of E&C Roads when I saw a gopher sticking his head out of a gopher hole. Western Canal 5/20/2012 Walked about fifty minutes from Cooper to Gilbert Road. When I came back I was on the south side of E&C Roads when I saw a gopher sticking his head out of a gopher hole. Yesterday on the Western Canal between Dobson and Alma School I saw an antelope ground squirrel. Western Canal 5/19/2012 Walked from the park past Alma School and then waded across the canal to come back. I was afraid to make an easy jump over this wall that went across. Hot enough. Between Dobson and Alma School I saw an antelope ground squirrel. Western Canal 5/18/2012 Went to Dobson and then turned around and went to Alma School if I remember correctly. Giant carp. One was just huge. Can't remember all the birds. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/17/2012 No Notes Entered Western Canal 5/17/2012 Walked to Dobson and then turned and went to Alma School. 45 minute walk. Hot. Western Canal 5/16/2012 One-hour walk to a bit beyond Price. Ireland 5/8/2012 Ireland 5/5/2012 In progress.... Western Canal 5/2/2012 I walked down EAST of Gilbert. Down a ways was VILLAGE II PARK. Nice mini farms at Lindsay and the canal. Sheep, goats, peacocks, roosters and chickens, horses. Nice canal there too perfect for swimming but there would be lots of cars and people to see you. I went into a very quiet and rather rich neighborhood. A guy helped me find my way back to the canal. When I got home I learned that five people had been murdered on Cooper and Warner. A neo Nazi republican-type gun nut with ties to immigration republicans seems to have done it. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/2/2012 After my walk to Lindsay Road from Gilbert Road on the Western Canal. Western Canal 5/1/2012 Walked a bit beyond price to the RUSHING WATERS. Then back. Not too hot today. Found a dead bird that looked like a vireo. I thought it might be a verdin, but I don't know. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/30/2012 I went and put on my shorts up there and then walked clean to Gilbert Road. See Western Canal notes for this date for more. Western Canal 4/30/2012 I walked from Elliot and Cooper to gilbert road and back so that was two miles. There was little water in the canal. The wonderful art fountains were dry too. There was a nice animal rescue house there between Neely and Gilbert. Fairly warm. I left a 79-cent 32-ounce Dr. Pepper in the car for when I got back. Western Canal 4/29/2012 I didn't have any cheap cola or any cola, so I went to Albertson's and got one coke. Their cheap cola wasn't cheap. Then I bought some IVORY ALOE! WALKED WEST WEST WEST At the canal I WENT SWIMMING when no one was looking. Very refreshing. THE GREEK FESTIVAL IS TODAY, SO I WILL GO ALONE. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/28/2012 They had cut down a lot of the vegetation in front of the fire house. Western Canal 4/27/2012 I wore those darned shoes and got a blister on the pad of my foot. Walked west. WATER WATER EVERYWHERE. Buffalo Park Flagstaff Arizona 4/25/2012 No Notes Entered Buffalo Park Flagstaff Arizona 4/24/2012 Then went to Barnes and Noble and bought Carol Burnett's autobiography. I traded in Sam Harris's cause it was boring. It wasn't a bio. Buffalo Park Flagstaff Arizona 4/23/2012 No Notes Entered Buffalo Park Flagstaff Arizona 4/22/2012 No Notes Entered Buffalo Park Flagstaff Arizona 4/21/2012 No Notes Entered Walnut Canyon 4/19/2012 I walked down as usual. And out. Lowell Observatory Mars Hill 4/19/2012 No Notes Entered Buffalo Park Flagstaff Arizona 4/17/2012 Taking my walk. I finished that Starpopper story. Wupatki 4/15/2012 At sunset crater I met a guy and gal from back east with suwarski roof prisms. Birders natch. He saw the "red-backed" junco meaning the gray headed. Buffalo Park Flagstaff Arizona 4/12/2012 Mountain dusted with snow. Abert's Squirrel Buffalo Park Flagstaff Arizona 4/11/2012 No Notes Entered Buffalo Park Flagstaff Arizona 4/9/2012 I guess this is my first or first recorded trip here. I walked the two miles around. What a great place!!!! Flagstaff House 4/8/2012 on April 10 there was a snake on the road. Just a garter snake. I stayed up here from the eighth to the 26th, so a lot of the birds were seen more than once. A prairie dog on our land. I took a picture. HAIL. ALL SNOW MELTED FROM THE DRIVE ON APRIL 22. April 26, when I left it started raining and the roof was leaking over the picture window and I had to put sticks under the tar paper shingles and I was wet and on a dangerous latter and I put all the old pictures and papers on the couch in case it rained more. Then it snowed like crazy and I thought I might get snowed in! But I went home all right. I went everywhere on this trip. I read Carole King's autobiography and Carol Burnett's. Very good. I finished Dublinders by James Joyce and I finished my pop time story starpoppers and I discovered the Lumberyard Brewery with its wonderful patio with bikers going by and trains arriving. And there isn't noisy music. Nice. I went to Sunset Crater and Wapatki and Walnut canyon and the observatory and everywhere but the Ski Lift was out of service and so was the restaurant up there so I didn't go up. I learned all about Buffalo Park. I climbed A-1 Mountain. I diddled!!! It was cold when I first got there and then it was kind of hot at night. I GASPED for air and it seemed that my heart needed more oxygen too. I never acclimated to the high altitude. I was going to take care of Penny the Dog, but they left her in charge of another neighbor, so I went home on Thursday instead of Saturday or Sunday. Nice trip. Stayed a little long. I'm going to Ireland. April 15 night there was a bell ringing at night. More like a pipe getting hit by something. It was eerie and I heard it in the morning too. Weird dreams most every night. When I read Carol Burnett's autobiography, I dreamed I knew her and we were friends. I went to Barnes and Noble to use their WiFi and to the library. Superstitions 4/7/2012 Went with Steve and Dits. Dits took us in his truck. We walked up the left-hand trail, which is much easier with far less climbing. Easy. We went to the Indian camp where there were lots of corn grinding holes. Western Canal 4/6/2012 I went WEST this time to Price Road and then to McClintock. It was MUCH longer. I will have to check the mileage on line. I thought it seemed longer. MUCH more water and some of it racing. Wider canals and nicer neighborhoods. TURTLES! Yesterday I talked to Jeff Dorris and booked my trip to Ireland. Now I must get ready as it's less than a month away. Very exciting. Only 3633 dollars for everything except a few meals. 2125 North Villas Lane 4/5/2012 Sally was here. I have seen it this week other times. Western Canal 4/5/2012 Sally went back. Steve and she and I and Sonny ate at the taquería. I saw what appeared to be a SMALL MOUTH BASS IN THE CANAL. Western Canal 4/4/2012 Sally and I went after we took Wendy to the airport. Western Canal 4/3/2012 Sally and I went. Botanical Gardens 4/3/2012 This is when I gave my talk for the Maricopa Audubon Society. MAS Wendy, Sally, and Steve came. Western Canal 4/2/2012 Steve and I went. He didn't have a sub job. Western Canal 4/1/2012 My third walk. I started at Dobson and went to the tracks before McQueen. That made the hike about five miles. Nice. Carp in the canal. Listened to the Spanish recordings the whole time. Malachite in the gravel. Western Canal 3/31/2012 This is my second walk down the Western Canal. I started at Alma School and went to McQueen and then Elliot and Cooper Roads. Very nice. Good exer! Listened to the Spanish tapes. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/31/2012 Walked here clean from Alma School Road and Elliot. Western Canal 3/30/2012 The first walk here. I parked my car at the park and walked down the canal where there were lots of other people walking and I went clean to Arizona Avenue and I came back and it was four miles and it took an hour and ten minutes 8:40-9:50. It was nice. Some horribly ratty houses on the canal but mostly nice ones. Very pretty and I will now go every morning and listen to my spanish recordings and go even an extra mile maybe. Very nice indeed. Tilapia and tons of carp. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/26/2012 Last night I went and saw Thin Ice or something. It was about a guy who tries to steal a violin. He gets scammed and stung in the worst way by some criminals who make him think he's party to a murder. Only one other couple was in there. In the other theater for another show that wasn't as good there was a packed house. Today I've just about finished the Spanish book. Erica called and said her dad died and that Christian was quitting guitar lessons. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/23/2012 SAW THE MOVIE RED TAILS. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/21/2012 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 3/21/2012 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/20/2012 I was writing my song "Only the Love of Corina." Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/19/2012 Last night I went and saw WAR HORSE. It was okay. I went to e&c roads after I worked on my speech. I drove around old town gilbert and looked at the neighborhoods and houses there and looked at houses for sale. I went over to Larry's house, his old house on Saguaro, and looked at that neighborhood. Steve came by afterwards and helped me with my speech. We decided that I would continue to be crummy until I wrote out cool script for each slide and that's what I will do tomorrow. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/17/2012 I ate a piece of chicken. I went over to Steve's to practice my speech, but we never got around to it. I will do it tomorrow. I hope I'm not BORING! Mesa Library Pond at Dobson Ranch 3/16/2012 Steve and Skippy and I went to feed Squibbles. There were lots of pigeons. Two kids were fishing. There was a very stubby Jack Russell Terrier. Mesa Library Pond at Dobson Ranch 3/15/2012 I went and fed the pigeons. They remembered me. Two pigeons had hurt FEET! It was sad. It's March 15th!! Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/14/2012 I slept out on steve's couch at his house last night for fun. The weather was perfect. I wasn't cold. It's noisier there; he's closer to the roads. That guy who used to have the dog was there at the site. A helicopter was hovering over Gilbert and Elliot, so I went over. Lots of big police vans. Something happened. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/13/2012 I drank cake flavored vodka last night and my brain felt a little funny. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/12/2012 Mom would have been 90 today. I drove over to Sonny's because I thought Steve was there. He wasn't. Sonny and I goofed off a while. He has a new bed. Then I left. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/11/2012 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/10/2012 Some people came up. I put my chair by my truck and read that darned Spanish book. I'm about through with it. I want to get it in print. I called Jan Bradbury. Nancy answered and said he was out looking at garage sales on his bike. I was going to go with the atheists to the Japanese Friendship Garden, but I thought that ment the Japanese flower gardens and it wasn't that and it was way out there so I didn't go. Yesterday I got my front tires replaced. They put the new ones in the back and put the old back ones in front. Changed the oil too. 341 bucks Jesus. Mesa Library Pond at Dobson Ranch 3/9/2012 There were people feeding the pigeons andIhelped. One of them talked to me about birds and asked what the wigeon as and the rn duckies. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/8/2012 Steve and Sonny and I met over at the taco place next to gallagher's. I had two tacos. They had food too and Mexican cokes. Then we went to Sally's hair salon for hair product. Then I went to E&C and i read some of my book. Then I drove over to the mailbox place because sally's recharger didn't arrive there and it should have. She left it at my house and I mailed it back. Mesa Library Pond at Dobson Ranch 3/7/2012 Fed the pidgies. Last night I went to the movie HUGO at the Pollock Theater. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/7/2012 WINDY AND COLD but sunny. I got a little cold sitting there eating sunflower seeds and reading through Las Misteriosas Noches de Añtano. King Canyon Trail Tucson 3/4/2012 This was our atheist hike and Sally and I went. We went to a mine shaft up high and finally wash walked down the arroyo. We saw a crowned crested saguaro up high. One guy kept catching stripe-tailed scorpions and holding them. He was showing off a little. Don, the leader of the Tucson Atheist Group told me how he was learning guitar, and I thought his book sounded way bad and am thinking of sending him a copy of my "book." Al had a stout out of his car before he left, but we didn't get any and he dallied getting back so we couldn't have a complimentary stout out of the back of his car, and then the rest of the atheists went to the museum that we didn't want to go to and pay fourteen bucks for and so we didn't get to REHYDRATE with the atheists who met up at Gentle Ben's later on. Sally and I went to the Parrilla Suiza and EACH drank two beers. My food was lousy. We went home. In the morning we went to Frank's and had breakfast. 'Twas very noice. They Sally had to have her jaw looked at and I drove home where I am right now! 831 South Sidney Avenue Tucson Arizona 3/3/2012 Went down to go on the atheist hike. We drank beer at BJ's and then Jeff came by and drank wine and ate chicken. Mesa Library Pond at Dobson Ranch 3/2/2012 The pigeons wouldn't eat the green peas. Weird. They ate corn and other seeds. I think that one of them was squibbles. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/2/2012 WINDY!!!! Mesa Library Pond at Dobson Ranch 3/1/2012 I went and saw Squibbles. I fed the pigeons a TON of food. I caught one but he fought me so hard that I let him go. I felt guilty that I caught him. He came back and ate though. From now on I will not catch the pigeons unless it's Squibbles, who has become as skittish as the others in two days. Mesa Library Pond at Dobson Ranch 2/29/2012 I went to see Squibbles. I think it was him. I fed th pidgies. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/29/2012 Just drove over from Goodwill 2125 North Villas Lane 2/28/2012 Watched the Dayton 500 last night. It got rained out and there was a fire on the racetrack when a car it the jet powered drier and it burned up the track that had to be resurfaced. No one died. It was a crying shame. Mesa Library Pond at Dobson Ranch 2/28/2012 Steve and I went to dump off Squibbles. It went well. He was eating with the other pigeons when we left. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/26/2012 Worked on my book and then went to the Atheists meet-up. There was an old guy there that lived in a adult community full of right-wing religious shitheads and he was there. He suddenly said, "I don't like your attitude." after I said I didn't think Obama should apologize when our troops accidentally burned the fucking Koran. The guys insisted he was joking. I guess he was because everyone agreed with me. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/25/2012 A couple of older guys on bikes came by. One was thin and gray. Friendly. A lady and her daughter came by. I was reviewing Las misterosas noches de antaño. One half off on everything at Goodwill. I bought three shirts. I love NY, a fishing T-shirt and another, a black pin-striped deal. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/24/2012 To my Spanish memoirs and it was too windy to work with them. I had paperweights. Last night I went to the Pollock theather THREE DOLLARS A SHOW and saw Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. It was incomprehensible, so after a couple of hours I left and watched the last of an Eddie Murphy comedy (Tower heist) thriller. I went and saw a baseball film the other night. It was good. Moneyball I think it was called. I hole punched the latest version of the spanish book. God, it's taking time to tidy it up! I'm going to see the baptist preacher who turned atheist in a few minutes. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/21/2012 Nice weather. I drove over to the cruddier neighborhood and looked at houses. Just across the street. There's a school there. I bit run down. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/20/2012 I hung around and then went to the water ranch. IT'S PRESIDENTS DAY. I found a fat and healthy sapo in the usual place and put him on the road pointed in the right direction to the pond. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 2/20/2012 Lots of turtles. Great weather as usual here in sunny Arizona. Pinnacle Peak Park 2/19/2012 Went with the atheist meet-up group. We hiked the whole trail. Lots of rich houses below. Al served beer in the parking lot when we got back. Nice porters. Then I wrote with a Merle and Dee down the hill under the hatchback of a car while I was drinking beer and shouting, "Look! I'm a cowboy. Howdy! Howdy! Howdy!" Then we went to the Pinnacle Peak patio that they opened early for the atheists. The same as it was in 1961 or whenever. Lots of ties nailed to the wall. Smaller than I remember. Old. I'm surprised it hasn't burned down. Zillions of business cards on the walls also. My hamburger was late and came medium rare instead of medium well. The waitress left us all there for an hour after we ate with no move to bring the checks. Even then it was a disaster. Al addressed the group for about a half hour and handed out prizes for those who had attended the most hikes. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/17/2012 Didn't stay long. Sally came yesterday. I didn't stay here long. I've been working on Merle Travis style picking and have made progress. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/15/2012 Met a couple from Payson.They wer every nice and knocked Brewer and Palin. I played guitar for them and they bought my book! Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/14/2012 I woke up early and went to Starbuck's to get two cups of Casa Cielo as I was out of coffee. OVERCAST AND RATHER COLD TODAY. What gives??? McQueen and Elliot Roads 2/14/2012 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/13/2012 Non stop sunshine, but a day has passed and as I write this it's the fourteenth and it's overcast! What???? This is Arizona. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/12/2012 DARWIN DAY. I met that jackass pig, John Gunn, who said bad things about Dad and I only said, "It's good to hear that," when I should have punched that shithead in the nose. Must be a republican. ¡Me las pagará! Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/11/2012 Called Sally and I listened to spanish and I walked around the place. NOT A CLOUD IN THE SKY AND IT'S NICE AND WARM WITH A COOL, CRISP BREEZE. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/10/2012 A coyote was right on the road there. I walked around the place. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/9/2012 Studied audio. Walked around. I let Rodrigo in my yard to catch his cat who likes Squibbles. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/6/2012 Walked around it. Went back and then went to see Dawkins again this time at the Mesa Center for the Arts. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/5/2012 I ran into that Tim, the guy that plays that amazing upside down and backward guitar. He had his girlfriend with him and he said he walked from Awatukee. Talked to some old folks on the canal road because there were dead ducks and one dead bn stilt. Generic Place Anywhere 2/4/2012 Went over to AJ's Patio and met Richard Dawkins. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/3/2012 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/1/2012 I just listened to spanish audio. I didn't walk around. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/31/2012 Perfect weather but I went to Sub Stop and ate a TWELVE-INCH steak and cheese. I have to do something about my eating. Then I went to the Water Ranch. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 1/31/2012 Talked to some lady from Montreal with a nice dog like Noodles. She knew a lot about birds. She saw a Cardinal and something she couldn't identify. She didn't know how to pronounce Gila or Phainopepla. She had never heard of a gila monster. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/30/2012 Steve came by and he was there first before I got there. I saw a huge osprey out of the car window and Steve was out there looking at it. My truck is on Google Earth at E&C Roads. I walked around the site using my new Ipod-like device and listened to notes in Spanish audio. My phone just came apart a bit. The top part with the screen became disengaged on the right side. I snapped it back. It works. The weather is still GREAT! 2125 North Villas Lane 1/29/2012 Recently I have also had CB thrashers, collared doves, inkies, abert's etc. and Pidgies! Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/28/2012 Went over and spent some time there. Listened to two audios by notes in Spanish. Called Jeff from home and he didn't give me much encouragement about helping me on the book. It's been ten and a half weeks, and I've seen nothing although he says he has sixty pages done. Still, he gave me no feeling that he was going to do anything with it soon and I don't want to wait another ten weeks. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/27/2012 Steve came from Mesquite High. Then he went back to my house and he fed squibbles. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/26/2012 I went over after shopping a little at Fry's. Lots of sun but cool. May go to that bar where Nancy and Larry will be. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/25/2012 It was sunny. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/24/2012 Wanted to get RAM today. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/23/2012 There's a pile of pebbles/boulders on the road to the east of pond nine. I listened to NotesInSpanish audio there. Mesa Library Pond at Dobson Ranch 1/22/2012 Steve drove me over in his good car. We were going to dump SQUIBBLES THE SQUAB, but he didn't seem to be ready so we put him over at my house in the coop. Phoenix Zoo 1/21/2012 Drove down there to release Squibbles, but there were no pidgies there to speak of. CLOUDY AND COLD. I left my WBIHK (wild birds I have known) notebook in the gift shop. I was pulling off my binocs that had tangled in my glasses and I thought I had got the notebook in my pocket but when I got to the car, I realized it must have fallen on the floor. It had, and they gave it back to me. Drove all the way down Rural to get back to Steve's house. I FINALLY HAVE MY EMAIL back from the shut down of ASUrite. The techies were idiots. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/19/2012 Walked around the place. Generic Place Anywhere 1/18/2012 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/16/2012 Walked around and then through the neighborhood. Oh! NO MOURNING DOVE although they were so thick at Mcqueen and Elliot that on the way back I nearly hit one. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/13/2012 Again no wigeon. No Peregrine today and no stilts. Walked around the place. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/12/2012 Cloudy and rather cold. Walked around the site. Not as nice as recently it has been. LAST ENTRY IN THIS NOTEBOOK. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/11/2012 Walked around it. Went and looked at houses. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/10/2012 Nice and sunny. Sally's in town looking up Tempe Beach junk at the Tempe Museum. I walked around the site. It takes a half hour. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/9/2012 Walked 3/4 around and back. It took 30 minutes. Tried Caboki today. Works great. Nice weather. Bought those spanish dialog scripts today. Rillito 1/8/2012 The rillito was a wash with white-crowned sparrows. Get it? Yuck! Yuck! Yuck! Sally and I walked a long ways. There were private mini farms along the walkway and they weren't even so mini. BIG houses on the way. Wish I were rich. Sabino Canyon 1/7/2012 Not very birdie. Sally and I went to the dam and waded across up on the top. Froze our feet. Then we went up an arroyo and back the way we came and went back to the visitor center, where we saw an old Life Magazine article about one Deputy Sheriff Anderson who had one arm, or was it leg?, and who rescued a 15-year-old who was stranded on a cliff. The Deputy fell to his death. There were pictures. Then we went to a Meskin furniture store and picked up the desk that Christopher had bought her and put it in my truck. We then went to BJ's for beer. We went home but her TV wasn't so hot. 831 South Sidney Avenue Tucson Arizona 1/7/2012 I brought a big, gaudy bird bath. To my surprise Sally had one, but it was spartan and plastic. She insisted she liked mine. I wasn't so sure. It was kind of de mucho colorido. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/6/2012 NO MOURNING DOVE OR GRACKLE OR YR WARBLER. I went and bought a bird bath for Sally afterwards. I went to the WalMart Superstore on Pecos and Az Avenue. Finally I got one a Lowe's. To my surprise, they had put in a bunch of NEW ONES! Uno era de mucho colorido. I bought it. It was cheaper than the other one and there were plain ones too. I'm fixin' to go to Sally's tomorrow, and I hope it isn't too colorful for her. But I think it is really the pastel, meskin, desert, Tucson, hokey color. I have to check to see whether Chris Matthews will be in Tucson. I heard that he would be. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/5/2012 Nice sunshine. Watched Sherlock Holmes at Sonny's for a while and came here. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/3/2012 Went to Frye's near my house and met Steve actually at Paradise Video. Then we went to Frye's. I bought some griller's prime as they were a dollar off and the next day they might not be on sale and I would only get my Wednesday senior discount. A little cloudy today without the nice, bright, hot sun of the previous few days. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/1/2012 NEW YEAR'S DAY. Last night I just drank O'douls near beer. Lots of firecrackers. TODAY BRIGHT AND SUNNY. A HOT SUN. COOL AIR. NICE NICE NICE. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/31/2011 THIRTY DIRTY BIRDIES. It's new year's eve. COYOTES HOWLING WEIRDLY. Mesa Library Pond at Dobson Ranch 12/30/2011 I went back and returned that Henry James fiction. I don't like it; I kaint unnerstan it. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/30/2011 Cool air and HOT SUN. NICE. I had to wear sun screen to walk AROUND the site. PERFECT WEATHER! Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/27/2011 I went over. I was very sick the night before with stomach flu or food poisoning. Christopher and Sally came up to dump off Kate and we ate at Rosita's. I had a tostada and rice and beans. I went to Whole Foods and drank one beer. Then I dry heaved in the bathroom and went home. HOW I BARFED THAT NIGHT. Well, I went and slept over at E&C roads. Later I went to Sonny's house to watch a movie about Hitler. My rib muscles hurt afterwards from hurling the next day. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/25/2011 CHRISTMAS DAY. Ate prime rib and came here. Weather is nice. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/24/2011 Popped over. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/23/2011 Whipped over. I had Taco Bell on the way and then I can a chilli dog at the convenience store. Madness, but I couldn't help it. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/22/2011 Didn't stay long. It was cold. I went home and finally went over to Erica's abd taught Christian and then ate fish tacos. Erica's dogs are weird and a little scary. I gave her my bird book as a birthday present, but she thought it was going to be my Spanish book and was disappointed. She asked me for the unedited version. She didn't care. I gave it to her. I've been taking care of squibbles the squab. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/20/2011 Drove over before light. There were trucks in the parking lot. They were doing some loud work over by the solar panels. Just saw some ducks. I left and went home via Starbuck's. Higley and Ocotillo Roads 12/20/2011 Tilapia in the canals. Some greenies too. Generic Place Anywhere 12/20/2011 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/19/2011 Some old guy came by geo caching. He didn't think I knew what he was doing, but I told him, "You're red hot." and he finally found the cache. He grew up in Gilbert ages ago and his dad grew up there too. A real Arizonan. I talked to the guy on the motorized cart. I then went and saw Sherlock Holmes, the movie. I didn't like it at all. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/18/2011 It got REALLY cold. It drizzled. I went and looked at that house on Gila Lane. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/17/2011 Afterwards went to Vine Expressions and talked to David Newton about playing there. I put my old vids of me on YouTube and emailed him the links. I talked to Jan in the parking lot of the wine bar by phone. Jan Bradbury. I sacred all the darned ducks out of Pond Ten. I just went up to the fence on the west end and a coot went running off and took flight and everyone else flew and were swarming the skies. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/16/2011 Goddamn it. Christopher Hitchens died yesterday! Mesa Library Pond at Dobson Ranch 12/15/2011 I turned in LIFE by Keith Richards. I was sick of reading it and I already got a vry good insight from him regarding rugged individualism of rural Americans who are really very weak rather than rugged. I got two Henry James novels, a Willa Cather one and also another one. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/15/2011 I went over to the VINE EXPRESSIONS wine bar. I had a beer, a red Sleepy Dog. Very nice. They said that the boss would want a YouTube video of me to hire me as a musician. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/12/2011 It was rainy and kinda cold. Drizzled lightly. It was raining when I got up. I GOT MY SWIRLY GIG today. When I came home, there was a box and I couldn't figure out what it could be. I opened it and there was MY SWIRLY GIG! Went and got my credit card stuff done finally over on Mill Avenue for Tmep Schools Credit Union. ATE TOO MUCH. Ate a jalapeño cheese chili dog. Then I had chicken. Usery Mountain Park 12/11/2011 Went with the Atheists. There were ten or fifteen of us. Went to the to and afterwards we went to OLD CHICAGO. Sally was here because she came yesterday and went to here friends' party and then we went out to THE DOWNUNDER. Roger greeted us very kindly. Ate today and then too much. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/9/2011 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 12/9/2011 Talked to some guy around my age. He knew a lot about birds. Tempe Town Lake 12/8/2011 Went after I went to the credit union to give them my info so they'd give me a new credit card. There was A PEDESTRIAN bridge by the Tempe Center for the Arts that the lady the other day told me about. It JUMPED AND WIGGLED as though there were an earthquake. I was surprised. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/8/2011 NICE OUT THERE there were some guys using a chipper. I came after going to Sunflower Market in Tempe. Wore my John Lennon button all day. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/5/2011 BITTERLY COLD. My hands were freezing. Heard coyotes. I went at ten or so. 2125 North Villas Lane 12/4/2011 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/4/2011 I went over a little late. I think I'll go see J. Edgar Hoover in a minute. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/3/2011 Went to sonny's and steve was assembling some desk. It was a little drizzly. I went to E and C Roads and it suddenly turned BITTERLY COLD! 2125 North Villas Lane 12/2/2011 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/2/2011 Talked to a cop there, a guy I hadn't met. He knew about the Water Ranch. I told him about my book. I could smell a skunk at the site. I smelled it the other day there. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/30/2011 Steve taught but came by after his class. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/29/2011 NO YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER TODAY, BUT I GOT THIRTY BIRDS. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/28/2011 Smelled a skunk. Rabbits out there. McQueen and Elliot Roads 11/28/2011 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/26/2011 I called Jan from there and Nancy answered. She says she feels better and is getting better. Jan was out helping his mom move to another place. There was a guy on a bike with his boy and I told them about the place and junk. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/23/2011 Today I will meet Scott and go to South Mountain but I don't have to mention that because it will be on the Pima Canyon bird list for today. I went to E&C early today. Talked to the fireman whose name I can't remember. He has the metal leg. He told me that a lady came by asking how to get rid of the coyotes. I want to get a taylor gs mini. Went to the dentist Monday and later near REI at that taco stand I bit my lip even though I was trying to be careful. Steve and I went to Tempe Schools Credit Union and got accounts so we can give Bank of America the bum's rush. Pima Canyon 11/23/2011 Went with Scott Wagy and Henry. We went to the water tank. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/22/2011 Went and got my Variax guitar in Mesa. COYOTE IN POND TEN AND HE WALKED ACROSS THE GRAVEL ROAD. HE FIRST SAW SOMETHING IN pond ten and made the coyote-style jump. Nothing there. Forty-eight years ago Kennedy died. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/19/2011 LAST NIGHT I WENT TO SEE RON RUTOWSKI AT PRANKSTER'S TOO. It was John Alcock's birthday, and I sat at their table. They invited me. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/18/2011 Went over and wrote some of the Reluctant cowboy Novel version and then looked for houses. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/17/2011 I drove all around looking at houses. I found that just across Dobson is a great place. Pricey though. I found that no one has bought my book at Changing Hands. I sent Jeff an email about editing my book. I to my VARIAX to M-Tronix to get it fixed. The black one. I went here. I raked leaves. Still working. Today Crazy Heart came in. It's a big book. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/16/2011 I didn't do any writing or studying. I cleaned up and raked. When I finally went out, I looked at houses to buy. It was fun. I took a long time before I got to E&C roads. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/15/2011 A cop parked in the parking lot. AFTERWARDS, I went to Shepler's with a coupon to buy pants and I saw that I had arrived at Simpleton's, where the rum dumbs meet each Thursday and Shepler's had gone defunct two years ago! 2125 North Villas Lane 11/15/2011 Almost forgot to put this one in. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/14/2011 Saw quite a few birds and I even drank a Boston Lager at the observation area. Blackbirds were flying NW. Superstitions 11/11/2011 WENT WITH DITS AND STEVE. Oh, what scenery. Balancing rocks. Saguaro forests. I had my bad bpack and it was hard. Friday 11/11/11, we ran into some damned idiot with a gun and a terrifying dog. He was lost and we sent him in the wrong direction so he didn't go where we were going. Something wrong with him, his gun, his dog, and his idiot of a girlfriend. Got to Bluff Springs but there was no water as the rangers had reported and Dits didn't believe. It said on their sign that there would be an occasional drip from the pipe, but we didn't even see that. Went clean to Labarge springs and camped there. A family and some boy scouts were there. We chatted with them and camped in a good place far from them and from DOG AND GUN BOY. It wasn't very cold. We cooked and slept nine hours at least and then went to that BIG SPRING with the beautiful pool. Then we went to Needle Trail and found a place that had a puddle of water on a rock that we could use to drink. We filtered this tea-water and it was still yellow, but tasted good. Slept and then in the morning it rained. I was dry for a while but then it rained harder and I got kind of wet. My tarp leaked! By slapping bug was wet and weighed more. We got up and started hiking BEFORE LIGHT in the rain. We used our headlights. SCENERY BEYOND COMPARE. Endless balancing rocks. We took 7 1/2 hours to get to my truck. We met some guys who were biologists and knew Ron Rutowski. He's playing at PRANKSTERS TOO, in Scottsdale every friday night. I think it's scottsdale. We stopped at EL TACO and ate. It's on Apace Trail. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/10/2011 Sally came with me. Sally just came back from Flag, where she met with Wendy and they closed up the house. Hope the water heater doesn't break. She flaked on the trip to the Superstitions fearing rain. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/8/2011 NO KILLDEER! I popped over at nine o'clock. It was brisk and cool. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/6/2011 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 11/6/2011 These are not too uncommon now. Actually common. The CBT has been digging holes in the front yard and scraping out the cracks in the sidewalks. 2125 North Villas Lane 11/5/2011 I was talking to Joanne Schrage and she told me that Paul was doing "fair." Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/04/2011 Went over. Weather is nice now. I have been fixing my rock garden. Back-breaking work. The nopal is being cut down too. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/3/2011 Cleaning the house like a fiend. Did the front and that front square and a big section of the rock garden and cut the nopal and carted off the pads and done a lot. Last night I talked to Susana, who is James' wife at Whole Foods. Talked to Richard Rickel today. Kokopelli Golf Course 11/3/2011 I drove behind the industrial area there and walked down into the dry canal using flattened-out barbed wire. God I'm old and creaky! I climbed up to look into the pond but had to get on the golf course itself. A golf cart came whizzing by piloted by a very friendly golfer. I said, "I'm just trying to look into the pond." He said, "Far out." or something like "hell yes!" Generic Place Anywhere 10/30/2011 No Notes Entered Lowell Observatory Mars Hill 10/25/2011 No Notes Entered Flagstaff House 10/23/2011 This was from the 22nd to the 28th. I went up. I KILLED NINE MICE with the electric mouse trap. FIFTY ELK IN THE YARD. There were ALWAYS elk screeching. I saw a coyote behind the house skulking about TWICE IN THE MORNING. I played with Penny the dog. I heard a TRAIN one night. I didn't write a thing, but I made plans to move out of my house and get a real house. THREE HOURS TO GET THERE. 185 miles up. Lowell Observatory Mars Hill 10/23/2011 I went here twice. Once there weren't any birds at all as I recall. Yes that was on the 25th. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/21/2011 Last night I fell asleep in my truck! Weird. Well the Coyote was in Pond 8 in the grass and later he walked over to pond ten. It was a little warm. The night before last I called the police again on drummer boy. They gave him my phone number and he was going to call but I haven't heard from him. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/19/2011 As last time, which I forgot to note, a COYOTE waded through the moat water of pond 9 and the mallards sitting there paid no attention to him. They were totally unafraid. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/18/2011 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/17/2011 No Notes Entered Kokopelli Golf Course 10/17/2011 I think I drove out of there and got on the phone to Sally who was coming up to dump Christopher at the airport. She wanted to go to Akeda or Akida or whatever the name of that store was. Arizona State Fair 10/16/2011 I saw the smallest horse which looked like a small Shetland pony and I saw a 1200-pound alligator and a huge pig that stank. I saw the dead bodies in the hospital exhibit. Icky. Gave me the creeps. Beer was $7.50 so I didn't get one. I got to park right near the entrance for ten bucks. I was between a sign and a pole in the dirt. Worked well. The fair is at 19th Avenue and McDowell where Grand Avenue is angling through. Fantastic rides that I didn't go on but they were scary. I saw the art and the pickled zuccini and marmalade and all that and the goats and bunnies. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/14/2011 Had lunch with Christopher and Sally and Steve at Rosenburg's. We talked about his book. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/13/2011 Driving back from the Water Ranch, I stopped here. I had no notebook! Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 10/13/2011 Went over after seeing Kathy Forsyth. Estero Morua 10/10/2011 Whipped on down bringing no food. Caught two tiny rock bass. Temperature was rather hot fishing. Not bad but you needed sunscreen. Nice nice weather. Quiet too. Met Margaret and son Theo. They live in the house in front of us from which the internet emanates. One Enrigue said that the oyster catchers are disappearing and it was true that I didn't see one. Internet didn't work well. Steve was in town when I got there as he thought he had no propane. There was a huge tank in the garbage can. Enrique nearly got squashed by Steve's car when the jack started leaning over. Slept on the couch. Good sleeping. Cops followed me to the border from the turn left there after Vaquez's Licores. Two pick-ups. Speed signs said 20 km/hr. Oh, it was torture keeping that speed. They finally passed me and they had machine guns. Had a bacon cheese burger at Lukeville. I stopped at the AJO MOUNTAINS WAYSIDE in Organ Pipe. Stopped at the Mesquite Leak Rest Stop and found obsidian that looks like fire agate to me. I was happy to find them. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/9/2011 Sunny and cool! Wendy's birthday. I had a hangover and drank a beer at E&C as the hair of the dog. Have drunk beer three times out of 1100 trips about now. I went over to Steves and I was going to go down to mexico the next day in my truck, but I didn't feel like it. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/8/2011 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/7/2011 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/6/2011 No Notes Entered Mesa Library Pond at Dobson Ranch 10/4/2011 That's all! I got Keith Richard's book. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/4/2011 VERY WINDY. I liked it but I had writer's block and couldn't think of what to write and wrote nothing. Oh, how the wind blew and the birds boiled up in it joyfully. Even the Turkey Vulture was enjoying the ráfagas. Later I went to see DRIVE, one of the worst movies ever. What a waste of money. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/3/2011 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/1/2011 Can't remember what I did. Oh, I talked to some lady who wanted to know if that was the entrance. I tol her you couldn't really get in. I sent her happily to the Water Ranch. Montezuma Well 9/30/2011 Drove in. Talked about Jack Beckman with the ranger. Out of shape I was going up the easy ascent. Nice well. I went and saw the old travertine-coated canal. That's a nice park there with the cool, crystal canal. Walnut Canyon 9/28/2011 It was hot and I am fat and out of shape. Five bucks to get in. Not many people. Not very birdy. Northern Arizona Museum 9/20/2011 Went to see the Lewis's but he wasn't there. Flagstaff House 9/19/2011 Stayed 19-30 so these birds may have been seen on any of those dates. I put the key in the beer nuts can in the shed next to the house. Only a pack rat stole it. It took me a whole pack of poison to kill him (Yes, I feel very guilty.) but he is finally gone. He was riding roughshod over the house. Jumping from sofas on the floor all night popping in through the windowway to my sleeping quarters. I could not sleep. He had packed the shed full of fragrant lavender-like stalks and flowers. He pulled the cotton stuffing out of the mattress in Fort Rat and made a cozy winter nest. I found the key in the nest three sections down from the can where I left it. I KNEW it was him. I knew darned well I left the key there, but they like shiny things. Wrote six stories for my next book which I will self publish without shame. Bought a laptop for 298 bucks. Mike May said I hurt his feelings cause I didn't come up. He brought over an article about Chris's writing partner. I hated to leave. It's so nice up here and WHAT A VIEW. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/17/2011 Talked to Sally on the phone. Steve's in Flag. NICE LITTLE COYOTE. Not too hot. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/15/2011 I went over and didn't really write although I decided I would write about Tom Hascall. I talked to sally on the phone. LOTS OF COYOTE SIGHTINGS although he may have been the same one. He was young almost still a puppy. Red tongue. It wasn't too hot. I went over to the Market when I ran out of cokes though. I saw CONTAGION last night. I didn't think it was too good. I went after I met Jan Kegelman at Whole Foods. Steve came. She bought me a six-pack of O'Doul's. We each drank a beer except steve. I think I may go to the open mic night tonight and retry the songs I didn't do well. Zoot Suit and Everyone Says I Love You. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/14/2011 Last night I saw Apollo 18, which was a piece of garbage. Then I went and saw THE HELP, which was very good indeed. Yesterday Erica forgot to come by. Jan Kegelman called and we're having a belated birthday beer at Whole Foods. I brought my cooler and drank V8 and fizzy water. I didn't write anything this time although I had all my gear. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/12/2011 Young coyotes walked by. One at a time. Maybe they were the same guy. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/11/2011 A coyote as usual but he was big. That was in pond ten. I sat out there for quite a while. It wasn't too hot. Ten years ago today those filthy religious pigs attacked. Obama finally got the son of a bitch. Go BAMA! Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/10/2011 Went at nine thirty although I tried to be there earlier. Went to the bank first and it was open. Deposited Dad's Waveland check. OH I STAYED A LONG TIME. Water was bubbling from the bubblers and I put one of the little hoses on the garbage can lid which filled. WROTE A LONG STORY ABOUT GORDON CARPENTER. One of my near beers was a real beer. NEW COOLER. Little one. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/9/2011 I stayed a long time. It thundered and rained and it was cool enough. I wrote "Los peces in los charcos." I was going to go to the open mic at cup of karma but didn't feel like it and I was late so I went to the beer class at whole foods. Only got about eight ounces for my money. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/8/2011 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/7/2011 Hot. Coyotes howled in pond ten. One was in the grass there. I howled at him. Generic Place Anywhere 9/6/2011 No Notes Entered Higley and Ocotillo Roads 9/6/2011 No water in any of the ponds. Well, a puddle in one. DRY DRY DRY. However, the canal was full to the top and that's where I saw the heron and the grebe. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/6/2011 Steve called and had me transport a tiller over to Pecos Road. It didn't work well. We took it back. We paid a guy to mow the yard. Then I went to ocotillon, gilbert and riggs, and Elliot and Cooper. Gilbert and Riggs Roads 9/6/2011 You can hardly see through the bushes to the GIGANTIC PONDS. You know, there are TWO ponds really. They're big. No access. Poor view. Generic Place Anywhere 9/2/2011 I just drove out here in the very late afternoon and out to Mysterious Pond. Then I went to Whole foods for their beer tasting. Just five very small glasses, perhaps three ounces each, of their select beer. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/1/2011 I gave the fire fighters the book. I had to come back because they were out. I put the book out on the web ready to go-- that is, I approved the proof. Last night I played at THE RED OWL. What a dive. One guy had never heard of Glen Campbell. Great sound system. Some kids in the Jack-in-the-box next door made me nervous. The bar had two-buck beers. I drank one. I also went to the Sleepy Dog Brewery. Some strange, but polite and nice kid chatted with me. He had BO. Anyway I played twenty minutes or so to a tattooed crowd of six or seven. Started at eight thirty. I went home at around ten. Much rougher place than I thought, but I fit in I suppose with this wild, long hair. YOUNG COYOTE in Pond 9. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 9/1/2011 Hot as hell. I drank a grapefruit pink drink. Doused myself with water. One guy was there. He went back. NO SANDPIPERS SAVE THE GREATER AND LESSER YELLOWLEGS. NO DOWITCHERS. I DROVE BACK AND GAVE THE FIRE FIGHTERS THE BOOK. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/30/2011 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 8/30/2011 Hot. I drank three near beers up there. I brought that chair from Flagstaff. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/29/2011 Can't remember anything. 2125 North Villas Lane 8/29/2011 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/27/2011 MY BIRTHDAY. I'M SIXTY YEARS OLD! Holy cow. Hot as heck here today. I went around the back and didn't walk far down the canal before I came back. The guy at Whole Foods is going to buy me a beer for my birthday. Only the third lark sparrow here! Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/26/2011 Hot. I went to Whole Foods afterwards at night and had one beer and about five ounces of beer for five dollars as those five ounces constituted the beer class. Stayed till nine-thirty or so. They had such a large crowd that it took forever to get your tastes of the beer for the class. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/25/2011 Very hot. I didn't stay long. Today I cut a lot of limbs off of the bushes in back and cleaned the HYBRID ROOM. Looks nice. Got a car wash at mcqueen and elliot. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/22/2011 Hot and rather dull. I went late. Talked to Nicaragua and I wasn't very good. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/20/2011 Sally and I went. I told her we might see a coyote and one, a young one, went bounding down the road out in front of the viewing area. She was here because her friends from New Orleans invited her up. She wanted to get screw bean mesquite seed pods. We went early so it wouldn't be so hot. It got hot. Later we went to that taco place next to Gallaghers. Then we met up with Steve and hung out. Then we went to that gay bar and had a couple of beers. Sally went to the party and I went to open mic at Cup of Karma. There were fifteen people in line. Two guys talked. I finally told them both to shut up and they did. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 8/20/2011 See note from E&C roads for this date for imformation on the day. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/17/2011 I went to the library and proofed the book for a couple of hours. I talked to Nicaragua for an hour. I studied. I did my sheets, comforter, and pillows and put them all in the hot sun to dry. Need a new sheet. It's gray now. Yuck. Talked to the guy at club red and the red owl and he said he could get me on the open mic at eleven. twenty minutes. too late for me. I'm going to scottsdale again tonight to do that, but I'll reserve an early spot at the club red for Wednesday next. Last night that Adolfo hogged the stage and I finally left. Here's what I wrote to Sally: "No 19th gig. Maybe the 26th, but I'm down on the guy. I went to Open Mic and there were two people to play. Well, the guy who runs the cafe went and played from 7-8, a full hour. He is not a good performer. I got to play and he was anxious to have me finished. Then another guy went up and played three songs. Then the owner went up again. Then PANAMA PETE a crippled guy who strums and croaks wheeled in. The owner went up to play along with him. I would be next, but since he was having fun, Panama Pete got to play forever. I finally packed up and left and they'd been up there for over 45 minutes. What kind of open mic is that? I didn't storm off in a snit, but he may have known I was pissed but what an inconsiderate, selvish and clueless person." Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/16/2011 Quite hot and humid. I went to the open mic and it was for comedians but they let me open with three songs. The comedians weren't very good. One Guillermo un guatemateco as the anfitrión and he was kind of weird. One kid told native american racial jokes. It was over by nine. Actually, there was a an older guy there who did hypnosis and made some guy sleep. Not for me. Will go to Bunna tongight. You know I went to Guitar Center and I discovered the 500-buck CS Mini Taylor. Tiny. HUGE sound. Nice. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/15/2011 Not too hot. Forgot to set my alarm and woke up after seven and then talked to Nicaragua and then wrote two stories in Spanish. Will go to Cup o' karma tonight. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/12/2011 Just popped over. I cleaned up my back yard a little. Looking better. tonight I will go to Cup o' Karma and play guitar. It's over near mmc. No connection to Nicaragua today, but I wrote two spanish stories: La Noche de los Cangrejos and La Tarjeta Postal. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/11/2011 Hot. No wonder the bar for August and July show fewer birds. It ain't birdy here. Glenn Walsberg responded and said I remembered it perfectly. WHAT? GO HERE FOR HIS LETTER: Phainopeplas.html Later today I would go to the Stella Cafe place by the Downunder and I played guitr. I misunderstood and tried to place a fouth song but they stopped me. It was a little embarrassing. I thought it was fifteen minutes. But it was three songs or 15 minutes WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. Cottonwood Stone was there. So was a cowboy with AMERICAN BY BIRTH, CHRISTIAN BY CHOICE or something on his T-shirt. I had an awful sandwich. I had a beer at the Downunder first. Roger was very nice. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/10/2011 Heading to the Terroir Wine Pub for an Open Mic. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/9/2011 It wasn't so hot. Well, it was hot but not as much. Actually, yesterday was breezier and cooler out here. I got some near beer because I was going to play at the Bunna Cafe. I did. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/8/2011 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/7/2011 Brought my new book PROOF to look at. It was HOT HOT HOT. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 8/7/2011 Very very hot. No one there except a bicyclist in pond 1. Bull frogs croaking in pond six. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/4/2011 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/3/2011 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/2/2011 Taught Christian bluesy stuff. nice. Hotter than heck. I think they say it's a heat wave. Small coyote by the bushes in Pond 9 viewed from the viewing area. You know where the sunflowers used to be. To the right of the road. I tried to take a movie, but he moved into the bush. Puppy I think. I went afterwards over to the Vine but there were some racist right-wing tea party shits there so I left without finishing my drink and went to Whole Foods. I had two beers. A couple there wanted me to friend them on Facebook. Then I went tosteve's and we watched the Godfather II on TV for a while and then he had to go to bed so I went home and here I am Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/28/2011 Hot. GOT THE NIGHT-HAWK AT LONG LONG LAST. Old Main 7/24/2011 The place where I played guitar in 1969 with the copper fireplace is a bar and restaurant on campus and is pretty swanky. Northern Arizona Museum 7/22/2011 No Notes Entered Flagstaff House 7/21/2011 Spent quite a long time there oh, from Thursday to Wednesday when I drove back. I was going to give Christian a guitar lesson, but he went somewhere else. Nicaraga didn't connect on Thursday either -- or Friday. I rained. ELK AT NIGHT. Abert's squirrel. I went on two walks with Cindy and Mie May. Penny was there! Eating vegan. Drank whiskey. Beer. Rained a little each day. I went to the brewery and the library. I went to the Observatory. Proofread the whole Cooper book. Wrote SF story and several stories in spanish. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/20/2011 I went to Groping Hands bookstore. Saw a book called Lost Boy about a Morman guy and his experiences. I went to the library and it was in the database but unavailable. I returned Hitch 22. I was sick of reading it. Very hot. Last night I stayed at Steve's. I drank a little too much I think. three beers at Whole foods and a 24-ouncer at Steve's. That's not too much really, but one was an Old Rasputan from Fort Bragg and it was nine percent alcohol. I woke up at five, creaky and unrested but made very good use of the day. Today I couldn't connect to Nicaragua and they owe me a class still. I wrote more stories in spanish, one on dreams, one on the turd in the bird bath, and one on the deep diving jesus. It's so much fun and I have a good start on my spanish book. The E and C book is printed and I've improved it and it's amazing. Very exciting. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/15/2011 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/13/2011 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/12/2011 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/11/2011 Today is a very sad day because 18 years ago Mom died. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/8/2011 Took Skippy. It was hot. His leash was a joke. He just cried to get out and struggled. I saw one bird. Took Steve and Sherry and Sonny to the airport. I slept over there to get up in time. Generic Place Anywhere 7/7/2011 Got trained a little more on how to take care of Skippy and stuff. Slept over at Steve's on the couch so the next morning I could drive their car back from the airport. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/6/2011 Went over to Groaping hands bookstore and saw Paul Morris and son there. He greeted me the way you'd greet the tax collector. Tucson Arizona 7/3/2011 We went up to theat music festival on Mount Lemmon and they wouldn't let you stop your car because of the fire hazard. They were very good. One of the leisure brothers was there. We went to the Red Garter and had a beer. Then sally fed me. We watched that insane Nancy Grace and "Tot Mom" who killed her baby was the subject. (She got acquitted and was guilty as sin, but that was in a couple of days.) THE NEXT DAY we went looking at houses after we went to Chico Arroyo and Frank's Diner. We went to the swimming pool and swam with a couple of beers. And old, very pleasant man joined us. then he split. We then went over to the Mimbus Brewery but on the way it started to rain and this dingbat of a lady with two dogs had their leashes all wrapped around her to we gave her a lift home in the car. Nice little dogs but she nearly sat on the tiniest one the clumsy broad. Good thing she got a ride. It began to POUR like you wouldn't believe. It was a GULLY WASHER. A giant chubasco. Afterwards it was cool. We went to Mimbus Brewery and then went home and watched Nancy Grace again. Dreamed I had an elective and two core classes. The elective was ESL through chess. Gad. Mount Lemmon 7/3/2011 They had music under the tent up there. They were very good, but had to do covers so the crowd could groove. Expensive beer and hot dogs. I brought my lawn chairs. I left them in sally's trunk when I went home -- along with my little back pack. Goddamn it! We drank and critiqued the band. The had to play honky tonk woman and you can't always get what you want. Very good renditions, but I wanted to hear ones like their swing song about Martha Ray. It was very good. The tall piano player was one of the Leisure Brothers whose picture I have on my computer. I recognized him. I complimented him on the music but he didn't even say thank you. Maybe his liver spots were ailing him. Weird people there. Most a little old and sloppy like us. Girls dancing and grooving. One girl had muti-colored hair and a cowboy hat and weird pants and pins sticking out of lips and nose. Pima Canyon 7/2/2011 Went because it was going to be 117 degrees. I brought tons of ice water and even some beer. It was too hot. Even pouring ice water over my head I was hot and tired. I didn't even make it to the water tank. Then a THUNDER head appeared and you could hear thunder. There were clouds and some wind. I went back. There were two guys who went up the road. One jogged all the way up and back. It was HOT! Only three birds even showed up. I FINISHED THE E & C BOOK TODAY. phurst draught. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/30/2011 The puppy coyoe was in the SW corner under the tree again and I whistled at him and he lifted up his head. Big ears. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/29/2011 No Nica talk. Bad connection. worked on the bird book. Wrote lyrics to Heart in Dreams in Spanish:Y tu corazón Tu dormilón De verdad ha de hacerte sentir tan desolada En vano busco yo A la que me dejó Y jamás regresarás a hacerte más hallada THERE WAS A PUPPY COYOTE AT THE SW CORNER under the tree there. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/28/2011 My gout really really hurt. I went to the bar and my knee hurt so bad! Jaime, the Spanish speaker, told me to only drink five beers a day. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/27/2011 Went to Goodwill first and actually met Steve at Rosita's where he was eating and then we went to Goodwill and I bought a pair of shorts just like the pair I was wearing except the new ones were a little loose.Still working like mad on the bird book. Deposited 1418 dollars IN THE BANK. ROYALTY CHECK. Last night we watched Star Man with Jeff Bridges. It was AWFUL. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/26/2011 Did that Coffee House singing with Sandra last night. Torture at the Downunder. Loud guitar player with a twelve-string guitar. He was a real strummer. Very skilled at it with a good voice, but played tunes that were ghastly to me with that rough voice that is so dumb. The crowded loved it. Another guy came up and played the same kind of stuff with a six-string. It was TORTURE. How can they play that awful material. It's so boring. There's no song. Too loud is the mark of an amateur. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/25/2011 Tomight I go to the Coffee Plantation on Shea Boulevard to sing. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/24/2011 I went and walked to the northeast corner and back. It was hot. I poured water over my shirt before I went, so I was cool. No new birds sighted on the walk. That pool of water by the firefighters' road is still there with reeds growing in it. Pima Canyon 6/23/2011 Steve and I went in morning and it's now eleven ten and I'm back. It was HOT. Steve thought he saw a roadrunner on top of the BT cliffs but I think it was a cb thrasher. We didn't stop at the bookstore the way we did last time. Pima Canyon 6/21/2011 Steve and I walked up to the stone houses on the road and came back on the road. It was hot. I poured diet doctor pepper on my shirt. There was an older guy there from Maryland and he was an Audubon Society member but know absolutely nothing about birds. He had some dumb ideas like the black-throated sparrow was a house sparrow on account of the black breast. I went home and wrote in Spanish. There was some car parked in front of my house behind my cesto de basura that was blocking me partially from getting into my garage. He left after I wrote my my stories. I have a pumpkin growing out back. It's small and orange. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/19/2011 Gave a guitar lesson today. More 12-bar blues/minor blues too. Worked on Spanish spellingmistakes that I was surprised to see I made. Spell checked the 2500 or so items in Spanish in the flash cards program. Went to Whole foods and drank two beers and then went to Steve's where I baked a Tofurky Pizza. We watched the Shawshank Redemption or whatever it's called. It was quite long but it was fun to watch it for the zillionth time. Generic Place Anywhere 6/18/2011 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/18/2011 Nice coyote came by. Hot. I was sleepy and took a nap on the cement in there. I called sally. I was sleepy because I stayed up so late the night before. When I came home from the Paisley Violin, I started watching UTUBE videos and when I looked up it was three in the morning. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/17/2011 After this I went to the Paisley Violin and played. I spoke Spanish for quite a time with some guy from Mexicali. He spoke perfect English too and said that Mexicali was an American city and that was why. That Jen from the center for the arts was there. She had to be at work at five. We started playing really late, so she went on first. That Stacy called Sandra and said she was sick so she didn't come. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/16/2011 Walked up and back. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/15/2011 Walked to the NE corner and back. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/14/2011 No clouds in the sky. I walked up and back as I am known to do. It was hot. I went to Steve's and got Mom's old Mac. I'm trying to get it to work. Worked on a lot of the E&C book as I got up in the morning with gout and went to the drugstorre and got my meds at four in themorning or even earlier. So I didn't get as much sleep as usual. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/13/2011 I came toE&C from the doctor. He has given me some prescriptions for gout. They also drew blood to test my lactic acid. It was hot and I didn't walk up and back at the site. I was wearing long pants. Went home to work on the E&C book. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/12/2011 Worked formatting the E&C book and had a discrepancy I had to figure out. It was that I had the epidonax flycatcher in the old life list and had replaced it with the dusky later on. Fixed it but I had to do a print-out first to compare two lists and see what bird didn't match. Got him. COYOTE WALKED ACROSS POND TEN. It was a female. She had big ears and ignored me as I howled at her. WALKED TO NE END AND BACK. HOT. Steve went tot Pima Canyon today and nearly died. Too hot and he got tired. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/11/2011 Walked clean around the place after hours of formatting the E & C book. Went to THE VINE bar afterwards and drank a half gallon of beer. Cheap. Drove with lots of alcohol in my system. There were some GODADDY workers-- phone advisors talking about their job. Very interesting as I eavesdropped. I asked them a couple of questions about GoDaddy. They used "like" FAR too much, but they were SO much better than rednecks. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/10/2011 Waked to the NE corner and back. Hot. Doused my shirt in H2O first. Wonderful to do. Pima Canyon 6/9/2011 Steve and I went up Desert Classic and over the mountain and down the trail and were soon at the ring of stones. We went to Grouping Hands Bookstore and Trafalgar Joe's. I bought a three-buck sixpack. It was hot. Not so many people there at all. Thought I saw a BT Gnat, but it might have been a verdin. We took my truck. Tonight I will pick Sally up at the airport at 8:14 PM. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/8/2011 I spoke Spanish in the morning and then went over to Steve's house and played "Sleepytime down South" and "Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter." We went to Bashe's as he had to return a watermelon that wasn't ripe. We went back and I went to E&C Roads. Andaba un poquito crudo y como a las tres fui al "The Vine" on Rural. What cheap beer they have. Amazing. This is a good place and it's quiet too! I came back and drummer boy started playing. Last night he was at it with a bass. Oh, it's bad music. I must survive. I was at the Whole Foods bar and read one of the publications there about one Don Younger, who was a big shot in the popularization of craft beers way back when. There were two obituaries for him telling what a boozy, cigarette smoking guru he was. He fell and died of his injuries a few days later. It's kind of hot but not too bad. Pima Canyon 6/7/2011 Steve and I walked to the stone houses on the road and came back in the arroyo. We took that little bit of higher trail on the way back. Rather warm. Some people out there as it was still fairly early but plenty of parking. Drove back to my house. Generic Place Anywhere 6/6/2011 Steve and I walked to WHOLE FOODS. I bought some Tofurky product that I'm not going to like. They gave me ice to carry it in. We sat at the tables outside and I went and pet a dog that was there. He had wagged his tail at me. Then we walked back. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/5/2011 Don't wear out your velcro, I always say. I WALKED UP TO THE NE CORNER AND BACK. There were BABY COYOTES and they were very cute. They were in pond eight. One of them had a yellow leaf in his mouth for fun. One came up on the road all alone. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/4/2011 No Notes Entered Generic Place Anywhere 6/3/2011 I talked to Nicaragua. Then I went and got my blood drawn and quartered. Two people in the waiting room. I made an online appointment. Then I went to Steve's and played with Skippy. Steve and I walked to WHOLE FOODS, where I bought some vegan soy taco and tofurky. I ate the tofurky there. Then we walked back and I went swimming in Steve's pool. Now I'm here typing. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/2/2011 I talked to Nicaragua and then taught twelve-bar blues and minor blues to Christian. Then I went to Steve's. We hung out. Suddenly it was 2:00 and Sherry came and I split and came here. Then I went to Downunder. Phoenix Zoo 5/31/2011 I took Sally's car to the zoo and Steve had free passes. We spend three hours walking around and saw everything. It was fairly warm. I had a hurt big left toe and it was because of GOUT. I took Sally to the zoo. We saw tons of animals and explored all the places we used to go. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/30/2011 I went over and wrote some more of a science fiction story. Sally came up and we went to that wine bar by Steve's house. Steve was cooking and never wound up coming by. Sally and I went to Rosita's and in the morning I took her to the airport. Generic Place Anywhere 5/29/2011 Steve and I walked over to Whole Foods. I bought some Vegan Egg Salad. It was VERY good and very expensive. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/28/2011 Went to the Downunder again. I didn't walk around the site. I ddrank an O'douls and then went and drank two beers at the downunder. I'm eating vegan today as yesterday. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/27/2011 Steve and I walked around the place. Pima Canyon 5/26/2011 Steve and I drove down and walked to the stone houses via the road. We walked back in the arroyo. I took a picture of a huge chuckwalla on a rock. He had an orange tail. Got the sage thrasher. No BT sparrows. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/25/2011 Went over in the morning and bought coffee from Circle K. I walked clean around the site. I went to Goodwill and bought a pair of shorts. It had the orange tag and orange tags were half off. I was SO FAT that I couldn't get a size 34 around my big, fat, disgusting belly. I decided to go vegan again. My stomach was REALLY FAT. I worked on the Elliot and Cooper Book a lot today. I made a copy of the database and removed everything after May 15, 2009. I went to Downunder and drank two beers. Then I went to Fry's and got ten bucks worth of blueberries and some vegetable juice in a big can and some beer and some more Morningstar Farms burgers that I like. I drank a ton of V8 and the vegetable juice too. I worked a lot on Pages 09 and I'm learning how to use it and it will be my main word processor now. It cost only twenty bucks. What a deal. I could have gone to the Tempe Center for the Arts open mic, but it's a hassle. Been there, done that. It's a lot of effort for two miserly songs. I lifted the weights and I am putting together a collection of stories in Spanish that I have written. So far I have two! They are "La Niña de la Esfera de Color Rosa" and "El Tesoro de la Playa el Coco." 2125 North Villas Lane 5/24/2011 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/24/2011 I walked up to the end and back. Took plenty of time. I'm reading Rex Gordon's First to the Stars because I read his First on Mars in 1974 in Mexico. Tornados are smashing Kansas and already smashed Joplin, Missouri. Working on my Pima Arroyo book. I bought Pages for Mac a couple of days ago and am learning to use it. It saves the book in PDF maintaining the page size. Not too hot. Nothing but mallards. No LB dows anymore. Ponds 8, 9, and 10 have water. And rather a lot in 8. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/23/2011 No nica. Worked on my SANDS OF PIMA ARROYO book on createspace and fixed the cover with a new PICTURE. Nice. Almost done. Took time. Fun. Walked ALL AROUND THE SITE: well, up to the end and back. I don't like the residential area. Had three beers at the DOWNUNDER. Decided I liked the essay about the Priceless Two saloon and plan to add it to my MEMOIR. Enjoying myself. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/22/2011 Lots of water in Pond Eight. Water in all three. Last night I played guitar over at the Coffee Plantation on Shea and Scottsdale roads. Sandra invited me and that ukulele player was there too. I sang I'll see you in my dreams accompanied by the ukulele in the Joe Brown version like at George Harrison's funeral. I did the same thing with the Dave Clarke Five song "it's right." Colombian guitar player came up and played for nearly and hour and He was hoggin my time. I spoke to him for a rather long time afterwards in Spanish. I'm not sure he speaks English very much. He came here thirteen years ago. I played two sets. Ate chocolate cake and was given a free beer. OH. Some kids came in. Super boisterous and wanted to sing. There were about fifteen of them. They were, oh 11, 12. I'm not sure. They had just done the musical Candyman and sang those songs. They sang Bob Marley songs too. Very loud. Very good. Right on key. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/21/2011 Walked around the site. No Nica talk today. No connection. I will play guitar tonight on Shea Boulevard as Sandra wants me to play a bunch of tunes. She says she doesn't feel comfortable going solo. Today the world is supposed to end. Rapture. There was a guy with some army beige binoculars. He talked about birds with me and E&C Road. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/20/2011 Got up and read the story, "La Niña Vieja de la Esfera de Color Rosa" to Maria José in Nicaragua. then I came here and read it to myself. Maybe I'll do a whole book in Spanish. I don't know if I mentioned that the Asimov book I bought to replace the library one appeared on the very day that I had to take back Asimov's book with two day's passed due on it. Maybe it was the very day I finished it. I can't remember and it's only been a couple of days. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/19/2011 I sat and wrote the story, "La Niña Vieja de la Esfera de Color Rosa." I also caught a big live toad and put him in that pond on the road to the fire station. You know, were that little plastic pipe is broken and it just leaks and makes a permanent little puddle. Went to the Downunder Wine Bar and copied my chicken scratchings onto paper. I went home and typed it all up. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/18/2011 Lots of dried sapos. TODAY I FINISHED THE ISAAC ASIMOV BOOK at the Downunder Bar. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/17/2011 Went to the House of Tricks. It was a lot of fun. Mary, Elaine, Wendy, Mark, and I were there. I came here directly afterwards. No connection at Nicaragua today, but I studied a long time at the computer. I went to the Downunder bar. Phyllis Cochran called me there and wants pictures. I read my Asimov autobiography. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/16/2011 Oh, today at three o'clock after coming here I thought I had missed the retirement lunch that Mark had invited me to. I thought it was the 17th and I made a mistake. I clicked the computer and it said Monday the SIXTEENTH and I was saved. So yesterday was my one-year retirement anniversary. OH, YESTERDAY I WENT AND THE TOAD WAS GONE! I named that wet area on the road out of the fire station CHARCA EL SAPO. I wonder if a bird picked him out of there. Who knows. COYOTE IN POND 9. I thought he had a cachorro, but he didn't. He hid on the island. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/15/2011 ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF MY RETIREMENT! So that's what a year is??? Well, I hope to get even more done in the next year. I walked around the site today. I got up at NINE because I stayed up so late on account of the "gig." Steve went to South Mountain today for exercise and walked to the stone houses and back on the road. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/14/2011 There were some bird watchers who came with a cooler and were going to have their lunch under the roof there. They weren't too sociable or I guess my biker-like looks put them off. I walked around the whole place and when I came back they were still there. I had found a half well quarter-alive toad and put him under a tree and covered him with water. He didn't look alive anymore when I came back. I found a permanent puddle near the firemen's firetruck entrance road. A waterer was leaking. I put him in that and put a rock over him for shade -- not squashing him; I made a little roof with rocks. I think he will just foul the water there when he dies. I could smell propane by those pipe again. I went home and Sandra was online on facebook and we chatted. She invited me to play guitar at the PAISLEY VIOLIN. It's in a scary neighborhood in Phoenix. Mapquest failed me and I had a hell of a time finding the place. I stopped at a Circle K and the guys shopping there helped me. I found the place and I got one of the four parking places right there at the wine bar. Nice. Sandra said she'd meet me at 6:00, but she didn't show till seven or so. I forget she's Latin. She had a bass player in tow. His wife was Brazilian, so there was English and Portuguese spoken at the table. One lady there spoke spanish, so we had Spanish at the table too. An american philippine young lady was with them. She played a mean ukulele and I talked to her a lot. She knew all the beatles songs and she also played "I'll See You in My Dreams" just like Joe Brown. I played a bunch of songs. They kept telling me to continue. They weren't so much into playing I think because at around 9:20, Sandra said thank you to the crowd which by then consisted of some two people and quit. I should have thought she'd continue. I would have. I would take the opportunity to play to an empty room and entertain the barmaid. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/13/2011 I bought snow leopard at the apple store in the fashion mall today. WALKED ALL AROUND ELLIOT AND COOPER-- well, I walked halfway and then back the same way. Mesa Library Pond at Dobson Ranch 5/13/2011 Where are all the ducks???? Just two mallards. I went and got PAGES for dummies because I wanted to use Pages instead of MS Word. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/12/2011 I studied some Spanish and was becoming a little rusty on some of the words. Dang. I have the day to myself today. I'm considering getting Filemaker Pro and redo the database. I'm not sure I like my database. The E&C book is a huge pain. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/11/2011 I walked around the site. Well most around and then back. The guy with the bulldog said it had Cushing's disease and he couldn't afford the medicine. Water in Pond Nine. Weather nice. I gave Christian his lesson today. Learned yesterday that Pete Huttlinger is trying to get a heart transplant. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/10/2011 I walked clean around it. I talked to Nicaragua today. I went home and worked on the software for Spanish. Erica didn't show, so we have to reschedule. Obama mentioned Isaac Asimov in his speech in El Paso today saying that we couldn't have read all of those stories by Asimov if we hadn't had immigration. I went to the Downunder bar and drank two beers and I read Asimov's autobiography. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/9/2011 WINDY NICE AND COOL BUT PLENTY OF SUN. Steve came by and later I walked clean around the place. Need exercise big time. Went to the Downunder to read my Asimov book. I drank three beers and went home and drank scotch, which I hate. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/8/2011 Can't remember what happened on this day. I have to enter the birds on the same day or make notes. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/7/2011 TEN YEARS AGO TODAY I HURT MY LEG HERE AT ELLIOT AND COOPER ROADS. Oh, it's KENTUCKY DERBY DAY. I watched it at Steve's. Walked the sidewalk walk there for forty minutes or so. Health. We watched a movie too. It was PRIMAL FEAR. Generic Place Anywhere 5/7/2011 This was the walk from Steve's house down the sidewalk and back for forty minutes or so. Saw birds. Wrote them down. Here you see them. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/6/2011 Gosh, I forgot to write any special notes and I can't remember. I think I was reading THE MAD SCIENTIST by Isaac Asimov. I read it all actually. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/5/2011 I spoke Spanish for an hour with Valeri, who gave me a poem that was long and fun to read. I went to E&C and studied for a couple of hours. I went to the corner market, peed, and bought some V8. Then I drove back to the fire station, parked, and walked clean around the site. I talked to Ken. He wanted to hear the guitar. Maybe tomorrow. It was very jolly. Went over to the Downunder Wine Bar and continued to read my Asimov book. Roger was most welcoming to me. Mesa Library Pond at Dobson Ranch 5/4/2011 I just went over and returned Christopher Hitchen's THE PORTABLE ATHEIST. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/4/2011 I walked around the site-- well I actually walked around to Pond 1 and then walked back. You know, it was hot today and I poured water over my turquoise shirt before I ventured out. I felt sick. Maybe it was Mr. Walker's Amber Restorative, of which I drank one ounce the night before. I went and took Sonny's bookshelf to his new apartment. Steve and I went with crummy directions and this caused grumbling. I was almost out of gas and finally got twenty bucks worth. Steve was not pleased to see a big, disgusting HOOKA out on the porch at Sonny's place. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/3/2011 I WALKED AROUND THE SITE. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/2/2011 Gosh, I haven't been puting in the birds and I have no details on this visit! Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/1/2011 Gosh, I haven't been puting in the birds and I have no details on this visit! Doggone it! Boyce Thompson Arboretum 4/30/2011 Met the Atheist group there. Al wouldn't clean up his mess on the table. Oh, they were so pokey walking that it was unreal. I met one of the arboretum guys who wants me to come and help with a bird count. I'd rather come and sing. There were musicians there. They were pretty good, but I like my show, so I'll go and look. I blabbed to one of the members. I walked. I lost Al and Tiger. Too slow. I split and I went to Superior, Arizona and someone had thrown a couple of rocks through the window of The Superior Bar. There on the side. There were a couple of holes and they crystalized the panes. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/29/2011 Gosh, I haven't been puting in the birds and I have no details on this visit! Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 4/29/2011 Gosh, I haven't been puting in the birds and I have no details on this visit! WELL, there is a note about Frank Turner, who is a song writer who wrote an atheist song. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/28/2011 Gosh, I haven't been puting in the birds and I have no details on this visit! Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/27/2011 I read my story about the Nicaraguan Cadena de Oro. I talked to María in Nicaragua and sent them a file of my nine-page story in Spanish. She said there were no grammatical errors. I had some typos. I stayed at E&C from 1-3:30 or so reading Asimov, studying, bird watching, (all so much fun), and then I went to Down Under Wines, drank two big old beers and read some more of Asimov. Oh, it was fun. I like my story in Spanish because it is going over well in Nicaragua. To my surprise, they said they found no grammar errors and that it all sounded completely natural. I must be good at Spanish now. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/26/2011 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/25/2011 Talked to Ken L. who is the guy in the truck. I told him about the girl searching for her tortoise and he said some guys had found one. He went off to tell them in hopes of repatriating the reptile. I played guitar, read my Asimov autobio, and studied Spanish. Then I went to Downunder Wines and had two beers. Roger greeted me most cordially. Pima Canyon 4/24/2011 It's not exactly Pima Canyon, though. Went with the Atheist Meet-up group. It's Easter Sunday. We hiked from forty-sixth street up into the desert on the Javelina and Ridgeway trails. It was a lot of fun. A little hot. Later I had dinner at Steve's and ate too much turkey and taters. Afterwards, I went to THE SANDBAR BAR and hung out with the atheists for a couple of hours. Drank two beers. Al, the organizer of the hike, who has a bad knee and bad fingers had a 167-dollar bill. I happened to see it. He had two bottles of champagne that he shared and beers and after his big bill a new waiter came by and he ordered two margaritas. The atheists began to talk about a member who had left and who is socially quite weird. He's an Iraq war veteran and he grabs woman's wine glasses and drinks them and is weird. They're getting fed up with him although they know him quite well. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/23/2011 I read Asimov's autobiography some more and learned a new word, "portcullis." I think this was the time I went to Whole Foods and afterwards had a "My Antonia" beer. I looked it up and I was right; that was the name of a Willa Cather book in a series of which I've only read one volume, "O Pioneers!" Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/22/2011 They are grading Pond Seven. I don't like it. They're going to put in solar panels. I think they'll be putting them all along the canal. Can't remember if this was the day the girl came looking for her tortoise. She snuck in and walked around the site inside. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/21/2011 Mostly just played guitar merle travis/happy traum. Didn't read. Learned one Spanish word, that for fire hydrant: boca de incendio. No Nica chat today. I bought super light strings for the maple marauder and realized too late that they were for an electric guitar! How dumb can you get? 2125 North Villas Lane 4/20/2011 Scott and Sandra came by. We ate at Rosita's. I popped. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/19/2011 Today I went to the Atheists meeting at the Sushi Eye restaurant. It was most jolly. A guy named Steve, paul, ryan, andy, Sri, the airforce guy, freddie and wife holly, one carolynn, new attender Ivonne and also Marybeth and that's about it. I had mussels and two Devil Ales from San Tan Brewery. I missed the open mic at the bunna coffee shop. I spend most of my time at E&C practicing guitar picking. No nicaraguans today. No connection. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/18/2011 Couldn't reach Nicaragua today. I went over after practicing Merle Travis and Happy Traum picking. Went to the doctor for my physical, so here is the note saying when it was this time. All was good. I taught finger picking to Christian. He isn't so interested. Afterwards, I took my Asimov book over to Whole Foods and drank two beers. I then went over and got their big ole hamburger. Cost a lot, but I had some cash because Erica gave me some. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/17/2011 Saw quite a few birds. Came over about eleven o'clock and brought my guitar, but I didn't get much practice. My fingers are sore from the Merle Travis practice I did the day before. Erica called and postponed the lesson until tomorrow. Getting hot and I wasn't as comfortable at E&C as I'd like. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/16/2011 Afterwards I went and saw that film on the Lincoln assassination and the so-called trial of a southern woman charged with conspiring to kill him. It was by Robert Redford and one of those films you'll never really want to watch again, but not bad. I stayed at Steve's until 10:30 and then I went home. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/15/2011 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/14/2011 Two people came by. One was a geocaching guy who found the pill bottle. He stayed a while and knew rather a lot about birds. Then a guy and a girl came by for lunch. They spoke both Spanish and English. Mostly English. I left and went to the library and then to trader joes's and whole foods for one beer. There were some guys who talked about science fiction as I had my asimov book with me. Mesa Library Pond at Dobson Ranch 4/14/2011 I went to see why Streetcar Named Desire was still marked as checked out when I paid for the copy I lost. Then I went to Trader Joe's and Changing Hands. Generic Place Anywhere 4/13/2011 I put the rehydrated toad in the permanent canal.. He floated on his back at first and finally gained some equalibrium and I pushed him to muddy shore. He may make it. Or not. Then I met Scott and Sandra at my house. They came over, that is. We played tunes and then went to Rosita's and Scott gave me a guitar tuner. We will meet again next week. Then I went to the open mic night at the center for the arts. Tempe Town Lake 4/13/2011 The open mic was held outside. I played Flip Side and the Beer Song. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/12/2011 Five sloppy-looking men were out there looking and pointing at the pond North of Pond Ten(That would be POnd 11.). They had coke and energy drinks. I found a TOAD in the usual place all dried up but of the consistency of ABC gum. I put him in some water in my cup holder from my truck. He swelled up. I picked up Steve at Mesquite High. I had taken him there in the morning. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/11/2011 Went over kind of late and read "The Dust of Death" in Venture Science Fiction by Isaac Asimov as it was in his autobiography and I had the first edition of Venture with it in it. No one there nice weather. I goofed off and wasn't very productive. Today Valerie was the one to whom I spoke in Nicaragua as Marie José had to go to the doctor for her bone spur. SALLY'S BIRTHDAY TODAY. I called her last night and realized that my favorite Spanish book was lost in the arson. I'll have to get another. HORRIBLE HUMMING NOISE IN MY HOUSE. WHAT THE HELL IS IT? Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/10/2011 Some Novice bird watchers came for a while. I read Asimov's story in VENTURE Science fiction, the story he described in his autobiography. Last night I went to see Jenny Linde and Jan kegelman and I wound up over at Nancy Kirsten's house for a while before I left. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/9/2011 A rainy Saturday. BIG COYOTES AT THE HORSESHOE PITS AND WALKED BY MY TRUCK. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/8/2011 I went up and some woman was coming back. That's all. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/7/2011 Studied and read Asimov's autobiography for a long time. Nice weather. Loved it there. Went back and taught Christian guitar. Erica just had 20 bucks today. Then I went to whole foods and chatted with some guy from Wisconsin. McQueen and Elliot Roads 4/6/2011 Just pulled in on the east side on a whim. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/6/2011 I was so sick with a cold. No connection to Nicaragua today. Oh, my nose was running. My eyes were squinting, etc. I bought some daytime cold medicine. It seemed to work because in a few hours I felt better. I spend hours reading Asimov's autobiography IN JOY STILL FELT there at E&C. It sprinkled slightly. I studied a little. Finally I went and got 80+ dollars worth of groceries and saved money as it is the ten percent SENIOR DISCOUNT at Frye's. I went but I left my CHAIR at E&C Roads and had to drive back. I felt almost well enough to go to the Center for the Arts, but I still didn't go. I was still blowing snot and felt tired. I'll go next week or any time I want. I still want to ask about the selection process for the "Songwriter's" Showcase. Steve didn't have a job today. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/5/2011 Did the Spanish, but I had a cold and came here. I had first gone to the Dobson Ranch branch of the Mesa Library and paid for the goll darned book I lost: STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE. I returned the Steinbeck book THE MOON IS DOWN, which I had finished and I got a Dawkins book and Asimov's autobiography, IN JOY STILL FELT being the second HUGE tome of 800 pages or more that follows the book on the first part of his life IN MEMORY YET GREEN. Great names and I enjoyed reading the biography so much that I just spend forever on it and did no other study. My life is totally boring compared to his. I was so sick and infectuous that I called Erica and postponed the 3:30 lesson for Thursday. I hope I feel better. Anyway I went home and bought a steak on the way and a new notebook to record these birds. I put them on a piece of yellow paper and then transferred them. I was really stuffed up with a lowgrade headache and runny nose and cough. I felt miserable and I didn't go to the open mic at Coffee Bunna. I won't make the Wednesday open mic either tomorrow. Too sick I think. Tomorrow is SENOR DISCOUNT DAY AT FRYE'S! Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/4/2011 Me levanté de malas esta mañana habiendo tomado dos cervezas en el bar de vino Down Under. Leí -- bueno ...terminé la novela de Steinbeck THE MOON IS DOWN. Hablé un segundo con el obrero quien estaba en su camioneta. El quería cortar algunas hierbas malas y quería saber si me molestaría si espantara los parajos. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/3/2011 Came back from the Superstitions today. Erica cancelled the guitar lesson or postponed it that is until Tuesday at three thirty. I went to the Down Under Bar and drank two IPAs, a decision I would live to regret as today I have a headache and my throat was dry this morning. I ate chili with hot dogs last night as I lost my head. Superstitions 4/2/2011 Sally came. Sonny had trouble with his powerpoint presentation. We heard the poorwill. We camped in the same place as last time. It was NOT COLD AT NIGHT. Some wind was noisy. I read "The Heathen" by Jack London. We stopped at that antique place and bought a clipper ship painting for Dits. I wanted it myself. BATS BATS BATS AT NIGHT. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/1/2011 When I got there, there was a guy with an easel and he was painting with oil paints. The picture was of the trees out there around Pond Eight. I left and put my chair under the tree in front of my truck and studied for a few hours. Then I went to IHOP with Jan Kegelman at 2:30. I had the Philly. I had had a steak the night before and steak in the morning. Not so vegan yesterday and today. There are 540 students at AECP. Glad I'm gone. After I ate at IHOP, I went to the HUNGRY MONK, whose proprietor had given me a cupon at Whole Foods the other day. I saved a buck. I drank one IPA. I could have had another buck off another, but I didn't want to drink two and drive. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/31/2011 The guy that works there came and talked to me. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/30/2011 No Notes Entered Tempe Town Lake 3/30/2011 This was the night that I found out that they chose people for that plum opportunity and never even told me a decision had been made at the Tempe Center for the Arts. I was pissed as they had no process. I played "Don't Be Ashamed of Your Age/What would I do without you" and "Dance with Who brung you/see you in my dreams Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/29/2011 Some guys from Washington state came. We saw a coyote. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/28/2011 Studied for a long time. A long time. I had fun. I drank three nearbeers. Jan Kegelman called. We're having lunch at 2:30 on Friday. Nice weather. Good stay at E&C Roads. Talked Spanish this morning for an hour. Drove to the store afterwards and got Boston Lager on sale and three pounds of blueberries. Went home and watched TV. Obama came on and talked about Lybia. Superstitions 3/26/2011 Steve and Dits and I went. We went past Hackberry Springs. We found a kind of beach by a pool. No one there. Stars. Not windy thank goodness. I brought Sam Adams Boston Lager. Dits brought some scotch that we sampled early on. I ate beanie weenie and then in the morning a can of spaghetti and meatballs. I read "Return of a Legend" by Poul Anderson from the book PLANET STORIES NO. 1 EDITED BY LEIGH BRACKETT. I read it aloud and had to skip a lot because it was so long. Next time, I'll bring an essay. A big rattlesnake rattled at me and then slithered away. He kept on rattling. (See Costa's hummingbird.) No mosquitos. Slept fitfully but long. I was too tired to reach for my beer until about three in the morning and I finished the plastic bottle. 'Twas very nice. Heavy pack was considerably lighter on the way back. My zipper kept falling down on my shorts. I had sweatpants too so I could be warm at night and in the morning. I snored. Ditsworth's shoes started falling apart. We parked the car (mine) in the horse loading place where there were a bunch of boyscouts camping. Also a bunch of cowpokes packing pistols. No one touched my car while we were in the desert. I don't remember any satellites. We saw Orion's Belt (O'Ryan's Belt). Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/25/2011 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 3/25/2011 Met some Scottish guy with a heck of an accent. He seemed to know the birds fairly well. I told him about my trip to Scotland. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/24/2011 Went to the bank and deposited seventy-eight dollars. Then I went to the site. I bought some beer and wine and French bread at the market there and then went and got some Griller's Prime at the Fry's on Warner and Cooper and I had a bean burrow at the Taco Bell there too. Flagstaff House 3/19/2011 Scott and I met over in Sedona to see the guitar concert. I drove through Sedona to flag and then came back. I parked weirdly, but it was okay. Scott popped for the tickets. I drove back that night at 10:45 to Flag. Scott skidaddled back to Phoenix. When I woke, I saw that it had begun to snow. I drove out to go to the library and had some trouble. Cindy May helped me. I backed clean out. By the time I got back from the library, the road was impassable. I parked out on Suzette and while I was reading in bed I saw PENNY THE DOG running by the sun room windows. I let her in. Then Cindy was knocking at the door. The sheriff was down there saying that they were going to tow my truck because the snow plow had to go around it. I had to put it at the Ski Lift Lodge. Cindy May gave me a lift back. She drove right up her road with a foot of snow on it with her four-wheel drive big old truck. Fast. Her husband had brought Penny in so she wouldn't be in the way and get run over. There were evening grosbeaks and Cindy May and I saw them before the snow problems. I got the truck back as Cindy was heading into town the next day and gave me a lift. One Roy Gordon plowed the road with a little vehicle with a blade and he let me park in his place. I was surprised that my truck made it up the snowy though plowed road. I sat and read the bible, which is too stupid to believe, and read some other stories. I read a Frederick Brown horror story in which a guest is murdered at a dinner. Two are actually. I drank beer and slept endless hours in the sun room. I went back to Chandler on the 23, a Wednesday and went to Erica's house for dinner. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/18/2011 I went to get my tax return done and then I came here. There was a guy in a pick-up with his engine running in the parking lot. He was asleep. I wondered if he was being gassed. I rang the firemen's doorbell but no one answered. I went back and looked at the guy. His color was good. He was wearing sun glasses and his chest was going up and down. I figured he was alive. Later I came back and he had driven away. I then went to Whole Foods and had two beers and then went home. Tomorrow I will go to Flag and Sedona and watch that concert that Scott and I are going to see. I'm gassed up and have a fresh oil change. All is ready. Pima Canyon 3/17/2011 I went and got my emissions test and passed to my surprise. Then I went with a cupon to get a 14.95 oil change and they said I had to have an appointment and I made one for two o'clock and since I was clean down at elliot and the I-10, I popped over to PIMA CANYON. I had left my guitar in the car. I just went down to the arroyo and came back in ten minutes or so. I passed Guitar Center on the way. Later I went and got the oil change and it took an hour, but it was cheap and they washed my car. Their lobby had Fox News on so I waited outside as I don't line up to drink Kool-aid. It's sickening that it's so common to see that filthy slander on and everyone listening to that poison. Makes you want to go and take a shower. Afterwards, I went and got some Grillers Prime for my new diet, and then I went to Whole Foods and had two beers as I attempted to read Billy Budd. Now I'm home watching news about the Nuclear Reactors, Tsunamis, and earthquakes in Japan. Scott and I are going to meet in Sedona and then go to a concert after which I'll go up to Flag for a few days. No Spanish speaking today as Skype seems to be down in Nicaragua. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/16/2011 STUDIED A LITTLE AND THEN WENT HOME AND LOOKED FOR TOFURKEY. I went everywhere and only Whole Foods had it. I ate it and it was late so I had to head for the open mic night at Tempe Center for the Arts. I stayed the whole time. I played "Without a Song" and "Smoke that Cigarette." Tempe Town Lake 3/16/2011 Played Smoke that Cigarette and Without a Song. Stayed the whole time. Superstitions 3/14/2011 Sally and Steve and I went to Boulder Canyon and camped by amoeba Creek and Giardia Lakes. A skunk visted sally at night. It was not too cold but we were still chilly in the morning. The sun was not too hot, but we drank lots of water because of Mr. Yellowface. A couple walked through our camp and some old guys passed by above. Aside from that, there was no one there. We heard poor wills and an owl which I'm calling a Great-horned owl. I ate Tamales. I brought vodka, but I didn't drink much. I didn't like it very much. I had my lawn chair. Heavy pack. I FORGOT MY BINOCULARS AND MY CHEEZ-ITS! We slept from 8:30 to 6:30 or so. Nice sleeping. I snored little. Sally brought some white wine. No snakes. No coyotes. We took Steve's car. There were lots of retired people hiking and few young people. After the trip on the 15th, I taught a guitar class and then went to Bunna Coffee and played "Tree in the Meadow," "Without a Song," and "Everyone Says I Love You." The guy in the wheel chair brought a Mexican strat. Adolpho played it at the end. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 3/13/2011 Ditsworth and I went. It was a little warm. We walked clean around the place. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/11/2011 I walked around the place. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/10/2011 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/9/2011 A couple came by and surprised me as I was studying Spanish. They didn't have too much to say. I studied a while and then bought what I needed to get the TV working in my bedroom. Tonight I will go to the Tempe Center for the Arts and play "You Don't Know Me" and "Tree in the Meadow." Tempe Town Lake 3/9/2011 Played at the Center for the Arts. I played "Happy Cowboy" and "Tree in the Meadow." Drank two beers. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/8/2011 A guy with a AZBIRDR license plate came. He wasn't so talkative. He said he thought the verdin always made that mating call. He left for the Water Ranch. Later a guy and his tiny daughters came. He had just moved to this part of the Valley. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/7/2011 Studied there. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/6/2011 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/5/2011 Went over and studied for a time but I started too late. Then I went to Steve's. We ate meat. I had bought the movie 127 hours and it was a big snooze. Really not worth watching. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/4/2011 Studied Spanish for a long time. Some guy drove up and sat on the sidewalk and smoked a cigarette. I realized it was late. I think I studied this time. I got only to notebook 4 as I recall. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/3/2011 Afterwards I went to the Down Under Wine Bar. I had one (1) IPA and then went home. I had already spent the day making my TV dinners. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/2/2011 Went over. Then later in the evening I went to Tempe Arts Center. See Tempe Town Lake. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 3/2/2011 Talked to some guy for a while. We helped some bike riders with the birds. They knew diddle. Tempe Town Lake 3/2/2011 I went over and played "Wahoo!" and "Everyone Says I Love You." People found the songs amusing. Walt laughed a lot through them. I drank three Celebration Ales. It's a little too much, but the bartender stocked them especially for me and they were only $3.50 instead of $5.00. Everyone was really good tonight. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/1/2011 The weather was good. I connected with Nicaragua today after three days of no talking in a row. Some drunk kid knocked down all the telephone poles and got killed in his car. Lucky is still in the freezer. Pretty weird not to have Lucky around after 24 years. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/28/2011 LUCKY DIED! I went to the store and bought him some milo as I thought he might have missed it recently what with all the other seeds he was eating. When I got home he was lying on his back as dead as a doornail. Wendy called freaked out about Sally. And she told me Sally had gone over and yelled at the neighbor. McQueen and Elliot Roads 2/28/2011 Just popped over to the east side 'cause I saw what I thought was a peregrine and then a swallow. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/27/2011 Went over. Later I went to the Atheist meet-up group. Steve came with me. We drank Negra Modelos. They squeezed lime into my dos x's. The music got ridiculously loud. One of the atheists went over and somehow got them to turn it down. One guy who came was a conspiracy theory guy. I didn't talk to him but the other guys told me about him. He's in the wrong group. There is an east valley Humanist Group too. Well, they were all normal people and worth hanging out with. Usery Mountain Park 2/26/2011 Steve and Dits and I went. Not very birdy. We went to Cat Peak. Only walked a couple of miles. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/25/2011 Spent a nice time. Then I went to Trader Joe's and bought the three-dollar six-pack. Someone was speaking at the bookstore. You know, groping hands bookstore. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/24/2011 1001th Trip. Went to Trader Joe's afterwards. Bought wine and carrot juice. I had already purchased blueberries from Fry's. Tempe Town Lake 2/23/2011 I went to the open mic night and I wasn't so good. I had a bit of a hangover, which wasn't my problem, but I did drink three beers there to nurse it -- after I played. I played "I Want Somebody," I've Got Rhythm," and "It's a Sin to Tell a Lie" as a medley. I first played "I Can't Believe I'm in Love with You." Everyone was quite good actually. I wasn't so hot. Tucson Arizona 2/22/2011 I went down yesterday when those bastards burned Sally's house down. I stayed at Jeff's. Sally has a hotel room with a kitchen. We went to the Mexican Restaurant down the street. Then the next morning Sally and I went to that cool diner. We went to the police station and got her binoculars and stuff back. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/20/2011 ONE THOUSANDTH TRIP TO ELLIOT AND COOPER ROADS!!!!!! 1000TH!!!! Steve came and so did Skippy. It was FREEZING. Wind and everything. Skippy had a coat on. Very good trip. It was raining a little too. Water in Pond 8. Glad to see I got Dowitchers. The dowitcher was the bird I came to see one thousand trips ago! Got the dowitcher on the first and one thousandth trips. I drank O'Doul's non-alcoholic beer because it was kind of early. Twas very nice indeed. Took pictures. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/19/2011 TRIP 999. Steve and I went. I drove my truck and he came with me from his house. It was RAINING. But pond nine had lots of stilts. Very good trip. We went up under the roof there and looked. Excellent trip. Tomorrow Steve will come for the 1000th trip. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/18/2011 Overcast and dullsville. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 2/18/2011 Well the Ross's goose was good and so was the blue-gray gnatcatcher and the green-tailed towhee and the common ground-dove. Greater White-fronted goose was a lifer. I talked to some people who weren't very expert at birds but had a book. I drank an O'doul's beer there. Generic Place Anywhere 2/17/2011 Nice dump as usual. I found nice Oscar Meyer lids but left them. Lotion bottles. The field on the side was dry and weedy this time instead of cultivated and green. Nice weather. Generic Place Anywhere 2/17/2011 I didn't get to Mysterious Stock Tank. I did drive all the way through and came out at the casino there and the livestock auction place. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/16/2011 Went over and Steve called and was right by the place so he came over and we yucked it up. Then he went to eat. Last night I went to the Coffee Bunna Open mic night. Tonight I go to open mic at the center for the arts. Tempe Town Lake 2/16/2011 Played "Even the Sky's Got the Blues" and "Down by the Riverside" at the Center for the Arts. Looked at birds while I was there. Drank two beers, a Pabst and a Celebration Pale Ale. The players were very good this time. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/15/2011 I went to the coffee house for breakfast. I saw posters of people who got that Friday night gig. One young upstart got the one I wanted. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/14/2011 Went here and then drove back I told Nicaragua I was busy and cancelled and went to the state capitol lawn and saw Sue Harris, Marshall Trimble, Dolan Ellis and Peter Rolland and others. I missed Bob Boze Bell. To my surprise I got a call from Nicaragua. They thought I had an accident or something. I met Rex Allen's son. I met Sue Harris. Dolan and Marshall played together. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/12/2011 Nothing much happening today. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/11/2011 Sang six songs at karaoke last night at Gallagher's. Stayed up till midnight. NICE SUN HERE AT E&C. COLD BUT NICE. Mesa Library Pond at Dobson Ranch 2/11/2011 Some guy across the water was cursing and complaining about the golf game. Something had gone wrong. Pobrecito. I used the computer and internet inside. Then I had to get back home for Nica Chat. Beautiful weather. A bit brisk, but nice. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/10/2011 Worked on my Sands of Pima Arroyo Book. Was going to teach a guitar lesson but then remembered she wanted to have it sunday or saturday. I CAN'T REMEMBER SHI... crs syndrome. Actually SHE forgot! Tempe Town Lake 2/9/2011 I dropped by to see the center for the arts. Really nice. SUPER NICE! Giant Carp outside. People threw bread to them and the monsters surfaced. One guy had a fishing pole and was going for them but would have to crank them up a steep cement cliff. His hook was funny. I left. Well, I went to Walk-in Wednesday at the Tempe Center for the arts. The players were much better, but almost no one seemed to be in the professional area. The singing was weak from everyone and mostly the same old guitar. Even I didn't sing perfectly -- but god, the singing needs work for all of them. Nobody was on the money with the singing. I mean I used to go to places and people had good voices. Was I deaf? The guy that ran it went up and strummed a guitar and took up a long long time. He had a professional sound, but it was that incessant strumming, strumming, strumming. My friend Scott says he hates strumming. Maybe I don't like guitar music? Anyway it irritated me that he took up all that time. I was third in line. I done good. The guy said, "Tom are you playing anywhere now?" So I guess he thought I was good. Then people played their two songs only they were like ten minutes each. They really need a simple time limit. The two song deal is beyond dumb. One guy came up with an effects machine and played guitar over it. It took forever. Some old Canadians came up and did Tequila Sunrise. I wouldn't mind never hearing that song again. One guy came up with a beautiful jazz guitar. He played very professionally, but he was a poor singer. One girl came up with the guitar tuned in open G and strummed the same stuff for about twenty minutes. When the guy running it thought she was done he said, "Let's give some love to Pricilla!" Pricilla told him that that was the intro for the song and she wasn't done. She finally finished. The guy running it tended to talk with friends over everyone's performance. He didn't know audience etiquette.Then some older guy came up (a friend of the guy running the show?) and started telling a poem or something and it dragged on and was political and I wanted to say, "Where's your guitar?" You want to make a statement then sing a protest song. That's when I left, but it was quite late by then. The venue is absolutely fabulous, however. It's so modern and swanky and cool in there. And there's a bar with Celebration Pale Ale and all kinds of stuff. Five bucks a bottle. I don't know the other prices. I drank one beer after I played. I think I'll go back actually. It was a lot better than the coffee house. And I'm at the top of the class there. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/9/2011 Went here after I went to Trader Joe's and the bookstore there. You know, Groping hands book store. Mesa Library Pond at Dobson Ranch 2/8/2011 Just went to the library for a while. Then I went to a coffee house on Elliot and Rural. I played guitar there this evening. Played three songs. They asked for another. The guy who ran it wore a ridiculous hood the whole time. Some people weren't very good. In fact, they were quite awful without having to be judgmental at all. The guy running it played twice and the rest of us only got one chance. Steve came. I stayed for the duration and drank near beer. They let you bring in wine or beer! Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/7/2011 Weather is getting better. Last night I watched the Superbowl on TV at Gallagher's. Donnie Rey was there and we chatted. His wife's name is Joanie. He has a place near ellsberg road where he sells sausages. I watched the whole darned game and walked home. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 2/7/2011 Talked to a couple from Delaware. We talked a long time. Nice weather. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/6/2011 Slept at Steve's again last night because we watched a Swedish movie and drank tons of wine. Got up early and left for home. The weather is less cold now, so it's nice. SUPER BOWL SUNDAY. Well, I may go to the saloon to watch the show. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/4/2011 Still cold as heck. Went over and decided to drive to the Arborteum. Boyce Thompson Arboretum 2/4/2011 Went without much gas and worried that I might run out. It was okay. Not many people at the place. I talked to one old guy for a time. He had a camera. A real bird watcher was he too. Got very sleepy on the way back. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/3/2011 just Eight birds. It's SO COLD OUT!!!! I went to Fry's electronics. and the guitar center. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/31/2011 I went and it was raining. I had picked up my truck at the shop because a wire fetched loose and there was no way even to jump it. No juice at all. Weird. 95 bucks and towing. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/30/2011 Sally and I went. We walked in circles on the cement. It was very relaxing. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/29/2011 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/28/2011 Walked clean around and through the neighborhood and back. I went to the library later and just worked at the picnic table. COTTON TAIL WAS THERE AGAIN AS HE WAS YESTERDAY. Mesa Library Pond at Dobson Ranch 1/28/2011 Studied my Spanish vocab and did some other work on the picnic table. I never went in. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/27/2011 Didn't stay too long. When to the Irish Bar later and drank four beers and had wings. There was a guy playing guitar. He was okay, but played a lot in D. Mesa Library Pond at Dobson Ranch 1/27/2011 Studied but the medication hindered me somewhat. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/26/2011 I walked all around the place. Studied under the wood roof on the cement. Kind of windy. The Abilify kind of made me sleepy and it was a little hard to study, but I had a good time. Later, Rodrigo started drumming at eight o'clock. I called the cops. Officer Fairclough was very helpful. Mesa Library Pond at Dobson Ranch 1/25/2011 Read my screenplay out on the picnic table. WEATHER IS FANTASTIC. Got some earphones and tried to start recording again for the screenplay. Generic Place Anywhere 1/24/2011 I went over to that gay bar LUSK to see if they wanted me to play guitar. The curtains aren't a stage; they give the drag queens a place to hide when they put on their make-up.I drank two beers and talked to the camarera and then went outside and heard the MATING CALL of the verdin in the parking lot. Oh, the barmaid told me that Jack Lalanne died. Darn. Coolest guy ever. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/23/2011 Went over and worked on the screen play which is really done. TOO MUCH WIND. It blew all my papers around. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/22/2011 Went rather early and walked half way around and back. Hands were cold, so it must have been cold. Went to the library just after and wrote another short scene for the screen play. I think it's done! Very exciting and what a script! Mesa Library Pond at Dobson Ranch 1/22/2011 Didn't really look at birds, but there were two cormorants out there. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/21/2011 Went over after Nica chat. Then I went to Priceless Too to look for that truculent, antigun sign. It wasn't there, but it said no weapons allowed. Then I went to the library and worked on the screen play and I'm about done but there are but eighty pages. Should be from 95 to 120 never longer. Shorter? I don't know. then I went and got some of those pills in the form of sample from the doc. They sure remembered me. It was a little embarrassing, but they were very nice. I told the lady what happened. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/20/2011 Walked up to Neely and back. Went to the library afterwards and stayed until four thirty. No Nicaragua today. Apagón I guess. GREAT WEATHER. Steve worked today. IT'S JEFF'S BIRTHDAY. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/17/2011 I left the yaller-rumped warbler off as I didn't get a very good look. Suppose they're migrating? I STUDIED A LITTLE SPANISH, but MOSTLY DID THE SCREEN PLAY. Steve and I went to Gallagher's. The Lush Bar is a gay bar. Maybe I can get a gig there. Mesa Library Pond at Dobson Ranch 1/16/2011 I went over here but the darned library was closed. I went to a sunny picnic table and wrote my screen play. Got a lot done. Tucson Arizona 1/15/2011 I swung by to see Jeff on my way home. We saw this bird. Sabino Canyon 1/14/2011 Jeff went with Sally and me. We wanted to see the black-chinned sparrow, but we didn't get one although we tried hard. We crossed a nice, clear stream. Tucson Arizona 1/14/2011 Sally and I went over. We didn't go to that wonderful neighborhood right next to Reid Park WHERE it's desert and a wash and upscale houses at the same time. Weather was great. a little brisk but with hot sun. Sabino Canyon 1/13/2011 Sally drove me to Sabino Canyon. You know, Jeff coined that phrase the next day. (See phainopepla) There were mountain lion warnings around. A guy told us about the black-chinned sparrow and so we planned to go back early the next morning. Nicer than Pima Canyon with the the gift shop and flush toilets even out in the desert. Tucson Arizona 1/13/2011 I went down and we sat in the back yard and saw these birds. I had a lot of fun on this trip. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/12/2011 Walked around the place. Then I studied for quite a while there, but didn't get too much done. Last night I saw True Grit with Jeff Bridges. It was VERY good. Tomorrow I go to see Sally. McQueen and Elliot Roads 1/11/2011 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/11/2011 Walked all around it briskly and Steve and Wendy both called and now I hav 76 minutes out of 200 used on my phone and it only just refreshed on the eighth. Kokopelli Golf Course 1/11/2011 I just put the truck in that area. I didn't stay long. There may have been a goldeneye out there, but I didn't stick around to see. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/7/2011 Went over. Later I went to that area where guys fly model planes on Dobson. The park on Pampa. I studied a long time in the sun with cold air. A guy flew two airplanes. They were big and very nice. Generic Place Anywhere 1/7/2011 At that park on Pampa past the canal. Guy with two model planes there. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/6/2011 On the way home I thought I'd best call Jan. Then I had a vague memory of calling him. I had amnesia from that damned drug. Slowly I remembered a few things, but I have to call him to see if it was only a dream. Last time I take that drug. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/5/2011 Went over before my doctor's appointment. Nice and cool. NO INCA DOVES IN A COUPLE OF DAYS. WHAT GIVES? Starlings and grackles are either abundant or basically missing while down the road they may be seen in great numbers - sobre todo los starlings que están en las lineas alrededor de las calles. The doctor tripled my meds an gave me a new drug to give me a nice, thick skin. Mesa Library Pond at Dobson Ranch 1/4/2011 Went to the library and renewed some books. I returned the Jefferson book. I read a Spanish western comic, but I didn't finish. Started notebook number 8 in there. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/4/2011 Nicaragua didn't answer today so I had to leave here early to get to the computer. Maybe they'll answer at one o'clock. Bought new V8 and got an 18-pack of beer for cheap at the market there on the corner. Generic Place Anywhere 1/3/2011 Last time Sherry went with us but she had to work, and Steve didn't get a job for today. So Steve and I went. We ate free cheese and bought nothing at Whole Foods. Hah. Cold. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/3/2011 No Inca dove this time and no starlings although there were plenty on the telephone wires down the street, the starlings I mean. COOL/COLD/SUNNY. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/2/2011 Went on that walk over at Steve's house and we went right to WHOLE FOODS. I bought a three-dollar fifth of cabernet sauvignon. STILL BRASS MONKEY WEATHER. BUT BRIGHT SUN. REALLY NICE. Generic Place Anywhere 1/2/2011 WALKED FROM STEVE'S HOUSE TO WHOLE FOODS Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/1/2011 I slept at Steve's last night so I didn't have to drive with a couple of beers in me and get a DUI. Got up and Steve suggested we go here. What a surprise. We went to goodwill and other places too. Mesa Library Pond at Dobson Ranch 1/1/2011 The doggoned library was closed. "In observance of New Year's Day." Are you kidding? It's just an arbitary date. It merits no observance. COLD AS HECK! BUT SUNNY. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/31/2010 freezing cold. MY HANDS WERE COLD. McQueen and Elliot Roads 12/31/2010 Saw a shrike. Nice last bird of the year. Pima Canyon 12/28/2010 I took a pill. I had fun. Steve and I went, but not quite to the TANK. We ate ham sandwiches and oreos inthe wash. We wore levis. We went back on the road. Short walk really. I went back and talked to Nicaragua. THERE WAS AN ANIMAL TRAIL WHOSE PICTURE I TOOK. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/27/2010 Today I went and talked to my doctor about the drummer. He helped me. He said my mole was nothing. It has been a good day. Frye's Parking Lot on Warner and Alma School 12/26/2010 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/26/2010 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/25/2010 Popped over after I woke up at Steve's. I slept with Skippy the dog last night. Christmas Day. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 12/25/2010 Christmas Day. Drove over. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/24/2010 Got up and worked on flash card program and then called Steve. He was going to a movie. So I went here. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 12/24/2010 Drove over. Sunny and cool. Higley and Ocotillo Roads 12/23/2010 Steve and I drove past and saw the shovelers and other birds on the water. We were looking for new homes to live in. For me to live in that is. Freestone Park 12/22/2010 Steve drove me in his old car. Train rides there and stuff. We walked around and went to his house. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/22/2010 Steve drove by to put trash in my alley and then we went to e and c roads. Generic Place Anywhere 12/21/2010 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/21/2010 Woke up at 1:30 or 2:00 and drank the four beers that were under my pillow. Drank some rum too. I told myself not to do it. I went and ate my homemade meatloaf TV dinner. I listened to the Jerky Boys. Then I went to sleep and slept. Woke up extremely depressed about drummer boy. What an obnoxious punk. The worst person I've met almost ever. Fool. I talked to a cop at Elliot and Cooper, one Officer Shirts, who told me they could charge him with disorderly conduct if he persists. He was a Gilbert cop, though. Missed the eclipse last night by about an hour. Maria José said I was so tired that we should postpone. I was hung over and depressed, actually. Called Wendy in the morning and she thought getting a new place was an excellent idea. So did Sally. Steve and I went to Ocotillo estates or whatever. I was looking for retirement living where there are no punks. We called Richard Rickel and he is going to come by and show me places to buy maybe. I don't know, but it could be a fun thing. Edna is ninety and has lived in the same house for probably sixty-five years? Uncle Bud was BORN in that house. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/20/2010 Bad night from drummer boy. I must talk to him today. Nicaraguans want to talk at two o'clock. Just send and email and it's all at their convenience. Don't even ask to see if it's okay. Rather cold at the site today. WALKED CLEAN AROUND IT. There was one bum on the canal road with a shopping cart and stuff. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/19/2010 Went to Steve's and then to the dumb old KFC Kentucky Fried Chicken. No silverware, no napkins, no salt, no pepper, no butter for the biscuit. then I went over here. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/18/2010 Went in the morning. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/16/2010 A GRAY DAY. Hardly any sun. Weird. It sprinkled and kind of rained too. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 12/16/2010 I decided I wanted to go over and I did. It was sprinkling but only very lightly. Got the Dunlin. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/15/2010 No spanish todady. No one answered. Freestone Park 12/15/2010 Much nicer than I remember. Lots of birds. Two big lakes and also a miniature train. One of the benches had a memorial for one Vickie Lux 1954-2008. From the internet: Much nicer than I remember. Lots of birds. Two big lakes and also a miniature train. One of the benches had a memorial for one Vicky Lux 1954-2008. From the internet: This bench is dedicated to Vickie Lux and is located in Freestone Park in Gilbert, AZ. Freestone Park is located on the East side of Lindsay Rd., just South of Guadalupe Rd. The bench can be visited daily from 5:30am to 10pm and is set in position to overlook one of the ponds in the park.The bench reads:Happiness Blooms Around You 1954 Vickie Lux 2008 Kokopelli Golf Course 12/15/2010 Some interesting birds. I parked in that turn-off area and went back to the truck when golfers came along. Got a lifer, the horned grebe. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/14/2010 Whipped over procrastinating because I have to write that guitar book for erica and son. Nice sunny weather. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/13/2010 Steve and I went. First I drove over and got him and we went to the post office to mail some of his Christmas crap. We were in a long line but then moved to the automatic machines. A lady helped us and even gave Steve a free stamp. Afterwards we went to Goodwill and I bought some three-ring notebooks for a buck each so I could make the music books for Erica and boy. I bought a new southwestern rug. Yesterday I yelled "TOO LOUD!" at the house next door. I had drunk two Boston Lagers. He was playing a bass and there was keyboard mixed in and it was a pain in the ass. Christ. He kept playing but soon stopped. He played loud drums the night before till nearly ten. Then again the next morning at 10:30. And then when I got home at 5:30 he was at it with the bass. I had come back from Jan Bradbury's house. He was sick awhile ago and was in the hospital for a week with diverticulosis. Nancy broke her femur and one of the lower leg bones at the same time, fell on the floor and was put in a rehab and they won't let her go. Jan said the chemo made the bones brittle. It was her birthday yesterday when I went to see Jan. It's the 13th now. Steve loves my flashcard software and is trying to get free chat on Skype. One "Ana" from Spain sent him a snotty message because he said he'd rather have a central american because of the time difference. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/12/2010 Got up and worked on the Spanish flash card software. I'm reading Hitchens' Jefferson book. Called Jan last night and he told me how Nancy broke her leg and is stuck in a therapy place. Jan got sick too and was in the hospital for awhile. Mesa Library Pond at Dobson Ranch 12/11/2010 Drove over to get books at the library. Got Hitchens' Jefferson book and his Thomas Paine book and I got Steinbeck's Travels with Charlie and also two Tennesse Williams books, Streetcar Named Desire and the Glass Menagerie. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/10/2010 HEY THIS WAS THE 950TH TRIP!! Got the PLACE LIFER, the peach-faced lovebird. Very happy day. Spoke Spanish and worked on the Spanish software. HAPPY DAY. LOVE BEING RETIRED! LIFE IS FABULOUS. I finished Sled Dog of Alaska last night! Have to make a music book for erica and christian for the guitar lessons. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/8/2010 Thirty years ago today, I was watching football on TV and Howard Cosell announced that JOHN LENNON had been murdered. I wore my John Lennon button today and actually yesterday as well. NEW BATTERY TODAY. It cost only 25 dollars because of the warranty. I have some GOUT in my left anke today. Just got an email that Charlie Mitchell had a stroke, but he's back at home. Higley and Ocotillo Roads 12/8/2010 I drove the surface streets to get there, risking getting stranded out there with my bad clutch throwout bearing. Discovery Park 12/8/2010 On the way home down Pecos Road. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/7/2010 BATTERY TROUBLE. Stranded me at Frye's but a lady jumped me. Failed at E&C Roads and MIKE DIVERGILIO jumped me. The guy at checker auto did a LOT of work for me. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/6/2010 There was a bunny on the burm between Ponds 9 and 8. Not so many mourning doves for goodness sake. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 12/5/2010 Went back today to get the Baikal Teal. Lots of people there looking at the birds. The kestrel was eating dragonflies and blasting over the pond to get them. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/3/2010 Really on the way to the water ranch to see the Baikal Teal, which flew away just before I got to it. I was too busy blabbing with some folks. There was a crazy guy at the bank. He seemed deaf and mostly dumb. Talking loud. I left. I went outside, and he came in with a big old black plastic bag. I thought he robbed the bank. He drove off on his bike. The cops caught him. I don't know what else happened. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 12/3/2010 Nancy Gallagher called me up in the morning and told me about the Baikal Teal. I went over but started talking to some people and the ducks all flew away. Zillions of birds. And I got the ground-dove and the ruddy ground-dove. Zillions of DOWITCHERS. ZILLIONS. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/2/2010 I went afterwards to the water ranch to see the ruddy ground-dove. Nice and cool. Oh, I remember. I stopped at the DownUnder Wine Bistro (wine bar) when I drove back at about 2:00. I spent some time in the Goodwill Store and almost bought a book in Spanish by a Norwegian guy and translated to Spanish. It cost three dollars. There was a hardback of Stranger in a Strange Land with the dust jacket for three bucks too. I like going to goodwill. No record players, however. AFTER HANGING OUT THERE FOR A WHILE I WENT TO THE BAR. Roger was there, but he said no one reported back to him on my performance. I drank a beer. Steve came by and drank one too. He was on his way back from substituting. I drank two more beers. Three. Roger charged us only five bucks for four beers. Steve handed me two bucks and I left that as a tip. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 12/2/2010 Went over to see the ruddy ground-dove and the common ground-dove but saw neither. (See the following day, however!) Not many people there. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/29/2010 NO ABERT'S AND NO CB THRASHER. It was cold. There was a cold cold wind anyway. WATER IN BOTH PONDS 8 AND 10. Just some mallards in 10 though. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/27/2010 Went over early in the morning and then I went back and cooked a turkey. Generic Place Anywhere 11/26/2010 Sally drove us down an alley where she walks and there was a chicken coop there. Also there was a pyrrhuloxia in someones tree near the ground. Tumamoc Hill 11/25/2010 THANKSGIVING DAY Went over there and climbed the steep hill. Nice desert. Jeff suddenly ran by. He had a hangover. We hooked up with him later at the bottom of the hill. This was Sally and Wendy and I. Some cars went by and they were people who worked there. There was a group well dressed up there and we thought it might have been a funeral. I don't think it was. There was a little prayer place at the bottom of the hill. You could leave junk or notes or money for the dead even though dead people spend very little money. We went back to Sally's and ate her turkey. It was very good with good side dishes like rutabega. Tucson Arizona 11/25/2010 SALLY'S HOUSE This is Sally's Place. We sat in the sun outside and drank beer. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/24/2010 Very different here today in that there were No RW swallows over ponds eight, nine, and ten and there were quite a lot of starlings, which were almost absent yesterday. Low-billed dows showed up. Rah! No leasts, however. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/23/2010 Nice and cold really. I went over and hung around. I went home and practiced a little guitar and goofed around on the computer. I vacuumed. I prepared Christian's class, but Erica called and cancelled. I'm going to Tucson on Thursday for Thanksgiving. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/22/2010 Isn't this the 47th anniversary of Kennedy's death? I went. Nice a cool. Tons of swallows all rws. Cooper's hawk sighting. Hung around. Nice. McQueen and Elliot Roads 11/21/2010 Windy. Chilly almost. Had to walk through mud to get a close look at the Peregrine. V-shaped Canal of the small size. Old Tom had trouble getting across it. Used to never even break stride. Saw on Facebook today that Gary Lundblad Old Buckaroo rolled his Chevy Trailblazer and got killed on the eleventh. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/21/2010 WATER WATER WATER in Ponds 9 and 8! WINDY WINDY WINDY. Sprinkled slightly. Cold almost. Lots of birds because of the water. The guy didn't cut down the trees in front of Pond 8 as he said he might, and it was hard to see in there well, but there were really only RW swallows flying across the water. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/20/2010 Steve and I went after Sally skedaddled back to Tucson. We first went to Sherry's rental and killed some weeds. A couple of nights ago Bill Butler called me to talk about the bronzed cowbird and junk. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/19/2010 Drove over. Sally's coming here today at 2:00. I've been eating canned spaghetti. Yum. Oh, before I came here I went to Goodyear Tires and they listened to my clutch. It's the throwout bearing and I believe them. It will cost about 900 bucks at least. Doggone it! McQueen and Elliot Roads 11/18/2010 There was a guy in a sedan using siphons to put the water in fields as we used to see in the cottonwoods. Well, I went over and drove around. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/18/2010 Yesterday or the day before actually, Steve Orlen died. I think he smoked too many tubes. It was very sad. Pima Canyon 11/17/2010 I went over to the Guitar Center and sold them my harmonizer. I only got seventy-five bucks for it, so maybe it was a mistake. I sold that switch for ten bucks. They got an awful good deal, but now I have some cash and I really didn't need those things. I have a gig and so I must practice. Jan Kegelman sent me seventy-five bucks from the "Ducks" who had got together to give me bread for playing and now I've got 75 and 85 and 50 from Erica, whose boy I taught and I done real well. Shoot, that's 2010 bucks. Now the gig is at the DownUnder Wine bar and if they love me, they'll invite me back for a paying gig. I get a couple of free beers. That will be on November 30, a Tuesday. Very exciting. On a sad note, Steve Orlen died yesterday. He had lung cancer I think. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/16/2010 Didn't stay too long. On the way back I stopped at the Outback Wine Bar and asked if I could play there and they said they'd try me out on Tuesday the 30th. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/15/2010 Went over and then bought paper towels. Have to teach Christian guitar. Cold out. Not too cold, but coldish. Flagstaff House 11/13/2010 Came in on Friday and recorded birds Saturday. Came up to winterize the house. I used a space heater to keep warm. It was nice. I slept in the solar room two nights. Nice. I read the Bible. What a ridiculous book. I read the rest of Sol y Sombra in case I never really finished it. So I read the whole last half to make sure. I read a Spanish comic book about some starving Indians. Charles left a mess of cement chunks and junk. Old Main 11/13/2010 I went and walked all around campus. I went to the gym and the girl let me in and I told her I first came forty-one years ago and the weights were in the same place and oh how much fun we had. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/10/2010 Went at around ten and stayed until 3:45. Studying Spanish. Nice and cool and fun. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/9/2010 I talked to Nicaragua and then I went to Steve's and played with Skippy. Steve didn't have a substitute job today. We went to Goodwill and then to Home Depot and then to Favorito Mexican food and then to Mcknight's guitars but they were closed. Just the guitar store. I went to E and C roads at around one o'clock and studied for a couple of hours. COOL, COLD WEATHER. Nice. Very nice. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/8/2010 No electricity in San Juan del Sur today. I tried some guitar and wasn't too successful. I was trying to play "There'll Be Some Changes Made." I went to Food City and got some more hot sauce. Dull, uneventful day. Oh, I started the flash card software. It's ready to go. McQueen and Elliot Roads 11/8/2010 Dry fields. No birds. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/6/2010 I play tonight at Jan Kegelman's friend's house. Whipped over here. Steve called. He's going to Lee Lee's. He has my Spanish idiom book. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/5/2010 Whipped over hungover still. Shouldn't have drunk that beer a day ago. I practiced guitar a bit before I came over. Weather is very nice. Nicaraguan connection didn't work and we posponed till Monday. I drove the car around the back of E&C Roads, but there was nothing. Not too birdy. No water AT ALL. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/4/2010 Moped around home because I had a bit of a hangover having drunk a zillion beers last night. Drummer boy started his idiocy at around nine and I was spoiling for a fight. I was yelling at him as I have yelled at that fucking house for so many years, but he continued. Perhaps he finally caught on. I went back to bed and woke up and took my Spanish chat lesson. Jan Kegelman called this morning to remind me about the party where I'm playing guitar and singing. I will practice guitar tomorrow and add some new material such as "Zoot Suit." I may add "My Brave Little Cowboy" to my repertoire. And perhaps find something else interesting tomorrow. It will be a fun day practicing. I won't practice Spanish except in the morning before my Skype class in Nicaragua. BIRDS? ONLY SEVEN! Nothing much here. I just drove over and looked. No Anna's or Abert's even. Great Salt Lake 11/3/2010 Wendy and I went to two places. One was manned by a girl with one amber eye and one sapphire blue. There were hunters out there. They left their shotgun shells. We went to the causeway to Antelope Island and enjoyed ourselves. There was a WILD buffalo there. Or two, that is, by the picnic area. Reflections of mountains in the water. Oh, I forgot that the day before, I went by 700 East and Byran Avenue. I went to the airport at last and when we got to Phoenix, the pilot went around when we were about 20 feet above the ground. Said there was a plane in the way. Park City 11/1/2010 Went up and we saw Riders in the Sky with the Utah symphany. Nice sould but Wendy said she was disappointed and they are old and should retire. Lacey and her friend Whitney went. We went to a saloon first and then to a pizza joint. We then went to the concert. The cowboy poetry was mercifully short. We were glad to see Wady Mitchell leave the stage after the obligatory church preacherman joke and the sentimental horse crap. Awful. One Sourdough Jim came up with an accordion and played. His signature piece was a G-rated version of Barnacle Bill the Sailor, which was a real snooze. The next day, we went around and saw a lot of stuff. We saw a trout fishing stream and we went on an eighty-minute walk. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/30/2010 Went early to study. DRUMS. Some bastard was playing drums at 8:45 in the morning. Perfect because last night DRUMMER BOY was playing clean to nine forty-five and I was a little drunk and yelling out there but he couldn't hear and kept playing. I left for the water ranch. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 10/30/2010 Guy kicked me out of the dry basin where I was studying. I was just at the end of the trail down to the pond. I stayed hours and hours. I finally sat at the, oh, BARBAR BEAN, place -- you know, the bench. Or was it her? Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/29/2010 Spent hours studying after my session in Nicaragua. Afterwards, I went to T-Tronics across the stree from Milano's to get my Red guitar. My red Variax guitar. Cost: eleven bucks. Weird. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/28/2010 Trip 925. Studied all day here and went over to Whole Foods and had a beer. Not worth the effort. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/27/2010 Two people came by. Well, one guy and a couple from Alaska. The couple wanted to know where the Water Ranch was, and I was happy to help them. I gave the place great reviews. I studied for hours. Then I had to pee, and I went to the Market for this purpose and to buy V8 and beer. I bought some clam chowder too. Then I went BACK and studied some more. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/26/2010 Studied for hours and hours. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/25/2010 Went and studied Spanish for a couple of hours but had to run back to teach Erica's kid guitar. Superstitions 10/23/2010 Sally and Steve and I went. We went up an arroyo to camp. We found a three-Eyed Triops Tadpole Shrimp Lepidurus triops. I had always wanted to see one. Lots of tarantula hawks. No mosquitos, so we didn't have to "BUG UP." A nice tarantula visited us. The T. hawks didn't get him. I had Chef Boyardee spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. I had one tomato beer (Bud Chelada) and Cuba libres. No coyotes. There was a full moon that was so bright we hated it. Sally froze. She had a lousy bolsa de dormir. sleeping bag. In the morning, there was a LOT of wet dew over everything. A mountain lion (puma, cougar) came to visit us while we slept. It left tracks all over. My camera wasn't working half the time. I slept and had all kinds of dreams. Oh, it was nice! We went to a Mexican restaurant place. They guy there had been here thirty years and his English stank. 2125 North Villas Lane 10/22/2010 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/20/2010 It was much cooler. A guy came up around my age. Kenny Loggins beard. He ate lunch. He said he worked down the way. Could only text Maria José. They moved and lost internet. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/19/2010 Cleaned up a lot at home. Cut down the bush in front and round-uped some plants. Lots of work. Finally went to E&C Roads. Came back and Maria José was having touble connecting with me at one o'clock but was able to send text and so we reschedule for tomorrow morning. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/18/2010 Steve and I went to vote early and stopped by here. We didn't stay long as you can see by the pitifully small number of sightings. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/17/2010 I didn't have BINOCS! I HAD PACKED THE CAR FOR THE GIG LAST NIGHT AND TAKEN THEM OUT. Gig was good. Generic Place Anywhere 10/17/2010 Went to Frye's and met Steve. Then I drove here. Generic Place Anywhere 10/17/2010 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/16/2010 Day of the gig at Charlie and Marie's. I went here. The guy hadn't cut down the tree in front of Pond 8 as he thought he would. COYOTE CAME OUT. He ignored me. I whistled. He didn't care. 2125 North Villas Lane 10/15/2010 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/15/2010 Popped by on the day before my gig at Charlie and Marie's. The guy there was cutting down trees and said he would try to get that paloverde in front of Pond 8 for me so I could see in. He had a hat. Also said that they might indeed put those damned solar panels in the ponds. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/11/2010 Went over. Studied a little. It was cooler. My AC doesn't work. It's under warranty, though. Saw some good birds. Very noice. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/10/2010 There was a nice little DUST DEVIL in front of the car in the parking lot up by the fence, and I got in it. It was magical. It carried a bunch of leaves into one of the neighbor's yards. MY AIRCONDITIONING BROKE ON THIS TRIP. It made a noise there where I paid them 800 bucks and now it doesn't blow cold. Curses and damnation. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/8/2010 I went over and studied for only a short time as I had to get back to chat with Nicaragua. This was the day that they wanted to use my checking account to transfer money to their accounts and it made me very nervous and uncomfortable. It didn't happen, but I sent the eighty bucks for the next two weeks of lessons to some other guy to launder the money for Fernando. I was awful speaking Spanish today too, so it was depressing. Steve called and rescheduled the Superstition trip for Wed so I could go, but I'm really messing everyone up, so I may just tell them to go without me. I've got plenty to do on the 16th playing my gig at Marie and Charlie's. Not such a good day. Even the Friday Night Fights weren't any good. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/7/2010 I studied. I wore long pants, I think. It was cooler. Perhaps the long summer has gone. I TALKED TO A FIREMAN NAMED MACE. He said he liked to go down Dobson and squeeze though the fence and go fishing in those ponds there. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/6/2010 Sally and I went, but first we ate in downtown Chandler by the San Tan Brewery. We walked around that area. Then we went here and then to the water rancho. We went to Steve's to open the doggie door for Skippy. Sonny was there and he took care of it. We went shoppy on Senior discount day at Frye's near Steves house. Later we went back and made masa for bread. I drank a lot of Negra Modelo. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 10/6/2010 Sally and I went. See E&C Roads for more info. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/5/2010 HAIL. SALLY. BT GRAY WARBLER. ETC. Steve came by and we practiced some Spanish. I was up on the cement benches. While he was there I saw the black and white warbler. Steve left and I kept studying. Then, as before, a storm came. It left. Then another came and it started blowing so hard I thought it was a tornado. I got soaked trying to get back to the truck. I got inside and it started to HAIL. The hailstones were as big as marbles and even hazelnuts (avellanas). They were very very loud on the roof of my truck. I thought they would knock the paint off and dent the truck. It hailed and there were mounds of hailstones behind the fire station. I checked out the truck when it stopped after quite a time, and there was no damage. I drove out, and the wide streets were full of green leaves that had been slashed from the tree and blow and winnowed into the streets. It was weird to see an even coated of green leaves. Trees were down. Streets flooded. You couldn't go exactly where you wanted. I got home. It was not so bad. SALLY CAME and we yucked it up. She is going to see somebody speak and then tomorrow she has a poetry reading to go to. Steve came by. We yucked it up. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/4/2010 GOLDEN EAGLES. I didn't have my notebook. It started to thunder and rain and I went back to my car after many hours of studying. McQueen and Elliot Roads 10/3/2010 Whipped by at 5:45. The corn had been cut down a couple of weeks ago and I thought maybe there could be horned larks. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/3/2010 Came in at 5:50 AM and stayed for four or more hours studying Spanish. The sunlight in the morning comes under the roof, so I had to sit in the shade near the fence up the sidewalk. Something stung me on the thigh. It swelled the size of an old Mexican peso. When I finally went back to the car and sat in the driver's seat, a SCORPION crawled out of my shorts. I killed it. It might have come from home; my shorts were on the floor all night. The guy with the big bulldog came by. He said they might be putting more water in, but he didn't seem sure. Then he mentioned that there were plans to put solar panels in each pond. I don't want this; I want water. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/2/2010 Trip 907. Well, I went late and studied Spanish. It was pretty hot, so tomorrow I'll get up and go really early and get all my studying done. PLENTY OF BREEZE. The flags were flapping. Steve called and drove over and we sat and he read a story by Fernando "El Espejo in El Ático." NO Turkey Vultures today! AND THE KILLDEER WASN'T THERE. I was sad that he wasn't there in the grass as he has been. Maybe tomorrow. The shade is not complete under the trees, so perhaps up under the roof down the sidewalk would be better. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/1/2010 IT'S OCTOBER and the world is such a wonderful place to wander through. I did my Spanish speaking and diddled some more with "Brave Little Cowboy." Then after a while I went here and stayed like forever. It was ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE. But I was in the shade by the parking lot. The mesquite tree had shade, but it wasn't complete and the gravel was hot, so I went to the green area. I studied Spanish. I have a new exercise. You get blank sheets and look and the flash books (my notebooks with English on one side of a page and the Spanish on the other -- very effective) and instead of looking at the English and blabbing in Spanish about the word that was the cue, I scribbled on the papers. Very nice. Steve called and he was nearby and came over and saw my digs. Then we went home and he wanted something to read in Spanish that wasn't War and Peace, and so I gave him "El Espejo en el Ático" that Fernando had written. He liked it and will read it at work. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/29/2010 Sally drove down from Flagstaff and came over for Mom's ring and to eat at the International House of Panhandlers. I had the pot roast on the senior menu which came very late but was cold. She had some sort of breakfast. We went to E&C Roads, went back to my house, and Sally left for Tucson. She had had Mr. Redsteer fix everything that needed to be fixed. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/27/2010 YESTERDAY. SUNDAY I went to the MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM. today I spoke Spanish and came over here. I went home and wrote a lullaby. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/26/2010 I can't remember much about this trip. I thought I recorded it but didn't until two days later. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/25/2010 Steve and Skippy and I went. Generic Place Anywhere 9/25/2010 Steve and I went to Willis and Price and Germann and Price. NICE DUMP at Germann and Price. Steve liked it. Nice glass and broken pots. Cool iron and rocks. I got a malachite rock and a busted mug that said "AT THE." ALSO a bottle that said Royal Crown Cola. Went back to steve's house and he had trouble changing the wires on his spark plugs. I took SLED DOG OF ALASKA home and Marie had left me an email. I called her. I have the gig for the sixteenth of October. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/24/2010 Nine-hundred and first trip. I went to Jack-in-the-Box and Steve pulled in behind me in line. He had a cheeseburger and I had the meaty breakfast burrito. We talked. He went to sub. I drove to Elliot and Cooper. Well, I saw a gigantic YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD MALE flying by over the fire station all by himself. Today Scott will come by. No Spanish chat until Monday. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/23/2010 901TH TRIP. I WENT AT FIVE IN THE MORNING. It was dark. A full moon was in the west, but it was still dark and I had to identify birds by call: the killdeer, the mockingbird, the towhee, the verdin, the Gila. There was a red light on the distant water tower. When the sun came up, the moon just disappeared. It sounds impossible, but that's what I remember. A team of Geese Canadienses flew by. Twelve. No Inkies. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 9/23/2010 After my nine hundredth trip to E & C Roads, I came over here. It was only six thirty and people were there. Not many but some. Walking their dogs. I saw a bird I couldn't identify. It was something like a black and white warbler, but I don't know. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/22/2010 Steve and I went cause he didn't get a subbing job today. The market was closed and we went to the fashion mall to the Apple store and junk. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/21/2010 Sat in the truck with the AC on listening to LORELEI! It got hot. I went over to the tracks on the NE corner. Hot. So I went home. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/20/2010 Went and worked on my screen play. I sat in my lawn chair right behind the fire station under the shade of a tree really in the firemen's area. HOT. But I was fine. Didn't get a lot done, but I got some ideas that were good and made some small progress. Not very birdy. Great fun. I found that mummified carcass of what I take to be a Green-tailed Towhee again. I think it was the same bird. Awfully rufous crown for an Abert's. The tail was missing. Maria José wanted to talk about a haunted house. I interrupted a lot so I didn't have to hear that silliness. She wanted to know my religion, so I told her we were all atheists. I told her about the bastard shit Christian chaplain who made Mom pray to Jesus when she had just told him she wasn't Christian. What the hell did a shit like him care about anyone but himself. That's what his fuckin' religion taught him of morality. I didn't put it in those words, but I think she was somewhat surprised. I don't know why, though; I've always told her I was a skeptic. Superstitions 9/19/2010 Steve and Dits and I went. I BAKED BREAD TODAY BEFORE STEVE CAME. IT WAS YUMMY. At first, Steve and I drove down to use Sonny's car because it needed mileage on it to reset something or other. When we got into Tempe, we found that the car had an engine light that meant we were wasting our time diddling with it. I drove to Dits's house in my truck. We went to Hackberry Springs. We went down beautiful arroyos with lichen-covered canyon walls. Nice. We heard loud voices way in the desert and came across two guys at the springs on Horseback. They greeted us with the most overdone, affected cowpoke accents. One had what looked like a single-action western pistol half hanging out of his holster. The other guy, a bearded fellow, who was bearded and trying to look like Sam Elliot wore a black automatic on his side. They said the horses warned them we were coming. They said you came to eat the horses. You don't eat horses do you? We told them we didn't. One guy's horse had a confederate states button on one part of the bridle and a US Calvary one on another part. The guy said his horse just couldn't decide which side he was on. We showed them a dead red-tailed hawk on the ground. They said disapprovingly that someone shot it. He called it a red-tailed Harris' hawk. We pet the horses and then split up the trail. They were going the other way. It got REALLY hot, so we decided to take an easier way back, but it was still a tough hike. Later, we had a beer at Dits's house and visited his MAN ROOM. Shirley gave Steve and me some cake she baked. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/17/2010 Today I went and put my lawn chair in the grass on the south side of the fire station. People drove by. I was in the shade of a tree and was able to study the Spanish notebooks for two or three hours. It was 108° today, but it was okay under the tree on the green grass. Up there under the roof with the cement was considerably hotter, I thought. I was surprised that it took me forever to go through just two of the notebooks. I'm thinking of reading the notebooks into my digital recorder and then downloading them on my computer and listening to them. Mr. KILLDEER was there alone as he was before. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/16/2010 I had to get a brake light bulb at Checker Auto, so I continued down the road to here. Well, I changed the bulb. Now I'm going to the Educator's Meeting over at Simpleton's because Nancy asked me to. I will drink near beer so I don't get in trouble. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/14/2010 Didn't stay long, but saw the gnatcatcher. Talked to Fernando on Skype as Maria is stuck in Leon. I worked a little on the screenplay. That is to say, that I read it and read books about it and played some of the music on the organ and also on Itunes. That took some time. I then watched some of Fight Club, a DVD that I have. I drank a bunch of Bohemia beer, more than perhaps I should have. Tempe Town Lake 9/13/2010 Drove down from Flag and dropped Wendy at the airport. Just passed by the lake and saw the egret. Lowell Observatory Mars Hill 9/12/2010 We didn't go in. We went to the parking lot and the forest was birdier here. Then we went to Sunset Crater and Wupatki. Walnut Canyon 9/11/2010 Wendy and I went. We saw a small deer. A fawn. We went on the trail loop and talked to the wandering ranger, who didn't know there were woodpeckers in the canyon. He showed us a walnut tree. There were archaeologists on the other side of the canyon in flourescent vests. They had left flourescent orange things in the cliff dwellings. The ranger was from Brooklyn. Flagstaff House 9/11/2010 I picked Wendy up at the airport. We drove to Flag. We went up to see how Charles was doing on the deck. He completed most of it while we were there. His mom was there wen we arrived. We talked to her. We played with Penny May. What a good dog. We bought her Pupperoni. She loved it. Wendy gave Penny cantaloupe on the last day. We went to WALNUT CANYON. We went to THE ICE CAVE. We went to Sunset Crater and Wupatki and also to Mars Hill. We went to a diner in front of the Weatherford. We went to The Ski Drift Lozenge for a beer. Wendy gave an elk hunter some guff. He was a jerk. WE SAW A GIGANTIC BULL ELK WITH A HUGE HAT RACK CROSS OUR LAND AT DUSK AND WALK DOWN INTO EVERYONE'S FRONT AND BACK YARDS. We also watched a bat flying out over the field in front of the house. We watched from the deck and wished we had some meal worms to toss to him. Northern Arizona Museum 9/11/2010 We came twice and never saw the Lewis's. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/9/2010 It was nice and cool today, comparatively. Maybe summer is over. No WW doves here today. I spent about four and a half hours at least out there under the roof studying Spanish. It was a lot of fun and very relaxing. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/7/2010 I had a good time talking to Nicaragua and then went out here, oh, at about nine-thirty? Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 9/7/2010 Oh, I went and stayed for HOURS AND HOURS. I didn't leave until three o'clock. I'll bet I got there at ten fifteen or even ten. I studied ENDLESS Spanish vocabulary with my HUGE dictionary. I had a jug of lemonade and didn't even finish it. I had some Arizona brand Grape soda stuff in a big can but never opened it. It wasn't very hot. The last couple of days have been so humid that I haven't been able to study and had to go home. Early on there was one guy with a dog, a girl running, a girl with a baby boy, a woman making a sketch. Later, there was no one. I had total privacy. I'm going back tomorrow. It's so much nicer than the library as there are NO distractions except an occasional bird, which is welcome. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/6/2010 It was humid and hot, and I left and didn't study all day. But look at the next day at the WATER Ranch. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/5/2010 I tried to study, but it got just TOO hot. I guess it was humid out. It was too uncomfortable to study, so I went home after an hour or so. 2125 North Villas Lane 9/4/2010 Talked Spanish today Saturday and will tomorrow too. Scott came by YESTERDAY and we played guitar. Went to LEE Sandwiches first. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/4/2010 I stayed out there a long time studying Spanish as I did the last time. I used MY OWN chair because Sally's broke. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/2/2010 I got up and did my Spanish chatting for an hour. Then I went over to Food City to get that kind of hot sauce I like. Afterwards, I went to that antique store that used to be Payless Cashway. I walked around looking at all their antiques. Finally, I went to Elliot and Cooper Roads. I STAYED FOR HOURS studying the new Spanish material. It was a little warm but okay. I finally went back to my car and sat there with the door open and a cop pulled up. He said he couldn't see anybody in the truck. I told him I went there every day. 2125 North Villas Lane 9/2/2010 All the other birds have been here too. Abert's, Gila, Eurasian.... Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/1/2010 Saw no white-winged doves, so maybe they've gone?? I talked to the lady at the market about huiztlacoche and truffles and corn smut, none of which she had ever heard of. TODAY WAS SENIOR DAY AT FRY'S. I spent seventy-nine dollars. I listened to my sounds of nature stuff on Itunes last night. Lots of noisy thunder. I dreamed Steve and I camped in a very remote place. However, at night suddenly some people came down the river. And then we were next to a parking lot full of party-going youths. Wild Horse Pass 8/31/2010 I drove over to see Rawhide in the morning. Deserted. Wild Horse Pass has a flat-bottomed pond with shorebirds, so I have named this place the same thing. I will call this area Wild Horse Pass and that will include Rawhide, but not the other pond that I have gone to near here. Rawhide was very deserted. No shows I think Monday to Wednesday and nothing until six in the evening, so the place was deserted although everything is HUGE here. Wild Horse is a Casino and hotel. Very Quirky building that I photographed. Rawhide is quite large too. Higley and Ocotillo Roads 8/31/2010 After I went to Gilbert and Riggs, I made my way here. The entire front pond was totally dry, and I went out on it. Some of the mudcracks had bird imprints. Perhaps I could find such fossils by Table Mesa Road?? Gilbert and Riggs Roads 8/31/2010 No access to the lake that I could get to. A shame. Down the road the Warbler Tree is oh so long gone. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/30/2010 Today Maria didn't get back from León again, so I chatted with Fernando. Nicaragua. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 8/30/2010 I wentup and set up my chair by the pond up there but this time under the trees on the left there and there wasn't much wind in there though it was a little breezy on the trail, so I got hot in there a little bit. Nice sentence. I studied a little and then decided to leave. I didn't feel like a long session. I drove back via Ray Road and stopped at Whole Foods. I looked at all their expensive beer and expensive, yummy food. I finally bought a Red Seal Ale (Dead Seal Ale, yuck) and a new kind called SHRIMSHAW, a European style pilsner. We'll see later today if it's yummy. Yesterday Steve came by and we fixed the Mojo Man cassette tape and Steve made a movie of the tape recorder when it was playing it, so we could put it on the computer. I listened to the 1983 recording we made with Barkac and Mom and Dad, and oh what an evening that actually was. Great singing and musicianship. Dad played the piano, and then I did. You can hear Mom in the background. What a way to spend your time. We haven't done that it 27 years! What we have missed out on. 2125 North Villas Lane 8/29/2010 Today I put that Blue Bin in the pigeon coop and straightened up. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/27/2010 Yes, it's my birthday and Steve got me a saguaro anntena man. See more information in my trip notes to the Water Ranch today. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 8/27/2010 My birthday. I talked to Maria José for an hour and then came out here. It wasn't hot for some reason. Overcast. A Czech guy came by with two dogs. I thought he was Mexican, so I kept speaking Spanish to him until I realized he didn't understand. What a silly goose I am. I studied Spanish for a few hours there and then went to Steve's. Sonny was there. His teeth hurt. He had his wisdom teeth pulled, but now he says all of his remaining teeth hurt. I went home and made some bread. It rose until the next morning. I think I put in too much garlic. (I was trying a parmesan gralic bread with onion flakes.) In the end I think I needed to bake it another five minutes -- but it's still delicious. Neighbor played drums at 7:00 for a while, but I fell asleep and woke up to silence at 11:30. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 8/27/2010 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 8/26/2010 It sure RAINED. I went at around 9:30 or so? I went up and set up my chair at the BT Cliffs. It was cool. Not hot at all. Overcast. No one in the arroyo. I studied Spanish for an hour or so reading the Myths and Legends book aloud at times. Then it started to rain. I had my raincoat and sat in the chair being pelleted by rain for forty-five minutes. I couldn't read well because I was afraid I'd get the book wet. The rain stopped and I stayed reading and studying for quite a long time. It's 2:30 now and I've only just got home. I went shopping afterwards though. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/25/2010 It wasn't that hot, but I went back and studied Spanish. I saw Sonny at Steve's. Sonny has just had all of his wisdom teeth pulled. The other day Steve and I went to register Sonny's car and it flunked the emissions. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/24/2010 DROVE OVER. Later I voted in the primary. Got my hat back from Circle K, so I could vote with it on. Only saw three birds. 2125 North Villas Lane 8/24/2010 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/23/2010 IT WAS SO HOT! I think I lost my glasses on that big rock out front when I took off my shirt and poured water on it. I left that dumb cowboy-like hat at Circle K. I was going to go to the Water Ranch, but it was so hot! I drove to the Research Park (A SNOOZE as usual. Boring, Sterile, dumb.) I went to Brindley's Music. One of the guys was on the Drudge report. Bruce was on that dumb site ten years ago at least. Mom's Gold Congressional Medal arrived at Wendy's house. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/20/2010 Talked to some guys there that told me they had been pumping the poisonous plume of PCV? out of the ground but there's no money now. The will NOT abandon the site, however. They said the put some umpteen thousand gallons of water in one of the ponds and I walked clean over and there was a little canal-like pool and it was SO HOT I nearly died before I got back to my car. I was so tired. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/17/2010 HOTTER THAN HECK! HUMID. GOD. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/13/2010 Two birds and maybe a verdin flew by. Hot as heck. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 8/13/2010 Went out at 110° and NO ONE EVEN WALKED BY. I studied using the chair Sally bought me. I was up there for a long time. I got cool. I read Spanish. Today I will go see Bobby and Gailynn. Strawberry Arizona 8/8/2010 Steve and I came back through Payson. Nice. One rollover accident down near Mt. Ord I guess. Red car. Looked bad. Long trip. No AC. Ick. Pine Arizona 8/8/2010 No Notes Entered East Verde River 8/8/2010 Steve and I passed by the crinoid place not far beyond and didn't really drive into the East Verde place at all. Mormon Lake 8/8/2010 No Notes Entered Flagstaff House 8/7/2010 Went and had Geral redsteer repipe the house. Good job. Steve and I went. My radiator was bad and the heat went up at radiator hill. Steve poured cold water on it and it exploded and burned the hell out of his arm. A higheway patrol officer stopped to help. We had to get towed to Flag for 196 bucks. Luckily I had insurance, but the new radiator cost 429 dollars. Flagstaff Arboretum 8/7/2010 Raining so the bird stuff was just a few people around a harris's hawk and a saudi arabian falcon. We didn't like the apologizing for ranchers who poison animals and for fish and game who kill coyotes from helicopters. didn't like their weird taxonomy comments regarding falcons not being hawks and so on. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/4/2010 Cicadas. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 8/4/2010 Went. One guy there. Then nobody anywhere. 110 degrees. I went up by the pond by the restrooms and fell asleep on the bench there while I was reading Spanish. It was nice. I suddenly became very sleepy. I woke up and studied some more. I planned to get a pillow and come back the next day, but Steve and I went to his refinancing guy's place clean in BF Egypt. We took the wrong freeway, of course, and had to drive through the middle of the city to get there. On the way, we passed Paolo Saleri's place. After the appointment we went there. It seemed the same as before, but you didn't get to go far into the place. I thought the bells' prices were quite reasonable except for those done by Soleri himself, which were up to 19,000 dollars. THIS WAS ON THE FIFTH, OF COURSE. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 8/2/2010 Just went to the library and didn't walk out to see the birds. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/2/2010 On the way to the library at the water ranch. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/1/2010 Saw a generic/female hummer but I have no such bird to list. This was my first time at the WATER RANCH LIBRARY after I went here. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 8/1/2010 FIRST TIME at the library. Saw a bunch of grackles and that's it. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/28/2010 Had two hours of spanish today from Nicaragua because the file she sent me took so long to get here. Pima Canyon 7/27/2010 Steve and I went in my truck. We went to the water tank and then back on the road. There was a couple from Baton Rouge that we talked to before we started hiking. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/26/2010 On the way back, I bought a turquoise shirt, but it seems a bit small, so I'll return it for a bigger one. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/24/2010 I bought a Britta water filter/pitcher at WalMart, and then I came here. I also bought a twelve-pack of Negra Modelo. Tempe Town Lake 7/23/2010 Steve and I drove over to Tempe in my truck to see what's left of the lake. We went to Tempe Town Lake Marina. Tempe Town Lake 7/22/2010 I picked Sally up at the airport and we went here to see what's left of the lake since the darn dam broke and all the water went away. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/21/2010 Second day of Spanish speaking with Nica Spanish school. It sprinkled on the way back from here. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/20/2010 Today was my first Skype chat with the Nicaraguan school. Spanish chat. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/19/2010 Coyote mom and puppy again on the road. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/15/2010 Thought I entered this stuff. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/12/2010 Cop was waiting for people in front and pulled over two I assume for speeding. Getting kind of dull going over here. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/11/2010 Today is a very sad day because 17 years ago Mom died. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/10/2010 Went shopping first and spent a little too much. Nasty hot dogs. Tasted horrible. Got the last of my annuities today. 495.30. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/9/2010 New water in Pond 8. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/8/2010 Just drove over. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/7/2010 Took a movie of a coyote howling in front of Pond 8. Then the little puppy came up wagging his tail and began howling too. Great video though too grainy. I walked all around the 72 acres. Tempe Town Lake 7/6/2010 I took Steve and Sherry to the airport to get to Nicaragua, and then I came here. Soldiers running. No water birds. Hokey tiles with hokey poetry on them. Rather nice everything except the hideous glass buildings. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/6/2010 The fire engine siren went off and the coyotes just started screaming. Some in Pond 8 in front of me and some at the SW corner of Pond 9 where the baby coyote was. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/5/2010 The coyote puppy was out near the parking lot with his mom. I took his picture and posted it on Facebook. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/4/2010 It's the fourth of July as you can plainly see. I watched an Indy Race after birding, but no one got killed; it was a cryin' shame. I ate a steak. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 7/4/2010 Just went up to the top fast and went back home. July 4. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/3/2010 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/2/2010 There was a BABY COYOTE. A coyote PUPPY. He was very cute. I went for my camera, but he wasn't there when I got back. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/30/2010 Too hot and unbirdy. Water in pond 8, however. Pima Canyon 6/29/2010 Went over at 3:30 or so, and it was some 110 or 109 degrees. Lots of water, but I forgot to pack a wet T-shirt in a bag of ice. Boston Lager at the ring of stones. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/29/2010 Steve met me at the bank, and then we went here. Afterwards, we went to Home Depot to look at swamp coolers. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/28/2010 There was a lot of water in Pond 8, the main pond in front. Not very birdy. Kind of a half-hearted trip. Hot. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/27/2010 Hot. Not very birdy. No water. Nor any drop to drink. I went and got two big bottles of V8 and some near beer and Boston Lager at the Market. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 6/25/2010 I went with Bill Butler at 9:00 in the morning. It got hot quickly. Nobody to speak of was there. Lots of birds. The geese let me walk right up to them and the coots and mallards followed their lead and didn't fly away either. Two geese had tags on their necks: C88 and C51. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/25/2010 Just stopped by on the way back from the water ranch. Pima Canyon 6/24/2010 About 113 degrees out. Maybe 114. Went at 3:30. Very good hike. Some cool breezes. I went to the water tank. Not many people at that temp. I had a Tap Room #21 Pale ale at the ring of stones. Felt invigorated by the hike. Very invigorating. Some slim girl jogged by. I was in the swim too like her still alive and seizing life by its antlers. Excellent hike. You see, Sally just left as I helped her withher book on createspace and she left at around two thirty. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/23/2010 Sally was coming up because I was going to help her with her book, so I had to skiddattle back home. Stee and Sally and I went to Rosita's after I did the book. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/20/2010 Quick and rather boring trip out here. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/19/2010 I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS VISIT. Pima Canyon 6/19/2010 I brought tons of cold water, beer, and ice, but I didn't really have the ganas to do the hike. I walked up a little past that trail up with the saguaro on the left where there is desert pavement and you're up high. I saw the gnatcatcher there and the canned wren. Then I walked back and drove home. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/18/2010 Just a short pop into the place. Went and bought a roast chicken afterwards. It was awful. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/17/2010 Went here to get the 10,000th (TEN THOUSANDTH) bird at E&C Roads. I thought Steve's bet on the Abert's towhee would get it. I thought there might be a towhee in the brush under a tree and when I looked at the tree an Inca dove flew up and alighted in plain view. Poem: See the little Inca dove go 'cross the roller rink? Inky dinky, Inky dinky, Inky dinky dink! Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/16/2010 Fourteen more birds left to 10,000. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/15/2010 Went over in the morning. Don't want to do any shopping today. I have plenty of stuff to live on. Save money. I sent Paul Morris the Shearwater Journeys info today. He wrote back. 2125 North Villas Lane 6/14/2010 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/13/2010 Two big dead toads in the toad graveyard. More house sparrows than finches. What gives? Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/12/2010 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/11/2010 Read in Spanish and read my Smithsonian and got rid of leaves in yard. Finally, I came over here. AS FOR BIRDS, THE SAME OLD SAME OLD. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/10/2010 Just another visit on account of I'm RETIRED! I called Jan Kegelman because she called yesterday. We're going to 9th and ash on the 16th at 5;30 for a beer. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/9/2010 Two coyotes came out of the cottonwood tree on the SW corner. Later I saw them across Pond 9 and one was carrying something in its mouth that looked like a rabbit or something. Scott was going to come over, but he flaked again, so I went here. Yesterday and the day before I found GH Owl feathers. I looked for him and for cough balls but saw nothing. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/8/2010 Drove over after talking to Hersh Stern. I think it was after. Steve is back from the San Juan. He ate too much and got a bellyache. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/7/2010 Another good day. I went here after reading a Spanish mystery for 3 hours. Pima Canyon 6/7/2010 110 degrees, so I went to do my hot hike. Not as much ice water as I should have brought. Very very hot. Nice, cool breeze. Up to the water tank and back. Beer at the ring of stones. Last of the notebook. Cactus Wren alley a big success. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/6/2010 Went over rather early after reading for an hour in Spanish. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/5/2010 I read in Spanish and then went out here. Getting hot. I drove around the back. No birds or water. I looked down the road there to see if there might be a roadrunner or coyote there. I saw a lump. It had an ear. It was far down the dirt road in the area. It was a coyote sleeping in the shadow of a tree on the dirt road. I whistled using my two little fingers. His head came up. Mesquite Wash 6/4/2010 Bill Butler picked me up on Terrace Road right outside the parking structure where, though retired, I still have a parking place until August 15. It was SIX IN THE MORNING. Oh, is Mesquite Wash nice. Gorgeous water and snad and trees and cliffs and desert all the way into the desert forever. NO ONE. NOBODY. NONE THERE!!! No trash. Nice with lots of flowing water. Extremely birdy, but they wouldn't show themselves! One ribbon snake. Pollywogs. Lizards. Jasper. White rock. We walked up the water. Sand in the shoes is a problem. Minnows. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/3/2010 Just a quick trip over. This was after I found out that my truck needed 400 dollars more in repair for its dumb old power steering hoses. Shoot! Go royalties of 1700 today though. Steve went to Bluff, Utah and is hiking down the Honaker Trail. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/2/2010 Only 95 degrees today. Stopped here and decided to go to the water ranch too. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 6/2/2010 Walked around. Only a couple of people there. Not too hot. Pima Canyon 6/1/2010 Went for a hot hike at around three having stopped at the guitar center. There was a Nashville tele there. It wasn't very hot. Horsetail clouds blocked a lot of the sun too. One girl hiking out when I went into the arroyo and one guy jogged past me at the BT Cliffs. ROCK SQUIRREL, and a BIG OLE CHUCKWALLA at Windy Rock. Ground squirrels too. Lizaards. I saw a big dragonfly and flame whatever they call 'em. Dance at the Ring of Stones with one Boston Lager. Turned me into a monster. McQueen and Elliot Roads 5/31/2010 Dry and dusty. All buildings. Two birds. The field was dry and dusty that is. I looked for horned larks, but there were none. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/31/2010 Hot out. Wendy called from Judy's or someone's and said she was coming over at twelve thirty. We'll go to Rosita's or something. She drove down clean from utah to Sally's and went and saw Judy and junk. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/29/2010 Steve and I drove over in his good car afterhe had made a screen for the swiss chard out back. He spent a long time on the dumb thing. We went to home depot and then the Frye's, where I bought a steak and fell off the vegan wagon and ate too much yuck! Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/28/2010 Day I kicked Steve out of the house. Scott was supposed to come over but flaked. Valic sent us the wrong form, so I had it redone at HR and got the medallian signature at the bank and overnighted it at the post office. Higley and Ocotillo Roads 5/26/2010 Steve and I went because I had to take my car to Brown and Brown or Browne and Browne to get the AC air conditioning fixed. It cost 351 dollars. We drove his beater to the ponds. Two roadrunners. Ibis. Rah. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/25/2010 Whipped over. I went to the east end but there was nothing there to see. 2125 North Villas Lane 5/24/2010 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/24/2010 Went over mad at Valic for trying to sell me a deferred annuity. It was 7:00 or so. Cool weather this morning. Research Park 5/24/2010 I went over and it took some time to find a huge parking place. I haven't been here but three times before and now I know why. IT'S BORING AND NOT A GOOD PLACE. Northern Arizona Museum 5/22/2010 Sally and I went here early in the morning and got the L. WP. Later we came back with steve after we had hiked the Kachina Trail. Big day in Flag. Lots of leaks. See other records. Kachina Trail 5/22/2010 Not too birdy as you can plainly see. Steve and Sally and I walked this trail. There was still snow on it. Tolkien-like trees. We walked a ways and then went to the Northern Arizona Museum. Flagstaff House 5/22/2010 Sallly and Steve and I went down to fix the pipe and get things ready for Sally and Kate to go there and to look at the destroyed carport cover. The state farm guy will give us 4500 for it. We're going to put a nicer, smaller deck up there. It was hell trying to fix the pipes. We had to call a plumber. He came at three on Saturday. Oh, there were a lot of breaks. It took him five hours to patch them all. He is Gerald Redsteer. Phone: 1-928-380-1386 We went to the Kachina Trail and to the museum to see the Lewis's WP. We walked down the Rio de Flag. I saw a lot of Elk on Saturday morning. There weren't any out front on Sunday Morning. We had to wait so long to get the plumbing done that we didn't go to the Ski Drift for beer. Mike Bannon came in with Charlie and stayed a while. Charlie then came back with his father in tow. On Sunday morning Sally invited Ann, his mom, to breakfast at the ski drift. Charlie came with a weird friend. Both were filthy and hadn't washed their hands in ages. There was dirt under their fingernails. Yuck. We discussed plans for fixing the carport roof. God it used to be huge. People said they heard it fall and thought it was a big rifle shot. The plumber says he can fix the pipes and repipe the whole place in one day, and at his fifty bucks an hour, it will be quite affordable. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/20/2010 Went to ASU to get my transfer forms signed. Mailed applications to the insurance companies. Popped over here. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/19/2010 Steve called while I was going over and he said he was at Elliot and Gilbert and I said I was at Elliot and McQueen so we were each a mile from the place and we met there and looked at the birds. Scott Wagy came by today and we played guitar. Tempe Town Lake 5/17/2010 I cleaned out my desk today at ASU. Then I went to Tops Liquors and got some near beer. Then I went to the lake. It was windy and there were only three kinds of birds. I got bored and drove home. I bought some extra near beer at Wal Mart. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/16/2010 I went over after making Steve's book into a web page. You know, the What Do Aliens Look Like book. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/15/2010 MY FIRST DAY OF RETIREMENT!!!!!!!!! WHAT A DAY! I WORE MY SUIT TO E & C ROADS. MY SUIT. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 5/15/2010 FIRST DAY OF RETIREMENT!!! I DROVE OVER AT ABOUT THREE O'CLOCK. There were some birders there. I hung with them around Pond 5. Not too hot today. Superstitions 5/8/2010 OVERNIGHTER Sally and Steve and I went clean to SECOND WATER SPRINGS. Long hike. 2 1/2 hours. HOT. Rather birdy. Frogs croaking in the water but quit later at night. Steve didn't bring his good slappin' bug so he was cold. I had my pillow and my chair. I read First Grade in 1956. It was very pretty. Higley and Ocotillo Roads 5/2/2010 I drove over at a little after six I guess. I have to do my annuities today and practice for the sing-along. Steve's in the Superstitions with Dits. It was pretty cool and I had to wear my jacket. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/2/2010 I drove over to procrastinate instead of practicing for the sing-along. I got some O'doul's near beer and some Kraft American cheese and some V8 low sodium at the market there. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/1/2010 Steve and I took Skippy. 2125 North Villas Lane 5/1/2010 Lots of them were together outside. 2125 North Villas Lane 4/28/2010 You know on the 23 of April, I told Mark that I was retiring. They announced my retirement on the following Tuesday, the 26th. 2125 North Villas Lane 4/25/2010 Lots of birds about. The Abert's is always around though I don't remember seeing him today. Curve-billed thrashers, etc. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/25/2010 The Gilas were really flyin' around. I was practicing for retirement. Nice warm day. Got a SPOTTIE and a Heron Green. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/24/2010 Steve and I went after we went to Goodwill to donate some books. Only Pond 8 had any water. Well we only went behind the fire station. 2125 North Villas Lane 4/24/2010 We cleaned up a lot today and I have given my notice to retire and I am already feeling pretty free and easy. Boyce Thompson Arboretum 4/17/2010 Steve and I went with Ditsworth. Shirley followed. We were volunteering with BOEING. Steve and Dits and Shirley cleaned tables. I elected to pull weeds. I pulled Braum weeds out of the demonstration garden. Afterwards, Steve and Dits and I walked to Ayer Lake and back around. Dits drove us all there and back in his big blue truck. We went to Dit's house and looked in his MAN ROOM. He has a lot of fishing lures. Then we admired his back yard. I thought I should decorate mine a little more like that. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/11/2010 Steve and I went and we ate icky chili dogs at the store next door. Yesterday I decided to quit my job and retire. I suck at teaching and can finally be happy puttering away. I can't stand the idea of 10 more cycles of this contract. I can make more than I do now and at 62 I'll get ten thousand more take home a year, so that will be enough. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/4/2010 Steve and Sally and Dits were in the Superstitions because they got Good Friday off. I whipped out here after a day of writing my screenplay. Arizona State University 4/1/2010 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 4/1/2010 Sally was here because she and steve and dits are going on an overnighter in the superstitions and I don't get good friday off. 2125 North Villas Lane 3/30/2010 Steve and I sat out and saw these. Of course, there were lots of other birds. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/28/2010 Bill Butler called and was riding his bike clean from Phoenix to the water ranch, so I said I'd meet him and swung by E & C Roads on the way. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 3/28/2010 Bill Butler drove his bike from Phoenix here and I met him at 11:300. Actually I was late and came at 11:50 because I stopped at E&C Roads. We talked to a lady from Montana. She was from Helena. I drank Red Guitar wine the night before and was a little hungover. It was a good walk. 2125 North Villas Lane 3/27/2010 We were sitting out in the backyard drinking wine. I had Red Guitar wine. The cat lay under the sagebrush. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/19/2010 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/18/2010 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/16/2010 StSteve might have gone on this one. 2125 North Villas Lane 3/14/2010 Steve and I saw these birds in the back yard. Tucson Arizona 3/13/2010 Went down to see Jerry Scott. Steve and I went in my truck. We saw Jerry Scott at his presentation and we stayed three hours or so there at the book festival. I bought some books. WE went to see CRAZY HEART. TWAS VERY NICE. Went to La Fuente for dinner. Lousy taste and really expensive and no a la carte. Sucked. Saw Jeff's new apartment. I slept on the floor on my thermorest matress. Nice sleep, but I dreamed about a rattlesnake. I forgot to bring the darned grapefruit. This weekend was the first two days of SEMESTER BREAK. I mailed my submission to the creative nonfiction people about Lucky the pigeon. Some girl flashed Steve and me on the way back on I-10. Sally drove Jeff to Nogales because he suddenly wanted to fly to Mexico City from Hermosillo. Usery Mountain Park 3/6/2010 Steve and Dits and I went. SEVEN-MILE HIKE. Nice, cool weather. Kind of a lot of people on the trail. We ran into JC's wife as we heard someone say riverproof. Dogs. Unicyclists. DIAMOND-BACK RATTLESNAKE. I saw Ditsworth stumble and hop off the trail. I thought he tripped. I walked and saw the snake. He hadn't stumbled; he was doing a SNAKE DANCE. Steve must have stepped directly over the damned thing as it was crossing the trail. That was really close. We tried to scare him away, but he wouldn't go. We warned the next people. I drank a boston lager in the parking lot. Oh, we had A BIG TIME. Walked clean around. TOUGH, MACHO BOYS WE WERE. Pima Canyon 2/28/2010 Not very birdy! Bill Butler and his wife and I went. I met them there at 11:30. It had been raining all morning but radar said it would soon let up, and it did. Bill and I walked to the water tank and the stone houses. We looked at the table-shaped rocks. We saw the BT cliffs, cactus wren alley and all of the other places. Saw the corn holes. Saw the soltice petroglyph and the rainbow people holding hands, the coyote skull place, the place where I used to slide down, AND the RING OF STONES, where I guzzled a WHOLE BOSTON LAGER as I danced around the circle. Actually, Bill spotted the ring of stones first. He was surprised that I slammed down the whole beer in one swig, but that is the Pima Canyon way. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/27/2010 A couple of older women with and old guy came up the walkway. The guy was a WWII Vet. We talked. He told about John Birch being a good guy who didn't ask for his name to be put on an organization like the John Birch Society and so he is forgotten in history though he was kind of a hero and not a bircher. The old guy was an ex B-24 pilot. I said, "Oh, that's the plane Doolittle flew." He corrected me and said that Doolittle flew a B-25. "Shows what I know," said I. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/21/2010 It rained today quite a bit, but it let up, and I went to E&C roads. I just wore a T-shirt because it was warm today when the sun came out -- UNLIKE YESTERDAY, and it was very beautiful out there. I didn't get a STARLING, OR A YELLOW-RUMP, OR EVEN A VERDIN or this list would be longer. Raced home to watch a NASCAR race. It was on channel ten so I could watch it in the Hybrid room. "Worked on Everyone Says I Love You," and got it down cool. I use a bad ass minor sixth in it. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/20/2010 Steve and I were going to go hiking today in the superstitions, but there is immoderate weather now. It's windy and cold and rainy and the town of Superior has a forecast for rain tonight. Generic Place Anywhere 2/20/2010 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/14/2010 Went over. Had my weekly chilli dog. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/13/2010 Went with Joanie Johnson and Sally and Steve. We got tomato beer and wine and junk at the market next door. Joanie wanted to drink the beer at the water ranch, but that was not someting we'd seen anyone do. Nice and cool. Water in pond 8 and some in pond 9. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/12/2010 This was the day of the Grand Canyon field trip, so I came here in the morning as I didn't have to be at work until 1:00 PM. Sally came down today but stayed at Judy's house and we're going with Joanie Johnson to E & C Roads and the water ranch. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/7/2010 Well the Coyote was in Pond 10, where he likes it. He looked at me. I'm glad he's still here because I was afraid they shot him. I think he's the same one I used to see over at Elliot and McQueen. The Dark Phase Red-tail may be the same one I've seen all these years. Oh, there was a guy there with a spotting scope. He was from California. I chatted with him, but he didn't seem to want to be too chummy. I guess I was a bit too chummy. A man and a woman who had lived by the place for fifteen years, or so they said, were coming for the first time. He used bad language when he described an Osprey that had an unusually large evacuation. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/6/2010 Went at about 8:00 with great alacrity. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 2/6/2010 I wore my Pendleton because it was rather cool. I didn't stay too long. 2125 North Villas Lane 2/6/2010 I washed all the plates and glasses on my kitchen table and waxed it and reset it. Arizona State University 2/4/2010 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 2/3/2010 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 2/1/2010 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/31/2010 Nice, sunny day. I didn't need my jacket. I drove to the back and parked in the legal place for me to park. Steve went to Pima Canyon today. I called Jeff. I worked on the song "Everyone says I love you," a Groucho Marx tune. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/30/2010 Whipped on in at 8:00 or so. Flags at half staff because some schmuck shot and killed a Gilbert police officer. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 1/30/2010 Lots of groups of birders. 2125 North Villas Lane 01/26/2010 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/24/2010 Whipped over after praticing guitar. Steve went with Dits to the Superstitions. I got 31 birds. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/23/2010 It was after that huge rain when the neighbor's tar paper was blown into my yard and I had two small leaks and some tarpaper blown away. Oh, did it rain. But there was water in the ponds and tons of pintails. I went to Buchanan music and picked up my two Variax 300s afterwards. 65 bucks. THIS WAS THE TIME THE GUY IN THE GREEN LITTLE VEHICLE stopped me and said I couldn't park my truck there and had to put it across the street. He said it was 911 regulations. He couldn't pronounce the/I/ phoneme. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/23/2010 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 1/20/2010 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 1/17/2010 Bill Butler and I met here at 8:00. A little bit cold. Cloudy mostly. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/17/2010 I just whipped on by after going to the water ranch. No water. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/14/2010 It's deathmarch Thursday for Mary Chang, not me! And I got off WAY early and went bird watching here. Then I went home and watched TV about the earthquake in Haiti. You know, I heard thunder last night, and I went outside, and it was raining! No clouds today. 2125 North Villas Lane 01/11/2010 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/09/2010 I practiced guitar and finally went over here. I also bought a new DVD player as the one I had just didn't work anymore and I threw it out. I came here a little late and left around five in the afternoon. It seemed to be getting dark already. What gives. Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/08/2010 Well my 800th trip. I hung around for a while and then went to Buchanan music and brought my sunburst and red Variax guitars in for them to swap the guts from each into the other so the red one would have the good motherboard. Heck of a drive out there. MY LAST DAY OF WEEK DAY VACATION. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/8/2010 Today that nut shot the congresswoman in Tucson. To hell with worthless nothing Sarah Palin. I went to Steve's and I brought some beer so we could watch the news. I got up the next morning the NINTH and went to Urgent Care and they sent me to the hospital. I was in terrible condition. They hooked me up and did brain scans and junk and then they gave me a drug and I was perfect. Now it's the TENTH AND I woke up and had the same problem. I went to Gannon's office. He almost sent me to the mental ward because he said I was having a nervous breakdown. When I talked to him I felt better. Soon I was about well. It had passed. It's a drug-induced panic attack that makes you feel like you're dying. He scolded me at first for not following his directions, but I did follow his directions and the two pills made me so sick that I had to stop. Higley and Ocotillo Roads 01/07/2010 Still vacash and I went here. I think it's kind of a long drive . Not that bad. Cool day. No one there. Ponds all full. Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/06/2010 Went waiting for the refrigerator repair man to call but my darned cell phone didn't work for him so he called and didn't get an answer darn it. Maybe he had the wrong number. I just whipped over after working on Sylvester T. Cribbage. So far, no guitar practice today. Beautiful day. Still vacash! Refridge is groaning! Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/05/2010 Worked on Sylvester T. Cribbage and finally went to E & C Roads. Nice out. Stopped by Churchill's and drank less than one beer. You know, the other day I heard that Loren, who was forever at Gallagher's had dropped dead of a heart attack at 56. Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/03/2010 I whipped in on the way to a fabric store to get some velco for my thumb picks. No mourning doves or grackles. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 01/02/2010 Went with Bill Butler. He called and was going to go so I went after I went and had my dumb traffic ticket test sheet notorized at the bank on Dobson and Baseline or whatever. We got fifty-one birds. Not bad. Nice, cool weather. I'm still working on Merle Travis Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 01/02/2010 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/30/2009 I went and there was water in the front area the main pond in front or old main pond. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/26/2009 Left Skippy because I went shopping. Got a new mattress pad and a soft cover for the mattress and a pork roast. Still water in the ponds in front. Nice and sunny but still rather cold. It was below freezing last night and the Kitty slept in the garage where I had made a kind of tent bed for him. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/25/2009 Skippy and I went. I am sick of the cat. He keeps crying and bothering me. It was cold at first in the morning, but then it got better. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 12/25/2009 Took Skippy. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/24/2009 Skippy and I went. It's Christmas Eve and I've got that big gig that I'm worried about. Cold. The darned cat just hangs around stalking Skippy. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/20/2009 I'm on vacation. Christmas vacation and all I have to do is go to driver's school for my red light running (hardened criminal) and play a gig for 300 dollars and hour. I must practice. Also I have plans to fix the house up and make repairs, write Sylvester T. Cribbage, write my Minnesota essay, master MERLE TRAVIS GUITAR, and do many other things! Nice and cool out here today. I went to the back canal and saw a zillion yaller rumps in their usual place. No coyotes. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/13/2009 Sally and I went. She came down from Chicago and didn't want to drive to Tucson last night so she crashed at my house. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 12/12/2009 Some big guy helped me with the two cool sparrows, the Lincoln and the Clay-colored. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/12/2009 Really pretty birdy here today and some water. Arizona State University 12/10/2009 No Notes Entered Flagstaff House 12/06/2009 Steve and I went up in his nice new car to winterize the house. We sucked all of the water out of the line with his shop vac. We drove back into town on the first day Saturday because we needed antifreeze and we went to visit Noodles' and Eightie's memorials at the Internet cafe. We went to the University and Old Main and saw cedar waxies and a robin and we stopped at the museum too. We had two beers, Celebration Pale Ales, at the Ski Lift Lodge. We slept twelve hours. The heater was going when we got there, so we knew the pipes were okay. Steve broke a pipe off under the sink. It was an easy fix, but we didn't have a little one-inch sleeve to fix it, so we left it and will fix it when we get back. Need a hack saw and the sleeve and there is glue there. Old Main 12/05/2009 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 11/28/2009 Sally and Jeff and Steve and I went. It was the Saturday after thanksgiving. It was a little cold with a breeze, but when the sun shone, it was warm. Lots of birds. We walked a long way. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/28/2009 Steve and Jeff and Sally and I went. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/27/2009 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/27/2009 Pretty birdy today. We had thanksgiving at steve's today but after this trip. Usery Mountain Park 11/26/2009 THANKSGIVING DAY. Steve and I went to Ditsworth's house at seven in the morning. He had a friend named Keith, who wanted to know if we were planning to bring a weapon. We walked clean around the mountain. Daley Park 11/24/2009 This was the thanksgiving 3:15 picnic. I went to it. One Arabic guy blabbed quite a lot to me. 2125 North Villas Lane 11/14/2009 Oh, I must have recorded more RWBB's at my house! 2125 North Villas Lane 11/11/2009 No Notes Entered Higley and Ocotillo Roads 11/7/2009 Planning to go to the Superstitions. I'm still sick. I got up and eight six tacos. I must be mad. I don't feel so hot. I still have a chronic cough. It's been fourteen days. At higley and ocotillo I went in the back and drove all over. Higley and Ocotillo Roads 11/7/2009 No Notes Entered Superstitions 11/07/2009 Steve and I went with my new SELF-INFLATING sleep pad that cost 75 bucks. It was comfy. I brought black logger, Boston lager and chelada tomato beer. One of the beers turned out to be a mix of boston lager and black lager. The black lager is 11 ounces a bottle. I used plastic bottles, but you know they are 20-ouncers so two of them are bigger than three 12-ouncers. We went to bed at 7:30 or so or even earlier and slept eleven hours. We camped at HOGAN camp, where there was rock to sleep on. The pad worked great. No bugs. BUT THERE WERE BATS! We saw Andromeda and the Square of Pegasus. I had canned TAMALES. I had my chair and a musician's friend catalog and a Smithsonian. I only looked at the catalog. Arizona State University 10/30/2009 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/24/2009 Just went here, that's all. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 10/24/2009 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/18/2009 Ah, last day of vacation. I woke at four thirty as I went to be early. Yesterday Steve and I went to the beer tasting at Whole Foods. Tried some shots of beer. I swung by E and C today early. That guy that said his child was in the balloon is getting busted and the guy at circle K thought the news media had done him in. Boo hoo. Superstitions 10/16/2009 Steve and I went kin do flate and got there at four or so and it was hot. We had heavy packs. We just walked about a quarter mile in and found a nice place off the other trail. We stayed there. I cooked chili. Steve had noodles. I drank three beers. I had a Sam Adams Boston Lager, and two cans of yummy Budweiser Tomato Beer. I read from a story but it was too long so I had to shorten it and give the ending. Bugs at night. Mosquitoes. I had a lousy mattress but a good pillow. I also brought my big, nice lawn chair. Lots of stars. No satellites seen. It was not at all cold. But I spend a buggy night sleeping fitfully. We heard some faint voices at night. Someone was camping not so far away. What are the chances? No one camps this close in. In the morning we saw them. They had tents in the arroyo. Lousy place to camp. In the morning we saw Orion and the Big and Little Dipper, which were tilted crazily low in the sky. Got up and were home by 8:00. We went to bed so early that we had had better than eight hours by five AM. We joked about the kid that was supposedly carried away by that flying saucer and in response to why he didn't call out from the attic when he heard people calling he said these words to his crazy mom and dad, "Because you guys said we did this for the show." OH, YOU ARE SO BUSTED! Pima Canyon 10/15/2009 I went up at two o'clock and just was going to walk up a ways but then thought, "What the heck?" and went up to the water tank. No one there up the wash. Nice. Good workout. Walked back on the road and missed the ring of stones. Nice day. Antelope ground squirrels. Generic Place Anywhere 10/14/2009 I hate calling this generic place anywhere because the Mysterious Pond Area should have its own name. Anyway, I went here in my truck and is was really nice. I didn't go into the pond area but drove down the field roads and then went back to take the desert road to get the full benefit. I came out where there was an abandoned house and there was a livestock auction and I had a funny feeling about the place. There is a casino right there, so I guess the whole place is Indian reservation. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/10/2009 On vacation! Got a week off because I started early in the cycle. What a deal. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 10/10/2009 Talked to a guy named Paul. He had 300-dollar roof prisms. Nikons? A couple there had a lousy pair and we tried to show them the light. This was the tie when the guy, Paul, found the dead shrike, and we also saw a live one and it had impaled a house finch on a thorn in a tree. We talked to those ladies with the hats. God they hate the sun. Higley and Ocotillo Roads 10/8/2009 I had to go back to Polytech to get the laptop, which belongs to AECP. I stopped by here. You know, are there FIVE STRIPE SPARROWS HERE??? 2125 North Villas Lane 10/6/2009 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/6/2009 I went over before I met Scott Christian, my new financial advisor. That was at Joe's Barbecue on Gilbert Road just north of Elliot. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 10/4/2009 I just whipped over out of boredom. I ate too much. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/4/2009 Just whipped over out of boredom. Cooler now. Breezy too. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 10/4/2009 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/3/2009 I ate a chili dog on the way over and Chester's fries. Gad. Bought some Sam Adams beer at the market there on E & C roads. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 10/3/2009 Not too hot, but I went at twelve thirty. Not many people. But some. Neotropic was a good sighting. 2125 North Villas Lane 10/3/2009 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/1/2009 I came home from Polytechnic by way of E&C roads as I needed some V8 and Soy taco. Life is good. Tucson Arizona 09/26/2009 I went down and gave Sally that bird bath. Jeff and She and I went to dinner. There was a Mexican singer. Jeff sang along. Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/19/2009 Coyotes cried. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 09/19/2009 I was talking to some newbie birders and helping htem but Steve and Sonny called an wanted me to go to IHOP. I had JUST gone, but I left early. I should liked to have stayed to help the newbies more. Steve bought me a French press coffee maker. Sonny came over and wants to learn "It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing." Higley and Ocotillo Roads 9/15/2009 I popped over at one-thirty or so after I "taught." Front pond was totally dry. There was some water elsewhere, though. Williams Field ASU Polytechnic 9/15/2009 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/13/2009 Steve and Sonny and I. We were testing out Steve's giant new car. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 9/12/2009 Ran into Bill Butler, Jeff's friend from Houston. He kind of guessed that I was Jeff's brother and asked if I was Tom Cole. We walked the whole place and it was hot. b.butler@overhydration.org 602-266-8118 Williams Field ASU Polytechnic 9/11/2009 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 9/10/2009 Still ww doves here. I am figuring midterm grades for the Aviation students. I wrote "Shack by the Sea" yesterday and the few days before. Still working on lyrics. 2125 North Villas Lane 9/8/2009 Oh, there were other birds today. A towhee, CB thrash. etc. WHITE-WINGED STILL IN THE BACK YARD. 2125 North Villas Lane 09/06/2009 I put this in because I wanted to track exactly when the last white-winged dove is here. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 9/5/2009 It was so cool and rainy! It rained pretty hard when I was driving back and it rained there and I had to get under a tree. Went at 8:00 or so. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/5/2009 Just popped over. Made a stop that that market for V8 juice and Soy Taco. 2125 North Villas Lane 09/02/2009 Hot these days. WWD'vs less common. The dilute yaller eurasian collared dove is out their most days. The cat hangs out in the back yard. Every day I turn the hose on in Sierra Pond so the water is fresh and YUMMY. Sometimes I put a dash of chlorine in it. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 8/30/2009 Just enjoying my weekend. I drove over at 8:30 or so. I watched batman returns or begins or something, so I dropped the DVD off at Paradise Video before I went, going that way. It was hot, however, and a good workout. I brought plenty of water. Ice water. frozen bottles. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/30/2009 This day was birdier. Note OC warbler. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/29/2009 Hot. 3:30 at least. No birds except... Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 8/29/2009 Spent a long time with Steve and Sonny. We swam in their pool and Skippy swam too. I played guitar. It don't mean a thing.... and other songs. Then I went to Albertson's on Ray with Steve and FINALLY at three thirty or so I went bird watching. NO ONE there. It was hot. 2125 North Villas Lane 8/29/2009 No Notes Entered Generic Place Anywhere 8/28/2009 Thank God it's Friday. I left work at about a quarter to two, skipping fifteen minutes of my office hour and saw these birds in a field on Williams Field Road. I stopped because the vultures were going around. There was something the size of a house finch that was slim and had a yellow breast. Weird. The barn swallow was great. Metallic. 2125 North Villas Lane 08/28/2009 Still have WW doves. Higley and Ocotillo Roads 8/27/2009 I went to work at williams airforce base and since it was my birthday, I split afterwards and went here!!! Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 8/23/2009 I didn't see the stork yesterday and last night I dreamed that they were flying by, and I yelled, "Wood Storks!" The wood storks flew into a tree, and they had legs like monkeys, and then they became more anthropomorphic, and then they were kind of like people, and I was jealous because I couldn't fly, and then I realized that I COULD fly in my dreams, and I said, "I'm the only person on earth who can do this!" And I flapped my wings and struggled into the air some. Terrifying dreams last night, but I had to go look for the stork, and I did find him. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/23/2009 Just whipped by on the way to try to find the wood stork at the water ranch. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/22/2009 I stopped at the Market there and got a whole bunch of stuff. Lots of V8 and some beer and low-priced SOY TACO and junk. Olive oil too. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 8/22/2009 It rained this morning, so it was a little humid but not that hot. Well, actually it was blazing hot. The WOOD STORK was supposed to be there, but I couldn't find him. Those same two ladies from last time were there with their camera. They told me about the wood stork. Williams Field ASU Polytechnic 08/20/2009 This was the fall Maria Sulli and I taught the aviation students from Oberlin. Wisconsin Rapids 8/15/2009 This was when I went to Chris's wedding. Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/12/2009 Just whipped over. Lake Itasca 08/11/2009 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/10/2009 I had a steak last night and in the morning a sausage mcmuffin and then a big mac and TODAY I went to IHOP before I went to E&C roads. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/8/2009 Dry. Some slop in the front pond about and inch deep and four feet across. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 8/8/2009 Well there were a couple of ladies there with a camera. It wasn't too hot. They said someone had recorded a least tern there. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/6/2009 Just whipped in. The flag at the station is at half mast as it was yesterday. Don't know who died. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 8/6/2009 It was early but I had a hard time not getting heat stroke. It was rough. So hot!!! I poured water on my shirt. Took off my shirt. Oh, is this place nice. It's really nice. NO ONE there. Well, as I walked out I saw a guy with a camera going in. He didn't look ready for the heat. He didn't even have a hat. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/5/2009 Hot. Nothing. Didn't stay long. Did a hot hike at the water ranch. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 8/5/2009 Oh, it was hot. I went pretty late. NO ONE THERE. Too hot. I thought I saw a solitary sandpiper, but I think perhaps it was a lesser yallerlegs, but I wonder. Lots of egrets and other birds. Hotter than heck. I had plenty of water. Fizzie water included! Higley and Ocotillo Roads 8/2/2009 I went in on the first turn into the place where a development is being made. I drove all over dirt roads and saw NO water. Finally I made my way around and saw the burrowing owl. Then I parked in the regular place and walked down the canal which was full of green water. The front pond had a few puddles across it and lots of least sandpipers. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/1/2009 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 8/1/2009 I just swung by. Man there walking black labs that were very aggressive and would have bitten me if I had been out of the truck. He said they wouldn't if he was there. Off the leash, of course. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/26/09 Swung by and I left Skippy at home. Then I went to the water ranch. I stopped at that Marketplace by Wal Mart. It's really nice. Small. CHEAP. Good stuff. Cheapest V8 in town. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 7/26/2009 I left SKIPPY at home. WIZARD! X 4 everywhere. What is that bird?I stopped at the CVS drugstore and got some water. I had plenty, but I missed my fizzy water. I spent some time at that overlook of the pond where I once saw the American bittern -- you know near the place where Jeff and I saw the hooded merganser on xmas day 06? Well not there, but if you're facing there you turn around to get to the place. I sat in the tree. Zillions of verdins. Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/25/2009 Skippy and I went. I used Noodles' collar. We went early. Mockingbird City! Really there were a zillion there. I don't know why. Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/19/2009 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 07/19/2009 I heard Wizard! Wizard! Wizard! a lot and I still don't know what it was. Remember that ASU professor thought it was anna's, but that wasn't the right one. Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/18/2009 I stopped at IHOP and had the senior breakfast. I had over medium eggs. I said "Towhee City, and I meant it! Boyce Thompson Arboretum 07/11/2009 Steve and I went. There was an ASU professor, a very tall guy running the walk. He had an ipod-like device on his belt that made bird calls. I can't remember his name and I didn't write it down and I can't find it online. Higley and Ocotillo Roads 07/03/2009 Humid but not too hot. Went at 7:30 or so. Oh, maybe 8:00. One girl running there. Very little water in front but the canal was full and blue and still and the back pond was full. One walkway was overgrown with those native tobacco plants and things and it was hard to get through it. Later on, it was full of blue-green tumbleweeds, and I had to go down to the dry lake and walk across it to get back to the road. Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/28/2009 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 06/28/2009 Another hot hike. Nice and quiet. A Breeze. Again a bird kept saying "wizard, wizard, wizard." I will look him up. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 06/27/2009 Hot hike. Nice and quiet. A Breeze. Hardly anyone around. Hot. A bird kept saying "wizard, wizard, wizard." I will look him up. Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/27/2009 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 06/23/2009 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 06/21/2009 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 06/20/2009 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/20/2009 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 06/14/2009 Steve and I went. That makes three weekends in a row. We went Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/13/2009 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 06/09/2009 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 06/07/2009 Steve and I went. That makes two weekends in a row after ten months of not visiting. Ten months! Could that be? It's true. Not too hot although we went. From the Journal: Steve and I went to Pima Canyon. I noticed my tire looked funny. There was a screw in it. It was Sunday and the only place open was Firestone. The guy there showed me that my tires were all at death's door. It had been 2004 when I replaced them all. He couldn't fix the tire anyway because the hole was too close to the edge and the tire was too old to fix according to company rules. He sold me four more and fixed the alignment. The tires I had were HUGE. The new ones are the correct size. Pima Canyon 05/30/2009 Steve and I went. It was a nice walk. Hot. Going up the sandy arroyo was harder than going down the road. The ring of stones was clearly seen and we noted that it was near a saguaro with an odd arm, so we can find it again easily. Pine Arizona 05/27/2009 I didn't stop at Control Road. Actually there were some people there anyway. Mormon Lake 05/27/2009 Why the heck is this the only card for Mormon Lake? Strawberry Arizona 05/27/2009 No Notes Entered Lake Mary 05/27/2009 I didn't drive into Lower Lake Mary because of the fee. I just pulled over and you know you can go to the lake without paying too. Just park on the highway and walk down. Old Main 05/27/2009 TO THE WEST OF THE CHOW HALL. Payson Arizona 05/27/2009 My clutch broke on the way down to Rye, Arizona and I had to coast a few miles down and turn off at Rye. They towed me up to Payson and I ked welded the busted part back together and then fixed it all for twenty bucks. Walnut Canyon 05/25/2009 Hail on Route 66. I went down and saw the place where the rock had fallen. Flagstaff Arboretum 05/25/2009 I went here after I went to Walnut Canyon. There was a raptor show that was pretty good. They had a eurasian owl, huge thing! I walked around the whole place and thought I would never get back and then I saw some cars. One of them was my truck. I had gone in a circle. Flagstaff House 05/22/2009 No Notes Entered Northern Arizona Museum 05/22/2009 Got up early for the specific purpose of seeing the Lewis's woodpecker. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/21/2009 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/19/2009 I'm on vacation. Higley and Ocotillo Roads 05/18/2009 Hotter than heck. I had cool drinks and walked the two miles or so with no problem. I'm on vacation! Got a lot done today: Variax, workbench, checked that old annuity, threw out blue chairs, got rid of old imac blue, getting rid of dad's boxes, went here, got beer, cleaned up, backed up my geocities page as they are going out of the business and got my own domain name and site at yahoo web hosting, etc. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/17/2009 Steve and I went. It was hot. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 05/17/2009 Steve and I went. It was really hot. Not too birdy. Only saw two other people there. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 05/09/2009 there were some guys there younger than I (Who isn't?) and they were very good at it. One guy with a big camera had seen 250 at the water ranch. The other guy was a young rocker type. Then a couple of older guys were really experts too. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/09/2009 Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/03/2009 Yesterday was Kentucky Derby Day, so it has been eight years since I hurt my leg at Elliot and Cooper Roads. There were COYOTES, two of them, in Pond Three. One lay on the grass. 2125 North Villas Lane 04/30/2009 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/26/2009 I just drove over on this Sunday morning at about 9:30. The gas leak is still hissing. McQueen and Elliot Roads 04/26/2009 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 04/25/2009 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 04/25/2009 Steve and I went. He talked to some stupid, worthless republican shithead. Tucson Arizona 04/18/2009 No Notes Entered Tucson Arizona 04/05/2009 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/04/2009 It was wonderfully cold and windy. It was like Flagstaff. Cold at 11:30. The kestrel had a house finch. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/31/2009 I walked back through the neighbor hood. I was so late there. You know, I'm quitting this. It's eight miles more home. I'll start walking somewhere else. Too much effort to drive through that much more rush hour traffic. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/30/2009 Two coyotes between ponds 2 and 3. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/29/2009 Steve woke me up at six-thirty and we went a little later and walked all around and back. There was a coyote crossing Neely Street and he went back into the pond area. Nice peregrine. Gas still leaking. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 03/28/2009 Steve and I went and there were tons of people and we talked to the Audubon people and then we saw JOHN DOLE. Later, I went to Whole Foods and ran into NANCY AND LARRY. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/28/2009 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/27/2009 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/26/2009 Very windy. I walked the whole way around and back. The gas leak is still going on. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/24/2009 An old guy waved to me. I waved back. Another went by. I waved. He waved. Two empty-headed young Mormon whippersnappers drove by on their bikes. "Are you bird watching?" they asked. They slowed down. The old guy was greeting a fellow rover. The punks were hunting. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/23/2009 Testing day at AECP and I'm back from semester break. Only worked till 1:30 so I came out here and walked the hour. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/22/2009 Steve and I went and practiced my walking route except he wanted to go straight back through the neighborhood. Pond Three full of water. The others were dry. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/21/2009 I went here to test out my new weigh-losing program which includes walking around Elliot and Cooper Roads. It takes thirty minutes to walk around to the last view through the fence. Thus, I can walk back and have an hour walk. Walking and stopping occasionally. Usery Mountain Park 03/20/2009 No Notes Entered Generic Highway 03/16/2009 All birds except the black vulture were seen on Ajo Way Highway. Estero Morua 03/16/2009 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/14/2009 No Notes Entered Generic Place Anywhere 03/08/2009 I swung by. I took a detour down Dish Drive for the heck of it because I had never been on a street with that name before. Stilts, widgeons, and coots were out on the grass. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/08/2009 COYOTE CITY. I took pictures. Lazy flocks, actually fast flocks of blackbirds (brewer's I believe) went my in steady waves. Coyotes came over and looked at me. I took pictures. Higley and Ocotillo Roads 03/07/2009 Some paintball gun guys were over in the desert nearby. I slept out last night. Arizona State University 03/04/2009 First WW dove of the season. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 03/01/2009 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/01/2009 There was a guy there with a camera and binocs. He had a life list of 40. A truck drove by on the gravel road with two guys in it. Then a golf cart-like deal went buy with a guy and a bull dog. He said they don't want him to put water in, but he can't help it as he has no other place to put it. He talked about the coyotes. He said he hadn't heard of any talk of abandoning the site. Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/28/2009 Coyotes were just screaming, but I couldn't see them. I worry that the neighbors will get frightened because they are so obviously closeby and rather large in number. There must have been four or five screaming. I went to Filoberto's and bought the number 19. Huge portions but not very tasty. Canned pintos. Insipid machaca. Boyce Thompson Arboretum 02/26/2009 I took my furlough day and went here. Plumbeous Vireo and Green-tailed Towhee and Red-naped Sapsucker were the highlights. I went to the Superior Bar, and it was closed. I guess them days is gone. Flagstaff House 02/21/2009 Went up to put space heaters in. Some of these birds were seen at the museum on the 22 Sunday. The guy said that Lewis's Woodpecker was there, but I didn't see it. 2125 North Villas Lane 02/18/2009 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/15/2009 Steve and Skippy and I went. Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/14/2009 Valentine's day. I got none. I got my nail done on the way back and then I had a 12 noon beer at Gallagher's. The regulars were there. 12 noon! I drank three and had wings. boneless ones. Too salty cause I got the hot. Beautiful cold day with sunshine. Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/07/2009 Pretty birdy. One coyote right in the open walking along the south side of pond 10. Pond 10 full of water and loaded with birds. So was pond 9. Pond 8 was full but had few birds. Arizona State University 02/06/2009 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 02/01/2009 Millions cormorants. Lots of G. egrets. Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/01/2009 A coyote came down the road on the left walking towards the stand piple and howling. Another howled in the bushes. They barked and howled at each other. The coyote looked at me. Stared really. Then he sat down and finally lay down. Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/31/2009 No Notes Entered Superstitions 01/24/2009 Dits, Steve, and I. 7-mile Morning hike that lasted to 3:30. We went to HOG CANYON to look at the petroglyphs. Miles up the arroyo and climbed 140 feet. No trail. Up over rocks, boulders. There were bulls there but they weren't even curious about us and we walked by them. Black Grotto with a waterfall and pool of water. We cooked lunch. My noodle dish was awful. Afterwards we toasted our adventure over two beers at Dits. Spectacular scenery. No trash. No people. No trail. Estero Morua 01/17/2009 SALLY AND I WENT Generic Highway 01/17/2009 No Notes Entered Higley and Ocotillo Roads 01/04/2009 Rainy. Rather cold. I walked and it sprinkled. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 01/02/2009 Steve and I went. Dr. Pinkava was there. He was 70 in 2004. Just read my notes. At first we thought we were seeing stilt sandpipers, but it was the reflection of the water that made their beaks seem short and curved. Still I wonder. Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/02/2009 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/31/2008 Estero Morua 12/28/2008 I went by myself. Oh, I had the place to myself. Dead bat on the floor. Dead mouse too. Not bad weather at all. Pretty nice. A cop stopped me on the way home for going 60 k in a 40 k zone. Nearly gave me a ticket. Sonoita Mexico 12/28/2008 swirling up over the municipal dump. They were also in another place on the side of the road. Really a lot of them. Ajo Arizona 12/28/2008 Over by Perrito de Nieve Street. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/27/2008 When I came up, there was a dog barking behind the fence. I wondered what the heck was happening. He kept barking. Then he howled. It was a coyote. I took pictures of him. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/25/2008 CHRISTMAS DAY Sonny and Steve and I went here. Later it rained a lot all day. Park at North End of Dobson Road 12/24/2008 I was at Shepler's and I went in here. Saw the canvasbacks. Two or more of them. Only two other trips here? I've been here more recently than 2004. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/22/2008 I just whipped by on my way back from Buccanan's sp? music to get my red variax. ON VACATION!!! Higley and Ocotillo Roads 12/13/2008 Steve and Sonny and Skippy and I went. It was a little cold and windy and some of the birds were blown away including the long-billed dowitcher, which we didn't get to see. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/06/2008 Drove here from Higley and Ocotillo. Higley and Ocotillo Roads 12/06/2008 Drove over at 8:30 or so. Lots of water. Boyce Thompson Arboretum 11/30/2008 Eleven measly birds and I was there a long time. I went to the SUPERIOR BAR. It was closed. Saw some leaves around the door. I went to a bar with a bunch of motorcycles in front of it. I went in and asked the guys at the bar what happened to the bar. They said he hadn't officially closed it, but that he hadn't been open in about eight months. Damn! There was a walking stick by the door of the Superior Bar, wasn't there? I took a picture. Higley and Ocotillo Roads 11/28/2008 I went in the morning. It was bright and cool. All the ponds were full. I walked the entire area. Superstitions 11/22/2008 Steve and Dits and I went and we stayed overnight at the springs. We had a BIG time. We went to hackberry springs and started setting up camp at around 5:00. It gets dark at 6:00. A couple of guys came by and camped nearby. One had a .45 on his leg. They were friendly enough. 2125 North Villas Lane 11/16/2008 Plenty of towhees and cb thrashers. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 11/15/2008 Saw a giant ROOSTER! Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/15/2008 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 11/08/2008 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/08/2008 ;Went there before sun-up. A coyote was in the neighborhood walking down the sidewalk. I went up the path, and one was on the dirt road and then two more showed up.; Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/01/2008 Saw a coyote in Pond 10. Drove to the east end and hiked almost to Cooper. Talked to a couple with a bull dog with a cashew-shaped head. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/19/2008 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 10/19/2008 STILL A LITTLE HOT ALTHOUGH IT WAS NICE THE OTHER DAY. THIS IS THE MORNING AFTER I PLAYED AT CHARLIE AND MARIE'S. Tucson Arizona 10/03/2008 Jeff and i watched TV and ordered a pizza. Sally split for LA before I got there. 2125 North Villas Lane 10/02/2008 At last! Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 09/30/2008 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 09/28/2008 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 09/21/2008 NO WHITE-WINGED DOVES. No lesser goldfinches YET! Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/20/2008 Someone trashed the place. All the trash was everywhere. Broken bottles. I cleaned it all up, well almost all. Then I took the trash to the firestation dumpster. The place is really abandoned. No coyotes. 2125 North Villas Lane 09/11/2008 thistle feeder ww doves noisy cb thrasher 2125 North Villas Lane 09/06/2008 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 08/30/2008 Box turtle on the trail. I took his picture and put him in a safe place. Later, he was gone. Talked to some ladies who were new to bird watching and I helped them out. Also talked to some guy with roof prisms. He knew a lot. I told him about Debbie Shearwater. It's LABOR DAY WEEKEND. Gustov is going to smash New Orleans. McCain chose Palin yesterday. What an IDIOT. Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/30/2008 No Notes Entered Tempe Town Lake 08/24/2008 I went and bought pants and sheplers but it's not here. This is TEMPE MARKET. NIce. I looked over the rail. IT WAS HOT. I bought a bolo tie with an arrow and a buffalo nickel but that was up on Dobson. Higley and Ocotillo Roads 08/23/2008 Only the farthest pond had any water. The canals were, however, cool and clear and deep. Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/17/2008 Whipped on over because this is THE LAST DAY OF MY VACATION! DOGGONE IT!! No coyotes. No water but one puddle in Pond 9 with the green heron. Pine Arizona 08/15/2008 Then I went to Control Road and found some crinoids. I didn't have too much luck, though. They were kind of cruddy. Found some corals too. East Verde River 08/15/2008 I went down to see birds. A dog barked at me. I went back. Strawberry Arizona 08/15/2008 paragraph paragraph paragraph paragraph Lake Mary 08/15/2008 Bastards said I owed five bucks just for showing up. There's a sign. I gave him five bucks and he said, "There are two signs. It would be hard to miss them." I said angrily, "Look I just gave you five bucks and it wasn't to have to tell me how stupid and unobservant I was." Later I called up and fought with them and got much the same. But they said they'd give me back my five bucks. Flagstaff House 08/13/2008 Chris was there. He was writing. I diddled and spent only a couple of days. Generic Place Anywhere 08/09/2008 No Notes Entered Open Ocean Northern California 08/08/2008 HERE'S DEBBIE SHEARWATER'S BLOG ON THIS TRIP. MY REPORT IS ON THE FT. BRAGG NOTES.HAWAIIAN PETRELS IN NW CALIFORNIA & OREGON Fort Bragg California 08/06/2008 THE WHOLE STORY I WROTE FOLLOWS: But I wanted to mention the red bouy way out at see with a bell on it that would clang as it bobbed and rocked so you could hear it during fog and not run into it. Shearwater JourneyTom ColeThis is a story about a seabirding adventure and a minor but surprising rescue at sea. I went aboard the ship, the Trek II in Fort Bragg, California because I had always been interested in the pelagic birds, the ones that spend their lives soaring over the open seas hundreds or even thousands of miles from land. If you're a crossword puzzler, you know that the cue "seabird" calls for the word, "auk" and the auks and their allies -- murres, puffins, auklets, murrelets, guillemots, and dovekies -- are one major group you are looking for if you go on a pelagic trip. I had never seen a single one of these birds, nor had I ever seen any of the tubenoses: shearwaters, fulmars, albatrosses, storm petrels, etc., so years ago, I asked a friend how one went about seeing any of these pelagics. He told me to call up Debra Shearwater. Generic Place Anywhere 08/06/2008 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/03/2008 COYOTE a young one in Pond 9. He stopped and stared at me for a long time. He had big feet when he finally trotted away. Clumps of hair on his side. I went over after IHOP. I have to quit going there. Too high calorie and fatty. Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/02/2008 Whipped over there after IHOP, which is going to make me fat. NOTHING there. no water...fdf Pima Canyon 07/27/2008 Went with Steve and Thomas Wood. We went up the arroyo to Fat Man's Pass and back on National. It was a long, hot hike. Afterwards we bubbled around in Thomas's pool. McQueen and Elliot Roads 07/26/2008 That's about it. The field was plowed and dusty. I thought maybe horned larks... but none. Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/26/2008 Nothing. No coyotes. No water. Portapotty was overturned. Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/20/2008 Dry as a bone. One puddle in pond 9. No coyotes. Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/19/2008 Dry and overgrown. Hard to walk up the sidewalk with the paloverde trees in the way. Bean pods. Dead toads. They've bulldozed roads in all the dry ponds. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 07/04/2008 Sally and I went. Hot. Not many birds. Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/04/2008 Coyotes. Sally said there were three because she claims she saw a baby coyote. I took a picture. Pima Canyon 06/21/2008 Thomas Wood and Steve and I went. Oh, we had a big time. War dance at the Ring of Stones. It was VERY hot. We went at 3:00 or so. We looked at the petroglyphs and corn grinding holes. Cactus Wren Alley lived up to its name beautifully and we got both BT's (black-tailed gnatcatcher AND black-throated sparrow) at the BT Cliffs. After our hike, we toasted our adventure over a bottle of Negra Modelo beer in my hybrid room. Pima Canyon 06/15/2008 112 degrees. I went to the water tank. At first it was hard, but then it was okay. I tripped and fell just before the BT cliffs. Messed up the alignment of my ribs and hip. HOTTER THAN HELL. Excellent hike. I photographed the ring of stone. I loved this walk! 2125 North Villas Lane 06/13/2008 Tim Ruppert died today at 58. Born 1950. While I was watching the shows on this, I looked outside and got this place life lister. 2125 North Villas Lane 06/12/2008 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 05/31/2008 No Notes Entered Ashurst Lake 05/30/2008 I drove up and it was nice. Marshall Lake 05/30/2008 nice big lake. some campers. I drove down there. It's been some years since I've recorded birds here. some nice uns. Walnut Canyon 05/29/2008 NO BUSHTITS! DANG. On December 7, 2007, a giant rock fell on the trail, busted a bench and now you can't go down until they fix it. I walked the other trails. Very windy and few birds. I could see the cliff dwellings from the edge of the cliff. Flagstaff House 05/27/2008 RECORDS FROM MAY 27 TO JUNE 1. Oh, what a trip. I spent several days. It was beautiful and the weather was perfect. I went to Walnut Canyon and up the ski lift and to marshall lake and ashurst lake and marshall lake. What a view! ELK THREE OF THEM AT 4:30 AM MAY 28. THE DAMED WATER PUMP WENT OUT AND I HAD TO GET ANOTHER. A garter snake in front near the white tank. A PIPER CUB LANDED ON THE HIGHWAY near Camp Verde. I saw the plane there, but I didn't see it land. Boyce Thompson Arboretum 05/26/2008 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 05/25/2008 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/25/2008 There were other birds. I can't remember. Bone dry. Nothing to shout about. McQueen and Elliot Roads 05/25/2008 I was just driving by. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 05/22/2008 Cold and windy of all things. Bell's vireo heard only. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/22/2008 Cold and windy of all things! No water. Pima Canyon 05/21/2008 What a traffic jam at 8:00 on 48th. Terrible. Yesterday I got a ROOT CANAL. I walked up to the water tank and back. BT Cliffs etc. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/17/2008 Dry as old tennis shoes. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 05/17/2008 Gosh, according to these records I haven't been here in ages! It was nice. I also saw white farmyard geese. Higley and Ocotillo Roads 05/12/2008 I drove over using the freeway 101 south to 202 east to Val Vista. Left on val vista right on pecos right on higley DIRECTIONS FOLLOW AND ARE ON THE PLACE INFORMATION PAGE. IT WAS hot and there were a lot of cars on the way. Cool walking though. No water except the canals and one large pond with three-inch water. Canals were blue, cool and inviting. I went to a rock shop afterwards. I think it's on Pecos or something -- nah. 1: Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/03/2008 KENTUCKY DERBY DAY. So it has been SEVEN years since I hurt my leg here. COYOTE at Pond 1 looking at me quite close. He seemed unafraid and somewhat friendly. I went into the place and walked down to where he was but I didn't see him. I guess he walked into a bush. But I got to walk in because the gate was open. 2125 North Villas Lane 04/16/2008 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 04/15/2008 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 04/08/2008 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/30/2008 COYOTES ON THE ROAD. The guy with the truck drove behind the coyotes, so he knows about these wonderful animals. I recognized them. They're the same pair. Steve and I went after looking at my Hybrid Room and bitching about Superstitions 03/15/2008 Darn it. I didn't write them down and I can't remember. Was there a good sighting? Sally and Steve and I went. We went clean to the stock tank at Indian gardens and out the Hackberry springs exit and over the hill to the parking lot where I parked my car. This parking lot was the overflow one. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/14/2008 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/13/2008 No shovelers out there. Lots of water behind the fire station. Ponds 8, 9, and 10 lots of water. I had to go back to review the edited manuscript of Grammar/Writing Connections. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/11/2008 I DROVE OVER. Lots of water in Ponds 8 and 10 and quite a lot in Pond 9 as well. Pond 10 was completely full. I didn't work on the edited manuscript today. On the way back there was a wreck in front of Frye's. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/10/2008 I drove over after going to the dentist. He didn't want to pull my tooth especially. good. i save money. Superstitions 03/08/2008 Went with Steve, Dits, and a friend of Steve's named Mike. I wore a hooded sweatshirt-type deal and it was cool and none of us took off such garments. Generic Place Anywhere 03/06/2008 Graduation Spring 1, 2008. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/02/2008 I just whipped over. Later I bought a two-stool bar. Boyce Thompson Arboretum 02/24/2008 Third gig at the Superior Bar. GOT THE HYBRID HUMMER at last. Right at the feeder there. Nice House Wren. Alan booked three bands and didn't tell any of them. Two bluegrass and me. I finally got to play for 45 minutes or so. I was tired and didn't do such a good job and I want my variax back! Boyce Thompson Arboretum 02/17/2008 Stopped here before my second gig at the Superior Bar. There was a birthday there for one "Bear," a girl who had turned fifty. One dollar in tips. No CDs sold. They weren't big tippers. Alan had me play a long time. I had a steak at the picnic. An old cowboy wanted to sing "Cattle Call" and I did. He sang along. Actually he croaked along. He could only croak. He smelled like cigarettes. Pima Canyon 02/16/2008 Sally and I went. This is the day we went to the place on Avenida del Yaqui and bought statues of animals and decorations of fish and junk for my house. Boyce Thompson Arboretum 02/11/2008 This is when I went for the first gig at the superior bar I stopped here first. Well I sang 49 times. The bluegrass band was hired first so there was a Boyce Thompson Arboretum 02/09/2008 Drove down and then went to Superior to the Superior Bar and I have a gig TOMORROW. Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/27/2008 RAINING LIKE CRAZY. I just went to the area behind the fire station. There were two gb herons in Pond 8 in the rain. Higley and Ocotillo Roads 01/21/2008 After my 700th trip to Elliot and Cooper Roads I went here. It's Martin Luther King Day. Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/21/2008 It's Martin Luther King Day. Coyote walked out over the road and went behind the bushes to HOWL. MY SEVEN HUNDREDTH TRIP (700TH TRIP). GOT A LIFER: THE Great Horned Owl. My doggoned movie camera wouldn't work because I left it on and the battery was dead, so I didn't get any shots of the coyote or owl. Pima Canyon 01/12/2008 CHOWDER HIKE. Sunday, so there were a lot of people. Tempe Town Lake 01/10/2008 From the rail behind that nice new shopping center. I went to get an Ipod, but they didn't have one. The streets were flooded by a water line break. Perfect. Arizona State University 01/10/2008 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 01/09/2008 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 01/05/2008 No Notes Entered Higley and Ocotillo Roads 01/05/2008 Generic Place Anywhere 01/05/2008 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 01/04/2008 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/31/2007 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 12/30/2007 Steve and I went and we cooked crappy clam chowder. We crossed the golf course. There were so many cars as it was Sunday. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/29/2007 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/28/2007 I drove over after my physical at the doctor's. Montezuma Well 12/26/2007 I dropped in and saw the limestone lined canal and pictures of jack beckman in the station and the stream where jo cauthorn said, "See if you can't find some crabbies." and one of the kids saw a scorpion and said crabbie and I stopped him from diddling with it. Flagstaff House 12/24/2007 Xmas christmas Christopher and kate and sally were there. 10 degrees all day christmas getting to about 20 at four o'clock. Couldn't even go out. the 24th was warm, though. We went to see the movie "The golden compass" 2125 North Villas Lane 12/24/2007 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 12/21/2007 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/20/2007 I just whipped by afer I talked to William Quigley at IHOP. What bad service. NO WATER AT E&C ROADS. No birds. No coyotes. Sally's coming in at 4:00. 2125 North Villas Lane 12/20/2007 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 12/19/2007 Today was a very happy day because I paid off my mortgage. I wired them the money. Superstitions 12/16/2007 ditsworth and steve TONS OF WATER...RIVERS AND POOLS EVERYWHERE. SPECTACULAR!!!!!!! Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/09/2007 I went to Home Depot and got a light switch for the porch light and then zipped over here. lots of water in pond 9. Too high for any Long-billed dowitchers, which were there yesterday. POND 8 was nearly dry but had the least sandies in its puddles. Plenty of H20 in pond ten. 2125 North Villas Lane 12/08/2007 No Notes Entered Tempe Town Lake 12/08/2007 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/08/2007 John Lennon died in 1980 on this date. I forgot to wear my pin. I just came over here after I met Kelly Sippel in Phoenix. LOTS OF WATER. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/02/2007 Rained on Friday and there was tons of water in Ponds 8 and 9. Nine was full. I would have had more had I got some common ones: gambel's, Abert's, TV, BN Stilt, Least, and some others. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/25/2007 Coyote right on the road there on the south side of Pond 10. Right where you walk up. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/24/2007 COYOTE right on the road by Pond 8. Turkey vulture landed in a tree. Very nice indeed. Rather a lot of water in Pond 7. And pond 8 had quite a bit. It was kind of almost cold with a breeze. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/22/2007 THANKSGIVING DAY. I talked to one of the guys in a pick-up truck. He said they were never going to get rid of the place. He told me they were using water elsewhere-- selling it and a lot came out of here. I was wearing a toy Sheriff's badge on my jacket that I had forgot about. Superstitions 11/11/2007 Sally and Steve and I went. Jeff didn't make it. We hiked to Garden Valley and then to Hackberry Springs. Very invigorating and I am tough as a nail. I wore the white tennis shoes I bought in September of 2003. They hurt a bit and first and I think this is their last outing. We saw a velvet ant and a TARATULA, which tried to kill me. Arizona State University 11/07/2007 No Notes Entered Gilbert and Riggs Roads 11/04/2007 I haven't been here for over a year. I know why. It's a hassle and there are a zillion new stores out here including a mega WalMart store. Little access to the ponds. I bought a light for my bike here. I had already bought a bike bell at the WalMart near my house. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/04/2007 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/03/2007 I wore my suit and was there before the sun came up. I saw a coyote on the road and then another and when I looked back I saw another. I think there were three. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/28/2007 I drove over an then drove clean to Fry's electronics to buy color lightscribe cd's but they don't work well with my software and the recommended update to fix the problem only makes things much worse. Generic Place Anywhere 10/28/2007 I took the wrong turn and wound up here. Nice ducks. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/27/2007 Went shopping and whipped over. TOTALLY DRY. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/14/2007 dry nasty I drove down the south canal road as the old road is a sidewalk now. No Coyotes. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/13/2007 I went at 5:50AM. There were two COYOTES on the gravel road near the stand pipe. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/07/2007 There was a guy there with a scope and we talked about birds for a long time. He saw the coyotes, but they weren't there when I got there. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 09/30/2007 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/30/2007 Coyotes were there. A couple with weimeraimers were there. Bird watchers. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 09/29/2007 Raccoon tracks. Some lady who loved ducks was there and was trying to save a mallard that had botulism. Her name is Renata Nelson from East Valley Wildlife. She told me about those chinese ducks that are man and she didn't care bbaout them. eat 'em, she said. The Diretor of EV Wildlife is Nancy Renata's number is 480-406-4863. Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/29/2007 The coyote was in Pond 8 as usual. Sally called. There were burned pages of a love poem by some nut there. Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/16/2007 Didn't I go last week too? A COYOTE IN POND 8. The young guy. He walked away. His ears were rusty. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 09/03/2007 LOOK AT THE NOTE FOR THE GREAT BLUE HERON HERE. (ATE A GOLDFISH!) Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/03/2007 What was this? Labor day I guess. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 09/02/2007 Hotter than heck. I brought my chair to sit in. Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/02/2007 Pretty dry. Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/01/2007 Whipped over. COYOTE COYOTE COYOTE in Pond 8. He didn't see me. He just waltzed up. After a while, I made coyote noises and he noticed me and bounded through the grass. Luckily he had gotten a drink I think.I drove up the canal and there were sidewalks being built and I could hardly drive there. Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/27/2007 My birthday. I drove in after work. It was around five thirty or so. Some water in 8, 9, and 10. Only a little. Tempe Town Lake 08/18/2007 By that new shopping center. There's a rail where you look over into the pond. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 08/12/2007 HOTTER THAN HECK AT 9:15. Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/12/2007 WATER IN POND 8 Boyce Thompson Arboretum 08/11/2007 I drove down at noon and got back at 3:30. I sang the intro to Stardust on the way. San Pedro River 08/08/2007 I drove in from Bisbee and it was an easy drive here. Where was that wonderful bed and breakfast that I stayed at? I can't remember the name. It had a pretty name, a family name plus house or something. Ah, Oliver House. The nuts played loud music and I wound up storming around with my temper and slamming the door until they turned it off. At night, there were gunshots right in the yard out my window. At least they sounded like that. They woke me up twice. Otherwise it was a nice place. I got up and split before anyone was up. I didn't need the continental breakfast and I was a little ashame at slamming my door, but they should have known better -- especially after I had warned the guy that I didn't want to heard any of that music. I wanted to sleep. Puto. At the SAN PEDRO RIVER, I walked a long way. No green kingfisher, however. Beautiful cottonwoods. The river is 140 miles long and is the only undammed river in the state that flow free and wild. Very muddy. I had been in Bisbie and I stayed in the hampton house or what was it? Patagonia 08/07/2007 Jeff and I drove down and we walked down the river because the darned Nature Conservancy place was closed on Monday and Tuesday. We walked down the beautiful river and wound up in the Nature Conservancy place anyway. This was a day trip. Only fifty miles or so to Patagonia. Very easy. Tucson Arizona 08/06/2007 This was in that water ranch type place that Jeff took me to. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 08/05/2007 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/05/2007 I went over and there was trash everywhere. I cleaned a lot of it up. The trash can had blown over and it hadn't been emptied in months. Tempe Town Lake 07/15/2007 I went to the new shopping area and you could look into the ponds under the freeway. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 07/07/2007 I sat on the benches. One was in memorium of Mason Bly. It was a bird watching site. Feb. 26, 2007 01:04 PM Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 07/07/2007 I sat on the benches. One was in memorium of Mason Bly. It was a bird watching site. Feb. 26, 2007 01:04 PM Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 07/07/2007 I sat on the benches. One was in memorium of Mason Bly. It was a bird watching site. Feb. 26, 2007 01:04 PM. A backseat passenger in an SUV died in a weekend collision at East McKellips Road and North Terripin, Mesa police said Monday. Mason Bly, 31, was killed when the Chevrolet Avalanche he was riding in collided with a Ford Escape at 4:51 p.m. Saturda Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/07/2007 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 07/07/2007 I sat on the benches. One was in memorium of Mason Bly. It was a bird watching site. Feb. 26, 2007 01:04 PM. A backseat passenger in an SUV died in a weekend collision at East McKellips Road and North Terripin, Mesa police said Monday. Mason Bly, 31, was killed when the Chevrolet Avalanche he was riding in collided with a Ford Escape at 4:51 p.m. Saturda Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/07/2007 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 07/06/2007 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 07/04/2007 Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/04/2007 YOUNG COYOTE WALKED FROM POND 9 TO POND EIGHT. He was small and obviously young. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 07/01/2007 Saw other birds but can't remember exactly. There was a yeller lab walking around alone. I called the park ranger who said he'd call the pound, but later I saw a guy playing with the lab. Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/01/2007 TWO COYOTES. One seemed to have a collar??? Radio. He was the older one that is furrier and browner, redder, and seems to have a slight limp. The other was lean and grayer. Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/30/2007 No water. No birds especially. I talked to Sally on the phone. Then I saw a COYOTE. COYOTE. COYOTE. COYOTE. COYOTE. COYOTE. He walked north across Pond 9. Flagstaff House 06/23/2007 Sally, Wendy, Kate, Lacy and Me. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 06/17/2007 Nice and hot. I tried to relax. No one there but me an one fisherman kind of far away. After my trip, I toasted my adventure with one beer at Gallagher's and then two at Churchill's English Pub, where I watched Tiger Woods and then a soccer game. Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/17/2007 THERE WAS WATER IN POND 8, THE MAIN POND. THUS, THE STILTS AND MALLARDS. Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/16/2007 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 06/12/2007 Lots of species. Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/09/2007 Just breezed over. Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/03/2007 Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/28/2007 Steve and I went after I picked him up. Sonny didn't come. He was diddling with a video game. East Verde River 05/25/2007 WITH HONEY. Pine Arizona 05/25/2007 With Honey Strawberry Arizona 05/25/2007 Drove home via Payson WITH HONEY. Lake Mary 05/25/2007 Drove down Payson way to get home. WITH HONEY. Flagstaff House 05/17/2007 Went with Honey the dog. She peed a lot on the carpet. I stayed in flag many days and practiced guitar and had a wonderful time. Every afternoon at four or so I went to the saloon at the lodge and had their wonderful Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. I met one Bob Jenson there, a gray-haired old character who knew Mom and Dad. I talked to him because I heard him mention Carothers. I went down the forest roads. Lots of quiet areas but not too birdy. I went to Wupatki and Sunset Crater. The blow hole was sucking. It was moving tons of air. I bought a guidebook for a buck and read it at home. They escorted us over the road there because of construction. I talked to some Navajo girl who was directing the traffic. I told her about the blow hole and the cave in Benson. I went to the library to use the internet. They let you have 30 free minutes. I got sheet music there too. Lady Be Good, When you wish upon a star, Ain't Misbehavin', Wrap your troubles in Dreams. I went and cleaned Noodles picture at the Internet Café and left some dandelion flowers. I hated it there because they had VERY loud rock music going on in the morning. Also the internet destroyer was set to Kanji! Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/14/2007 No Notes Entered Generic Place Anywhere 05/14/2007 No Notes Entered Boyce Thompson Arboretum 05/13/2007 I just got up and decided to drive down there -- or up there. Very relaxing. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 05/12/2007 Nice and hot and quiet and relaxing. There were BULLFROGS making a noise like a Canada goose! Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/12/2007 No Notes Entered Generic Place Anywhere 05/10/2007 Walked around and saw these birds. Graduation at AECP Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/05/2007 Sonny and Steve and I went. We went to the Sunflower Market first. Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/29/2007 I went and left Honey sleeping at home. Oh, it was peaceful and nice. How I enjoyed it. I went back and got a carpet shampooer. I shampooed and brought it back and went to Gallagher's and drank beer and looked at music and junk. I went out to the back and the sun was hot and bright and exquisite. Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/28/2007 Steve and I drove over in his old Nissan and we took Honey, who was slow. It was kind of hot. No water in the ponds at all. I thought I saw a green-tailed towhee, so I'll have to go back tomorrow to see. I did and I'm putting him in. Arizona State University 04/27/2007 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/22/2007 2125 North Villas Lane 04/22/2007 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 04/21/2007 Today is a very sad day because two years ago, little Noodles died. A green-tailed towhee walked around her grave, the first ever recorded here. 2125 North Villas Lane 04/19/2007 I saw this bird while I was talking to Trent who is the child who lives next door. The bird was on the street lamp. Later that evening Trent had a party and I caught someone pissing in my yard. Sickening. I called April and she called Rigoberto, who had a meeting with the children next door. Then I talked to Trent and Alex, these uncooked children. Oh, they swore they'd be good. At one thirty Friday night I went out and Trent was on the roof with his pants down having sexual intercourse in plain sight. Ghastly. I called April. She said she'd tell Rigoberto. Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/15/2007 I took Honey, but she was kinda slow. Water only in POND 3 of all places. 2125 North Villas Lane 04/15/2007 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 04/14/2007 THIS WAS A MALE. Boyce Thompson Arboretum 04/13/2007 No Notes Entered Canyon Lake 04/13/2007 MYRTLE WARBLER. This was the time I went on the field trip with zac and chris brag and david whoever and the other teachers went to meetings. We went to the arboretum too. 2125 North Villas Lane 04/10/2007 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 04/10/2007 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/08/2007 Steve and I went. We took Honey! This was the morning after my worthless next door neighbor had the party and the cops came. Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/07/2007 I went after I went to Frye's for some vienna sausage for Honey. I SAW 34 BIRDS THE OSPREY BUFFLEHEAD CORMORANT WERE VERY GOOD. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 04/01/2007 Walked and oh, how relaxing and peaceful it was. I enjoyed looking and the birds and unwinding. Oh, it was fine and at one point I said to myself, "Oh this is more fun than I can believe." WARM SUNNY WEATHER. Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/01/2007 I got some work done on my book, so I went here and to the water ranch. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/31/2007 Drove over for fun after not getting much done on my grammar/writing book. SAW an unidentified SANDPIPER: bigger than a killdeer. Short, narrow, upturned beak. Several of them. Not solitary, then. 2125 North Villas Lane 03/24/2007 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/18/2007 I went in. It's my last day of vacation, so it was very relaxing in there. VERY RELAXING! Generic Place Anywhere 03/17/2007 This is the reception after the funeral for Dit's Dad. Jeff and Steve and I went. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 03/16/2007 Steve and Sonny went. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/16/2007 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 03/14/2007 Steve and I went at around noon. Nice. Not many people around. We went over towards the Javelina Trail and then went up an arroyo and looked at a mine. Then we went up on a ridge and down. There was some guy far below us with a hood and sweatsuit. What a nut. Tempe Town Lake 03/13/2007 WEIRD. I haven't put in an entry for this place since 2005. After I went to see Pananos about my retirement, I went here. I had no wallet and I forgot my glasses too, so it wasn't such a good meeting with Pananos, from whom I had to borrow money for the parking meter which made me feel like a bum. It was sunny at the lake. Some rough-looking guy walked by and I went back to the truck and drove to a place closer to the the water under the overpass. I then parked my truck in a weird place and walked and looked over the fenced area for birds. By the way, the porta potty at the lake was so disgusting I couldn't go into it. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/11/2007 Some guy on a bike with a pack and a loaf of bread in it was there behind the fire station. He wouldn't look at me. He just read a fat novel. I think he was a bum. Generic Place Anywhere 03/10/2007 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 03/05/2007 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 03/04/2007 I left Honey at home. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/04/2007 Cold. My hands got a little numb. I left Honey at home. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/01/2007 This was the time I drove over after work for the 5:00 Silky the cat toast because Silky died. LOTS LOTS of water in ponds 8 and 10. I toasted Silky. Arizona State University 02/16/2007 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 02/15/2007 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/10/2007 Drove over. Water in pond 6 and 7. Canada geese in Pond 4. Arizona State University 02/09/2007 This was the field trip day to the Grand Canyon and we just had meetings. I got out at four thirty and saw a couple of these there. One was a female. Eyes rather red. Nice hood. Generic Place Anywhere 02/04/2007 Leonardo and Zac and I recorded two songs and it took NINE hours. We missed the superbowl. You can't punch in comfortably with the old fashioned, huge analog tape system they had and that's why. You can't get your choice of a lot of good takes. My lead for Lorelei! was very interesting. I'm looking forward to hearing it. The other song was down by the riverside. Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/28/2007 I talked to Sally on the phone. WATER in Pond 8 and tons of ducks. Blue-winged teals were very nice. Generic Place Anywhere 01/14/2007 I was driving over to Coffee Talk also now know as Inside the Bungalow. Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/13/2007 I saw a rock band over at the sunflower market and then I drove the mile to the site. It was rather icy cold. There was a COYOTE in pond 8 right there behind the fire station. He kept looking at me as he walked across the dry pond. Nice looker. Generic Place Anywhere 01/12/2007 No Notes Entered Superstitions 01/05/2007 Ditsword bailed. I wore my white tennis shoes that I got on September 21, 2003. 11 young Minnesotans were hiking up. Mostly girls. Rich? We went up knowing it would likely rain. It did and the rain went in my sleeping bag and then hail too. The INSIDE of my slapping bug was wet, so I had to just pull it over me. Lousy night's sleep but we slept from 8:00 to 7:00. We camped right next to the trail any only the Minnesotans and two other pairs of hikers passed by. Well, at night two guys walked by, but they didn't see us. It was dark. There was ice all over my sleeping bag. What helped was the blue tarp that is plastic, so no air goes through. It trapped heat and blocked the wind. I don't know why it failed when it first started to rain. Generic Place Anywhere 01/04/2007 LIFER! He was over at 912 Wilson in Tempe just south of University Drive. He was sitting in a tree. The childen showed us where he was. You couldn't miss him. He was so close that my binoculars with the 13-foot close focus didn't work well. There was a guy there with a camera and he said he'd e-mail me a picture. Larry and Nancy had called Steve and told him about it and he called me. I talked to Nancy. Then I saw the actual animal myself. then I went and bought a DVD burner. Pima Canyon 01/03/2007 Steve and I went after we turned in my CD burner at Fry's electronics. Then we went up to the water tank. Then we went to REI and Steve bought a new water filter that pumps. He is very excited. Nice weather. Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/01/2007 I went with Honey. Just to E&C. Rather a lot of water this time. Thus, lots of ducks -- even the green-winged teal. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/29/2006 There was a guy there with a British accent. He had been dropped off by his wife and didn't have his car; only his spotting scope. He tola bout someone looking for the geocaching cache. I told him about the water ranch. He remembered me from a year ago or so. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 12/29/2006 Went there at two or after somewhat. Saw people. Looked at birds. Loafed. Generic Place Anywhere 12/27/2006 I drove to Mysterious Pond because I saw an old email from Scott Anderson saying that I'd get back to him because he wanted to talk about these ponds both Mysterious Pond and Mysterious Stock Tank. I had clean forgotten about our plan and it is months later. Alzheimer's? Anyway, it was very beautiful out there and there is NOBODY NOBODY THERE! Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 12/25/2006 CHRISTMAS DAY. Jeff and I went late in the day and it was getting dark when we split. I forgot my coat but it wasn't very cold really. Nice hooded merganser and harris's sparrow and water pipits. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/23/2006 Saw the cardinal FINALLY AFTER ELEVEN YEARS!!! I took HONEY THE DOG. SHE WAS VERY SWEET. Arizona State University 12/08/2006 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 12/07/2006 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 12/03/2006 I hadn't been for a while and I missed November's great ducks, so I went. I left Honey at home. I met an older guy and we chatted. He had swift audubons just like mine but his were all beat up. A lady came by. she wanted to see orioles. She was on her way to Morenci, where she got a job. Her husband and her see each other on weekends because she decided to get a job out of town. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/03/2006 A little bit of water in the main pond (Pond 8) and one Mallard sitting in it. The limbs are still hanging over the sidewalk. Pima Canyon 11/26/2006 Steve and I went and he hit 1000 miles finally. We went up the Mormon trail and up that wash and then came back. Boyce Thompson Arboretum 11/24/2006 Jeff and Steve and I went. Jeff was here. We took Steve's crappy car. Not too birdy. We left the dog Honey at home. We went to the lake first and that is easier as it requires less climbing. Superstitions 11/18/2006 Stayed overnight to Sunday the 19th. Went with Dits and Sonny and Steve. Oh, what a BIG TIME we had. Only I heard the lone coyote this time. He howled very well. We sat in our chairs and we camped in a place just like last time in Garden Valley. No one there at all. It got a little cold after sunset but grew warmer near the morning. No clouds. Milky way. Steve saw a lot of shooting stars. Dits drank Canadian Club and sprite and I had four Black Butte Porters. Sonny and I looked at the musician's friend catalog, which was a real hit with everyone. I read THE REPAIRMAN by Harry Harrison to everyone ALOUD. We laughed. What a trip. We had breakfast at JB's afterwards. I had the steak and egg breakfast! Arizona State University 11/15/2006 No Notes Entered Superstitions 11/11/2006 Steve and I went up to the gardens there. the lights of two million people were below, but no one was there. Somewhat cloudy with the moon and stars then seeming to drift by. COYOTES! Oh, the coyotes! How they howled and barked. We found that they had been eating a mule deer. We found its foot -- hoof and leg a little ways from our sleeping sacks. No wonder that they had sounded so loud! They quit and later one was howling right next to us. Oh they howled even after the sun came up. Very close and loud. In the morning the sky cleared and I could see the big Dipper and the north star. Cool with a slight breeze. Not at all cold. I had chili and I brought my lawn chair and drank four Black Butte Porters. Slept about 11 hours. People were hiking in early in the morning, but we were already back on the trail by then. Easy hike even with my heavy, beer ladened pack. Steve read two of the articles in Analog and thought they were very good indeed. I used my old white tennis shoes. There was a great pink sunset. The hills had saguaros sticking up on them -- on their ridges. On the way back we went to Rosita's and ate too much. I ordered a beef enchilada and they gave me a cheese one so they made me another. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/10/2006 Honey went. We went in cause the gate was open. Honey wasn't very spry. McQueen and Elliot Roads 11/03/2006 flocks of blackbirds. I wore my suit. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/28/2006 I took Honey the Dog! She walked. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/22/2006 Thought I heard white-crowned sparrows. I need to improve my ear. Generic Place in Chandler 10/16/2006 No Notes Entered Generic Place in Chandler 10/09/2006 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 10/07/2006 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 10/03/2006 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/01/2006 TWO HUGE COYOTES IN POND SEVEN OR MAYBE IT WAS 6. One was smiling so much. He lay down in the field. I think he limped a little. Oh, they were big. 2125 North Villas Lane 09/30/2006 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 09/28/2006 Lucky has been all right. He stays down by the water pan. He is old like me. 2125 North Villas Lane 09/26/2006 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 09/23/2006 You know I may have missed putting him in once or twice this week. The dove I mean, of course. 2125 North Villas Lane 09/19/2006 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/17/2006 Went with Honey today at 6:30. Some water in Pond 10 with the stilts and a few tractor ruts with water in Pond 9. Gilbert and Riggs Roads 09/17/2006 Drove there with Honey. I went down the canal and had to back out as there was no exit. Kind of spooky. I was behind some shanty-type houses. The warbler tree is gone and the place no longer exists. I took the 202 back. Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/16/2006 I went alone leaving Honey the puppy dog at home because I had to go shopping. I went and got a lavender sage plant on Arizona Avenue north of Elliot. I bought El Castillo hot sauce at little Juarez, I mean Food City. What a dump. 2125 North Villas Lane 09/11/2006 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/09/2006 No water. Saw the kingbird on the canal road in a tree. Honey the dog went with me. Elliot was closed at McQueen with no warning. Bastards. Boyce Thompson Arboretum 09/02/2006 Went in Steve's VW with Sherry, Sonny, and Honey. Not many birds. The ranger gave me a ride back in the electric cart because honey was tired. We didn't buy any plants. Steve wanted datura. I carried Honey up the cliff side and to the lake. No grebe on the lake. There were dragonfly and/or butterfly people around. 2125 North Villas Lane 08/27/2006 The White-winged Doves are gone it seems. McQueen and Elliot Roads 08/27/2006 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/27/2006 My birthday WATER WATER EVERYWHERE! At last there was some water. I took Honey the dog. I thought I saw a spotted sandpiper, but I'm not sure. Same goes with a Greater yellowlegs. Too far away. LOTS OF DRAGONFLIES. Killdeers loud. Ponds 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 full of water. Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/20/2006 Honey and I went in! The gate was open and we went through BOTH groves. Very nice in there. Honey enjoyed it, I think. Still very dry although one pond had a little bit of green growth in it suggesting water. East Verde River 08/13/2006 No Notes Entered Lake Mary 08/13/2006 Upper Lake Mary from the side of the road. I stopped near the end of the lake on the way to Happy Jack and Payson. Pine Arizona 08/13/2006 No Notes Entered Strawberry Arizona 08/13/2006 No Notes Entered Flagstaff House 08/12/2006 Went up and sonny and steve and sherry were there and I took the dog and they took her back down cause I had to meet jeff in star valley for tom pickett's memorial service. Lots of cowboys at the Moose lodge for his funeral. Boyce Thompson Arboretum 08/11/2006 Went with Honey the dog. It's 49.7 miles back home. It wasn't very hot. Nor was it birdy. Honey seemed sluggish. I bought a new pass but it was 45 bucks. Oh, well. Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/08/2006 Took Honey. Branches still over the sidewalk. Hot. Dry. Drove down the canal. Two white trucks there in my way. Trees look like they're dying. Drying. Up. Saw the Western Kingbird there. Osco was closed! empty.o 2125 North Villas Lane 08/02/2006 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 08/02/2006 Went with Honey the dog. She stepped on some cholla. I pulled it out and it really hurt. Afterwards, she was very happy and her foot was perfect and I rubbed it and kissed it. Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/02/2006 Went in the morning. Tiniest sprinkle. I went to circle K and had a jalapeño cheese dog for the first time in many many months or even some years. I had Chester's fries and ate the whole bag. I had grape sports drink. The dog Honey was with me. Dry. Limbs hanging over the sidewalk. Pima Canyon 07/29/2006 Went with Dits at 6:00. His son, stephen, came. Hiked clean up the National Trail and to the tunnel and out the Mormon Trail. I wore my white tennis shoes. WE SAW A SPECKLED RATTLESNAKE! It wasn't very hot. Mostly overcast until the end and in the 80s. Saw the ring of stone. Got hot at the end. Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/22/2006 All dried up and icky. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 07/22/2006 VERY HOT AT only eleven. NO ONE THERE ON THE TRAILS BUT ME AND HONEY THE DOG. Two fishermen. I poured water on Honey. I tossed her in the creek. No hummers. Usery Mountain Park 07/15/2006 Steve and Dits and I went. We went at 6:00. We hiked the John Merkle Trail. I wore those white tennis shoes that I first wore on September 21, 2003. Steve's book arrived at his house today. I got my copy. 2125 North Villas Lane 07/10/2006 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 07/08/2006 Took Honey the dog. She did all right. Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/08/2006 I took Honey the dog. Arizona State University 07/07/2006 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 07/05/2006 I got gout today. I think. OW, my knee!!! Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 07/02/2006 Zillions of egrets and GB herons, and snowys. Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/02/2006 Went with Honey the dog at around 7:30. I cleaned up the trash. Dry. Dullsville. Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/01/2006 It was terribly hot. Honey, the little PUPPY DOG, went with me. There was trash. Unkempt. NO water of any kind. DEAD DEAD DEAD like in a sad dream everything dead. McQueen and Elliot Roads 06/24/2006 Honey the dog and I went. The little PUPPY DOG! Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/24/2006 Honey the dog and I went. The little PUPPY DOG! 2125 North Villas Lane 06/17/2006 No Notes Entered Generic Place Anywhere 06/14/2006 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/04/2006 I went with Honey the dog. Very hot even at 8:30. No water anywhere. Place overrun with weeds. Pima Canyon 06/03/2006 Dits bailed. Steve bailed. I went alone at 3:00. I went down the arroyo and it was 112 and I stopped by that smiley face 'cause there was shade there. I finally walked out of the arroyo onto the road. I drank two Black Butte porters at the ring of stones. The ring of stones isn't as obvious as it used to be. 2125 North Villas Lane 05/29/2006 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 05/29/2006 Steve and I went at 2:00 or so. We went to the water tank. There was a guy from New York with two horses. Steve remembered him and told him he remembered the Queens Burro. Get it? I didn't see the ring of stones on the way back. It was hot. We took my truck. Lots of CHUCKWALLAS peering over the tops of cliffs. How they do that in the burning heat I can't say. We went back and I swam for the first time in Steve's new pool. We saw Sonny. I rushed back to watch Judge Judy at 4:00. I made it on time and watched the two half-hours shows. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/26/2006 I took Honey the dog. Generic Place Anywhere 05/26/2006 No Notes Entered Boyce Thompson Arboretum 05/25/2006 They had a sign saying there were RABID FOXES there and to look out. I took Honey the dog. It was kind of hot. I was tired. We didn't go to the lake. At the house in the cliff at the herb garden that is, I put Honey under the drinking fountaine and the water would land on her. She liked it and stayed in the cool stream. 2125 North Villas Lane 05/24/2006 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 05/23/2006 I went with my new toothache as my old root canal seems to be failing. I was tired and a little hot. I went a mile down or so, but not as far as the BT cliffs. Lots of rabbits, antelope ground squirrels, rock squirrels, lizards, bees, and one giant chuckwalla on a rock overlooking the road. 2125 North Villas Lane 05/22/2006 I went to the university today and put the katrina Pictures on the web site. I saw Jan and asked her about Megan. Kathy loved Honey. Everyone did. New Orleans Louisiana 05/15/2006 We went to Mick's bar and watched Rachel Ray twice and good eats. Rachel did cuban food and plantains. We had poorboys, mine with oysters and sally's with shrimp. We had dinner at sally's with don and katherine. katherine had a party with gay men. Sally and i went to see a harp guitar player. we looked at sally's house. I got the binocs. We went and saw mike's house and the lake. Lake Pontchartrain. We went to frenchman street. we went to the ninth ward. we went to ground zero. Generic Place Anywhere 05/15/2006 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/14/2006 Honey the dog and I went in and walked to both of the roads lined with trees. Oh, my gosh that canal is SO much bigger than the ones I was used to jumping. No wonder I hurt my leg! I'm surprised it didn't break. 2125 North Villas Lane 05/14/2006 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 05/13/2006 Went with Honey the dog. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/13/2006 Went with Honey the dog. 2125 North Villas Lane 05/13/2006 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 05/08/2006 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 05/07/2006 HONEY THE DOG AND I WENT. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/07/2006 Honey the dog and I went. 2125 North Villas Lane 05/05/2006 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/30/2006 honey 2125 North Villas Lane 04/29/2006 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 04/29/2006 I took Honey the dog. I was tired today. Generic Place Anywhere 04/29/2006 STEVE AND I WENT. I took pictures. We went to mysterious pond and mysterious stock tank. Steve got a plant -- the nightshade thing that nearly killed me as a child. Usery Mountain Park 04/22/2006 I wore my white tennis shoes. Ditsworth and I walked over seven miles. We were very monkey tough and mighty sword. The day was sundrenched. It was EARTHDAY. We entered our names in the lottery of hikers to win a free pass into the park. We drank fizzy water. Afterwards we went to Tia Ana's or somesuch place and ate tacos and drank beer. Later we swapped photos on each other's digital cards. 2125 North Villas Lane 04/21/2006 Today is a very sad day because one year ago today little Noodles died. How I miss her! 2125 North Villas Lane 04/19/2006 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 04/18/2006 No Notes Entered Daley Park 04/17/2006 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 04/17/2006 Got home early and loafed. I got out of work early and didn't want to work anymore, so I went home and ate Stroganoff and drank beer. So there! 2125 North Villas Lane 04/16/2006 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/16/2006 Honey 2125 North Villas Lane 04/15/2006 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 04/14/2006 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 04/09/2006 No Notes Entered Generic Place Anywhere 04/09/2006 Steve and Honey the Dog and I went to Mysterious Pond. First we went down Germann Road. The pervert's bras and other underthings were there. Perhaps they are the same ones. However, I daintily picked up a plastic bag and a HUGE dildo fell out. It seemed to have fecal matter on it. The pervert was using this device on himself it would seem. Gosh how messed up some people can get. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 04/08/2006 Steve and Honey the dog and I went. There was a Riparian event there. Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/08/2006 Steve and Honey the dog and I went. 2125 North Villas Lane 04/07/2006 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 04/04/2006 Well, it was well down the road on Elliot toward the 101. 2125 North Villas Lane 04/03/2006 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 04/02/2006 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 04/01/2006 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 03/25/2006 There were a ton of boyscouts. Oh, god. I saw one girl scout leader with a bunch of young boys asking them, "All right. Who can name one of the ten commandments?" They were trying to ignore her. What an idiot she was. It was ghastly to behold. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/25/2006 I took Honey the dog. There was a couple there with two little dogs. I told them about the water ranch and later I saw them there. 2125 North Villas Lane 03/24/2006 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 03/23/2006 HERE 2125 North Villas Lane 03/22/2006 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 03/19/2006 No Notes Entered Boyce Thompson Arboretum 03/18/2006 I swung by after I came back from Apache Lake through Globe. Scary drive down the canyon. Talked to some S. African guy -- I thought -- about birds. Apache Lake 03/17/2006 This was the time Dits and Jim and Jim's son and Jim's friend and I went to Apache Lake and camped at the Burnt Corral Campground. We went back through Globe. Forest Service Campground 3/18/06http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/ tonto/contact/feedback.shtml I SENT THIS ON MARCH 26, 2006We camped at the Burnt Corral campsite Friday night, March 17, 2006. There was loud music deep into the night and early hours of the morning. There were also boisterous, intoxicated teenaged campers and a couple of gunshots heard. Perhaps they were firecrackers. It would seem that on a Friday night, the ranger could swing by after quiet hours to make sure no one is disturbing the peace. If the ranger had come by just once after quiet hours, things would have been different. The noise was nonstop. One would think that the forest service would take a casual interest in having some sort of control over the campsites it manages, but this doesn't seem to be the case. Boom boxes and drunken teenagers in campsites will one day go the way of glass containers in swimming areas and smoking on airliners. The forest service could take the lead in this, but since there doesn't seem to be any effort to maintain even minimal control over the behavior of teenagers in the campsite which we PAID to camp in, then the wait will be likely be long. When I looked up "Burnt Corral" on line, I learned that there was at least one ghastly murder at this very campsite. It would seem that after a terrible murder at the site, the people running it might take a casual interest in what is going on there, but this is clearly not the case. I hope that there is no other similar incident there.Cordially,Tom Cole A guy called back and wanted to know the exact date for sure. He didn't give a damn about the old murder as it was news to him. He wanted to see who had fouled up. 2125 North Villas Lane 03/16/2006 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 03/15/2006 Went with Honey the dog. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/15/2006 I went with HONEY THE DOG. She had a good time. Rainwater didn't attract many birds, but up in Pond 1, there was water and a lot of ducks and the avocet. I went to the railroad there and looked at that grave Robin Martin is the guy. People wrote on it. Suiside? (sic) I make my leg it's there... I don't understand all of it but I guess his leg got cut off on the track? 2125 North Villas Lane 03/10/2006 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 03/09/2006 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 03/08/2006 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 03/04/2006 DITS AND I WENT. We walked around back and wound up in the arroyo leading to the water tanks. We loafed around the tanks for a time and then went back. Not as long a trip as usual. We fed the squirrels there at the tank. We went up a side trail. We went to that Mexican place where you buy junk on Avenida del Yaqui and I bought a turquoise mask that looked a little like Noodles. Millie the dog was there. Then we ate at the Yaqui Restaurant which used to be El Taquito. Some hispanic punks were there and made gang signs. What worthless shit they are. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 02/25/2006 Saw the tags on the hummer again. Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/24/2006 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 02/19/2006 I drove over. The interesting thing was the Anna's with the turquoise. here's the info: Tom--That's what I understood. I didn't see the tags, but I know they were to be very colorful to be spotted easily, and were placed on the back of the bird. Now I'm curious to see one myself. I should have asked how long the tags will adhere. Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/19/2006 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 02/13/2006 No Notes Entered Tucson Arizona 02/11/2006 I took the KNUE Korean teachers down all alone. One got heat stroke and had to go to the hospital. The rest of us saw the sons of the pioneers. Generic Place in Mesa 01/30/2006 I was driving to the room store to see the couch I wanted to buy. 2125 North Villas Lane 01/29/2006 No Notes Entered Superstitions 01/27/2006 Oh, we had a Big Time. This was the 27th and 28th actually. DITS and I went after work on Friday to camp overnight. Oh, gosh it was cold. I brought my plaid lawn chair and oh was it comfortable except that it was cold. We walked up and it got dark. Some boy scouts went ahead of us to Garden Valley, so we walked well past them. Dits had his table and chair. I brought plenty of black ale. Dits brought Canadian whiskey. We cooked canned tamales and they were mighty good and stuck to our ribs. We slept fitfully on the ground. We both thought the other had slept soundly, but apparently one of us would wake and listen to the other snore for a long time and then fall asleep upon which the other would wake and hear snoring. I woke up at 2:00 and had a black ale. It was so good I had another. Gosh it was cold. I couldn't zip my slapping bug either, and I couldn't get comfortable because I was wearing my dumb coat that strangled my little arms. Orion swung west and the Big Dipper and Little Dipper came up. I heard an owl. In the morning we drank coffee but it was so cold that we waited for the sun to clear the hills before we got active. Dits's water bottle froze near his head. It was 25 degrees. WORE MY WHITE TENNIS SHOES. THEY ARE ABOUT DEAD. 2125 North Villas Lane 01/21/2006 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 01/21/2006 The MAS people were there. I gave one guy my name and ESL so he could google my home page and look at my E&C book. Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/21/2006 After I went to the water ranch, some people who I told about Elliot and Cooper showed up as I drove in behind the fire station. I told them about the canal road and they went down it. Everything was bone dry. I told them about Gilbert and Riggs. Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/15/2006 DRY DRY DRY. I wanted to go around back, but I didn't. I went to the water ranch (guadalupe and greenfield roads) instead. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 01/15/2006 Sonny's guitar lesson is today so I had to go fast. I Saw Alcock there. Also, I felt kind of weird and thought my blood pressure might be bad but I checked it and it was all right. Nice weather. Tomorrow is Martin Luther King day. Oh, life is nice. Gilbert and Riggs Roads 01/07/2006 I drove all around to this place. Is it chandler heights and Gilbert? Superstitions 01/05/2006 Steve and I drove over at about 3:45 and got there and hiked up to the Indian Mound but didn't walk the extra distance to the stock tank and Skull Camp. Instead, we went down the Hackberry Trail for a few hundred feet and found plenty of places to camp. Many cholla spines made us move from one of these sites. I think most of the area used to be jumping cholla of the chain fruit variety and all of the spines are still on the ground but decomposed and brittle and harmless. We saw some good falling stars. One was particularly good and Steve said he could smell the smoke. Har har. Jets went by, but we saw no satellites. Orion, Cassiopeia, the Pleiades, the Big Dipper, Polaris and Little Dipper, etc. Gusty wind. I drank Belgium black ale and Milwakee's best light beer. I had tamales for dinner. I dreamed many dreams. In one, I caught a lesser goldfinch and found that it was actually a female red crossbill. It was not cold at night in my slappin' bug. I had a pillow and I found that I was just as warm without my coat on and much more comfortalbe without my claustrophobic arms trapped in the coat. We slept around the clock 8 to 8. Hiked back. Easy hike back. Old folks like us were getting ready to come in. They asked questions and we did our best to answer them candidly, directly, and forthrightly. Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/04/2006 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 01/04/2006 I dropped in on Steve early in the morning after going to E&C Roads before dawn and we went to Pima Canyon. Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/02/2006 Swung in on the way to a furniture store down Cooper. It gets sleasy down there and the joint was closed anyway. Estero Morua 12/30/2005 I drove down on Friday starting at 7:00 or so, so I got there pretty early. I had to drive through Playa Encanto, which is a pig's sty. I had the guy fill one of the tanks and he showed me that even 2002 water tickets were still honored. I didn't know that. Well, Mark next door with the Hummer had a loud party with his two or three guests and that was because it was New Year's Eve. The Whiteheads had a really obnoxious gas-powered toy quad that was quite large and noisy. They piss me off. I met the Morley's or the Crowlys, was it? They knew Dad. They have had their place for 20 years. It was my first trip down without Little Noodles and oh how I missed her! I read The Time Machine and drank black ale. On the first night I had a black ale when i woke up at 1:19 and then since it was so good I had another as I read with my special light on my forehead. I had chili for dinner both nights. I drove back Superstitions 12/28/2005 Went with Dits and Steve and Dit's sons. Started at 8:00 and went in Dit's truck. Went to the springs.... We walked the wrong way and then went up an amazing long waterfall-like arroyo and clean to the top where there was a scary cliff. We went back down and found the spring finally. It had plenty of water. There was a lady there with a dog and a Nature Conservancy pack. It was a long hike. Afterwards, we toasted our adventure over several varieties of beer. I bought casserole ingredients at the store while we were at it. Dits's boy had some huge golden retrievers. Pima Canyon 12/27/2005 I bought a DVD player at the super target or walmart and came over here for a little while. Everyone seemed to be on vacation and so it was very noisy with kids. No one came down the wash, though. Then, I went to see Walk the Line, about Johnny Cash. It stank. Lousy movie. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 12/27/2005 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/27/2005 No Notes Entered Generic Place in Chandler 12/26/2005 Just drove my truck all around. It is very nice out there. No one there. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/25/2005 I just blasted in hoping to buy beer at that Osco nearby, but it was closed. I called Steve and the Xmas dinner was already ready so I had to split. Generic Place in Chandler 12/23/2005 I GOT MY VARIAX GUITAR TODAY! It's red. Boyce Thompson Arboretum 12/22/2005 I just drove over. Today is the day I get my guitar I think. It should be in in an hour or so. It didn't come! Pima Canyon 12/21/2005 I went to the doctor today and then I talked to Sally on the phone as Fema had wired 10,000 bucks into her bank account and then I went to Pima Canyon for a little while. I just walked down a ways. I have a VIVA IDIOT bumper sticker. 2125 North Villas Lane 12/17/2005 On the fence as I was talking to Sally on the phone I think. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 12/17/2005 Walked all over. Lots of bird watchers. The liberty wildlife people were there with a Harris's hawk, a TV, and a kestrel. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/17/2005 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 12/10/2005 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/10/2005 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 12/08/2005 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 12/04/2005 Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/04/2005 Water in Pond 10. Full. Lots of ducks. That was the only pond behind the firestation that had water, though. McQueen and Elliot Roads 12/04/2005 I just made a U when I saw some birds in the field. Boyce Thompson Arboretum 11/26/2005 Thanksgiving vacation. Wendy and I went. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/25/2005 Thanksgiving vacation. Wendy and I went. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 11/25/2005 Thanksgiving vacation. Wendy and I went. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/24/2005 THANKSGIVING DAY McQueen and Elliot Roads 11/24/2005 THANKSGIVING DAY Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 11/24/2005 IT'S THANKSGIVING DAY. Peace Park 11/21/2005 I went and had a burger and then came back this way. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 11/20/2005 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 11/19/2005 Stayed quite a long time. Walked around. No sunscreen. It was in my pack though. Nice weather. The ani, the streak-backed oriole and the prairie warbler and the cordon bleu were supposed to be there too. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/19/2005 Just a little water in Pond 9. 2125 North Villas Lane 11/18/2005 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 11/17/2005 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 11/13/2005 Got the GROOVE-BILLED ANI. Steve and I went. We finally found him along the canal. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/12/2005 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 11/12/2005 The groove-billed ani was there but I couldn't find it. I will go tomorrow. I stayed forever looking for the Ani. I drank green tea but I didn't have enough to drink. No sun screen. I got 51 birds! I saw Kathe Anderson. Pima Canyon 11/06/2005 SALLY, TOM, CHRIS, ELENA, STEVE. We went to the stone houses. I had a beer at the ring of stones at the end of the hike. We saw squirrels and junk. Oh, What a big time we had. Steve met us on the trail. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/06/2005 Christopher, Elena, Sally, Steve, Sonny. SIX HUNDREDTH TRIP 600 600 600. We met out there before we went to Pima Canyon. The gate was open so we walked all the way in and got the OC warbler and junk. Oh, what a BIG TIME we had!!! Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/05/2005 Drove over in the morning. 2125 North Villas Lane 11/04/2005 No Notes Entered Generic Highway 10/29/2005 Driving up to see Sally. See Flagstaff House. Flagstaff House 10/29/2005 I went up and saw Sally and gave her the Swift Ultralite full-sized 8x42 binoculars and we went to the internet cafe and saw Noodles' picture there. A lady sighed behind me and said, "Oh!" I told her it was MY dog. We went on a HUGE hike down the kachina trail. It had some cliffs and a little cave and fat trees and aspens and apsen leaves. We hiked a long way and back and it was quite cool in temperature. and otherwise. 2125 North Villas Lane 10/28/2005 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 10/27/2005 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 10/24/2005 Two girls were letting them go out of paper bags. they'd been studying them. this was over at life science. 2125 North Villas Lane 10/23/2005 Actually on the way to the saloon, I saw the guy at 1430 El Alba and mentioned that the bird was in my yard. 2125 North Villas Lane 10/22/2005 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 10/17/2005 Sally left for Flag, but she saw this bird. Steve and Sonny came by. I went to work at 9:30. 2125 North Villas Lane 10/15/2005 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 10/15/2005 Sally, Dits, Steve, and Tom (That's me!) Went in Dits's truck. My air conditioning is out. I wore my white tennis shoes. (See September 21, 2003) Oh, did we hike. Clean up the Mormon trail and then up the wash to National and down to Fat Man's Pass and then to the Tunnel and back on the National Trail and home on the dirt road. We saw a RATTLESNAKE! He was rattling and seemed to be a diamond back or perhaps a black-tailed or mojave. Slid down Fat Man's Pass. Oh, did we have a big time! 2125 North Villas Lane 10/09/2005 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/09/2005 Arizona State University 10/04/2005 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 10/03/2005 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 10/02/2005 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/02/2005 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 09/25/2005 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/25/2005 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 09/25/2005 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 09/21/2005 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/18/2005 That big gate was open and I just walked in and helped myself. Nice back there. Then I went to Gallagher's at 10:45 and had their breakfast and one bloody Mary. Still feel awake. 2125 North Villas Lane 09/18/2005 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 09/17/2005 Oh, did we hike. We went up Pima Wash and then took the Mormon Loop Trail all the way to the National Trail until we reached Fat Man's Pass. Then we walked that trail for hikers only to the Tunnel. Finally we walked back on the National Trail. I got back clean to the stone houses before I had finished my first fizzy water. Dits steve and I Arizona State University 09/15/2005 Oh, I went to that tree on the mall intersection by Farmer Ed and the tree had weird birds in it yesterday so I came back today and a raven flew by. 2125 North Villas Lane 09/12/2005 You know there is that wonderful spring feeling. Freestone Park 09/11/2005 First time I went here. Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/11/2005 That wonderful cool spring feeling. AUTUMN COMING. THIS FEELING CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING DAYS TOO. AC OUT IN MY TRUCK. my ac is out air conditioning 2125 North Villas Lane 09/11/2005 Chica the pigeon is dying. She was lying on the floor yesterday when I changed the water. She has a hard growth on her breast. She is just lying there quietly. I thought she would be dead this morning. She doesn't seem to be suffering terribly. Usery Mountain Park 09/10/2005 Got up at four and was at Dits's at 5:00 or a little after. Mr. Yellowface did not bother us. Heard Coyotes at 7:00. Walked. One guy came by with huge wolves or half wolf things. Cool breezes. Walked seven miles around and it took us 4 hours and fifteen minutes. Generic Highway 09/04/2005 Trip to Jeff's to see the show at the Bloody Mary gig at the Hotel Congress Congress Hotel. Tucson Arizona 09/04/2005 Went to Jeff's and the Hotel Congress. I had a couple of double bloody marys even though they hadn't set the place up for them as planned and Jeff nearly lost the gig. Watched a TV show. Took melatonin and had dreams. Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/03/2005 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 08/28/2005 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 08/28/2005 Just popped in and walked a hundred feet. All but the Gila were seen in the same tree! 107-112. Hurricane heading for New Orleans. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 08/27/2005 My birthday and i went here with a bunch of people. Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/27/2005 My birthday. I got up early and met the group at 6:30 AM at E&C Roads. I cried "Cormorant!" and it was a MALLARD! How silly I am! 2125 North Villas Lane 08/27/2005 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 08/24/2005 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 08/23/2005 Lighting flashes at 5:00 AM in the east. 2125 North Villas Lane 08/21/2005 No Notes Entered Tempe Town Lake 08/21/2005 I walked way down the dirt road and made use of my favorite cactus. Very hot. 108 or so. Walked a long way. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 08/20/2005 The people were putting in a burrowing owl display and invited me to help after I walked around, but I snuck out. It was too hot! Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/20/2005 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 08/18/2005 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 08/14/2005 Just whipped over after I went to keyboard city. BREEZY AND NICE. Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/14/2005 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 08/14/2005 Out in the back yard. The towhee was scratching. Tucson Arizona 08/12/2005 SALLY AND I WENT TO SEE JEFF PLAY AT THE CHINA ROSE RESTAURANT. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 08/11/2005 Sally and i went. It was SO HUMID AND HOTTER THAN HELL! Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/11/2005 Sally and I went. Boyce Thompson Arboretum 08/11/2005 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 08/11/2005 No Notes Entered East Verde River 08/10/2005 Sally and I stopped on the way down. We walked under the bridge to see our old camping site where 43 years ago we camped out. Lake Mary 08/10/2005 This is lower Lake Mary. Sally and I stopped just to look for a minute. Strawberry Arizona 08/10/2005 Just stopped the car to get a bird for strawberry. There were sapsucker holes in a tree. Flagstaff House 08/08/2005 A dog named Diva came down to the house, a pug-faced thing and oh what a delightful dog it was running in circles. Later, I found a shivering dog in the morning on the porch. I brought it in. It's name was pooh bear. It got warm inside and ran around happily. Cindy next door was dog sitting this dog by forgetting to take any care of it at all. Jesus what kind of worthless dog sitter is she! New Orleans Louisiana 08/03/2005 I flew in.... 2125 North Villas Lane 08/02/2005 I GO TO NEW ORLEANS TODAY! OH, AM I GOING TO HAVE A BIG TIME. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 08/01/2005 Steve and I went. We took Honey the dog. We went up on top. Steve couldn't see the yellow-headed blackbirds. Not hot. We went to Sprouts market afterwards. I jump started his car. Isn't that nice? 2125 North Villas Lane 08/01/2005 Enjoyed feeding the birds today! 2125 North Villas Lane 07/31/2005 Three ringed turtle-doves!!!! Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 07/31/2005 THIRTY-ONE birds. Lots of blackbirds. Swarms of them. Bathroom on the hill closed for the summer. COOL weather. Nice. Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/31/2005 Just swung by for a minute. Looked at that cache again. I took the freeway BACK from the Water Ranch to STAPLEY, which is Cooper Road. McQueen and Elliot Roads 07/30/2005 Just swung on by. Nothing much there. 2125 North Villas Lane 07/30/2005 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/30/2005 I went over and FOUND the cache. It was in the post. There is a cap to the post and it comes off. There was just a little pin in there and the log. 2125 North Villas Lane 07/28/2005 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 07/27/2005 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 07/26/2005 Today I got up and made a final vocabulary test for A2 LS 2125 North Villas Lane 07/25/2005 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 07/24/2005 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/24/2005 I returned early in the morning and put that log from geocaching into one of the pipes by the toad trap. I put it in a little plastic container -- one of those ones with the magnifying class on the top. Tempe Town Lake 07/23/2005 Went sailing on Steve's little sailboat. HOTTER THAN HELL. Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/23/2005 This is the time I found the cache from geocaching www.geocaching.com 2125 North Villas Lane 07/18/2005 No Notes Entered Tucson Arizona 07/17/2005 I drove down on Sunday to see Jeff play at the Congress Hotel. They had a bloody mary bar, so I had a virgin. Very interesting place. Jeff had a six-string bass player with him. I sat. What a weird bathroom. What a weird joint. You know they captured Dillinger there. I put seeds in Jeff's feeder as I had a 20-lb bag. Jeff has a bowl outside with cool water dripping into it constantly. I filled the big birdbath out in his yard there. I took a picture of a pot and later fixed it for my book. 2125 North Villas Lane 07/17/2005 I will go to Jeff's this morning. 2125 North Villas Lane 07/16/2005 I went to Steve's today and he gave me the Hohokam pot picture. 2125 North Villas Lane 07/13/2005 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/09/2005 took Honey the dog 2125 North Villas Lane 07/09/2005 No Notes Entered Generic Place Anywhere 07/09/2005 I popped over here. This was the time I took care of Honey the dog when Steve was in Peru. Sedona 07/08/2005 Field trip to Sedona. HOT and rather uncomfortable. Sedona boring. Decent birding at the place we went at oak creek. Mirrors broke on the bus. Scary driving. Yesterday there were explosions on the London subway. Chatty Kathy. Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/04/2005 I took Steve's dog Honey. It was hot, man. There were at least four cats there. Dead toads in the trap. NO WATER AT ALL. No stilts. 2125 North Villas Lane 07/04/2005 I ran water out in the yard. Honey the dog was here. She's no substitute for Noodles; Noodles rules! Pima Canyon 07/03/2005 Just walked up a way. 110 degrees. I drank an arrogant bastard beer and went back. Lots of noisy quail. 2125 North Villas Lane 07/03/2005 No Notes Entered Boyce Thompson Arboretum 07/02/2005 This was the time I took Honey the dog with me. She got tired and a bit foot sore even though all we did was walk to Ayer Lake and the Herb Garden. Noodles was stronger even with her short legs. 2125 North Villas Lane 07/02/2005 Turdy's back: 3:55 PM on the gravel. I just put out fresh grain. 111 degrees fahrenheit 2125 North Villas Lane 06/28/2005 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/26/2005 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 06/26/2005 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 06/26/2005 Rather late in the afternoon. Its about 8.5 miles to the place. Walked up to the water tank. Had a beer. No people at first and then a few walked up the road. Hot. Went to the ring of stones. Both BT's at the BT cliffs. 2125 North Villas Lane 06/25/2005 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 06/25/2005 109 degrees but it didn't seem hot. I went at 3:30 or so. Walked down Pima Arroyo. Breezy. I walked to the water tank. Both BT's at the BT cliffs. I BROKE THE NEW CHAIR! I left it in a garbage can there. Some guy came by when I was at windy rock. 2125 North Villas Lane 06/19/2005 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 06/19/2005 GREAT HORNED OWL. TIGER RATTLER. BIG HIKE. Present on this excursion was Ditsworth, Thomas; Cole, Thomas; Cole, Stephen; and Cole, Stephen West II. One TIGER RATTLER light granite color. (WHAT? IT'S A SPECKLED RATTLER!!) Very light. Snapped at us and tried to kill us. The Great Horned Owl 'twas very noice. We went all the way to the tunnel via Pima Wash. Lots of loafing. Spent many hours up there. It got to be 105 degrees. I brought my new chair. Wore my white tennies. Went in Ditsworth's new truck. Went back on the road after National Trail and stopped at the ring of stones. 2125 North Villas Lane 06/18/2005 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 06/16/2005 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/12/2005 No water. Nothing. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 06/12/2005 Saw GREEN DARNER? FLAME SKIMMER? RED ROCK SKIMMER? BLUE POND HAWK (green face) (blue dasher has a white face) blue-ringed dancer zillions? 2125 North Villas Lane 06/12/2005 TWO of them! Might be Eurasian collared doves. Darker primaries! I may change them next time and get a life lister out of it! Boyce Thompson Arboretum 06/11/2005 Dragonfly Walk. Big orange one: FLAME SKIMMER also Red Rock Skimmer, but he's darker and has black stripes on his abdomen. A blue-ringed Dancer damselfly and WIDOW SKIMMER Saddle shoe two toned wings, a big dragonfly. Ramber's Forktail: damselfly, green but blue? Blue Dasher -- white face damsel. Pond Hawk (Not seen) is similar but has a green face. Pipe Vined swallowtail butterfly -- black and blue. Lots of them. Desert FIRETAIL tiny damselfly with fiery red abdomen. I missed the Giant Darner dragonfly. A guy had a camera and he said he had a picture of a yellowthroat, but it was a chat. On the way home a police car passed me with sirens wailing and lights flashing. Ahead a yellow car had gone off the road and flipped. The firemen would putting some guy with a neck brace into an ambulance. 2125 North Villas Lane 06/09/2005 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 06/07/2005 Noodles' stone came today. I put it on her grave and cried. 2125 North Villas Lane 06/06/2005 TWO OF THEM! Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 06/05/2005 NOT TOO HOT REALLY. I went at three o'clock. Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/05/2005 A DRY WASTELAND Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/04/2005 NO WATER ANYWHERE! No Stilts or Mallards even. I went to the feed store before I went here. It's on Ray and Gilbert. I forgot where it was. 2125 North Villas Lane 06/04/2005 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 06/03/2005 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 06/02/2005 TURDY'S BACK! 2125 North Villas Lane 06/01/2005 The towhee is back and he has that torpedo look. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/30/2005 some 2125 North Villas Lane 05/30/2005 Turdy's back and so is the Abert's Towhee. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/29/2005 Indy 500 day. Cool outside for a while. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 05/29/2005 30 BIRDS! Cool for a little while. Then hot. GOT THIRTY BIRDS. Now I could have had the INCA or the BCnight-heron or gambel's quail or rt hawk or another duck or snowy egret or at flycatcher or RWBB or any number of birds to have even more. I went alone. 2125 North Villas Lane 05/29/2005 Turdy's back! Boyce Thompson Arboretum 05/28/2005 Sonny and Steve went and we met Larry and Nancy who were going to go to the butterfly walk but steve and sonny got hungry so I didn't go; I took them to RED SAGE RESTAURANT. Later Nancy wrote: Hi Tom- 2125 North Villas Lane 05/27/2005 Turdy's back! Pima Canyon 05/26/2005 I BROKE MY CHAIR! I went with a 24-ounce coors and a 21-ounce sam adams and decided just to walk a quarter mile or so and I sat down and the darned chair broke. I sat there on the broken chair for an hour. I lay there. I was peaceful. Birds and other animals came by. No people walked by. 3:07-4:30 more or less. 2125 North Villas Lane 05/25/2005 Turdy's back! I painted my patio slab today. Hot as heck. Pima Canyon 05/25/2005 I took my chair! Oh, it was comfortable. I drank beer out there beyond the BT cliffs and this time it was easy. Very hot but cool in the shade. That's the secret. In the summer, don't climb and don't sit up there on the mountaintop where there is no way to get out of the sun. I used to go up there and heck that was in August and September (hot) too so maybe I'm getting old. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 05/24/2005 Hot. Some guy was there and pointed to a great egret and called it a white heron. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/24/2005 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 05/24/2005 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 05/23/2005 Turdy's back! Boyce Thompson Arboretum 05/23/2005 Got up and decided to go at around 7:30. I took the HIGH TRAIL. It's easy, but I am out of shape! Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 05/22/2005 Steve and I went. Very very hot. 109 degrees. Went at 3:00 or something. Steve had his car towed. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/22/2005 Steve and I went. 109 degrees. 2125 North Villas Lane 05/21/2005 Turdie's back! On the feeder. My ribs are almost healed and I can cough a little now without dying. Pima Canyon 05/21/2005 Steve and I went for a mighty hike, but we only went an eighth of a mile and then come back. Some guy said he saw an owl up there. Then we bought simco hops at the Home Brew Depot so I could try out the Brew Sack deal that Michelle bought me. I mixed it all up. GOD IT'S HOT. 109? 107? Steve's car wouldn't start when he tried to leave so I had to give him a ride and the car is still out front. Lucky it didn't strand us over at Pima Canyon. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/20/2005 Getting hot. Went out there. A little pond behind the fire station (Pond 8) but NO water anywhere else. I tried to save a toad again. Put him in the canal. Walked all the way down the canal road. Again, no aqua. I turned on the horse waterer and it filled up. Pima Canyon 05/20/2005 I COULDN'T GET OUT OF THE SUN and I was SICK and I NEARLY DIED. Oh, this was a TOUGH hike. It was just the same one I have done a million times but God I almost DIED. Yes, I did drink beer up there, but I had a hard time getting up there in the first place. I jumped in the horse trough when I got back. Oh, it was hot. I believe I am not in shape at all. I was dying goiing up that hill. I went and drank beer up there a thousand times last summer, but this time I nearly died even before I got to the beer. There were also BUGS UP THERE AT THE ROCK and they were bugging me. I used the Repel insect repellent but they didn't find it that repellent. BUGS. It was a long long long walk back to the truck. Oh, I was hot. It was only 106 or so -- maybe less. It will be 109 tomorrow. 2125 North Villas Lane 05/19/2005 No Notes Entered Boyce Thompson Arboretum 05/19/2005 Great birding at the Demonstration Garden. It was hot and I wished I'd worn shorts. Walked all the way around. Lots of goldfinches and hooded orioles and even western tannies. Lucy's calling in the trees. See bird notes for more. 2125 North Villas Lane 05/18/2005 Can you believe this is the first one???? Patagonia 05/17/2005 May 17 and 18th. I drove to Patagonia. My ribs were out of place or broken or something so I couldn't cough without falling down and staying down for some time. It didn't take very long to get to Patagonia. 9:15 to 11:55. Saw many birds from that guy's back yard. Some Brits there and I spotted the zone-tailed hawk for them. the conservancy place is closed mondays and tuesdays so I would have to wait a day to go in there. someone said there was another good trail that you could go to anytime. I drove around. The Big Steer saloon is gone and is now called the mission or something. it is all stuccoed and not recognizable. It looks like a church but is a nightclub that opens just twice a week or something. The Wagon Wheel saloon smelled of URINE if you ask me. I didn't stay long. What a dump. I had troublesome dreams. Slept a little late. I got up and went to the conservancy place and it was birdy as hell. But I had to split for Karchner Caverns. I drove there. It didn't take long. I went on the tour. Very pretty area too. 19.16 miles per gallon. Oh, my truck sucks. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 05/14/2005 Went here at 8:00 AM to see the stilt sandpiper and the phalaropes but they weren't there! Saw John Alcock. He had a German shepherd dog. His wife had rangers binocs. They said I looked like Dad. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/14/2005 Just went to the front and then I split for the water ranch. 2125 North Villas Lane 05/13/2005 No Notes Entered Generic Place Anywhere 05/12/2005 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 05/11/2005 Just whispered EPIPHANY once at three in the morning. 2125 North Villas Lane 05/08/2005 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/07/2005 I went all alone without little Noodles. I miss her so! 2125 North Villas Lane 05/07/2005 MYSTERY BIRD. Once again at 1:00 in the morning I hear children screaming and playing with their parents at 2121 Villas Lane. Very late for these babies. 2125 North Villas Lane 05/04/2005 He's calling again. Mystery bird. Checked and it sure sounds like the dawn call of the Western Kingbird. EPIPHANY! he says. Usery Mountain Park 05/01/2005 It's Ditsworth's birthday. We got him some sausage, some schtunk, and an electric fan. We walked seven miles. I drank two liters of kool-aid. We were at Dits's at six sharp. Good hike. Good hike. Good cracker. Later we drank beer at Ditsworth's. Shirley came home and said there were two dogs in the garage. They were DELIGHTFUL dogs. We played with them and watered them and locked them in the backyard and left a phone message for their masters. On this trip there was an amazing coincidence. I told the guys about the Casita Travel Trailer that I had seen on the web and then we discussed it and got its name right and then in two minutes there was one in front of us. I had never seen one and it was being hauled by a Nissan Frontier Crew Cab Pick-up truck just like mine -- just as I had envisioned. Darned weird. Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/24/2005 This was the MEMORIAL for NOODLES. In many towns across the nation people stopped at three o'clock Arizona time and drank a toast to Noodles. I had Clamato Beers and I drank four of them in Noodles honor. I brought her leash like a riderless horse. Good-bye, Noodles! 2125 North Villas Lane 04/23/2005 Today I buried little Noodles in the back yard. A great blue heron flew by and two Inca doves landed on Noodles' new grave. The white-winged dove sang. So did the mourning dove. 2125 North Villas Lane 04/22/2005 Today the sky was suddenly overcast all day because of Noodles. I remained cloudy all day long. 2125 North Villas Lane 04/21/2005 Today was a very sad day because little Noodles died. 2125 North Villas Lane 04/18/2005 He was out on the ground under the feeder. This was the day I took Noodles to the vet because she wouldn't eat and they took all the xrays and junk. I also took her the friday before. Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/17/2005 Noodles was sick and wouldn't walk up the path. I carried her. Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/16/2005 Noodles was a little sick and couldn't walk up the sidewalk very well. 2125 North Villas Lane 04/15/2005 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 04/14/2005 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/13/2005 Noodles wouldn't eat and was listless, so I took her here on a weekday morning. She didn't do well walking up the sidewalk either. McQueen and Elliot Roads 04/10/2005 PIGS WERE BACK IN THE CAGE. That girl with the dogs was there. Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/10/2005 TOADS WERE GONE FROM THE CANAL SO I GUESS THEY SURVIVED OR GOT EATEN BY A GREEN HERON. I THINK Noodles and I walked clean down to the end and back although I carried her. Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/09/2005 Kinda dry. There were some toads, eight of them, in the toad trap. I found one quite perky still, a big one, and another that was on death's door. I soaked them in water and put them in the canal at the end of Neely Street. Noodles, too, was perky. We walked down the canal road to the first pond and we saw the black-chinned hummer down the road. He was flying straight up and down. Mating display? Saw another later and walked right up to him. Purple above white. Generic Place Anywhere 04/09/2005 KOKOPELLI GOLF COURSE 2125 North Villas Lane 04/08/2005 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 04/07/2005 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 04/05/2005 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/03/2005 I FORGOT MY BINOCULARS. Can you believe it? My other ones broke yesterday and I forgot the new swifts. Noodles came as usual. Then I bought a keyboard at radio shack. 2125 North Villas Lane 04/02/2005 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 04/02/2005 Ditsworth and I. Steve had a cold. MY SWIFT AUDUBON ORIGINALS BROKE. We went up Pima Arroyo all the way to the tunnel. It took about an hour to walk back but a lot longer to get there. 2125 North Villas Lane 03/29/2005 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/27/2005 Noodles and I took a quick trip. I was going to Steve and Sherry's for Easter Dinner at 1:00 so I couldn't stay long. There was a guy there with his wife and child and he had good nocks and was there to try to see BB whistling ducks. Not such a good chance. I talked to him and split. I ate at steve's and it was delish but I had a cold and felt sick. I watched part of that zombi movie steve and sonny like. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/26/2005 THE TOAD WAS DEAD AND STINKING AND BLOATED AND WHITE AND PUTRID AND DISGUSTING! A lady there patted Noodles. I went by Keyboard City and then almost bought a keyboard at Radio Shack.* 2125 North Villas Lane 03/26/2005 Noodles and I saw this bird while I was having a beer in the back yard. I made Noodles a ramp for her bed today. Some generic blackbirds flew by. Check journal notes for this day, Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/22/2005 it was Tuesday and there was nothing to do at work so I came home. Noodles and I went to E&C. there was a meskin guy killing and cutting down the weeds. He had blue round-up. We talked in spanish about binocs, weeds, and toads as I found a dried up one and sacrificed Noodles' tuna can to put him in with water. I put him by a gopher hole by the look-out area -- I guess where I put that other one before. I put rocks in the tuna can so he could hop out more easily and still soak. I put leaves over him so he wouldn't get sunburned. Peace Park 03/21/2005 Back from Spring Break did I come too early to work and went here. Student evaluations were horrible so I sought solace in the park. Generic Place Anywhere 03/21/2005 No Notes Entered Gilbert and Riggs Roads 03/20/2005 DETOUR TO GET HERE. Trash. Dullsville. Went other places. Click top arrows for the same day. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/20/2005 WENT AT 6:45. There were two cars and a guy and gal with a spotting scope and a guy unlocked the gate and let them in and I was left out. I tried to sneak in, but there was no opening. Then Noodles and I drove ALL OVER THE PLACE. SEE NEXT RECORD. Generic Place Anywhere 03/20/2005 Noodles and I drove all over on this last day of Spring Break. Boo hoo. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/18/2005 On the way BACK from the Arboretum before I picked Noodles up at the Vet's. Didn't stay long. Made wet in the vines. Boyce Thompson Arboretum 03/18/2005 Noodles was at the vet for her blood test, so I went here alone. Golf tournament didn't mess up my trip and neither did the renaissance festival. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/17/2005 Noodles and I went. Nice weather. Spring break. McQueen and Elliot Roads 03/16/2005 There was a snack truck that blew its horn for the workers. SPRING BREAK. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/16/2005 SPRING BREAK. LADY COP IN THE PARKING LOT IN HER COP CAR. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/15/2005 Noodles very healthy. A good walker. there were people who showed up and they planned to come back in the morning. They had never been there before but they knew the water ranch. Went to Brindley's music afterwards and Bruce was there and he remembered Noodles' name! I bought some finger picks. Metal ones. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/14/2005 SEMESTER BREAK. Woke up early because I went to bed at 8:00. Nothing much behind the fire station except the greater yellowlegs. Superstitions 03/12/2005 What a hike. Overnighter 3/12 to 3/13. Kind of tough! Took 2 and 1/2 hours to get there IN THE CAR. Took steve's old Nissan. Rennaisance festival and also freeway closesure messed us up. Started hiking at 12:30. Packs were too heavy -- like 50 pounds, so it was a very tough climb. Made three miles in four hours. I dumped my water. I couldn't carry it all. I was exhausted. I had my white tennis shoes that I bought in september of 2003. Spectacular scenery. Spectacular scenery. Spectacular scenery. Spectacular scenery . Spectacular scenery. Balancing rocks, saguaros, poppies, etc. We camped and cooked. It was cold at night with dew in the morning but I slept well and enjoyed myself. Everyone snored. We slept under a tree partly. Ring of stones. I enjoyed my Italian Salame. Steve and Dits had some too. Very nice. No bears. No mountain lions. But lots of coyotes. I got up and had a Mr. Goodbar and the last beer at 12:30. I had some rum and beer before. We slept ten hours. Ditsworth brought Candian Club Whiskey. No satellites, but tons of stars. Coyotes called at night. POORWILLS called -- several of them. I had chili without beans for dinner. Dits had Austex Tamales. Steve some noodles and junk. Lots of water on the trail. The next morning, we went to Bluff Springs. Guy there who thought that spitting in the river was how it got polluted. I almost got bitten by a RATTLESNAKE! A DIAMONDBACK. He was right on the side of the trail or half in it and ready to bite me. He rattled just before I stepped on him and so I stepped back. I ran into ANOTHER on the trail an hour or so later. We went back and looked at all of our pictures and drank Boston Lager and Red Hook IPA. 2125 North Villas Lane 03/08/2005 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/06/2005 There was a couple there with Swarzky ? and Ranger binocs. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/05/2005 Rained later in the day a little. I went to gallagher's and it was so smoky I left without finishing my beer. God. Went Generic Place Anywhere 03/05/2005 Peggy Dole and I saw this bird in her front yard. She was digging weeds when I finished my taxes with JC Middleton. The bird was way up in her palm tree. We bitched about George Bush the fool. Generic Place in Mesa 03/03/2005 Behind Macayo's in the pond. Two species: Ring-necked ducks and coots. Actually I went in and had two beers. Happy hour food was great. Free. Spicy. Lots of RN ducks. Nothing else but coots. Oh -- a lot of RN sightings at Macayo's are listed under Generic Highway. McQueen and Elliot Roads 02/27/2005 Noodles and I went here. Drove over the dirt. Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/27/2005 Noodles and I went. Beautiful day. Sunshine etc. Usery Mountain Park 02/26/2005 Got up early and went with Dits and Steve. Walked around the whole mountain. Some older folks up there hiking. One had a Canadian accent. A few trail dogs. four mountain bikers. Perfect weather. We went back and had fat tire beers with Ditsworth. Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/20/2005 ELEVEN DUCKS!!!! Steve and I went with Noodles. Nice weather, but bad weather is ON THE WAY. It's been raining like crazy -- four times as much as usual in Arizona. Sucks. Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/19/2005 REDHEADS AND CORMORANTS! A rabbit swam across the lake to this island. Three guys in Khakki pants came by. One looked like Frank Zappa. RAINING!!!! OH, HAS IT BEEN RAINING. Noodles had a good time but was aggressive towards the khakki guys. They made me a little nervous as I couldn't figure out the type of persons they were and they might be criminals or something. They were looking at the plants and smelling them. All three had the dumb pants. Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/13/2005 Nine ducks. I rescued a toad out of the toad trap. Noodles had diarrhea. Old lady there with tiny binocs. Said she was from Kansas. Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/12/2005 Ruby-crowned kinglet, Ruddy duck, and Blue-winged Teal. TEN DUCKS (GWT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN.) Noodles and I. RAINING RAINING RAINING.... My brake lights were out. One of them anyway. I fixed it. Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/11/2005 back from the rockin' R ranch on the field trip. Went alone on the way home. rainy 2125 North Villas Lane 02/07/2005 Sally and I went out back at night and heard a killdeer flying high up at night! this was the trip when we went to see jeff play in Tucson. Generic Highway 02/06/2005 On the way back from Tucson to watch Jeff play piano. With Sally. Tucson Arizona 02/06/2005 Sally and Steve and Sonny and Noodles and i went down to see Jeff play in his band. He was awesome! This sightings are from the RILLITO when sally and I and jeff went for a hike. Noodles barked at the show a little but then she found a place to sit under Jeff's piano. We drank beer out of the pub next door. Very nice. We all slept on Jeff's floor. I snored. Generic Highway 02/05/2005 Generic Highway 12/25/2004 Fell asleep at the wheel and the ribbed pavement woke me up!!! Jesus Christ! It was between Gila Bend and Vekol Road on the way back from the beach. Got up really early to try to still have insurance when I crossed the border and to make it back for Xmas dinner at 1:00. Crossed the border after seven, but since I didn't crash, it didn't matter. You know, there's a GRAVEYARD just passed BIG BURGER going out of Ajo on the way home. It's on the left. Very old dusty Indian/Mexican? thing. Never noticed before. Generic Highway 12/23/2004 No Notes Entered Estero Morua 12/23/2004 NO HOMEOWNERS AT ALL! I had the place to myself. (almost got killed on the way back -- wasn't this the time I fell asleep at the wheel on the road toward vekol road???) Windy and sunny but still kind of cold. I was glad I had my arctic sleeping bag. Missed the WHIMBREL AND THE WILSON'S PLOVER darn it. Slept around the clock the first night and decided to stay another night until Xmas. Check beach log for more information. FUNNY; NO LEAST TERNS THIS YEAR. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/20/2004 Noodles and I walked most of the way down the canal road. A lot of digging and construction there. Nice bw teals. 2125 North Villas Lane 12/20/2004 No Notes Entered Generic Place Anywhere 12/20/2004 THIS WAS AT MARK RENTZ'S house for the annual xmas dinner Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/19/2004 Nice day. Noodles and I walked down a ways. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/18/2004 Noodles and I walked all the way down the road again, but we went slowly. I was afraid a wore Noodlesout the last couple of times, once because it started raining. No problem at all for her to walk twice as far. The road was closed. This was the first DAY OF MY 23 DAYS OF VACATION! I picked up my Casino guitar at Brindley's and it is much better with the expensive pickups I had him install. 2125 North Villas Lane 12/18/2004 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 12/17/2004 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/12/2004 Noodles and I walked all the way down the way we did last time. She didn't get too tired. Got 38 birds. Not bad. Slept out last night and I had only two thin blankets, but it wasn't cold. Noodles preferred no covers and woke with dew on her. We went back in at 4:00 AM and slept until 7:00 and it was still pretty dark. Pima Canyon 12/11/2004 OH WE HIKED A LONG TIME. DITS AND STEVE I GUESS. Clean up to the top clean from Marcos de Nisa rock all the way up. There were Xmas tree bulbs and junk on some bushes way out there. Litterbugs. I would have destroyed them all and packed out the garbage, but the fellows advised against. Still, I left notes reading "666" and "Litterbug" on their trees. Joy should follow my footsteps and I do what I can to make that happen. They ain't comin' back to clean up their mess, friends. Finally, we went down the side o' the moun'un to Desert Classic. From there it was a miles-long hike to Marcos de Nisa rock again. We were surprised how far we had to walk on Desert Classic. We walked CLEAN up to the top. SOMETHING LIKE 7:45 TO 1:00 to finish the hike. 2125 North Villas Lane 12/05/2004 a very gray day. drizzly. I bought new ink for my printer 56 bucks! Noodles is very nice. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/04/2004 The canal road was blocked and there was a guy there welding underground. god those big pipes are buried deep. It started raining after Noodles and I walked clean from Neely Street to Cooper Road and we walked back. There was a bird (a cowbird?) stuck on the barbed wire as desert sushi and also a black-necked stilt hanging on the wire too. I took pictures. Estero Morua 11/25/2004 THANKSGIVING. Jeff and I went. Oh, what a BIG time we had!! We cleaned the drawers and washed the windows and washed the curtains above the sink. We drank beer and wine. We met one Pierre behind his house -- that Saddam Hussein-type white building back there where we saw birds. He is from San Francisco. Also, Jeff MET GEORGE YOUNG, who is a legendary runner. George had a Keystone light. He is 67! We talked to the Whiteheads. Holmes wasn't there. We got up very very early on Sunday and made the border at 6:50 or 7 something and there was NO LINE. We beat everyone but we had to get up at 4:35 to do it. The window by the kitchen door is one half inch shy of four feet wide and it's a SQUARE. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/21/2004 The darned park ranger came by and she kicked me off of the canal road for good. Canyon Lake 11/20/2004 This was the hike from first water clean to canyon lake. See the Superstitions records for more details. Superstitions 11/20/2004 Walked from the First Water Trailhead clean to Canyon lake. Took about four hours. The following guests are recorded: Tom Ditsworth Steve Cole Tom Cole Sydney graham Jan Barnett Bill Parker Tom Hyland Dave Kofuhock Janet DeSimone - Great Time Winson Graham (Keystone Cop) Tucson Arizona 11/19/2004 Fireld trip to Old Tucson and the Sonaran Desert Museum. HOAKY skits at the Old Tucson place. Grossed me out really. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 11/14/2004 THIS IS WHEN I MISTOOK THE RABBIT FOR AN AMERICAN BITTERN. I FORGOT TO RECORD IT. LOOK BELOW TO SEE E-MAIL RECORDS: Look! Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/14/2004 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/13/2004 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 11/11/2004 Noodles and I walked to where they had the pigs that time. The milo field on the east was full of milo and birds. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/11/2004 HAD THE DAY OFF. VETERAN'S DAY. The scaup was female and sleeping 2125 North Villas Lane 11/10/2004 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/07/2004 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/06/2004 Went and steve called. He was at the garage sales in front of my house because today is the day we're having that block party and garage sales. i went back and Sonny wanted me to employ him to do some yard work, but it never came to pass and so I did all the yard work. Sonny wanted to buy some game. Arizona State University 11/04/2004 I went to Applebee's after work and saw these as I was driving by. Tempe Town Lake 10/31/2004 This was the time I got up early and Noodles and I drove to work and I picked up some tapes. Couldn't get to the Lake for the longest time because there was a triathelon and there were bikes going down Rio Salado Parkway or whatever it is right behind the butte. I carried Noodles across the road finally when there were no bicyclists coming. You couldn't get out of Tempe over the bridge. You would have had to make a big detour. Get to the zoo? forget it. Well I also went to the waterfall behind piker's peak at the butte. See the entries for that on the same date. Generic Place Anywhere 10/31/2004 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/30/2004 Kind of wintery cold last night and I slept in. Stayed up late watching the Everly Brothers tape. Went out here at 8:30 or so. 2125 North Villas Lane 10/26/2004 No Notes Entered Generic Place Anywhere 10/26/2004 THIS WAS AT THE VINE IN TEMPE. At 5:10 I had two beers there and watched for the blackbirds to fly by. They came flying by. Couldn't ID them well. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/24/2004 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/23/2004 An older guy -- maybe my age???? came by. He was a bird watcher and he left for greenfield and guadalupe roads. Arizona State University 10/20/2004 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 10/19/2004 Well, I recorded this on the 21st and this morning the 21st I woke up to find that Noodles had slept with me all night out in the back yard. I guess it's getting cool enough for her to abandon the tiles. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/17/2004 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 10/16/2004 That girl with the dogs was there again. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/16/2004 Just ripped in there in the morning, oh -- 8:30 or so HERB was there with a bird watching class -- only about three people this time. Phoenix Zoo 10/14/2004 This was the time I played Wahoo! with that Russian kid Eugene. There were decoys in the pond, a fact that bugged me. We played rock around the clock and also wahoo. My Casino is a piece of junk. It has no electronics. I had to use the yairi to get the job done. Peace Park 10/12/2004 This was the time I saw Richard Dillon in the park. He was gray and getting ready for a peace march and had stopped there to toot a goofer. He said he voted for Nader last time and I told him he could have had a green president but because of them we have the war he has to protest. He said, "I don't see why I can't vote for who I want to." Well, you can but your little statement is destroying your country and has started a war and we are not safe with this idiot incompetent reckless bastard Bush who is ruining the environment and making shoeshine rags out of the bill of rights. I don't like the Nader folks. They make no sense. Boo hoo, I should be able to vote for who I want. That isn't very advanced citizenship. It's childish as heck. Look at the damage they've done. They'd MUCH rather have Gore, a brain and a green brain at that, but look what they've got. Pass the K-Y jelly. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/10/2004 Noodles and I went. This was the day I got up at fi Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/09/2004 Went early, oh, around eight am. 2125 North Villas Lane 10/04/2004 Recorded Cool water yesterday. Noodles is drinking too much water still. I slept out last night. John Kerry's debate win has erased the Republican lead. Oh, God don't let W win. Bush is the worst president in history. A miserable failure. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/03/2004 Noodles and I went as usual. Those people from September 12 were back, but there were three of them inside birding. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/02/2004 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/26/2004 Noodles and I walked. LOTS OF WATER BEHIND THE FIRE STATION AND IN POND 11. Pima Canyon 09/26/2004 WENT AT 3:30 or so and went up to the top of the hill. The setting sun made different views in the distance. For example, out by the Santans there were mountains with ocre cliffs and a street below looked wider and more interesting. The McDowells or whatever just north of Phoenix looked huge. Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/25/2004 Noodles and I walked a long ways -- all the way down. Peace Park 09/24/2004 I went with Mary Lindeman. There was a bum sleeping there and he woke up and wondered if we knew where charley was. Peace Park 09/23/2004 Joelle didn't want to be trained so I went over here at 8:30. Today was the day five of our students got in a car wreck in Kingman, Arizona. Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/19/2004 This was the time Noodles and I went at 5:30 AM and waited for the sun to come up. It rained!! It rained last night. It poured going home and the truck got washed. 2125 North Villas Lane 09/19/2004 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/18/2004 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 09/17/2004 No Notes Entered Generic Highway 09/16/2004 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 09/13/2004 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 09/13/2004 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/12/2004 Went at 7:30 or so and saw some birders INSIDE with a spotting scope. I hung around and they finally came by saying that they were allowed inside because they were doing research. Noodles and I had a good walk. Pima Canyon 09/11/2004 STEVE AND DITS came by at 6:00 AM and we hiked to FAT MAN'S PASS. Up PIMA ARROYO. I was very fit. Brought grape KOOL-AID. I plowed up the hills and it was like in a dream so fast and effortlessly I could fly up the trail. 90+ degrees. Maybe 98. Slid down fatman's pass. 2125 North Villas Lane 09/08/2004 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 09/06/2004 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 09/05/2004 That girl with the Australian Shepherd type dogs was there. Noodles didn't want to walk after about the third time. Theres a NEW canal built there -- one of those V-shaped things like the one I hurt my leg on. It leads to a stock tank-like place. Might be fun to slid down it when it is running. Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/05/2004 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 09/05/2004 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/04/2004 COOL AND BREEZY! Can you believe it? 8:00 AM. Almost NO water anywhere so it was the worst! Last time lots of lbd's, leasts, sol sand, gylegs, etc. Noodles and i walked all the way down the canal road almost from the beginning and back. 2125 North Villas Lane 09/04/2004 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 09/03/2004 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 09/02/2004 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 08/31/2004 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 08/29/2004 Just whipped over. No birds really. I stopped and looked at that bird's grave. Noodles walked over my Mesquite High. Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/29/2004 Lots of birds in pond 7. Pima Canyon 08/29/2004 Went to the top of beer hill at around 1:30 or so. Two couples went by. I searched for 2015 sierra vista but couldn't find it. Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/28/2004 Got up late today because Erica hosted a party for me at her house and I got home really late. I forgot to look for the peregrine falcon. the solitary sandpiper was in pond 7. The orange-crowned warbler was very clean looking. 2125 North Villas Lane 08/24/2004 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/22/2004 Lots of birds. Summer is ending. Wilson's warbler, lark sparrow. 2125 North Villas Lane 08/22/2004 Steve borrowed my truck to go to Roosevelt Lake with about ten kids for Sonny's birthday and they rented a huge houseboat. I stayed home. i had to get ready for my new class. Now, I'm not very prepared but I don't give a darn. I'm going to LOVE this teaching stuff. 2125 North Villas Lane 08/17/2004 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 08/16/2004 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 08/16/2004 No Notes Entered Usery Mountain Park 08/15/2004 Sonny couldn't get up. Steve came late. We got up at 5:30. Went there. Hiked up. Kool-aid grape. Sally KATE STEVE TOM. Saw the John Merkle trail but the plaque about him wasn't there. Tempe Town Lake 08/15/2004 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/14/2004 It rained like mad last night or so I heard; I was asleep. Noodles peed the pillow. I bought an Uban Fishing license like a fool -- worms and hooks and sinkers too!!! What's wrong with me? I didn't go fishing. Noodles and i walked all the way from Pond 1 to Pond 11 and back. Sally and kate are coming in at 6:00. I bought oscar myer smokies and beer. i bought clothes for my new job. I had a beer at Frankie's flaming grill next to Gallagher's. Generic Place in Mesa 08/14/2004 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 08/13/2004 Just drove across the field. The dirt roads are gone. Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/13/2004 Noodles and I at, oh, 10:30. LAST DAY OF VACATION!!! Pima Canyon 08/13/2004 Up to the top of the Ridge Line Trail Tempe Town Lake 08/12/2004 This is a very happy day because FIFTEEN YEARS AGO TODAY, I MET NOODLES!!!!! We went here after we went to the office on this second-to-last day off. No birds, but Noodles went swimming. Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/11/2004 Not bad for summer. Gilbert and Riggs Roads 08/11/2004 Came up the canal behind the pond. Big pond. Ocotillo and Gilbert Roads 08/11/2004 No Notes Entered GENERIC PLACE IN CHANDLER 08/11/2004 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 08/11/2004 All the way to the top with a Sam Adams Boston Lager. Very peaceful up there. I saw a girl in a sports bra way down below. She had no water. Hotter than heck. Two fat guys walked down the road below. That old guy with the red face came up as I was walking down. Canyon Lake 08/10/2004 Still on vacation and not really interested in driving clean to Mexico, so I went to the lake. Noodles swam. It was hot. Went to Tortilla Flat and had ice cream. Checked out the place. I like Tortilla Flat. Noodles didn't want to walk much because it was hot, but she enjoyed sleeping on the blue ice. Drove back all the way down Main Street and turned at Mesa Drive, which is McQueen. Nice views. I didn't see Apacheland Book Exchange. Ah, but look what I found on the net: Apacheland Books Etc. 185 N Apache Trail # 3 (480) 986-0538 Generic Place in Mesa 08/09/2004 The Green heron was Down the canal near Pampa Street. I was coming back HOME on my bike from the auto repair shop. Carp in the canal. My AC in the Truck was out so I went to Greulich's auto. Well, I hope they don't charge much. It was 238 bucks. I don't think that was necessary. They did a flush that cost bread and probably wasn't all that needed, but maybe it was. I saw the Turkey Vulture when I rode back to pick up the pick-up. He was on Guadalupe at the canal. Yah! East Verde River 08/08/2004 Noodles and I walked down a bit and there was a warbler in the tree that had an eye ring and was very yellow with a black-tipped tail, but I can't find such a bird in the book. One car there but no people I could see. Later, a car came by. I didn't stay long, but one day I will go there with some people and look for birds. It's a good spot. I stopped at CONTROL ROAD to find a couple of crinoids. I found a few but they weren't too good. All right and interesting though. Pine Arizona 08/08/2004 Out by that general store, Noodles had a rest stop. It was by the place where I think we stayed before in some crappy room that isn't recorded here. This was the trip back where I had no air conditioning in the truck because it broke and it was 111 degrees in Chandler and I drove back with Noodles lying on a twenty-pound bag of ice cubes! She was cool. I wasn't. Hell of a drive. Strawberry Arizona 08/08/2004 Stopped at that place, the Strawberry Lodge, where we stayed before but there were no birds! Flagstaff House 08/08/2004 Sally and kate were there. I came up on Friday. We went all the way to the end of the ice cave. We went into town. We went to the ski drift lozenge and saw Charles Button, possibly the worst guitar player and singer ever! Noodles had a good time. Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/03/2004 Noodles and I went at around 8:00 AM. Pima Canyon 08/03/2004 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 08/02/2004 Went up the ridge line trail to the top. Drank a 24-ounce of Natural Light. a guy jogged slowly in over the ridge line trail carrying no water. He was old and red-faced and he kept going by and down the hill. Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/01/2004 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 08/01/2004 Up to the top on the ridge line trail to the flat rock. 108 or so. Very hot going up. Up there I had two beers I enjoyed very much. Then it was cool. No one in sight for a long time. One guy far in the distance onthe trail and then two dumb old bike riders. That's it. Walked back the way I came. Sally and kate will be back from Jeff's at 5:00. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 07/31/2004 With Sally and Kate and Noodles. Saw a cockatiel flying by. Pima Canyon 07/31/2004 I went up on the ridge trail to the top. I drank two beers up there. it was fun. There was some guy who came by. He was a guitar player. We talked about guitars etc. Very hot but so wonderfully windy that it was nice and cool. Almost like the ocean. I walked back a new way with a nice trail. Very comfy. Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/30/2004 500th TRIP! Sally and Kate and I went after we went to Rosenburg's. We drank Boston Lager behind the firehouse and saw these birds. Noodles came. I had a sip of a bloody Mary as well. Pima Canyon 07/30/2004 Before Sally and Kate came, I went hiking. I went up the Ridge Line Trail after I came out of Pima Wash. I went to the top. I wanted to walk back along a ridge but it was closed. I know now how to get to the ridge line trail. Went at 10:10 and got home at noon. I had fizzy water. I put it in the fanny pack and two of them in there is too uncomfortable. I think I'm going back to the pack. Verde River 07/29/2004 Noodles and I went swimming in the deep water at Phon Sutton. Fast water out there. Pima Canyon 07/28/2004 The Democratic Convention is still going on so I left a little early. I walked to the water tank though. No water in it doggone it. I had a beer at the ring of stones and stepped on my glasses in the outhouse at the parking lot. 104 degrees. I can't get enough of this wonderful vacation and this glorious weather. Pima Canyon 07/27/2004 The Democratic convention was going to be on so I left early. I just hiked up to some place where there was this exit out of the wash and drank a beer at a garbage can very near the ring of stones in the road. Then I walked back. THIS WAS THE DAY I PAINTED PAUL SHRAGE'S WALL-- well, actually mine. Generic Place in Chandler 07/26/2004 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/25/2004 NOODLES AND I WENT ON OUR 499TH trip. I collected a urine sample from Noodles. It had rained the night before but I had no trouble with the mud on the canal road. Usery Mountain Park 07/24/2004 Went at five in the morning. Steve rang the phone at 4:13. Jesus Christ! We met Dana and then Dits and then another guy and we went up to the wind cave. there were other people out that early because it was Saturday. Saw snake on the trail. A patch-nosed snake. I spent the rest of the day diddling with the Preposition Book and the software. I went to Kinkos to get a copy of the book which I printed out and had to go to Staples to get a new ink cartridge and I paid 35 bucks like a fool for the copy. Jesus Christ! How did I ever get so stupid? I had a beer at Red Lobster while I waited for Kinkos to overcharge me and make the copy. I have got to get the Jesus Christ out of here because it's the 24th and my vacation is disappearing and I ought to do something different and go somewhere. Generic Place in Chandler 07/23/2004 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 07/22/2004 I went kind of late and for some reason it wasn't hot! it was breezy in the hundreds I guess but not hot. I went down the wash and then turned left for a time and then went to the water tank. No water in the tank or pool. None. I drank a beer on the hike back and I stopped at Copper Canyon on the way home. It wasn't so good. Pima Canyon 07/21/2004 111 degrees Fahrenheit. Took photos for Diamond Mine. Got back to the parking lot at 5:00 and drank two beers. MONKS, COTTN TLS. Pima Canyon 07/19/2004 Cactus wren alley was very interesting. AMAZING LIZARDS. Usery Mountain Park 07/18/2004 Went at five AM with steve and sonny and ditsworth. Hot. I drank 3.25 quarts. Hiked seven miles around the mountain and up it. It was 108 degrees today so it was a shame that I didn't go to Pima Canyon, but I was rather beat up and sleepy after the seven-mile hike in the very hot early morning sun and it was of all things humid. Sonny hiked quite well. We marched at a very fast pace even uphill. We were strong and mighty! In our tribe we eat GOAT MEAT and it makes us strong! Usery Mountain Park 07/16/2004 Sonny and Steve and I went early in the morning. We hiked up to the wind cave. Afterwards we went to Popular and bought shorts and to that chinese place where we had teriaki chicken. Pima Canyon 07/15/2004 There were only two people I saw, and they were on my way back. Park City 07/11/2004 Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/08/2004 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 07/08/2004 I WAS hot today. Burning the skin type hot. Nice breeze. I went to the stone houses. Back to the parking lot at 4:20. Saw only two other people on the trail. Tempe Town Lake 07/07/2004 Noodles and I went. Just two egrets in the distance. Noodles went swimming. Actually, I threw her in. She enjoyed it. I went here after I turned in the spring 2005 skeleton, the last I will ever do. I'm on vacation. after nine years I'm free at last. Park at North End of Dobson Road 07/07/2004 Noodles and I went here for the heck of it. Nothing in the pond except some barnyard geese and mallards. Lots of tattoos on the people. Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/06/2004 Check out the great blue heron note above. Noodles and I went. Nearing 500! Pima Canyon 07/06/2004 Steve drove over and we went late. I got home at a little before six. Supposed to be 106, but it didn't seem hot although it was hotter than yesterday. Went up to the powerlines and down to the BT cliffs and to the stone houses. No water in the tank and the animals must be thirsty. Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/05/2004 Went at around one in the afternoon. Pima Canyon 07/05/2004 I got back to the parking lot at 629 so I guess I started around 5:30. I had come from the office where I had to make sure everyone got their student evaluation folders even though I'm not asc director anymore. Sheesh, people show up at 6:30. There were fourteen cars at least. there were very few when I arrived. It was supposed to be 107, but it wasn't hot. Tomorrow is supposed to be 110 degrees, so that will be a good day to take a hot hike. Generic Highway 07/04/2004 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 07/04/2004 After I went to the Arboretum I went here. I went a little early. 2:35 or so. Temp was supposed to be 106 but it seemed like 98 or so. Not very hot. Tomorrow will be 108 so they say so I will try again. I went up to the power lines and marveled at the fact that two boards were holding up a hug length of cable a half a mile long. I went back on the road from the stone houses and then I dropped back into Pima Arroyo and went back. There were some parks guys with a blazer or something with cop lights on the top. They had badges but no guns. I wanted to talk to them about the empty water tank -- the animals have no water! They drove off. I snuck two beers int he car and drank them at the almost deserted parking lot. Two Boston Lagers. Boyce Thompson Arboretum 07/04/2004 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 07/03/2004 Stopped at the Vet for Noodles' anti biotics. She has a bladder infection so they say. Went up that trail out of the wash that goes the high way and then I headed north a bit and made it up a ways and headed back into Pima Arroyo to the BT cliffs and the tank and stone houses. Not too hot. some good breezes. Started at 3:35 and was by bay 4:50. Over an hour hike. Wore my other tennis shoes and they were mighty dusty when I got back home. Generic Place Anywhere 07/03/2004 For some reason there were antelope ground squirrels running all over the place. All down the roads. I forgot Noodles' leash! I tossed her into the water by the pump where it turns west. The pump was raging. Noodles went floating down the canal and spun sideways. I hauled her out. A little later I popped her in again and the same thing happened. She had fun swimming. I drove clean across the area there and had trouble finding my way out. Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/02/2004 I drove by and saw the flag at half mast and I said, "When the hell are you guys gonna drive a stake through Ronnie Reagan's heart?" Jesus, he only died like FOREVER AGO and I only mourned when that worthless, talentless, stumbling, bumbling failure was president. I wonder if the firemen heard me because when I parked in the asphalt parking area because I had just washed my car, they all came out. One said, "How's it going?" I said, "Perfect! It's my 495th trip here today and at 500 I'm sending out invitations." I showed them the jar I had with me and explained that I had to collect a urine specimen from Noodles. Noodles barked and sniffed at them. Pima Canyon 07/02/2004 Stopped at the vets with Noodles' urine sample and got some incontinence medicine. Went to the stone houses and got back to the car at 4:54. Not many cars in the parking lot at that time. I drank two Boston lagers. Pima Canyon 07/01/2004 Saw little cottontails and ground squirrels. I sprinkled some of Mom's ashes at the BT cliffs and at the stone house canyon there and also on a waterfall coming up. Just one mourning dove at the BT cliffs. Funny; there were almost no cars at 4:30 or so at the place but when I got back at 5:30 or so the place was filling up. People are going there after work apparently. I should start going at 3:30 as before and when I get back there will be no one in the parking lot. I thought the hot weather scared everyone off by noon. I does on the weekend. I went to work for about five minutes to get a phone number and junk. I'm on vacation for six weeks and today is my first day as the EX ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR. 2125 North Villas Lane 06/30/2004 My last day as Associate Director. Took Noodles for a walk and this bird was on the corner there by the house where the lady once picked up Noodles' poop. I went to Four Peaks today with Erica L., Beth and Lee, and Megan. I drank three IPA's that were 6.9% alcohol. Pima Canyon 06/27/2004 I set the alarm for four AM and took Noodles for a walk early. Dits and Steve came at five o'clock. We hiked five hours clean to the top of South Mountain. I brought blue ice substitute. It was overcast -- or at least there always seemed to be a cloud in front of Mr. Yellowface. I had a sandwich with beef and miracle whip and cheese. Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/26/2004 I went to McDonald's first and Noodles barfed up the sausage mcmuffin with egg that I gave her. We met a guy on the canal road with a dog off the leash. Noodles stayed in the car. I'm going the Fahrenheit 911 this morning and then to Pima Canyon. See you later! Pima Canyon 06/26/2004 I went to Fahrenheit 911 and then to pima canyon. The movie wasn't very good. I hiked to the stone houses. 106 degrees and not as much wind as lately but it didn't seem very hot. My camel pack nozzle broke off so I don't have that bite valve. I stopped at Tianguis and bought a table for the back yard -- one of those ones that they used to sell at Home Depot. Then I stopped in to a Home Brew place over by Jupe's bar and bought some hops and some hop syrup that I can dribble into beer. 2125 North Villas Lane 06/24/2004 No Notes Entered Generic Place Anywhere 06/23/2004 You saw two lesser goldfinches on college avenue south of broadway on June 23, 2004. Arizona State University 06/21/2004 Only 8 days left as Associate Director! What a deal! 2125 North Villas Lane 06/21/2004 I'm stepping down as Associate Director and I have only seven more work days before vacation and release from duties. What a deal. Pima Canyon 06/20/2004 Dits and Steve and I went before six in the morning and went to Fat Man's Pass. We went up the arroyo and then to the water tank and then up the trail and to that arroyo full of javelina poop with orange peels. It was a long hike that way. I slid down Fat Man's Pass and I ate some peanutbutter crackers. Had some corn nuts too and some cheetos jalepeño chedard crackers. Our thermometers read 105 degrees on the way back, but I don't know. A dog left a train of horses running after a jack rabbit. When we got to the stone houses on the way back, we took the road. It took a little over twenty minutes. The tank is closer to the stone houses than I thought. Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/19/2004 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 06/19/2004 A big coyote walked down the wash just behind the picnic tables. He had a long face. I followed him but, of course, did not see him again. Six species at the BT cliffs. Lots of very large Rock Squirrels and small cotton tails. Also, wild lizards. Brownish ruddy big speckled. One like a collared lizard. One with a skull-like head. Supposed to be 106 but it was windy. It didn't seem to hot. I drank less than a liter and a quarter of fizzie water: peach grapefruit and grapefruit tangerine. yesterday i typed up Paul Corrigan's early observation comments. They were not glowing as he has NO idea how to teach an ESL class. McQueen and Elliot Roads 06/13/2004 Elliot Road was closed, so when I came back from E&C I drove behind Mesquite High. No horned larks seen. Noodles and I stopped and looked at the canal that ran n and s. Not the one on the fence. water Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/13/2004 Lots of water in Pond 9 and nothing much elsewhere. Cat in Pond 8. Rabbits. A guy with tattoos talked to me about the site. Dead toads as usual. A mourning dove is nesting under the roof. Pima Canyon 06/13/2004 103 or so degrees. Nice breeze! Went up to some power poles, an easy walk. Then went to the water tank. I had a Stone IPA in the car with frozen squash to keep it cool. I drank it, but people were coming into the parking lot at 4:00. Weird. I went to Rio Salado and the happy crowd welcomed me. I looked at the art. I drank one beer. I left. I named some other places. The gray waterfalls and junk. Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/12/2004 Wendy and Lacey and Steve and Sonny and Noodles and I. We went there. Then we went to the water ranch. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 06/12/2004 Wendy and Lacey and Steve and Sonny and Noodles. Noodles walked ALL THE WAY AROUND. she went swimming. Wendy saw the b. owls. There were four of them. It was kind of hot. Lacey hates birds and i don't blame her. Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/06/2004 Went at seven in the morning or so. Kind of a lot of water in Pond 2. 490th trip. I brought my camera, but it was out of juice. I must have left it on. Pima Canyon 06/06/2004 I left the Key Lime flavored fizzy water in the freezer and forgot to bring it. I had the camel pak with two liters in it and my favorite the Peach Grapefruit. I only drank the water on the trip. I named one cliff BT Cliff because you always see BT gnatcatchers and BT sparrows there. Only about three people went on by. About 106 degrees or maybe a little more. Very invigorating hiking up there. Went back on the road and it took about twenty minutes from the water tank. I drank a light beer in the parking lot afterwards and that was a lot of fun to top it all off that way. McQueen and Elliot Roads 06/05/2004 Just drove over the dry field. Went offroad to circumvent the tire tracks with a foot of water from the canal. Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/05/2004 It was kind of hot for Noodles. When we went on the canal road she went under the truck, but she was also sniffing the truck tires. Pima Canyon 06/05/2004 I went at about 3:30. It was supposed to be 110 degrees, but I don't think it was that hot. Saw three other people out there: two guys and a girl. Nice breeze and what a hike. Just went up to the water tank. When I started, I took that little trail that goes up on top and then goes back down into Pima Canyon. The black-throated sparrow was in a corner in the wash with a cliff and some shade and some trees. I stood also up on the rocks there by the solstice petroglyph. Nice breeze. Lots of nice breezes. Bees in the waterhole. I had Strawberry Kiwis fizzy water and also Tropical fizzy water. The tropical was more like papaya than mango as it had a vomit-like taste. Very tropical. I drank a beer when I got back to the truck. Then I called Wendy in Utah when the phone quit wanting to roam. I got Lacy and she said that Wendy was in Middlebury and that they were both coming down here this week. 2125 North Villas Lane 05/31/2004 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 05/31/2004 I went there at about 2:30. Not too many birds. Hot. Over 100 degrees. Nice cool breeze though. Still some few people out there but darned few. Few birds. I was going to go to work and diddle some stuff that I didn't do, but then I decided to have my own day off and screw work. I'm glad I went. I am envigorated. I walked back down the road. It took about 25 minutes from the water tank. Mount Ord 5/30/2004 Memorial Day weekend. Jeff and I went up. We took Noodles. We came up after birding Mesquite Wash. There were two bird watchers up there in a pick-up truck with roof prisms. They weren't very lively. Two friendly guys on quads. I thought quads would be good for bird watching. Noodles got kind of dusty up there. When we finally drove back I jumped off Arizona Avenue to stop at that beer store on the side of the road. They had LOTS of different beers. Jeff got Cooper's Brewery Dark Ale -- Aussie Ale. It had that bite like Kiltlifter Ale. Disagreeable to my mind. I bought a six-pack of Celebration Pale Ale by Sierra Nevada. It cost 11 bucks! I've paid a lot less. It was delish. We went to my house and I cooked steaks and fries. I didn't cook very well. We watched a weird show and also some of Patton. Generic Place Anywhere 05/30/2004 AT MESQUITE WASH WITH JEFF Memorial Day weekend. We went up Mount Ord too. It's Memorial Day weekend. That group of trees by the entrance is VERY good. Two IDIOTS had decided to changed their tire right in the middle of the road blocking everyone. IDIOTS. A lot of shooting in there. BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG. Dusty. Hot. Noodles wasn't too comfortable. McQueen and Elliot Roads 05/29/2004 Memorial Day weekend. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/29/2004 Lots of ducks I didn't expect here -- especially the lone black-bellied whistling-duck in Pond 8. 2125 North Villas Lane 05/26/2004 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 05/23/2004 I got up at 5:15 so i could be ready for Steve to come by and hike at six o'clock, but he never came. later in the day we went. BULL SNAKE! I screamed when I saw him because I almost stepped on him and I thought he was a rattler. We took pictures and he went into a hole. He was lying right on the hot rocks of the arroyo. McQueen and Elliot Roads 05/22/2004 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/22/2004 Only water in pond 6. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 05/22/2004 NOODLES WENT SWIMMING. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/16/2004 Steve had me go to World of Maps but when we got there it was closed so we whipped back and got Noodles and went here. McQueen and Elliot Roads 05/15/2004 Drove clean across the field. A killdeer pair was doing that busted wing thing. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/15/2004 Very little water ANYWHERE. Generic Place Anywhere 05/13/2004 This was at the Tempe Historical Museum final dinner party. I went down a path and security came and said it was a restricted area. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/09/2004 Went there around 11:30. Kind of warm and not much water. McQueen and Elliot Roads 05/08/2004 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/08/2004 Soem blond lady there with her kid. She was saying that there were baby spotted sandpipers out there and wood ducks and the eared grebe was nesting there and then she didn't know what a verdin was. Weird. Noodles and I walked a long way. Usery Mountain Park 05/02/2004 Steve and Dits and I went. We got to Dits's at 6:30 and hiked for five hours but only seven miles. Very few people compared to last time here. There were gnats that would cling to your legs. Luckily they didn't bite. We saw lizards but no snakes. One very large rock squirrel. McQueen and Elliot Roads 05/01/2004 No Brewer's blackbirds by the pig pen. This is the time the security guard came out and said, "May I help you?" I said wait a minute because I was looking at a prairie falcon. He let me stay. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/01/2004 Kentucky Derby Day again. It was three years ago that I hurt my leg here at Elliot and Cooper Roads. Arizona State University 04/29/2004 I got stung so bad by a scorpion today. right on the little finger. he was in m clothes on the floor. Generic Place in Chandler 04/25/2004 There were two of these and they have a nest across the street from Steve's house. They fluttered and would scare up grasshoppers that just couldn't outfly them 2125 North Villas Lane 04/25/2004 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 04/25/2004 Steve and I went up there. This was the time I was depressed because that darned teacher sent an e-mail to a department saying that he had a room conflict and all hell was breaking loose and the buck stops with me and life is hell. I had my new Carson 80 pack and fizzie water. It was hot. We went at 10:30 or so and just went up to the water tank. Lots of birds. Some guys on horseback showed us where they had seen a gila monster but Steve suspected they saw just a chuckwalla. We saw a huge chuckwalla that was almost black sitting up on a rocky crag and with a lighter-colored one on a rock next to him. We went to the Rio Salado brewery afterwards but we didn't have any beer. We just looked at the art on the walls. The guy there said that it was open mike day today. It is the last Sunday of each month. Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/24/2004 There was a bird walking group there and I joined them and Noodles came along. Noodles flushed a feral cat out of the bushes. I was watching a green heron and she went down the back deep into some bushes. I'm glad it wasn't a coyote. 2125 North Villas Lane 04/23/2004 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 04/22/2004 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/18/2004 Met Herb Fidel there with his bird group. Saw a record 47. There was a lady there early and I showed her the solitary sandpiper and then the other folks came and we hung around a lot. Camped out last night and it was breezy and cool and Noodles slept on her down pillow very nicely. McQueen and Elliot Roads 04/17/2004 Pig pen was there but no pigs in it. There were still brewer's blackbirds though. Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/17/2004 I forgot Noodles' leash so we had to walk around without it. Tons of dowitchers. The water was a little low so they liked that. 2125 North Villas Lane 04/15/2004 Yes, they are here and in the back yard. Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/11/2004 FORTY-FOUR BIRDS TODAY. Got up and got to e and c at 6:30 or so. Nice and cool. Tons of water. McQueen and Elliot Roads 04/10/2004 Noodles and i drove out across the lot where the pigs are being kept. Tame Brewer's blackbirds. Saw the horned lark out in the dirt. Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/10/2004 THREE BIRDS LONG TIME NO SEE: Eared Grebe not seen here since January 1st of 1997!! More than SEVEN YEARS. Also, Chipping sparrow not seen here since May of 1999.NO LONG-BILLED DOWS. Did they fly over to the water ranch? shoot with LBD and rock dove and yr warb and anna's and gambel's and starling I would have had 38. Add loggerhead shrike 39 and gadwall 40 and I could have had a big list. Noodles walked a long ways. Then we went to McQueen and Elliot. See other site this day. 2125 North Villas Lane 04/08/2004 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 04/07/2004 Today, I told Miki that I had moved the blind student from her class to Mary Lindeman's. What else? Nothing much. Arizona State University 04/05/2004 No Notes Entered Peace Park 04/05/2004 Not many birds there. One bum in the park. McQueen and Elliot Roads 04/04/2004 Drove out there behind the new buildings and there were PIGS in a cage behind Mesquite High School. Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/04/2004 Two guys were there. One was from Utah. They had a big scope, but they weren't too talkative. Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/03/2004 Got home from Long Beach and took Noodles for a walk. 475th trip and we took a picture. Long Beach 04/03/2004 I watched birds from gate 21 at the airport. There was a coyote in the fields within the runway area. I was supposed to leave at 6:55 but the plane didn't leave untill 8:30. Mark got his flight canceled so the night before, i had to share a room again when I thought I would have it to myself. Long Beach 04/02/2004 Mary Livingston and Jan Kegelman and I had dinner at that place with the zillion beers. They brought the wrong beer and I had them fix it. I wanted celebration pale ale. We got it, but Mary liked the one they brought by mistake. Long Beach 04/01/2004 Mary Livingston and I had dinner at that beer joint. The yard long or something like that. Long Beach 03/31/2004 Arizona State University 03/29/2004 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/28/2004 There was a couple there that walked from the fire station to the canal road. I saw them. They said they hadn't been in the valley for three years. They saw the Wood duck before I got there. McQueen and Elliot Roads 03/27/2004 I'm surprised that I haven't made an entry here for over a YEAR! I thought I occasionally popped one in. Well, there are still some green fields there behind the high school and stuff. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/27/2004 After that long hike at Usery Mountain, I took Noodles to Elliot and Cooper Roads. Warm day but breezy. We stayed a while to get 28 species. Place Life Lister in the Wood Duck today. He was very pretty indeed. Usery Mountain Park 03/27/2004 Steve and Dits and i went in the morning and we hiked the seven miles all around the place. A lot of people. Some Boy Scouts. A bee stung me lightly on the stomach and we decided to move away from their hive. This is the same place where Dits got stung and dropped his stick and knocked off the compass. Saw a striped snake. Took pictures of plants. Went back to Dits's afterwards and talked to shirley and junk. Arizona State University 03/26/2004 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/21/2004 Windy. Nice. At one point hundreds of ducks appeared in the sky. Some quite high. Talked to a guy in the truck there. He said he saw a Harris's hawk, but then again he didn't know what a killdeer was. He had been working there for two years. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/20/2004 Dr. Pinkava was there again. We birded for a long time. He said he was 70 years old. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 03/20/2004 Noodles went swimming a little. It's been a while and she needed the bath. I forgot to enter this yesterday and I forget what birds we saw. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/14/2004 Some couple was there. They had a pair of nature views or something. Just one. She seemed fairly knowledgeable. Noodles walked a long ways. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/13/2004 Steve and Sonny came with me and Noodles. Saw Dr. Pinkava there and we spent a long time looking at the birds. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/07/2004 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 03/07/2004 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/29/2004 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 02/29/2004 Larry and Nancy were just leaving as I arrived. I went to their house after Noodles and I finished and had a beer. Poor Noodles was a little thirsty and I forgot to give her any water at Larry's. Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/28/2004 I went alone (without Noodles) because I was coming back from hiking at Usery and I wanted to find that health place where I could get my high blood pressure medicine. It felt funny to go without little Noodles. Usery Mountain Park 02/28/2004 Ditsworth and a guy named Ash and I went. Just powered up to the wind cave and back down. I started at 5:30 for Dits's. Coyote in the road unafraid of us. Arizona State University 02/24/2004 At Apache Boulevard and Rural Road when I was driving to work. He had a FISH in his talons. Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/21/2004 Three ladies were there in two cars and they showed me the bw teal, the first I've seen in a while. Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/15/2004 Good long walk for Noodles. Lots of birds. Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/14/2004 Saw Ruth Wineberg there and Suzanne Steadman with Herb Fibel herbertsfibel@aol.com Ruth met Noodles. I went to pond six and showed them all a snipe that I had spotted. Arizona State University 02/10/2004 Raven over the parking lot across the street from Mariposa. Gila woodpecker over by psych building. Several ravens seen recently here. Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/08/2004 Drove over and locked the truck and Noodles and I walked. Pima Canyon 02/07/2004 this was the time Steve and his friend Dana went and we yelled at the bikes and the guy argued back and later came back and jumped over the rocks where we were. What an asshole. Kind of ruined the hike for me and it was good hike and I was in a good mood. Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/31/2004 I left a note for the bum: "Burying one's own excrement shows respect for others and oneself. Thank you." Noodles really wanted to walk a lot. Tempe Town Lake 01/27/2004 On the way to tax preparation at Middleton's. One flying alone and then a big flock at the east end of Town Lake. Pima Canyon 01/25/2004 Dits and I went and Steve didn't come. Last night the rover landed on mars. The second in a week or two. Not Spirit, but Opportunity. We walked up the Mormon Trail and then over to the tunnel on National. It RAINED the whole time, but stopped for the way back. Afterwards, we looked at Martian pictures on line and then looked at my palindromes and listened to the cd song byToo Slim and Riders in the Sky on palindromes. Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/24/2004 Mud on the road. I forgot and drove down there. The truck would slide towards the canal no matter how slow you went. I finally powered the truck over some bushes and made it out of there. I got mud on my car. Bum on a bike. Noodles and I walked. Tempe Town Lake 01/19/2004 I went to Mariposa Hall and met Zsolt Klamar to give him his books and junk and to write offer letters and I took Noodles. Afterwards, I went to Tempe town lake. Generic Place in Chandler 01/18/2004 No Notes Entered Mount Lemmon 01/17/2004 Only four birds up there. Lots of juncos and one chickadee. It was cold. Jeff and I drove up. We saw the fire damage, which didn't seem as devastating as the news reports -- at least from the highway. A lot of stuff burned. One look and you laugh at the idea that thinning would have helped. Pretty cold up there and it snowed a little. Snow on the road. I slipped over where we saw the red-faced warbler last time. It was a nasty spill and very sudden. The fire would skip places and leave them alone. Weird -- like burn only one side of a tree. I slipped on that Bear Wallow Road on the ice and fell heavily. Tucson Arizona 01/17/2004 We went to Chuy's which sucks because of bad food. otherwise a nice raunchy place. We went on mt lemmon and you can check this out in this database. We played piano. We drank wine and beer. The wine and beer were very very good. Generic Place in Chandler 01/17/2004 Actually there were several. Usery Mountain Park 01/11/2004 WIND CAVE. Got up from my bed out in the back yard at 5:30 and left for Dits's with Steve at 6:30. Had to get gas. We hiked clean to the top. Some idiot had made white v's like arrows on all the rocks up on the trail there. What a pig. White-throated swifts rocketed past us while we were on top. They made a jet-like noise. Very powerful birds and bigger than I used to think. Only a four-mile hike in and out and fairly easy even with the 2000-foot climb in elevation. I brought one of those peach fizzies water -- well, actually Steve called at six and said he was going to the store so I had him get me some. I love that fizzy water. There was a guy on top and we talked to him. Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/10/2004 Noodles and I went. There were two guys there with a tree experts sign on their cherrypicker truck. They were lounging there by where the peregrines get seen. Pima Canyon 01/04/2004 Dits and Steve and I. Met at my house at 7:00 AM and left for Pima Canyon at 7:30. Pretty cold. Dits had a GPS device. We went up on the Ridge Line Trail high. Then we went up the Mormon trail and went up a wash and cooked lunch. I had ramen and kippered herring. We cooked at the place where Steve and Sonny buried a treasure. Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/03/2004 Noodles and I went to find my keys. I thought I might have left them there. Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/01/2004 No Notes Entered Boyce Thompson Arboretum 12/31/2003 I picked up Larry and Nancy after I was on my way and phoned them about going. Noodles came too. We went to the herb garden where the birding was best. The tree would be empty and then full, a strategy for feeding that confuses predators. Very birdy. Very good trip. Two Life Listers! Larry saw a plumbeous vireo and a mountain chickadee as well. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/30/2003 Cold day. Noodles and I went. I'm still on Christmas vacation. Generic Place in Chandler 12/29/2003 Noodles and I drove out. Very nice trip to the dump and McQueen and Price and the pump and the dump. A COYOTE was by the dump canal. He had a very bushy tail. An orange bushy tail like a giant fox's. Pima Canyon 12/28/2003 Steve and I went there around one o'clock and we just cooked up there near Javelina Canyon. I cooked canned spaghetti and he had roast beef hash. It was pretty cold there. Boyce Thompson Arboretum 12/26/2003 Noodles walked all over and finally clean over the mountain to the lake and back. Sniffed. I saw a weird sparrow. Fox? It was streaked and twitchy. Maybe it was only a song sparrow. Lots of birds by the herb garden. Kind of a cool day. Forecast said rain, but none. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/25/2003 Christmas Day. Noodles and I went. First bird: Anna's Hummingbird. Got beer glasses from Steve and Sherry. I got Steve socks and Sonny a digital camera with .10 megapixels. It doesn't work. Noodles pooped in the outdoor bed for some reason and we slept in. Mostly overcast today but with some nice sunshine too. Mad cow disease in Washington. I'm going to get out of the stock market. Generic Place in Chandler 12/24/2003 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/20/2003 Noodles and I went at noon or so? plenty of water. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/14/2003 Saddam Hussein was captured today. Too bad Bush had to get 500 of our soldiers killed just to clear his Daddy's marred legacy. Noodles and I went to e & c late today. LOTS OF WATER. I think I may go to the Dean's xmas party as she is quitting LIKE ME! I did. I went. Bill virdinni brought beer. All sam adams! Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/13/2003 Noodles and I went early. Steve called and wanted me to take Sonny somewhere, but Sherry took him. Steve was on a hike with his hiking club. I got Noodles' incontinence medicine and the groomers were being really mean to a little dog and I complained. I had the vet call me and I squealed on them for being mean to the little dog. Pima Canyon 12/07/2003 Dits and Steve and i went. I woke up at three AM and had a sip of beer -- a sam adams -- what was left as I was sleeping outside with Noodles and then I went back to bed to rest and sleep but then I wanted some more Sam Adams and I got up and had one. Noodles was under a blanket and lying on her special down pillow. I uncovered her, picked her up, and came inside. Dits came by at six. I showed him my new piano. Steve was forty minutes late and we went hiking. Chandler Sewage Ponds 11/30/2003 the place was closed but we could see shovelers in there. then we went to another lake. there were dogs there. husky shepard mix barking. full of ruddy ducks we Saw rs flicker and lh shrike and road runners out in the desert too. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/28/2003 JEFF AND I WENT. IT WAS THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 11/28/2003 JEFF AND I WENT. IT WAS THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING. LONG WALK AROUND THE JOINT AND NOODLES DID FINE, JUST FINE. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/27/2003 Thanksgiving day and the 450th trip to Elliot and Cooper Roads. Windy. Few birds. Plenty of water really. Pima Canyon 11/23/2003 Steve and I went there at a little after seven in the morning. We took his toyota. We Walked up the road and turned left to beverly? and then onto an animal trail where we found a tortoise shell. Photographed it. Climbed then quite high and made it back down to the stone houses. Good high hike way the hell up there. Excellent. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/22/2003 Noodles and i didn't camp out last night because it was going to be cold, but when I got up, it wasn't that bad. A little windy. TONS OF WATER. Forty years ago today, I was in the MU at ASU when I heard that John F. Kennedy had been assassinated. Pima Canyon 11/16/2003 Steve and Dits and I. Got up at 5:30 and Dits was here by six. Steve was 15 minutes late. I slept out back with Noodles on the patio. Walked about six miles. Oh, we walked. We went high up on the hills and then to the secret water hole which was very birdy. We hiked up to a mine too and I found some malachite. Excellent hike. Oh, I wore my black Levi "jacket" and I found that I needed it as it was cold and I never had to take if off much to my surprise. I was sure I'd get hot. People, including Ditsworth, were hiking with long pants. It sprinkled just a tiny bit. My white tennis shoes don't hurt anymore by the way. This makes five good long hikes with them. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/15/2003 Sonny and Steve and Noodles and I went. Sonny jumped the fence on the far right where it's easy and got a water sample. That's why they came. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/11/2003 Saw a coyote out there and I took his picture. He was by pond 10 -- on the north shore. NEW SIGN SAYING: The Town of Gilbert has decreased the volume of water to this facility indefinitely. Migratory birds can be oserved by visiting the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch located at the south east corner of Greenfield Road and Guadalupe Road. Thank you. Generic Highway 11/10/2003 In Sonoita, Mexico. There were many of them in a big spiraling cone. Short tails. these were not turkey vultures. Organ Pipe National Monument 11/10/2003 Driving home from Estero Morua. Noodles and me. Estero Morua 11/08/2003 Noodles and I went alone. thought the battery was dead but it was okay. Marbled Godwits crossed the road. Noodles and I have gone 21 times together I believe, which doesn't sound like much. Someone camping on the point. There was a hum from shrimp boats out at sea but otherwise no noise. Saw the Andromeda Galaxy, which I haven't seen for a long time. The Square of Pegasus was up there. Nice weather. Generic Highway 11/05/2003 Inthe pond behind Macayo's on Dobson and Baseline. Just whipped off the road on the way home from work to see these. Lots of ring-necked ducks. Several widgeons. Peace Park 11/04/2003 I went to get coffee at the swag market and I stopped here with my binocs. When I got to the Swag Market, I had no money for coffee. Pima Canyon 11/02/2003 Dits and Steve and I went. We went down the Javelina Trail. Cool out. Only drank a little. Rat turds in the arroyo. Caves. bum at the end of the trail. girl had a bad dog. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/01/2003 Noodles and I went here and it was cloudy and it seems like the first day of winter or something as it was a hundred degrees or more last week. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 11/01/2003 It rained a little and we went back. Just sprinkled. Peace Park 10/31/2003 whipped over to look for pf love birds. It's Halloween! Generic Place in Mesa 10/29/2003 Wendy called me tonight from Boise and said she saw a fabulous duck that she couldn't identify. Arizona State University 10/29/2003 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/26/2003 This was the time that Christopher and Elena came here and we went to Rosita's the night before. Then they had to catch a plane and so we went to Elliot and Cooper roads early early. The BB whistling ducks weren't there. But Christopher got the Abert's towhee as a lifer and the verdin and junk. Then, we went to the water ranch for more lifers and junk. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 10/26/2003 Christopher and Elena got life listers. Yellow-headed blackbird, burrowing owl and green heron and peach-faced love birdnot to mention the inca dove at my house. Noodles did well walking around. SEE ELLIOT AND COOPER FOR MORE ON TODAY. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/25/2003 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 10/25/2003 Took Noodles there. Peace Park 10/23/2003 I just whipped over here and got the first yr warbler in the season and a sapsucker as well. 2125 North Villas Lane 10/21/2003 No Notes Entered Ensenada 10/19/2003 I had to make another card here for the same trip because the black oystercatcher is a life-lister. I need a trip sort to solve this problem!! Then everything will be Perfect! Ensenada 10/18/2003 This is the time I flew to San Diego and then drove down Baja to Ensenada, Mexico for Michelle's wedding. I need to write an essay on this trip. I BOUGHT A SUIT. San Diego was a pit. There was trash all along all the highways and I got a motel 6 in the middle of town and oh what a rat hole it was. I couldn't even find a place to get a six-pack for my room which smelled like the insides of a four-pack-a-day smoker although it was a no smoking room. I couldn't get any pop to drink either. It took forever to find the place. the car rental people said they'd pick me up when I got there, but they were closed and I was stranded. i found another place to rent a car kind of by a miracle. What a mess. Half of the places warned you that you would be horse whipped if you took their car into Mexico. Peace Park 10/16/2003 I took Beth over but we didn't see any peach-faced love birds. Peace Park 10/15/2003 I drove over during work cause I had to go to data control. I let some girl use my binocs. Generic Place in Chandler 10/10/2003 Saw these at Steve's house as we got ready to go to the Superstitions. Superstitions 10/10/2003 First Water trailhead. Camped two nights: Friday night and Saturday night. Jeff, Steve, Sonny, Tom Ditsworth, Jim Ditsworth, and Tom Cole (me) went. We saw bats. We saw rough-looking prospectors. Camped just beyond the stock tank and then the next night down boulder canyon. Pima Canyon 10/05/2003 I arrived at a quarter to two in the afternoon. I had been working on my Elliot and Cooper report and so I was late. It was over a hundred degrees. I walked down Desert Classic and then took Beverly Canyon to Pima Canyon, which was VERY quiet, and walked to the water tank where I ate my sandwich. Few people there. Only an occasional breeze, but very nice. Afterwards I went to Rio Salado Brewery and there was a guy there singing ribbled British ditties. I sang a couple to the guys myself and got some good laughs. Drank two beers and went home and here I am. Noodles was very happy when I got back. She danced and pranced and barked. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/03/2003 I was going to Larry's house and I was so early that I stopped by here and watched some birds. Then I got back on the freeway. You see, I left work a little early, but then I was too early. Steve came over to Larry's. We played guitar. Ate pizza. I drank stone ipa. Argued about ronny reagan. Nancy and larry are going to south africa on Tuesday. 2125 North Villas Lane 10/01/2003 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 09/28/2003 Got up and left at six and got to South Mountain at 6:30. Ditsworth and Steve and Me. We saw the Marcos de Niza rock and went up that trail. We found a small trail that led to Pima Canyon and we took the arroyo back. A rattlesnake rattled in the bushes and I saw him under a rock. I believe it was a black-tailed rattler. Ditsworth put his stick in there and the snake bit it, leaving two teeth holes in the soft rubbery end. Also I found some shells from the sea of cortez up there. Perhaps -- just perhaps some Indian left them there a thousand years ago. Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/27/2003 Noodles and I went at 6:30 in the morning or so. Well seven maybe. Pima Canyon 09/21/2003 Ditsworth and Steve and I went to Fat Man's Pass. We saw no snakes. I brought too much water. I have my new Walmart white tennis shoes that hurt a little. Drank lots of water because it kind of got hot. We went up Pima Arroyo all the way and took the Mormon Trail back. Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/20/2003 Noodles and I went. Eight dead toads in the toad trap there. Too bad for the toadies. They get trapped and dry up there. Superstitions 09/14/2003 This was the time we hiked ten hours thinking it would be a shorter hike. We didn't bring enough water. Went to the cliff dwellings. Steve, Ditsworth, and I went. We climbed 3000 feet. We got a half gallon of water out of a tiny puddle. It kept refilling. There was a wonderful wind mill with shiny silver blades. It dribbled its water into a trough, behind which was a stand of green lily-like reeds. There were wasps in the trough of clear water. It was a long drive down dirt roads to the trailhead. On the way out we saw a truck kind of in our way on the dirt road. We were looking at a big Cooper's Hawk and we asked what the guys in the truck were looking at. They said there was a deer over there. Then I noticed one of them had a bow. I hope the deer got away. I had an O'doul's Near Beer on the drive back. It was delicious. Ditsworth and then the rest of us now refer to this as the DEATH MARCH. death march Tempe Town Lake 09/13/2003 Sonny went to an art class and Steve and I climbed Tempe Butte and then went to the lake. We saw a guy catch a large-mouth bass. There were dumb tiles that said things like: "I fyou can dig a hole in the water, you will become famous." Stupid stuff. really dumb. 2125 North Villas Lane 09/08/2003 No Notes Entered Usery Mountain Park 09/07/2003 Got up at 4:30 to go here with Steve and Ditsworth. Coyotes calling as we stood at the parking lot. Lots of them. Also c-b thrashers at the same time. What desert music. Walked Seven Miles all around the mountain. 2125 North Villas Lane 09/05/2003 Got another ww dove in September. 2125 North Villas Lane 09/03/2003 GOT ANOTHER IN SEPTEMBER. IN THE BACK YARD. 2125 North Villas Lane 09/02/2003 Ah, another sighting for September of the WW dove. Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/01/2003 Steve and Sonny met me there and Steve was looking at the two eagles soaring high above. LIFE LIST FOR THIS PLACE. 2125 North Villas Lane 09/01/2003 Hah! This is the first WW dove recorded for September ever! Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/31/2003 It was hot but Noodles and I went. I backtracked to OSCO and got a bottle of cold water for Noodles. Then we went to the Water Ranch. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 08/31/2003 Noodles really went swimming in the water. We didn't go far but she sure got in the deep water to swim. I threw her in again. She had fun. 2125 North Villas Lane 8/27/2003 There's one out there right now. It's my birthday and it's seven thirty in the morning. My birthday and Mars is the closest it will be for 70,000 years or so. I'm recording the white-winged dove because it will disappear in September. Dang! forgot to look at Mars. Well tonight it will be the closest it will be in 70,000 years minus a day or whatever. I went to the Diamond Backs ball game. I got a sky box seat because someone won one. Pima Canyon 08/24/2003 Saw two Tiger Rattlers. Jesus we could have stepped on them both. One looked like granite. God we walked a long way. Clean to the highest view and back down the National Trail. Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/17/2003 Noodles enjoyed her walk very much. Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/16/2003 Noodles became very excited when we pulled up and started barking so eager was she to go on a walk here. Flagstaff House 08/09/2003 Sally and Kate were there. We went to the ice cave the next day, Sunday. Noodles cried when we left, but later I made it up to her. She knew it was a beautiful day and that the day before we had gone for a drive together and she got to go. She couldn't have made it at the ice cave. Saw a couple of these birds on sunday alone. Pygmy Nuthatches in the dozens on Sunday. Fewer Saturday. Very close encounters. Tame. Last year Christopher didn't see any I don't believe. Saw Bill and Betsy. Bill was driving to Church and we stopped him. He is NINETY or will be in a couple of days. No business driving. they said George had stomach problems. I saw Jim Bailey, who complained of the excessive logging up on the mountain. I went up there and they had cut kind of a lot. jim said I looked like Dad. Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/03/2003 I FORGOT TO BRING MY BINOCULARS. What a nut. Noodles and I saw birds. Boyce Thompson Arboretum 08/03/2003 Steve and Sonny and I. We left Noodles at home. Saw a huge red snake! Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/02/2003 Sally and Noodles and I went. She was here. Kate stayed at my house. Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/27/2003 Noodles and I went very early. 6:20 or so I think. Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/26/2003 Also went all over the place to the airport and everything. Nice canal running but the side were too steep for noodles to go in. Arizona State University 07/23/2003 Saw him a couple of weeks later too in the same place while I was driving. Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/19/2003 Noodles and I went. The leasts are back if they aren't WESTERNS! YOU IKNOW, CHECK THE GRAPH: I'VE NEVER SEEN A LEAST IN JUNE!!! Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 07/19/2003 Surprised to see few people here. Noodles went wading shoulders deep. She loved it. She swam over beyond the Great Blue Heron signs. Big TV. Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/11/2003 got back from Cayman yesterday and went here tennish. Noodles wouldn't walk out there. I called some lady because of the new sign there. All is well. Pima Canyon 07/11/2003 Walked up at 108 degrees and it was fine. I walked back and drove to tianguis, but left there and went to rio salado brewery. Wendy's Neighborhood in Dallas 07/10/2003 No Notes Entered Grand Cayman Island 07/07/2003 There are no gulls at all here. I got a ride out to the Botanic Park, where I saw a lot of birds. Big Iguanas too. I was going to go down in a big submarine with fifty people but a hurricane came and they had to move it to the other side of the island. Shoot. There was a deep sub bathyscape thing that cost 400 bucks but I chickened out. It went down a thousand feet or something. We saw a huge parrot fish. The snokeling was amazing. I went in a glass bottomed boat that was the next best thing to a submarine. We were swimming and saaw a big baracuda. Lots of fishes. A nasty-looking snake, sleek and gray brown and shiny, head flattened, slithered in front of me in the woods. The gy at Big Daddy's Liquor, a native, said they weren't poisonous. Grackes, large, small, both with keeled tails and yellow eyes yet one with a drooping thain and dark eye. There are bar stools in the pool by the bar. I felt people were getting drunk and peeing in there. Kinda gross. 25 species of fish snorkeling. there were street names like GRAPE AVENUE AND MAHOGONY WAY. Also Wahoo Cl. I don't know what Cl is. Saw a GENERIC TERN but I will have to create a card for that. Now I have. See the generic tern? Good. I had to stop in at an internet cafe to send and read some info at work. Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/04/2003 Noodles and I went. No birds especially. The Kestrels were on the power pole where the Peregrine Falcons usually sit. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 07/04/2003 That stream was running. You know, the one that you see when you first arrive? Noodles waded in it! Then we went back home! Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/28/2003 Just some killdeers and junk Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 06/28/2003 Noodles swam and actually went into deep water on her own when we went to the pond just beyond the great blue heron gates. Saw swallows and hummer. Couldn't tell: bc or anna's. Pima Canyon 06/28/2003 Went for a short walk up there. Just g. quail and m. doves. 111 degrees. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/21/2003 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 06/21/2003 Noodles waded a little but didn't swim because she had just had a bath. A bc night-heron flew by and later we saw an immature very tame right on the shore. Pima Canyon 06/15/2003 This was after recording with Carlos and Scott five hours on a Brazilian song. I went at three thirty or so. Oh, it was 108 degrees. I went up to the water tank. It took twenty minutes to hoof it back downhill on the road. Went to rio salado brewery afterwards. Called Wendy and we may go to Grand Cayman. Yah. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/14/2003 Very dry indeed. Then, I took Noodles to the water ranch. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 6/14/2003 Noodles went swimming and she enjoyed it. I had no towel. Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/07/2003 Nooldes and I went. This was the day that Scott and Carlos came over-- well, they haven't yet Generic Place in Chandler 06/01/2003 The dump area by the pump. Noodles wouldn't swim in the beautiful water. We followed the water in the truck for miles. So cool and green. What scenery! amazing old fields that had become desert again ages ago. Pima Canyon 06/01/2003 Went on a little heat walk. A couple of other people were doing it it seemed. 104 degrees. Nice breeze. Went to Rio Salado Brewery afterwards and they had a blues band in there and then some guy with a weird Goya guitar. He was buddhist. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/31/2003 Noodles and I went. Next week is f.... registration week! Noodles pooped. Then we went to guad and greenfield. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 05/31/2003 Noodles went swimming. Nice running water with cool green rushes. She walked all the way around the entire place and over the bridge clean around there and back again etc. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/25/2003 Few birds. Log H shrike. bnstilt, killdeer, mallard, verdin. dullsville. heard a gambel's quail. Cotton Fields Chandler 05/25/2003 Noodles and I stopped by. There is no cotton field out here anymore. I think Hedi Najafi lives in the apartment complex that is now here. We went in back. I don't think we shall return. It's been twelve years since we have recorded a trip here. Pima Canyon 05/25/2003 Memorial day. Saw the Indy 500. As usual a bore. Worked on the Tascam 224 stuff and Deck a little. Went here at about three o'clock and hiked up to the water tank. Went back on the road and it seemed to take a long time. Almost no one there. Bees in the paloverdes. It's really nice out here. I love it. Generic Place in Chandler 05/24/2003 This was at the pump. Wendy called while I was out there and a zillion flies came into the truck. Noodles jumped in the cool rushing water. Pump was running like mad. Very nice. Boyce Thompson Arboretum 05/23/2003 It's Friday and I have the day off and I didn't have to take Sonny to school so Noodles and I went here. Noodles seemed a little tired but made it clean up the hill and around to Ayer Lake, where she went swimming in the shallows. She had already swum at that fork in the trail where you can go down to the creek. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/22/2003 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 05/22/2003 It wasn't as hot as advertised. Took the week off and did nothing! I just walked down to the tank and the little waterhole for wildlife down the wash. It was very nice. I had my camel pack. Some flies. Very nice indeed. Also I brought a margarita in a can. Drank it afterwards and went to Rio Salado Brewery. Pima Canyon 05/21/2003 Cactus wrens going ape with curve-billed thrashers. Nice wilse's. gt towhee's tail was slick algae green. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/20/2003 I'm on vacation and Noodles and I went here and I collected a urine sample because Noodles wet the bed twice in a row. TONS OF A TOWHEES! ZILLIONS! Tucson Arizona 05/18/2003 this was the second trip to mt lemmon except it's now the next day when I leave. I saw a terrible wreck on the way back. Mount Lemmon 05/17/2003 Oh, what a big time we had! I drove down with Noodles and was a little late. I got there at 9:20 or so and we went up Mount Lemmon. We saw the black phoebe at a lower alt. Then, we went to a place where the Red-faced Warblers were singing all over but we could not SEE any. The bird watchers there said they'd seen them several times just a little while ago and to be patient. No luck, Finally, we went to Bear Wallow Road and got the Red-faced Warbler. I took a movie of him. It seemed a weight was lifted from my shoulders because I didn't have to worry about getting that bird. Jeff and I went to eat at El Mezón. yes with a Z. We drank beer and wine. Apocalypse Now was on TV but I fell asleep on the couch. I awoke and noodles was sleeping at my feet. i was cold, so i used a blanket Jeff had left there. Steve woke us at 6:30 with a phone call. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/11/2003 Lots of Abert's towhees. ALL THE DUCKS AND LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS ARE GONE GONE GONE!!! JUST SOME MALLARDS AND ONE BNSTILT. Pima Canyon 05/11/2003 WENT TO RIO SALADO BREWERY AFTERWARDS. WENT TO THE CANYON AT AROUND 2:00 PM 2125 North Villas Lane 05/10/2003 It is now July 19,2003 and I saw a few days ago at asu a ww dove who was fluffling his back like an angry dog. It was a courtship display. Arizona State University 05/09/2003 At the Timber Wolf. 2125 North Villas Lane 05/09/2003 They're everywhere!!! 2125 North Villas Lane 05/05/2003 Ah, out at my finch feeder! At last! Yesterday I caught Noodles eating an inca dove under my computer desk. Weird. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/04/2003 Found a toad half dried up and poured water on him. He was moving some. I put him in a gopher hole and covered him with a paper towel and soaked it and the ground and him. I'm not sure he will survive. I'll Check later. UPDATE: I CHECKED. He left the hole. he was dried up and dead dead dead! Tempe Town Lake 05/04/2003 I went to see the Two Towers near Bob Ball Park and then I went to the lake. Gilbert and Riggs Roads 05/04/2003 What a bullock's! Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/03/2003 KENTUCKY DERBY DAY AGAIN. Noodles and I went. Two years now since I hurt my leg. Saw lbdows, gb herons, abert's tows, etc. Getting warm. Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/27/2003 Hundreds of dowitchers! Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 04/27/2003 Noodles and I walked a long way. Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/26/2003 we went everywhere today Gilbert and Riggs Roads 04/26/2003 At both places ruddy ducks were common. Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/25/2003 There was a guy there with idaho plates and he left right away. cin teals , lbdow, verdin etc. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 04/25/2003 Noodles got some cactus in her foot. I finally pulled it out and she was happy again and walkin'! She went swimming about four times!!! Chandler Sewage Ponds 04/24/2003 On vacation and I went to Maricopa Road. At first I drove a long way the way the directions said but finally asked someone and found that you take a right at the equestian center road and drive down there. They were happy to let me bird watch there. Lots of tampax and playtex plastic dispensers in shoals along the shore. Curiously no condoms. A few tipperillo plastic mouthpieces. Generic Place Anywhere 04/24/2003 Along the canal somewhere near the Chandler Sewage Ponds on a dirt road. Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/23/2003 Saw about 23 species easy, but no shovels, leasts, cins, rn ducks, etc. Mount Ord 4/21/2003 Talking five days off!!! Writing a book. Went to other places so check out this date and day to see them. Larry and Nancy and I went. I left Noodles at home. Slept out last night and got up before five so I could get to Larry's at six. Good early start. Dang! no acorn wp's no wb nuthatches, no vireos, no band-tailed pigeons. Been three years since we went up there. Generic Place Anywhere 04/21/2003 On the trip to MOUNT ORD. Most all of these were seen at mesquite wash, the rest driving along to there or back from there. We stopped at Mesquite Wash and got the lazuli and lark sparrows and others. Most were in the high dead trees. Very nice. Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/20/2003 There was a couple from New Jersey there. I showed them the Abert's towhee and other birds including the cinnamon teal. Noodles was there and very nice indeed. 2125 North Villas Lane 4/19/2003 This is Saturday and I'm taking a week off to write The Verb Tense Book. this the first ww dove of the season out in my back yard. Pima Canyon 04/13/2003 There were no bt sparrows or bt gnatcatchers. Verdins with mating call. this has been going on for a week or two at least. This was the day Sonny let the white helmeted pigeon out of the coop. We got tired and against Steve's protests went back to the car. It was a good hike. I walked toward the tunnel, but was called back as Sonny and his friend didn't want to go any farther. Generic Place in Chandler 04/07/2003 COMING BACK FROM DRIVING SONNY TO SCHOOL. HE WAS ON THE WIRES AT RAY AND DOBSON OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. FIRST OF THE YEAR. sonny was at the third house down so I couldn't find him 2125 North Villas Lane 04/07/2003 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 04/06/2003 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/05/2003 I have a cold. There was a cat in the left hand pond, a black thing and avocets. gb heron. etc. Lots of dows. Generic Place Anywhere 04/05/2003 Out at Germann and Dobson. Drove all over kind of up near the san tans but we drove back, noodles and I. I was Sick. Generic Place Anywhere 04/01/2003 At bank one ball park. Some guy was pushing his kid that evening. People behind me said, "Busca macianos" or somehting. Swifts high over the park. Perfect cool weather. DBs won in the bottom of the tenth. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/30/2003 Most everything dry. Went on the way to Larry's and greenfield. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 03/30/2003 Went to Nancy and Larry's to return their Indian photos. We went here afterwords. Noodles swam, walked a long way. Generic Place Anywhere 03/29/2003 Noodles and I drove here again just like last weekend. Went to the dump for a moment too. It's GERMANN Road not germaine. Tempe Town Lake 03/23/2003 Noodles and I went there because I had to go to Tempe and pick up the teacher preference forms and schedule to figure out things for the start of a new cycle. LATER: BY THE WAY, it has been a tough start. It's always something and this time it was about four somethings. Sheesh! 2125 North Villas Lane 03/23/2003 After we saw the hawk we went to Gallagher's. L&N had just come back from India. Generic Place Anywhere 03/23/2003 What a whirling colorful cloud of Yellow-headed Blackbirds and RWBB at Germaine and Dobson field. Gad! Nearly boiled over me. I went all over the dump and clean down to memorial field. Looked at the oasis on Price and Queencreek or thereabouts and also found that old stock tank that was full of cattails and was a pretty nice pond. I could go fishing there. there was a dead cow out in the dump. Nice picture it would have made. I should have brought my camera. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/18/2003 Noodles and I. Oh, MILLIONS OF DOWITCHERS. most of the ducks except bwt and rnd. NRWSwallows everywhere. Generic Place in Chandler 03/18/2003 No Notes Entered Boyce Thompson Arboretum 03/17/2003 Rain and some hail even. We walked all around and Noodles had no trouble. Left two turds that I collected and discarded. The Demonstration Garden was good for birds. The Herb Garden didn't pan out too well. this was the time I noticed that the new Singer bird book had "broad-BELLIED" hummingbird written in there when no such bird exists. Sheesh. What confusion. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/16/2003 I worked on this bird program and put in the graph part for months today. I wanted to go to the river or something but it started to RAIN like CRAZY. Yes, my roof is leaking. Tom Jilek's repairs haven't worked so far. I went to Elliot and cooper and Noodles and I went under the overhang there and then the wind started blowing and driving the rain clean under it. There was lightning and I picked up Noodles and started back to the truck but it was raining so damned hard we were soaked by the time we got there. god we got wet. McQueen and Elliot Roads 03/15/2003 I'll bet you're surprised that I went here again. Well, I drove over the construction and dirt and looked around with Noodles. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/15/2003 Saw all the ducks except ring-necked, bwteal, and bbwhist. Avocets, dows, yr war, rwswal, etc. There was a guy there with a camera on the east side inside the thing and he said he was doing promo pictures for the riparian institute. He said they were going to put more in in chandler! Yay! 2125 North Villas Lane 03/15/2003 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 03/09/2003 Noodles and I went for a walk before I went to the superstitions. We saw the coopers hawk on a street light. Superstitions 03/09/2003 Went with Tom Ditsworth and Steve and Dana, a friend of steve's. We walked a heck of a ways. It was very beautiful. Found box turtles in the water. They were covered with moss and stank. Also monkey flowers. They look like monkeys. Weather: nice, sunny, bordering on hot. You know the day before yesterday I played guitar with Stephen Bennett! Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/08/2003 NOODLES AND STEVE AND I WENT. WE DON'T USUALLY SEE GILAS HERE. This is the EIGHTH TIME ONLY! There were cin teals, lbdows, etc. Verdin making weird mating call. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/02/2003 That one pond that had been left vacant for so long because of contruction had a lot of birds. Saw Roadrunner, black phoebe, etc. Noodles and I went to greenfield and guadalupe too. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 03/02/2003 Took a pretty good walk. Nice and cool/cold and sunny. Noodles walked a long way. TV's spectac. PB grebes. etc. Generic Place in Chandler 03/01/2003 There were actually two of these. God they were big and flying over Home Depot. Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/24/2003 Noodles and I went there and saw plenty of birds. There was water in the far northeast corner for the first time in years?? Lots of birds. RWS flying over our heads. greater yellowlegs, lb dows, etc. 2125 North Villas Lane 02/24/2003 No Notes Entered Generic Highway 02/23/2003 On Arizona Avenue when I was driving back from jeff's house in tucson. In the field. I don't see these that often so I'm writing him up. Tucson Arizona 02/23/2003 Jeff and I went to rillita wash to see these. Noodles and we walked along. lots of joggers, bikers, roller skaters. Good place. Even an old guy on a horse in the wash. Madera Canyon 02/22/2003 Jeff and Noodles and I went. See records for today and tomorrow. We drove to Madera canyon. There was a guy with a holstered automatic in one of the cabins. The clip was missing from it because I could see the rectangular hole in the butt of the gun. We sat around the feeder. We didn't go down any trails very much but later in the day Noodles and us went for a good hoof in the Saguaro National Monument. Generic Place Anywhere 02/22/2003 We drove from Madera Canyon towards Sonoita and went on 14 miles of dirt road and some scary drop-offs. This was on barb-wired prairie. Generic Place Anywhere 02/21/2003 Noodles and I went to the dump. We collected bottles and cans. Saw a red-tailed hawk. This was at the end of Germaine Road. I took the day off! Arizona State University 02/17/2003 I RESCUED this bird. I walked out at Mariposa to the courtyard and saw a bird's tail twitching straight up. I went over and saw that there was a bird stuck in a pcv pipe stuck in the ground. I pulled him out and saw that there was water in the bottom of the pipe and that the mocking bird had tried to get a drink, reached down too low, and slipped clean into the vertical pipe. He was stuck completely upside down and drowning in the water. He couldn't get out. I held him up and he was coughing and sputtering and freaking out. Who wouldn't. I said, "You poor thing!" and pet his head. Soon, he recovered and struggled and I let him go. He flew up on the roof. He was obviously in great shape and would survive this scary ordeal. 2125 North Villas Lane 02/16/2003 Gailynn and Bobby and I saw this bird while we were on the roof and Bobby was fixing my airconditioning. Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/15/2003 Saw c teals, gadwall, Generic Place in Chandler 02/14/2003 This was at Sonny's school when I took him in the morning. It was foggy at first and it had rained all night. There was one killdeer on the way in and two when I drove out. Sonny didn't want his valentine's card because his picture on it gave him a double chin. Boyce Thompson Arboretum 02/09/2003 Wendy and Noodles and I went. We Walked for two hours. Noodles did fine. It was brisk and cool and sunny. Not as many birds as we would have liked. Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/08/2003 TOM VERY IMPRESSED WITH WENDY'S COMMAND OF BIRD IDENTIFICATION. Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/02/2003 Steve and Noodles and I went and we saw lots of ducks and some lb dows and stuff. Pima Canyon 02/01/2003 The Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated on re-entry over Texas today. We to Pima Canyon with Tom Ditsworth. Steve and Sonny. I took Noodles and we walked quite a ways but then went back. Arizona State University 01/30/2003 A wonderful flock of them. I think they were bh cowbirds. Flying over the timberwolf. Generic Place Anywhere 01/29/2003 Unbelieveably dense flock over the 101 freeway. Huge. Like a million gnats. Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/25/2003 Noodles and I went and we saw lots of ducks and dowitchers and verdins and rw swallows. Today later it was the most BEAUTIFUL DAY you ever saw. WHAT WEATHER!!!! Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/19/2003 Walked around. Noodles left huge calling cards. The usual shorebirds. Today Dian from next door's daoughter told me that diane had died of breast cancer. Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/12/2003 There was an older lady and a daughter perhaps as old as I and I showed them the ruddy duck and the peregrine. They were beginners with good binocs. One was named Shirley. Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/11/2003 Noodles and I went. I thought I saw a snipe but it could have been a dowitcher. Lots of ducks. Noodles had a good walk. Pooped once. Pima Canyon 01/05/2003 Steve and I hiked to fat man's pass in the morning. There were kind of a lot of people there. I brought my new digital camera and took pictures. I ate corn nuts. Also, Steve called sally from there and talked about his book. I felt very old as I tried to pull myself up over a huge rock above a cliff and found my arms week and myself clumsy. Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/01/2003 still on vacation Estero Morua 12/29/2002 went 28, 29, came back the 30. Typing (loosely) from my beach book notes: I forgot: 1. flashlights 2. rum. Started down at 12:18 and reach Ajo at 2:15. Halfway to Puerto Peñasco at 4:15. We took the new road to Caborca and didn't go through town at all. Behemia at Vasquez's at Sonoita was seven bucks a six-pack. Spectacular flamin' sunset and clouds anglin' over a steel blue sea. No one here but a couple over across the way. So quiet I can hear my brain hum. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/26/2002 there were all the ducks and a lady from vancouver there. yr warblers, wc spars, rwswalls, etc. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/25/2002 Christmas day. Jeff, Steve, Noodles. There was an old couple there from Seattle. He thought he was seeing northern shrikes and purple finches. McQueen and Elliot Roads 12/21/2002 no birds there really. I had to make my own road pretty much. this has got to be the last trip. What a shame. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/21/2002 Noodles and I went. It was cold. gads, dows, leasts, abert's tows, wc sparrows, etc. 2125 North Villas Lane 12/21/2002 Actually it was at warner and dobson, but close enough. McQueen and Elliot Roads 12/15/2002 Nothing here but a Loggerhead Shrike. Everything plowed up. Bye-bye! Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/15/2002 With NOODLES, of course! There were all the ducks there: ring neck, cin teal, gads, amer wiggies. also towhees and a SPARROW WITH A SPOT ON HIS BREAST. Lark? Don't know. McQueen and Elliot Roads 12/14/2002 This may be the last entry for this site as it will cease to exist soon. The canal is gone and the road is nearly gone and everything is plowed up. The meadowlarks were on the fence behind the school. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/14/2002 Saw least sandpipers -- lots of them. nrw swallows, green heron, male marsh hawk. and all kinds of junk Generic Place in Chandler 12/08/2002 No Notes Entered El Mirage Pond 12/07/2002 Jan Kegelman and I went because I drove her to the conference Rubbing ESL elbows at Estrella Mountain. Long-billed dows, leasts, coots, rt hawk. Arizona State University 12/03/2002 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 12/02/2002 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/29/2002 Jeff and Noodles and I went here. This is the day after Thanksgiving. These goldfinches were just little green birdies but some were yellow and more traditional lessers with the black cap and all. Kind of ratty. Saw all the gads and widgies and gwt's and dows and pinnies and shoves and mud hens and cinny t's and 'lards and r necks and gbh and nrw swalls. McQueen and Elliot Roads 11/28/2002 Thanksgiving. Noodles and I went. Male Harrier out in the field. Deleted the birds here to have a record and nothing more. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/28/2002 It's thanksgiving and I saw wigeons with Noodles and junk. LBD's etc. But I just put in generic here. Arizona State University 11/26/2002 These were at Mariposa Hall right up in the big trees by the pool. A number of them. Generic Place Anywhere 11/23/2002 No Notes Entered Generic Place Anywhere 11/22/2002 This is the day I took off work. While I was gone, Erica brought Pearl to work. The Salt Trail 11/22/2002 Chapter 15 The Salt TrailPARAGRAPH GOES HERENovember 22, 2002PARAGRAPH GOES HEREPARAGRAPH GOES HEREMy brother Tom and I stand on a hill and look down into Salt Trail Canyon just downstream of Bekihatso Wash and see as Don Talayesva did almost a century before, the Little Colorado “shining from the bottom.” This is an obvious passage to the river because from the rim you can see far in the distance below, radiant in the sunshine, the beckoning blue water and rushing white falls. Getting here has been something of a business. The route across the Reservation to the trailhead begins north of the Tuba City cutoff, already close to the middle of nowhere, and then travels on dirt roads over twenty-five miles of red rock and open space. Again, canyoneer Bill Orman has mailed me a detailed road log. But it has been a year or so since he has visited Salt Trail Canyon and he does not know that a small landmark marking a crucial turn, a red metal sign with a number, is no longer there. PARAGRAPH GOES HEREOn our way here, we have chosen a small side road, and though it was the wrong one, we eventually connect to the correct path and picked up Bill’s other carefully recorded landmarks: three beat up hogans on the left, a small cluster of whitish stones, the round rock foundation of an ancient hogan. Soon we pass a flock of sheep and a pack of sheep dogs tears across the desert to intercept us. A wildly woolly black and white, tassel-eared dog barks angrily at the door. Tom guns the engine but the fast, protective dogs follow a quarter of a mile before they are satisfied that the sheep are safe. I see them in the rearview mirror, no longer running, but still barking and sneezing and licking their noses in the cold air.PARAGRAPH GOES HERENow as we look into the canyon, a bright red Chevy pickup descends a hill and parks beside us. We chat for a while with the driver, a Navajo hired to watch the sheep. He knows quite a bit about the canyon. He tells us that when he was young he once descended Salt Trail Canyon and trekked all the way to the confluence and exited out Beamer and Tanner. He offers few details of the trip except that he had lost his wallet somewhere in the Gorge and that it was returned months later by ichthyologists studying the Little C’s fish.PARAGRAPH GOES HERE “It’s very steep in there,” he says, and points to a small cairn marking a faint trail into the wash above the drainage. “You start there and then go down to where it drops in. It’s very steep.”PARAGRAPH GOES HERE“You still go in there sometimes?”PARAGRAPH GOES HEREHe laughs. “I’m not in condition anymore.” PARAGRAPH GOES HERETalking with him is exceedingly pleasant. Right away I recognize the type. Typical of Navajos, he has a soft Indian accent and a modest manner which might have be mistaken for innocence but which is really only civility. PARAGRAPH GOES HERETom and I drag our packs out of the truck bed. They are heavy. We are packed for a winter hike. We’d spent an icy night near Flagstaff where the temperature had fallen to the low twenties and I don’t know how much warmer it will be as we descend into the Canyon. We are loaded with down coats, gloves, sweaters, wool caps, long fleece pants and heavy sub zero sleeping bags. Accustomed as I am to hiking in the heat, it is difficult to put aside the urge to pack a lot of water. We carry a gallon each. PARAGRAPH GOES HEREThe trail leads down between two tall cairns which stand like sentinels to the Gates of Mordor. From here the route fairly plunges over the edge. While hiking the Horse Trail with a big pack is challenging, and Blue the Spring Trail perilous, The Salt Trail is, well, medium dangerous, at least for us. There are few places to make a straight-air fall, but there are plenty of spots to stumble and break every bone in your body. For the hardcore canyoneer, the passage may seem a dreamboat with just enough challenge to make it interesting. For my brother and me, however, it’s different. With the heavy packs balanced on our backs, working down the chute of jumbled yellow blocks is difficult and scary. Tom, in particular, is at a disadvantage. Although he’s a strong hiker, he’s not all that fond of it; he has only come along because he wanted to look at birds. Those heavy, three-hundred-dollar Swift Audubon binoculars swinging from a strap around his neck aren’t helping much. Despite my warnings of what the terrain might be like, he had still imagined walking upright on something resembling a trail. In addition to this, he has ignored my advice and stuffed into his pack many glass bottles of Redhook beer. He has decanted a pint of another specialty brew into a plastic canteen stuffed into a side pocket. The cap is loose. A hoppy aroma follows in his wake. Worst of all, he is a studied doomsayer. At every precipice he imagines a fall and supplies with many adjectives the details of shocking compound fractures. If I point out an interesting rock, he is apt to make dark allusions to its precarious position and comment on the damage such a heavy object would do if it were to trundle over your skull. In the distant roaring of jets, he imagines approaching flash floods and often pauses to evoke appalling visions. All this crepe hanging fills me with dread. My mind is laden with morbid thoughts of tragedy and catastrophe. PARAGRAPH GOES HEREGranted, he isn’t enjoying my company much either. My pedagogical lectures on the use of a walking stick are wearing him down. I can’t help it. He considers the stick an inconvenience, just something else to carry or trip over. When I express my exasperation at his refusal to be instructed, he suggests a use for the stick not mentioned in the REI brochure.PARAGRAPH GOES HEREThere is also the matter of his shoes. Tom doesn’t have any heavy- duty boots so I have lent him my old pair of freshly-resoled Zamberlans. They are not working out. Behind me I hear a hair-raising shriek which chills my bones. I turn to see him doing a sloppy pirouette against the sky. Then he lunges for the rock and clings for dear life with both arms to a coffin of sandstone. I’m thinking that this prophet of doom may be right. “It’s the shoes,” he says. The new waffle tread, he claims, sticks to the rock. I don’t know what he’s talking about. “It’s like walking across glass with suction cups,” he insists. I think he’s crazy but we swap shoes. Surprisingly, this seems to help. PARAGRAPH GOES HEREBelow the worst of the boulder jam soars a towering pillar of Moencopi sandstone. Leaning against the base of this pillar was once a rock adorned with carvings and paintings of chickens, the Chicken Shrine. I see no pictures on any of the stones here now, but when Don Talayesva hiked the Salt Trail in 1912, he and his companions left offerings of dough and feathers here and crowed a little in order to assure success with poultry. The other places chronicled in Talayesva’s account are perhaps impossible to recognize because the descriptions of them are vague. The Chicken Shrine, however, was undoubtedly at the foot of this unmistakable spire. Along the way, I have looked for rock art or pottery, but there is nothing. Bill Orman has told me that he once discovered, a little off the route, a large portion of an Anasazi pot decorated with a jagged black and white design. He also described to me a place where straightened sticks, looking a little like arrow shafts, were concealed in a small cave. I find the spot and take some pictures. Just what these sticks mean or how old they are is a mystery, though they appear as if they are some kind of an offering. In another small alcove lower in the formation, I find another dowel-like stick.PARAGRAPH GOES HEREBill Orman has also told me that atop the Redwall above the river lie two large cairns of jasper. A Hopi friend told him that these were built by Hopi pilgrims over the centuries. At the end of a Salt Expedition each devotee would, it was said, leave a single stone. If this story is true, it might well provide a documentary record of the expeditions from ages hence. An archeologist could count the stones and arrive at the number of devotees who had made the journey. It would be reasonable to assume, of course, that the tradition of placing a rock did not necessarily start with the first or even the hundredth pilgrimage, but it would tell how many had worshipped at the Salt Mines or the Sipapu since the tradition started. Another Native American friend of Bill’s, however, said that these cairns looked like graves. The story behind these rock piles may never be known. Looking to Sun Chief does not help to resolve the question; Don Talayesva mentions nothing of these cairns in the record of his Salt Expedition.PARAGRAPH GOES HERETom and I descend farther into the canyon following cairns. It’s easy to stay on course and the canyon relents a little from time to time; we sometimes find ourselves striding along on an obvious trail. On the left-hand side of the canyon, for instance, a long, flat stone “walkway” traverses an overhang along a wall. Nearby, in a sandy little basin above a huge, dry plunge-pool, we drop our packs. Getting dark. We have passed small tinajas full of water, each of them reminding me of the weighty load I’m bearing on my back. I haven’t drunk one drop. We spread out our flimsy pads and drape our heavy Hollofil bags on top. PARAGRAPH GOES HEREWinter is a quiet time in the canyon. We have seen no lizards, no squirrels, not even insects, aside from a few pallid winged grasshoppers. Tom’s total bird count: one rock wren. We boil water on my tiny Honeybird gas stove and pour cups of boiling water into pouches of freeze-dried backpacker stroganoff and lasagna. I’ve left my wood burning stove at home. Though it is convenient on a long trek, on a short one it is not worth the hassle of keeping the thing stoked and putting up with soot begrimed pots. PARAGRAPH GOES HEREI prepare dinner with such care that I wonder a little if cooking is not the entire object of the hike. Into the lasagna I dump the entire contents of a small container of parmesan cheese which I stir in with chopsticks. I also add a square of real longhorn cheddar, a handful of dried mushrooms and a spoonful of dehydrated onions. I’ve got something else also. Wonderful Mexican Cotija cheese, salty and rich. I crumble a chunk over the top. To make it even better I include a special ingredient–chile pequin. This is in the form of an orange powder I have prepared by pulverizing the small, dried chiles in a coffee grinder and sifting the result through a wire mesh so that no remnants of the yellow seeds remain. Hotter than the hubs of Hell, a small pinch sprinkled over any dish will add the necessary fire. Every hiker has his own crazy ingredients; dreaming up recipes is half the fun. The light continues fading, and as we finish eating, I feel a sense of satisfaction that we have timed things well enough to avoid the misery of cooking in the dark. PARAGRAPH GOES HERESoon it is night. Satellites fall across the sky and the long white needles of meteors flare like sparks struck from flint. We watch Orion, the seven sisters, and just under the canopy of stars, the silent lights of passing planes which I imagine are glittering indecipherable codes, each spelling a single word over and over. We lean back against a stone drinking cold, bottled beer. Tom says he sees ghost lights twinkling like fireflies against the black shadow of a cliff and I’ll be damned if I don’t see them too. After a while the rising moon turns the sky into a mistiness full of light and depth, the cliffs emerge from the shadows, and the mysterious lights disappear.PARAGRAPH GOES HEREYou don’t see such shows of light either real or imagined with a roof over your head. My friends who don’t hike often seem appalled when they learn that I rarely pack a tent. They shudder to imagine a night uninsulated by at least a protective film of nylon. But having walked away from the machinery of civilization, I am completely at ease. The closest automobile is the one we left at the rim miles away. But aren’t there mountain lions, they ask. Not many, and what good would a tent do? The claws of a lion bent on my demise would slash like straight razors through any fabric. But snakes, they insist. Aren’t you afraid of snakes? Not really. Rattlers are uncommon here and I would count seeing one as a benefit. I have yet to see a pink Grand Canyon rattlesnake.PARAGRAPH GOES HEREAdmittedly, a snake bite here would be nothing but trouble. Tom’s doomsaying makes me dwell on this a little. What exactly are the chances of a rattlesnake bite? Aside from their scarcity, the fact that rattlesnakes are not particularly aggressive makes them unlikely assailants. I have read that the profile for a rattlesnake bite victim generally involves the following scenario: male in his twenties, drunk, holding snake. Most other bites occur when the dumbbell is trying to harass or kill the rattler. Stumbling upon a rattlesnake or sharing a sleeping bag with one are not common ways of getting bitten. PARAGRAPH GOES HEREI recall a snake story which occurred near the ultimate terminus of this very drainage. In his classic account of his 1907 expedition to Sonora’s Pinacate mountains, Camp-Fires on Desert and Lava, William Hornaday recounts an anecdote which suggests that even a snake in the hand may not at times be any more dangerous than one in the bush. The story regarded his geographer, Godfrey Sykes, who wished to set his aneroid for a more accurate measurement of the Pinacates’ elevation. The only sure way to do this was to walk to sea level, to the sandy shores of the Sea of Cortez, a couple dozen miles to the south. There he could set the pressure-altitude indicator of the device to zero. PARAGRAPH GOES HEREAside from being a good geographer and as respected a writer as Hornaday, Sykes was also one hell of a hiker. One morning, without telling the others, he set out for the sea. Having made the difficult crossing of the sand hills, he found walking across the flats easy. At the gulf, he adjusted the scale of his instrument and after gathering a few shell specimens for Hornaday, he started back. The full moon illuminated the way and he arrived at camp at half past one that morning. His pedometer measured 43 miles. There was, however, an incident on the way back. I best let Mr. Sykes tell the rest of it himself:PARAGRAPH GOES HERE“The net zoological result of my pasear was a few little birds of PARAGRAPH GOES HEREunknown species, a jackrabbit or two, a coyote and a little coiled up PARAGRAPH GOES HERErattlesnake evidently suffering from the chilly night air. I put my hand PARAGRAPH GOES HEREon the snake, thinking it was a shell, and never discovered what kind PARAGRAPH GOES HEREof snake it was until, as he slid through my fingers, I felt his rattles! At PARAGRAPH GOES HEREthat I bid him a hurried adieu and left him to find warmer quarters.” PARAGRAPH GOES HEREI know only one person who has suffered a rattlesnake bite. My friend of many years ago, Joe Kraig, was once bitten by a sidewinder. He was trying to force feed a pet rattler by stuffing a mouse down its throat. In the process he inadvertently inserted his thumb into the snake’s mouth. Both fangs got him. In this case the bite should not have been a dangerous one because, as a precaution, Joe had milked the sidewinder just before attempting to feed it. Joe squeezed his thumb and two pure red droplets appeared. No venom seemed to have been injected. Thinking he was in the clear, he put the snake back into its cage and went about his business. PARAGRAPH GOES HEREA half hour later he noticed a dark red line of discoloration moving slowly up his arm following the course of the radial artery. His wife called the hospital and soon he was greeted by the excited staff of doctors, nurses, candy stripers and janitors who were waiting eagerly at the emergency room door. By now Joe’s face was swelling up. I don’t remember whether he was given antivenin or not, but the snake nearly killed him. PARAGRAPH GOES HEREJoe was always careless with snakes. He was intrigued by them and collected all kinds. One day on the Reservation along I-40 near Sanders, Joe stopped to pick up a hitchhiker, a guy he knew, Emerson Roanhorse, who was hitchhiking along the frontage road. “Ya’ ‘at eeh, Emerson. Where you headed?” Emerson pointed ahead Navajo-style with a pursing of the lips and an upward nod of the head. “Goin’ to my Aunt’s, Joe. Right up here by Houck.” PARAGRAPH GOES HERE“How’s your sister doing, Emerson?” PARAGRAPH GOES HERE“She’s okay. Working at Whiting Brothers.”PARAGRAPH GOES HEREAt this point, Joe braked for a stop sign and a burlap bag slid out from under the front seat. A rattler slithered out. As a general thing, Navajo men are not much shaken by rattlesnakes, but the unexpected appearance of one inside a car is enough to test anyone’s resolve. Joe’s passenger must have weighed two hundred pounds, but he went through the window like a jackrabbit. The window was rolled half way up and how he got through without breaking the glass is hard to say. PARAGRAPH GOES HEREJoe was immediately contrite. “Damn, I’m sorry, Emerson. I didn’t know that would happen. Hang on. I’ll resack him.PARAGRAPH GOES HERE“Ah, Ch’iidii! You dumb bastard. Why don’t you tell me you got a snake in there. Are you crazy?” PARAGRAPH GOES HERE“Sorry. Sorry.”PARAGRAPH GOES HEREEmerson cooled down. PARAGRAPH GOES HERE“Just put him back in the bag. Hurry up. I’m already missing dinner.” PARAGRAPH GOES HERE Another time, on holiday, Joe was tubing down the Salt River near Phoenix when he came upon a fine black and yellow king snake in the brush along the shore. Enthusiastically, he grabbed it and wrapped it around his neck and began paddling to meet his party of friends at an island in the middle of the stream. Now the king snake has a reputation for being an amiable creature, a fair pet as far as snakes go, but this one opened its mouth and grabbed the soft flesh of Joe’s throat like the clamp on a jumper cable. At the island Joe paced up and down the shore cradling the snake, followed by his sympathetic companions.PARAGRAPH GOES HEREMeanwhile, floating clusters of tubers, many beery and unsteady on their feet, arrived at the island full of pitying interest. A crowd began to gather. Joe and his snake had become a riparian attraction. “Over here!” someone would yell across the water. “A guy’s got a snake on him. Hangin’ on his throat!” PARAGRAPH GOES HERE“No shit?” Then, “Damn! I’m stuck in an eddy. Don’t let him get away. I’ll be right there.” (The sound of furious paddling)PARAGRAPH GOES HEREJoe was thinking that he could do without a portion of this attention. His main concern was how to dislodge the snake without injuring it. Every one of the hundred and ten spectators, though, had the same idea. “Burn him off!” they cried. “Here!” and they each thrust a flaming Bic lighter in Joe’s face. PARAGRAPH GOES HEREEven with the snake hanging painfully from his neck, Joe couldn’t help but marvel at the excitability of these wet, slightly-toasted individuals. Almost all of them had lighters which they adjusted so that a foot of orange flame gushed out. Inspired by many twelve packs, they were fired with an earnest desire to serve him, a boozy sympathy, a philanthropic zeal almost. But at this point all Joe wanted was for them to go away. “Jump in the water,” one suggested. “Drown the sonofabitch off.”PARAGRAPH GOES HEREThat seemed like a fair idea. Joe jumped in. PARAGRAPH GOES HEREIn the annals of human arrogance there is scarcely an example which equals Joe Kraig’s attempt to hold his breath longer than a king snake. In short, he couldn’t do it, and these two marvels of nature remained connected until the reptile tired of the game and dropped off of its own accord. PARAGRAPH GOES HEREIn the morning Tom and I leave our packs at our camp in the wash and trek down to a deep fissure with huge impassable pour-offs. The route crosses the wash above and ascends in the form of a faint trail to the top of the Redwall where it continues a long pace before dropping down to the river. We trudge up the steep slope. Below we see the shining water. The bluest river in the world? I have no doubt, though as I have mentioned, it has another face when it runs a walnut brown and at the confluence it mixes with the green water of the Big Colorado the way cream swirls into coffee. PARAGRAPH GOES HEREWe’ve been here long enough. I’ve promised my young son that I’ll stay closer to home. He worries that I’ll never come back. He shouldn’t. The eight days I spent in the Gorge with my brother Jeff were the longest time I’d ever spent away from him, and I wonder a little that it has already been two years since Jeff and I walked along the sands of the turquoise waters below Salt Trail Canyon. Just what dreams compelled us to hike the Gorge are already fading into memory. PARAGRAPH GOES HEREMany wilderness travelers express their desire to find a spiritual enlightenment in nature, an answer to the mystery of their lives. I am all for this, but personally have long since given up such seeking, for to me the answers seem only to appear in the form of the most arcane metaphors, at best disquieting and always indecipherable. I count myself then, superfluous? fortunate to have been so untroubled by spiritual longing for I suspect that this is because I have found enough to satisfy me. An experience itself unencumbered by a recondite quest is more than sufficient.PARAGRAPH GOES HEREI remember a Navajo woman I once bought jewelry from asking, “Why do you do that? Why do you go down in there?” PARAGRAPH GOES HERE“For fun,” I told her, and it was a true answer.PARAGRAPH GOES HEREThe river is just as I have remembered it, a milky blue. We have no time to linger here. We have jobs and obligations. Against my inclinations, I try to sense something of myself in the huge and timeless canyon and find nothing. Time flies more quickly for a man than it does for a canyon and a canyon has no promises to keep. We ascend to a high place overlooking the shining blue river and listen to the white sound of rushing water. PARAGRAPH GOES HERE Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/16/2002 Noodles and I saw lots of ducks and junk. Leasts, wigeons, gbh, Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 11/16/2002 Noodles waded in the cold water. We saw a lot of birds. Some guy told me they were looking for the ground dove. I think he said ruddy? Did he? Arizona State University 11/15/2002 You know, this was actually over at Safeway when Erica and I went for coffee. Arizona State University 11/14/2002 Kathy Tibbetts and I saw this bird as I showed her out the door at Mariposa. Generic Place Anywhere 11/11/2002 this was veteran's day and noodles and I drove to that dump area instead of going to elliot and cooper. We walked well down the road by the muddy canal at the end of Germaine Street. Boyce Thompson Arboretum 11/10/2002 Noodles and I went. It was a three-day weekend and Jeff and Steve are at the beach. I wrote more of down by the riverside. I didn't see the fox sparrows that were supposed to be here. Noodles walked a long way and didn't get tired. She went wading in Ayer Lake even though it was kind of cool out. Oh, what a big time we had. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/09/2002 Saw all the ducks too. except cin teal Generic Place Anywhere 11/05/2002 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/03/2002 Noodles and I got up at four in the morning. Then we went over here before it was light. It was dark. I got gas and thought I'd be late. No way. We had to wait a long time for the sun to come up. The ducks started flying before it was very light. I saw black necked stilts start feeding when it was still just only half lighted. They started stirring and the mallards did a lot of their quack quack quack -- but they always do that. It was very interesting. The blackbirds started flying by rather well after sunup. McQueen and Elliot Roads 11/02/2002 Saw a jackrabbit going a hundred miles an hour in the distance, so perhaps that was a rabbit a saw a while back going like mad. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/02/2002 Noodles and I went and we came back and tried to take some movies of the goldeneye. Ihaven't checked to see if they came out very well. Steve called and wanted help on pagination in Word 5.1. I left Nancy and Larry a voice mail on the goldeneye. Tempe Town Lake 11/02/2002 I had to go into town to look at some resumes for the evening pronunciation class. I took Noodles. Then we went over here. I stopped by Food City to get that Castillo Brand habanera sauce and saw a guy sell a gun to another guy or whatever the dirt ball pigs were doing. I'm going to e-mail Suzy Salasar and tell her to stock that sauce in a higher class joint. McQueen and Elliot Roads 10/27/2002 The road was muddy because it rained the day before. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/27/2002 Noodles and I went after I wrote the article about the Number One Site. Arizona State University 10/22/2002 No Notes Entered Tempe Town Lake 10/19/2002 No Notes Entered Generic Highway 10/19/2002 The ring-necked duck is so common here that I'm surprised I haven't recorded him more often. Arizona State University 10/18/2002 This was in front of the Timber Wolf Pub. The blackbirds are flying west again. I think I saw Brewer's too. I stood out in front. It was a lot of fun. Arizona State University 10/17/2002 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 10/16/2002 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 10/14/2002 That bum in the truck was there again. His dog didn't come out and chase us though. This is my day off. I took Monday off. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/14/2002 I took the day off. Noodles had a good walk. We went other places today. Generic Highway 10/14/2002 I TOOK A DAY OFF. Gilbert and Riggs Roads 10/14/2002 My day off. I took Monday off. Got pigeon food. Also, Norton's Country Corner at Gilbert and ? will close tomorrow. A legend of boozing. McQueen and Elliot Roads 10/13/2002 There was something dark RACING over the field. I thought it was a dark rabbit but it didn't jump. Nothing could run that fast. Perhaps it was a low-flying hawk, but I don't know. God, it was fast. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/13/2002 I called Wendy from the site. There was a cop car on the canal road that I could see in the distance. He was driving backwards. Weird. Noodles had fun. McQueen and Elliot Roads 10/12/2002 The bum has a collection of baseballs out there now. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/12/2002 They'd cleaned up a lot. This was the day I bought the paper about the cop who gunned down that lady at Warner and Dobson. Noodles had a good time. Generic Highway 10/06/2002 No Notes Entered Generic Highway 10/05/2002 Must be on the way to Jeff's house in Tucson. Mount Lemmon 10/05/2002 Oh, what a big time we had. Noodles came and walked well with us. We drove up the mountain. I got a movie of the golden-crowned kinglet and the swainson's thrush. Tucson Arizona 10/05/2002 I drove down to see Jeff. Remember how I drove halfway back down the mountain to make sure I had gas? We ate at a restaurant. We had porter and wine and junk. Noodles came and enjoyed the pines. Went back on the Tom Mix Highway. McQueen and Elliot Roads 09/29/2002 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/29/2002 After that long hike at South Mountain clean off baseline, Nooldes and I went here. South Mountain 09/29/2002 Steve and Sonny and I went. Steve took an hour to find the trail in his car. Lots of epidote and schist. Mines. Excellent trail with no one there. Very nice! The White-throated swifts were first seen on the national trail and well in the distance, but they soon came and kind of buzzed us. 2125 North Villas Lane 09/29/2002 No more WW doves, but there are plenty of mourning doves and incas in back. McQueen and Elliot Roads 09/28/2002 There was a coyote in the field and I filmed him. Somebody in a white pick-up was camped by the tracks at 7:30. His dog took off afer my truck. Some BUM. Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/28/2002 No Notes Entered Generic Highway 09/28/2002 Went to get boulders in Guadalupe and on the way I saw this osprey soaring high at Guadalupe and Colllege. Peace Park 09/27/2002 Just went over there at 8:30 or so. Afterwards, I went to the Sahuaro Market and got corn nuts and junk. Water in the canal was high and there are bushes around it. McQueen and Elliot Roads 09/22/2002 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/22/2002 Jeff and Noodles and I went. El Mirage Pond 09/21/2002 Thee were lots of least sandpipers and black-necked stilts and coots there too but I'm saving their bird cards. This was the time I played guitar at Estrella Community College for Rey Rivera. Generic Highway 09/18/2002 No Notes Entered El Mirage Pond 09/15/2002 There were coots, killdeers, and female red-winged blackbirds here today. The pond was FULL of water. Pima Canyon 09/15/2002 Went with Steve and his friend. Oh, what a hike. Clean to fat man's pass. We saw a coyote and we hiked for HOURS. Not so hot as we started at 7:30 or so but then it did get hot. Steve and I and Steve's friend. McQueen and Elliot Roads 09/14/2002 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/14/2002 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 09/08/2002 Went with Steve and Sonny and TWO of Sonny's friends. LIGHTLY SPRINKLING AT TIMES. QUITE COOL. We saw a TIGER RATTLESNAKE! He was right at the stone houses. Very small head, big rattle. Weird. We went to the tunnel and that took some time. We had a wonderful hike although it was too long because no one walked quickly. I found what COULD be a meteorite. I hope I make a million. Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/07/2002 It rained so hard last night that we didn't go to McQueen and Elliot because it was so muddy. There was nothing much at the site until we got the rufous and the Townsend's warbler. Yes, long-billed dowitchers and some close-up views from the east fence. I think I'll save a space on the LBD card by just noting here. McQueen and Elliot Roads 09/02/2002 The drinkers had come back and made a mess. "Pond" is dry. Still plenty of jackrabbits. Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/02/2002 Some German birdwatcher was there. At least he sounded German. McQueen and Elliot Roads 08/31/2002 Someone had come and cleaned up all the beer bottles. Rain water on the road although it didn't rain at my house. Not much water in the usualy puddle there. Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/31/2002 The guest book was tossed on the ground and I found it and put it back. Water was flowing into the front pond. The left pond was dry. over by the canal there was a lot of water and a lot of bn stilts and lb dows. McQueen and Elliot Roads 08/25/2002 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/25/2002 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 08/25/2002 Noodles went swimming and then ran most of the way. I was surprised at how energetic she was. She is, after all, thirteen years old. McQueen and Elliot Roads 08/24/2002 I was really surprised to see these birds here and the least sandpiper as well because they've never been here before and last time I saw a solitary sandpiper of all things. Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/24/2002 I took movies of the LBD's and other birds. Generic Highway 08/24/2002 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 08/24/2002 Noodles went swimming -- actually this time more like wading, but she did enjoy walking out in the water. She likes to walk out there. 2125 North Villas Lane 08/24/2002 Steve thought one of the Inca doves was tiny. Arizona State University 08/22/2002 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 08/17/2002 Noodles and I saw this bird. He was in that swampy pool by the canal at the westmost area. I got good movies of him. Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/17/2002 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 08/10/2002 This is the time we tried out the new digital camcorder for the first time. Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/10/2002 This is the time we used the digital camcorder for the first time. Pima Canyon 08/09/2002 It was really hot. (Now, 6/11/2004, I checked records and it was 109°.)Steve and I climbed to the top of the mountain right to the right of the parking lot. It was early afternoon. I got tired up there. We left and went back and saw Sonny. I bought my digital camcorder just a few minutes before I went on this hike. We left it at home. McQueen and Elliot Roads 08/07/2002 I'm pissing away my vacation. Steve and I went and there were many pairs of young lady's bras and panties all over and lots of naked Barbie dolls that some pervert had been messing with. Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/07/2002 There were about five or six at least all in summer plumage and look at the date. Why aren't they in Alaska? East Verde River 08/05/2002 This time Noodles got to sniff enough. No one was there at all. Weird. It has beautiful big cliffs. Generic Highway 08/03/2002 No Notes Entered Flagstaff House 08/3/2002 This was the trip I took when Sally and Davy and Kate came. I drove up and was delayed by an accident on the highway just beyond Jackass Acres on Radiator Hill. Noodles and I climbed a hill but couldn't see the wreck. Finally they let us through. Christopher was there with his girlfriend Elena. We went to the Ski Lift Lodge for Mogollon Pale Ale outside and Noodles sat under the table there. It was a lot of fun. We went up the logging roads and finally ended up at the ice cave. Chris left the next day. I jumped his rented car with my deep cycle battery. The next day the rest of us went to NAU and walked all over and Noodles too. I was surprised at how far every thing was apart -- the buildings I mean. Next, we went on a walk over to the stock tank where Dad had once put lobster shells. It was nice there and there was a bench like the one I have in my back yard. Cattails and lots of dead big ones with narrow Itasca-like reeds coming up. Sally lost her earring but I found it for her on the trail. On the way back, Sally wanted to go to Payson, so I drove ahead and showed her the way. Lower Lake mary was just about completely dry. We passed Marshall Lake and everything. It is a very beautiful drive. I stopped at Control Road and collected a few crinoids. 2125 North Villas Lane 07/30/2002 Yesterday Sally and kate and Davy came by my office and we went to Timberwolf. Jan Kegelman came. Then Steve and Sonny joined us all at Rosita's. Pima Canyon 07/28/2002 Steve and I went on a marathon hot hike. 10:30 to 1:30 up Pima Canyon. Went clean up past ojo de awa over to the tunnel and then down the arroyo to where it meets the Mormon Trail. Coyote looked at us. Met some guy in the tunnel there who had hiked in Guatemala. Afterwards, we toasted our adventure over a couple of IPA's at the Copper Canyon Brewery. McQueen and Elliot Roads 07/22/2002 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/22/2002 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 07/22/2002 I tried to repeat yesterday's wonderful trip without the terrible exertion. I brought more than a gallon of water and drank very little this time. I didn't climb much, so I didn't get too tired or too hot. It was VERY deserted. I got there at about three in the heat of the afternoon. There were two other hikers I saw as I walked out and another was walking in. I talked to him about birds. He said that certain herons fly at 30000 feet. Bullcrap thought I but said nothing. Afterwards I toasted my adventure at the Copper Canyon brew pub. McQueen and Elliot Roads 07/21/2002 I found a grave of a bird I guess. It was a welded metal cross by the tracks with a feather carved on it and 97-00 and a bird figure on it and "Antoniette" wait -- I took a picture. the name was antonio or something. very weird. Of all the cheesy places to make a grave. Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/21/2002 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 07/21/2002 Noodles swam and was very very very frisky. Pima Canyon 07/21/2002 I thought I would die. I climbed all the way to the top of the ridge trail. Started at at least 2:30. No one there -- well maybe one or two hikers somewhere there. Dead quiet. Hot. But there was a breeze. I brought four quarts of gatorade, so I survived. I walked too far. Later: I remember I climbed way up on a mountain all dry and barren and dusty and I got hot and poured water over my head. I remember I started walking down and realized I didn't know where the trail led, so I went back up and had to climb clean back up to go down the trail I knew. (on 6/12/2004 I checked history of temperatures and it was 102 in chandler.) Generic Place Anywhere 07/21/2002 This was at Estrella Community College, where I played guitar for Rey Rivera. I played guitar on this date. Remember that dumb lady that let her kid walk on the 220 electric line across the water? Remember that dopey Ethiopian who wanted me to play as he sang "Tu felicidad es grande..." I didn't know that the TU was god. I didn't play for him after all. The other guitarist was going to do it, but he didn't play very well. Finally, he passed and the Ethiopian left to go PREACH. Apparently he was a preacher. The song was likely religious. I also remember the guy at the mixing board from U of A with the same idiotic U of A highschool rivalry thing. BAA, BAAA, Generic Highway 07/20/2002 Highway 83 north from Sonoita Arizona -- not Mexico. Patagonia 07/20/2002 I thought I saw a Lazuli Bunting and a Blue Grosbeak, but the visions were fleeting, so what the heck. I took Noodles and we stayed at the stage stop inn. I watched a Clint Eastwood movie. We started so late -- about five that we got there when it had just gotten dark. The barn swallows woke me up at 3:30 AM as they flew over the swimming pool shrieking and eat bugs. Generic Highway 07/19/2002 No Notes Entered Patagonia 07/19/2002 Got there kind of late. Started at five in the afternoon and got there three hours later. I took NOODLES! 2125 North Villas Lane 07/17/2002 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 07/14/2002 with Noodles Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/14/2002 With Noodles, of course! McQueen and Elliot Roads 07/13/2002 The icky canal has flowed over and still there is a pond of sorts in the field and that's where you see the killdeers. Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/13/2002 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 07/08/2002 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 07/07/2002 I just flew back from Dallas today, so I needed to take Noodles somewhere so we did our thing. It was terribly hot, though, and she didn't walk far. Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/07/2002 Noodles needed a walk 'cause I just flew back from Dallas today and she hasn't had a walk for several days. Too hot to go far, though. Wendy's Neighborhood in Dallas 07/07/2002 No Notes Entered Wendy's Neighborhood in Dallas 07/06/2002 We went over to that place with the golf course where we saw the tufted titmouse last time. Kate, Sally, Wendy, and I. Wendy's Neighborhood in Dallas 07/05/2002 No Notes Entered Wendy's Neighborhood in Dallas 07/04/2002 Saw a lot of fireworks in Wendy's neighborhood. We sat out on the street and all the neighbors watched. Davy, Kate, Sally. Generic Place in Chandler 06/30/2002 Noodles and I were driving down the road and I called Steve on my cell phone and sonny and I went to the dump and the pump. Oh, we had fun. At the pump we swam. Noodles swam. We walked around the dump and Sonny shot his bb gun. Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/29/2002 Nothing much else here today. Pima Canyon 6/29/2002 Steve and I went early in the morning. He overslept and I had to ring the doorbell. We started at the golf course and hiked up and around. Canyon Lake 06/28/2002 Steve and Sonny and I swam to the other side of the lake. I swam back and got sun screen. Some kids and Sonny jumped off the cliffs. It was a lot of fun. See Apache lake at the same time. Apache Lake 06/28/2002 I went and picked Sonny and Steve up when their car broke down. See CANYON LAKE at the same time. Estero Morua 06/26/2002 No Notes Entered Estero Morua 06/25/2002 Saw wild dogs swimming across the estuary. Generic Highway 06/24/2002 See Estero Morua for this date. Estero Morua 06/24/2002 Went with Noodles and we did some swimming. See beach book log for details. Nice trip. McQueen and Elliot Roads 06/22/2002 Someone hit a baseball so hard that it flew over the fence onto the road, and I threw it back. Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/22/2002 Nothing much here except a coot, a killdeer, a lot of black-necked stilts and some generic ducks. 2125 North Villas Lane 06/22/2002 Today is a sad day because Dad died three years ago. Phoenix Zoo 06/20/2002 Twilight at the zoo. Actually it was quite hot at six o'clock when we went there with the students. I walked around with them. Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/16/2002 Noodles and I went. You know there was that yellow-tailed thing in the tree that I couldn't identify before. I still can't. It is like a tanager with its long tail. Actually this time it looked like a crested flycatcher of some sort but my eyes were so blurry from chlorine that I couldn't see very well. McQueen and Elliot Roads 06/15/2002 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/15/2002 With Noodles. 2125 North Villas Lane 06/14/2002 I'm taking the day off and this is the first time I've entered any data using my new G4 Imac. 2125 North Villas Lane 06/11/2002 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/09/2002 I went early in the morning and then went to Greenfield Road and later Steve called and wanted to try out his new binocs so I went back here to elliot and cooper again. With Noodles. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 06/09/2002 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 06/08/2002 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/08/2002 No Notes Entered Generic Place in Mesa 06/07/2002 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 06/06/2002 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 06/04/2002 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 06/02/2002 Not much else here today. Last night that guy down the street told me to get Noodles out of his yard or he would call the police. Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/02/2002 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 05/27/2002 It's Memorial Day Monday. Noodles and I went. It was very quiet out there. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/27/2002 It's Memorial Day Monday. Getting a little warm. Noodles and I went. She pooped in the garage before we went. It was an accident. I was very kind to her. 2125 North Villas Lane 05/27/2002 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 05/26/2002 Indy 500 day. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/26/2002 This was Indy 500 race day. There were two girls there looking at birds. They wore funny hats. 2125 North Villas Lane 05/26/2002 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 05/25/2002 Not many birds here today. Not even the usual killdeer. Of course there were mourning doves, but I didn't record them. It's Memorial Day weekend. I washed the car at the gas station on the corner. six buck automatic car wash. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/25/2002 I also saw a pair of birds I couldn't identify. They were somewhat like very brown pipits but they got on the chain-link fence post. Few markings. Pointed beaks. What the heck. It's Memorial Day Weekend. 2125 North Villas Lane 05/25/2002 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 05/20/2002 It was windy and the mourning doves and white-winged doves were flying NorthWest as usual and riding and hopping along the wind. McQueen and Elliot Roads 05/19/2002 I forgot Noodles' leash. She walked around on her own. There were coyote trails in the field so I was worried about her getting bit. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/19/2002 I forgot Noodles' leash. Kind of overcast instead of blazing like yesterday. McQueen and Elliot Roads 05/18/2002 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/18/2002 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 05/18/2002 Noodles went swimming a bit in the little river where we saw McGillivray's warbler (See its note.) It was kind of hot. Pine Arizona 05/17/2002 See Strawberry Arizona and Tonto Natural Bridge more on this trip. I took the day off and went up here with Noodles. It was very nice. Not too hot. Strawberry Arizona 05/17/2002 Noodles and I stayed at the Strawberry Lodge. No TV. I dropped by the saloon across the street but stayed for only one beer. It was kind of a rough place. I had the chicken parmigian or however you spell it with buttered noodles and garlic toast at the lodge. There was a very forgetful lady there. She'd forget everything we just talked about. She was really suffering from dementia, but she seemed very nice and smart otherwise. They charged ten extra bucks for my dog Noodles. The other places wouldn't have her. Next time I'll stay at the Alden Inn just before or is it after? Pine. Verde River at Ft. McDowell 05/17/2002 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 05/17/2002 No Notes Entered East Verde River 05/17/2002 Noodles waded a little. No one was there except us. I carried Noodles back to the truck. Then we went to some other places. This place hasn't changed much since we camped there for ten days in 1959. Strawberry Arizona 05/16/2002 No Notes Entered Tonto Natural Bridge 05/16/2002 I took the day off and went up here. It was very nice. Not too hot. Noodles wasn't allowed on the trails, but we were allowed to go to all the look-outs. I talked to the ranger. Verde River at Ft. McDowell 05/16/2002 McQueen and Elliot Roads 05/12/2002 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/12/2002 No Notes Entered Verde River 05/12/2002 Noodles and I drove over at a little after eight. Went down Power Road. There was a lot of trash in one place the Phon Sutton area. I had to pay four bucks to go in. I don't know why; they don't clean up the trash. Noodles swam. We walked around. Surprisingly few people there. McQueen and Elliot Roads 05/11/2002 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/11/2002 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 05/08/2002 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 05/06/2002 Mariposa Hall. He was a he and rather intrepid. He was under the bush where I put the water for the mourning dove with the hurt foot. He was eating some grain I left there. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/05/2002 This was Cinco de Mayo as you know. Steve and Sonny and Noodles and I went. Sonny rode in the back of the truck after he begged to. McQueen and Elliot Roads 05/04/2002 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/04/2002 This is Kentucky Derby Day. One year ago today, I hurt my leg here at Elliot and Cooper. I think it is about healed now. Arizona State University 05/02/2002 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 05/01/2002 Early Wednesday morning. Arizona State University 04/25/2002 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 04/24/2002 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 04/23/2002 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 04/22/2002 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/22/2002 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 04/22/2002 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 04/21/2002 There was a family there shooting off a rocket. Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/21/2002 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 04/20/2002 Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/20/2002 Warm and nice. They are landscaping the front of this place. Noodles had a good time 2125 North Villas Lane 04/20/2002 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/14/2002 McQueen and Elliot Roads 04/13/2002 Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/13/2002 1717 Cooper Road 04/13/2002 I went here because everyone said that Brewer's blackbirds could be found in the stockyards. They were right. 2125 North Villas Lane 04/13/2002 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 04/10/2002 2125 North Villas Lane 04/10/2002 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 04/09/2002 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/07/2002 2125 North Villas Lane 04/07/2002 McQueen and Elliot Roads 04/06/2002 Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/06/2002 2125 North Villas Lane 04/01/2002 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/31/2002 This was Easter. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/29/2002 2125 North Villas Lane 03/29/2002 Boyce Thompson Arboretum 03/29/2002 Went with Shirley Eyeden. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/24/2002 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 03/24/2002 Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/17/2002 No Notes Entered Generic Highway 03/15/2002 From Journal: March 20, 2002 Hired Shannon McGrath and KC Cherkasky and a2 is shrinking instead of getting bigger. Jesus. 12 sections and so far 140 FTE. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/10/2002 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 03/09/2002 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/09/2002 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 03/07/2002 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/03/2002 No Notes Entered Field on Greenfield and Ray 03/03/2002 I doubt if I'll ever just drive into this field again and so this was a bad choice for a place card. I feel I wasted a place card. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 03/03/2002 Saw John Alcock here for the second time, I think. Yes I remember the Brewer's blackbird. Boyce Thompson Arboretum 03/02/2002 I went with Noodles! I thought some of the swallows might be purple martins but nah, there was no purple on them; they just looked big. Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/01/2002 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 03/01/2002 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/28/2002 18 avocets Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/24/2002 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 02/24/2002 No Notes Entered Arizona City 02/23/2002 February 23, 2002 Nancy and Larry and I went to Arizona City. It's near Eloy. They were having a parade there and a festival of some sort. We went to see the mountain plovers at the sod farms. Western Sod. We saw them in the distance. We got no close looks but you could identify the through your binocs sort of and we used their scope. We also saw water pipets and horned larks and ravens and meadow larks and junk-- oh, and a long-billed curlew. We drank beer at the festival afterwards and then parked in a parking lot and drank beer and they drank wine and ate their lunch. There was a lady up on stage basically doing karoake for us. No band. Low budget. When I got home Steve and Sonny and I went to the new steak house next to Gallagher's and we overate and overordered. There was a hot air balloon out there. Slept out with Noodles last night and snored. Noodles woke me up twice. She kept coming up and wanting me to hug and scratch her. Then she wanted to bite and play. Finally, she started barking at me and I got up. Sheesh! I gave her her pill today and we ate the leftovers from that steak dinner. Generic Place in Chandler 02/23/2002 At the unitarian church Generic Place in Chandler 02/18/2002 I Drove Sonny to school. Noodles came along after I took her for a long walk. When I was driving out there were about 14 of these flying around above. Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/17/2002 Heard rwbb, saw wc spar, yr warb. starling all that junk 2125 North Villas Lane 02/17/2002 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 02/17/2002 Sky overcast. McQueen and Elliot Roads 02/16/2002 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/16/2002 Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/10/2002 No Notes Entered Generic Place in Chandler 02/07/2002 February 7, 2002 McQueen and Elliot Roads 02/02/2002 wendy and I. also a rt and harrier Elliot and Cooper Roads 02/02/2002 Went with Judy, Wendy, sonny, Toby and Noodles. cinnamon teals (lots) black phoebe , yr war, wc sparr n. hariier male, Also a very strange duck. Rather pintail-like but very dark. Yelowish sheek. White breast. Three yellowh sharp bars on the right side. On the left one yellowish spot. One Jimmy Leung M.D. and I looked at it. Perhaps it's a hybrid. jleung@esmil.net 2125 North Villas Lane 02/01/2002 No Notes Entered Generic Place Anywhere 02/01/2002 by sammy fees's house. The houses back their FACE the canal! McQueen and Elliot Roads 01/27/2002 I wrote "ravens." Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/27/2002 saw the whole deal: rn duck, wc spar, lh shrike, a tow, gad, shovel, least, etc. McQueen and Elliot Roads 01/26/2002 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/26/2002 There was a guy and a gal on the East side with a scope. I saw all the reguarl: anna's, gad, gambel, abert's tow, butterbutt, coo, wc prar, ring neck, harrier McQueen and Elliot Roads 01/21/2002 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/21/2002 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/20/2002 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 01/19/2002 Getting leveled loggerhead shrike red tailed hawk Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/19/2002 leasts, shoveler, verdin, annas yr warb, Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/13/2002 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 01/12/2002 Goin' fast! Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/12/2002 wc spars, yr warblers, gadwall, nrw swall, a towhee killder etc. McQueen and Elliot Roads 01/06/2002 Now they're levelin' it. The south bound canal is gone. Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/06/2002 Long-billed dows, shvelers, coots, YR warbler, bn stilts as always. McQueen and Elliot Roads 01/02/2002 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 01/01/2002 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 01/01/2002 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/30/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 12/30/2001 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 12/30/2001 Giant Red-tail in the tree to the north. Estero Morua 12/28/2001 How the hell I never recorded any oystercatchers on this trip I'll never know. Shoot, they're always here, aren't they? THIS WAS THE TRIP WHERE THE DRUNK FLIPPED HIS CAR ON THE WAY BACK IN AJO. HAR. Estero Morua 12/27/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/25/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 12/25/2001 turkey vulture, five red-tails, some nearly white Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/24/2001 Everything! lots of adwalls and lots of abert's. McQueen and Elliot Roads 12/24/2001 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 12/24/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/22/2001 gadwall, dows, gw teal, pintail, yr warbler, abert's towhee (lots!), gb heron, verdin shoveler McQueen and Elliot Roads 12/22/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/16/2001 leasts, say's, gadwall, rw swallow, roadrunner, yr warbler, gw teal, pintail shoveler. McQueen and Elliot Roads 12/16/2001 RT hawk, say's phoembe, lh shrike, TV Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/15/2001 coots, lb dows, gadwalls, gw teal, pintail nrw swal yellow rups, least sandies, wc sparrow. Tempe Town Lake 12/08/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/01/2001 GW teals, shovelers yr warbler bn stil aberts' towhee wc sparrow, lb dow, least sandie, black phoebe, killdeer, coots, nrw swallow, inca dove McQueen and Elliot Roads 12/01/2001 anna's too Flagstaff House 11/26/2001 winterizing house Wendy's Neighborhood in Dallas 11/22/2001 This trip was from November 22-25, 2001. Many of the birds were seen by that golf course where you can walk along the curving sidewalk and look into the woods. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/18/2001 dowitchers, gw teal, lh shrike, least sandies, yrwarbler McQueen and Elliot Roads 11/18/2001 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 11/14/2001 I put the note "super close-ups" for all of these birds. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/12/2001 In the evening. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/11/2001 LB Dows, Leasts BNStilts LH shrike, pintail gw teal gb heron etc. Generic Place in Chandler 11/10/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/04/2001 saw also shovels pintails say's ohebe Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 11/04/2001 You forgot to enter Nov 4th's 2001 entries at Guadalupe and Greenfield. You never even wrote them in the book. Super close-ups of LB Dows etc. Brewer's sparrow and double-crested cormorant. HEY IS THIS A MISTAKE? LOOK AT NOVEMBER FOURTEENTH! McQueen and Elliot Roads 11/04/2001 saw gb heron and anna's hummer 2125 North Villas Lane 11/04/2001 windy -- rain woke me up Monday morning (I guess I added that. This sighting is sunday. See others for the day. El Mirage Pond 11/03/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/28/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 10/28/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/21/2001 Sonny and friend and Steve and Noodles. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/20/2001 Also Long-billed Dowitchers. McQueen and Elliot Roads 10/20/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/14/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 10/14/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/13/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 10/13/2001 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 10/8/2001 Flying right at El Monte and Dobson as I drove to work. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/06/2001 No Notes Entered Generic Place in Chandler 10/06/2001 I was running. McQueen and Elliot Roads 10/06/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/30/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 09/30/2001 Noodles swam. Research Park 09/29/2001 NOTES FROM NOODLES WATER LOG: September 29, 2001 Noodles drank 19 ounces of water today. Went walking at the research park and swimming too. Noodles swam a little. That's much more water than usual. Nineteen ounces! Peace Park 09/25/2001 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 09/23/2001 Steve and I. Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/22/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 09/22/2001 It's Saturday and Noodles and I went bird watching and we saw some new ones for the season: the yellow-rumped warbler, and the say's phoebe and even the anna's hummer, which I haven't seen. The vet called and said noodles did have cushing's disease. Shit. I don't want her to die. I love noodles. I would be very lonely if she died. Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/16/2001 I wrote 15 or 16th as I apparently couldn't remember the exact date. Generic Place in Chandler 09/09/2001 NOODLES AND I AT GERMAINE ROAD. THE DUMP! GERMAINE AND PRICE ROADS? Pima Canyon 09/09/2001 We went with EMILY COLE. Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/08/2001 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 09/08/2001 Noodles walked a long way. Generic Place in Chandler 09/07/2001 Unitarian Church Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/03/2001 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 09/03/2001 Noodles went swimming. There was a wonderful COLD stream. McQueen and Elliot Roads 09/02/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 09/01/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/31/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 08/31/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 08/26/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/25/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 08/25/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/18/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 08/18/2001 Cotton Rat. Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/12/2001 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 8/12/2001 Noodles' twelfth birthday. We bought her in 1989. I took her places today. McQueen and Elliot Roads 08/12/2001 I drew hearts in the notebook and wrote: "Got Noodles twelve years ago today. Rabbits. I guess I put in generic bird 'cause I saw nothing especially. 2125 North Villas Lane 8/12/2001 They're still here in good numbers. Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/11/2001 Zounds! Lots of water in the front. McQueen and Elliot Roads 08/11/2001 Windy Hot water in canal Dead TV still there. Verde River 08/05/2001 River at Granite Reef on Power. Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/04/2001 The one bird was about it. McQueen and Elliot Roads 08/04/2001 Dead TV 2125 North Villas Lane 08/04/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/29/2001 No Notes Entered Gilbert and Riggs Roads 07/29/2001 THIS IS NOT EXACTLY GILBERT AND RIGGS -- except for the GOOSE. I wrote: Then I went up the road and there was a pond (about at Gilbert and Riggs I guess now) with the fence down. Af blue mini pick-up was there and I stopped to look. Ten zillion great Egrets. TV's on the ground. The guy in the pickup was out there with binocs all the way into th eflats and ignoring the no trespassing signs. I didn't talk to him. Went up to Riggs and Gilbert and there was a giant Goose with an orange bill. Ocotillo and Gilbert Roads 07/29/2001 See place info card on this one. I wrote: They cut down the warbler bush. Shotgun shells everywhere. Bastards all! Then I went up the road and there was a pond (Gilbert and Riggs I guess now) with the fence down. Af blue mini pick-up was there and I stopped to look. Ten zillion great Egrets... see Gilbert and Riggs on this date for more. Well, there are no WARBLERS listed here, so I must have put them in the wrong place since the warbler tree was here. Generic Place in Chandler 07/21/2001 Turtle Dead Catfish Pima Canyon 07/21/2001 Steve and I went. Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/15/2001 5:30 AM Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/14/2001 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 7/11/2001 Anniversary of Mom's death so it's a very sad day. At Irish Hall. Lake Itasca 07/08/2001 No Notes Entered Lake Itasca 07/07/2001 No Notes Entered Lake Itasca 07/06/2001 No Notes Entered Lake Itasca 07/05/2001 THIRD RETURN TO ITASCA THIS IS AN ESSAY OF 3476 WORDS: JULY 2001 Written February 2002 INTRODUCTION In July of 2001 my sister Sally and I met in Minnesota to relive part of our childhood and to get away from it all. I flew into Minneapolis from Arizona and she from New Orleans. There we rented a mid-sized car -- an Alero -- and headed north to our old summer haunt, Lake Itasca, one of the most beautiful places you're likely to see. Here's just part of what happened: WOOD TICKS LEECHES AND DEER FLIES—PARK RAPIDS—I GET A HAIRCUT—OUR BARTENDERS DRINK ON THE JOB—THE HEADWATERS BAR—PIZZA AND GIANT MOSQUITOES—KNIT WITS AT NETTIE'S NET I'm not afraid of wood ticks, but I found that Sally is. I welcome them myself and rather enjoy it on the rare occasions when they fasten themselves to me and I have to yank them off. The same goes for leeches, although I admit they are a lot creepier. I used to fear leeches until I learned that they never burrow completely into you and start surfing your bloodstream. Before that, when I found one on me, I would rip him free thinking I had got him off just before he headed for my liver to coat himself with human antigens and storm unchallenged through my system. Sally was afraid of Lyme disease from the wood ticks. But the ticks we saw weren't those tiny deer ticks that carry the disease. This summer the deer flies were the real problem -- so much so that we had to abort one decent walk from the Douglas Lodge to Mary Lake. They were eating us alive. And on Squaw Lake (Now politically correctly named Lake Ozawindib), we would try to swim underwater as much as we could because when we surfaced for air, they would be on us in a flash! And they hurt. It was interesting to see the old sights from the 60s -- the Deer Town tourist trap near the town of Park Rapids, Whimpy's hamburger franchises, Fuller's Tackle Shop and so on. Minnesota, of course, also has a different selection of birds. At the Douglas Lodge, where we were so happy to stay, the hummingbird feeders were alive with ruby-throated hummers, a species not seen in Arizona. The fact is that they are the only eastern species, while Arizona boasts ten or more. Among the birds we were able to see were the blackburnian warbler, the chestnut-sided warbler, the painted redstart, the purple martin, the chimney swift, the red-eyed vireo, the black duck, and a host of others we don't get to see at home. I rented a boat with an outboard and Sally and I went trolling. Actually, she went sight-seeing and I trolled for pike. I didn't do very well. I was skunked trolling and nothing would strike when I casted for largemouths or fished the crappie hole either. We landed on Schoolcraft Island and I found that Sally liked poison ivy little more than wood ticks. The island was covered with the stuff, and you had to walk through it to get anywhere. Poison ivy doesn't bother me. You can stomp through it and usually nothing happens. The worst I've had was some on the soles of my feet in the sixties -- when I didn't wear shoes in the summer. That was actually a good place to have it because you could scratch it with every step you took. I wonder if my old friend Bill Underhill invented his ridiculous "I'm gonna go, go, to the show..." dance from the odd way he walked when he had poison ivy on the bottoms of his feet. We got rid of the boat and went to the culvert where I just massacred the fish. I would toss in my lure and instantly I would have a pike or a rock bass on the line. The trouble was that the barbs were tearing up the fish. I had to kill one pike with a rock because I simply could not get the lure out of him. It was ghastly. It's really no different from massacring chipmunks -- it's just that the chipmunks can SCREAM and fish can't on account of they don't have any lungs. I decided to stop fishing and if I ever did again I would take a pair of pliers and mash the barbs flat. That's what they make you do on the Colorado in Arizona's Marble Canyon. They don't want you tearing up the trout and if you can't get the hooks out of a fish, you can't "catch and release." In 1966 Park Rapids was not exactly hip. Back then, I walked down the street and people would spin on their heels to see my hair, which was just a Beatles/surfer cut. I remember kids running up to our car to see where the hell we were from and saying, "Oh, Arizona!" If California was a year or two ahead of the times with respect to Arizona, as it always seemed to be, then Arizona was a year or two ahead of Park Rapids. On this trip, however, Sally and I found the new Park Rapids to be a rather hip town and quite a cool place -- rustic and very western in style. Many of the Minnesotan small towns look a lot like Gun Smoke's Dodge City -- they seem quite a bit more western -- Hollywood style -- than most Arizona towns, which are often more Spanish in design. I stopped into a barber shop and got a quick haircut. Sally was patient and I really needed one. More than thirty years ago I was part of a big scene in a barber shop in Park Rapids, and it may well have been this very one. (My father kept telling the barber to cut some more off and the barber would say, "I don't want the boy to be mad at me." My parents let me have my hair pretty much they way I wanted, but my Dad didn't think we were getting our money's worth from the barber. Finally, the barber just hacked away and messed up my hairdo. I felt he was just being lazy by going "chop, chop, chop I'm done!" But this time the woman cutting my hair and I had a fine time yacking and yucking. Sally and I then decided to pop in for a beer somewhere. We found that the Royal Bar was the best place to go; it had a good selection of beer and there was quite a community of Park Rapiders in there -- old and young and in the middle of the day. The bartenders in the Royal Bar have a drink every time you order one of your own, a fact that surprised me a great deal. Didn't they have liquor control here? We found that it was standard procedure for the bartenders in Minnesota to drink on the job. The place was so crowded, however, that we went and hit another joint called Art's Place. Oh, God how low class it looked from the outside -- and inside it presented no disappointment. It was a dark, damp joint made for get-down-and-drink drinkin'. Arizonans usually just order beer, but Minnesotans drink a lot of hard liquor in those bars. We had a beer that was absolutely insipid and icky and we left and went back to the Royal, found a place at the bar and had a beer and a nice chat with the drunk bartender. As we sat there, wood ticks started crawling out of my clothes, and Sally wanted to scoot away from me. We didn't stay long. We drove back to Lake Itasca and did an afternoon of sight-seeing . When we returned to the Douglas Lodge, we were late for dinner. The lodge restaurant had closed and we were not afforded its yummy repast. Now, about a quarter mile from the Lake is the Headwaters Bar where we figured we could get something to eat. They had just had a fire that destroyed most of the kitchen and they had nothing to serve but toaster oven pizza -- but it was absolutely excellent! We went in twice for pizza during this third return trip to Itasca. The Headwaters also served good beer -- my favorite being the Summit Pale Ale -- a hoppy concoction that was close to an India Pale Ale. In the Headwaters, giant mosquitoes would appear out of nowhere and attack you as you sat at the bar. There was some hole in the wall or something where they were getting in, but no one could find it. It is an exaggeration, but not too great a one, to say that those mosquitoes were as big as mayflies. The Headwaters used to have a lot more than pizza. A year before, I had ordered prime rib there. A young and reluctant waitress served it to me. I remember how I could tell she didn't want to play the role of waitress. It just wasn't in her. When we asked about other eateries, all the waitresses at the Headwaters said, "Oh ya, ya, the Headwaters is the only place before Park Rapids or Bemidji.." They were wrong. We saw a restaurant/bar on the main highway just three miles from Itasca. It was called Nettie's Net. Late the next afternoon we went over there hoping to have some walleye. Nettie's Net was owned and operated entirely and exclusively by Knit Wits! They all drank on the job too and they didn't quite look like Minnesotans -- don't ask me how, but they were more like New Yorkers and kind of retarded New Yorkers at that. One of them was on our side of the bar and blabbing at the decibel level of a major earthquake. He was in his late forties and perhaps related to all of this clan and he told the filthiest stories. Everybody smiled, young and old, and thought he was charming. After a long wait, as kind of an afterthought it seemed, the bartender directed his attention to us and we ordered a beer. We didn't want to order food in the place anymore. But we thought we'd make a polite purchase and split. The beers took ages to get to us and the shouting and noise from the patron-owners was deafening. Nettie was there. I recognized her as the chief cook and bottle washer because she was barking more orders than anybody else. No one paid her the slightest attention. There were at least eight people running the place, and none of them were quite sure if they were working or just partying at the bash they were hosting. You could tell that this was a big night for them by how upbeat and excited they were. They had a live band setting up outside and it was just going to be one big northern Minnesota stomping session. We went out to see the band. A rough-looking fiftyish man was playing a beat-up Stratocaster through a one-hundred watt Fender amp along with a bass player and a drummer whose drums were miked and ear-splitting. They were banging out some Credence Clearwater Revival standards. The only audience sat fifty feet back in lawn chairs -- an older crowd of about six, perhaps relatives of Nettie. The dirt parking lot dance floor in front of the band was empty and I had the feeling not many people were going to show for this gig. Nettie and clan would never know the difference, however; I knew that they would be so hungover the next day they would judge their condition as evidence that the whole project had been a roaring success unmindful of the fact that they had drunk up all of the profits. I SNORE LIKE A MOTHER- F....—A DRIZZLY SKY —A SPECIAL SMELL —DIRT FOREST ROADS —GIANT COWS—FAMILY HOMES BUILT DEEP IN THE WOODS —CHILDREN'S CRAYON DRAWINGS —A NOTE INSIDE —THE PIANO IN THE STAIRWAY —THE LOON SONG BED AND BREAKFAST. —A PRIVATE LAKE Sally and I had a tiny room in one of the little cabins next to the Douglas Lodge. Sally was concerned that she would get little sleep as she has always said in her irreverent way, "Tom, you snore like a motherfucker!" I don't know why she describes it in such rough terms — but -- although I'm not sure that motherfuckers are especially celebrated for their snoring -- I am sure that I snore loudly enough to merit most any such kind of simile. She seemed to be able to sleep well enough on this trip, however. The first day was clear and bright but we awoke on the second to a drizzly sky. I was worried the trip could suffer, but the different weather added some variety to the experience. It doesn't rain much in Arizona and it is interesting to see how the other half lives. There is also a special smell that comes after a rain in a northern forest. It's not the dusty smell of an Arizona shower, whose drops make a puff of fine ochre powder rise into the air from the street; Minnesota rain brings on a more peaty fragrance. The skies had pretty much cleared by the afternoon and we weren't slowed down at all. Our plan for the trip was to hit all of the places that Steve and Sonny and I had the year before and then add some. To this end we decided to go down some dirt forest roads to see what mysteries lay in wait for us. Thirty-five years before I had gone down such roads with a friend and saw a farm in the distance. My memory has it this way: we stopped the car and looked. There, before our eyes, Giant Cows stood at the end of the road. Giant Cows. They were as tall as houses -- taller -- their shoulders flush with the roof of the barn -- impossibly big. No such cows ever lived. The scene was like something out of a drug addict's nightmare and we looked, turned the car around, and drove away. I know now that these must have been but very big cows and nothing more, but my memory tells the story of cows as large at least as Babe, Paul Bunyan's blue ox from 1930s Minnesotan folklore. Those many years ago the same friend and I also found the occasional abandoned house down these forest roads. Surprisingly, these seemed to be family homes built deep in the woods -- two-story dwellings often with signs of the family -- now lost with the years -- years that have simply ridden away on the wind. In one house, children's crayon drawings on papers were still lying about. Another house had a note stuck on a wall -- a note that someone had left many years before. As I remember, it stated where the writer had gone and when he or she would return. There was something very moving and disturbing about such finds -- for they portrayed so clearly the passage of time. They starkly showed a bygone era and a family life that once meant everything to someone and that was now forever gone. Another house stands out across the years in my memory. Inside it, a piano was wedged in the stairway. How many years it had been there was impossible to say. I guessed that the movers had dropped the piano on their way down the stairs and it had become lodged so fast that it was judged immovable and then simply abandoned. I remember reaching up and strumming the harp-like array of 88 strings laid open above me and hearing throughout the house their eerie ringing like the sound of some giant autoharp. In 2001, however, we saw no abandoned houses. The dirt road we took had signs on it that said, "Loon Song Bed and Breakfast." This road was just a few hundred yards from our usual haunts of the past and yet on it might be something new and different and maybe even mystical. We drove down the road, occasionally stopping to get out with binoculars to mark down a few more birds on our lists. Along the road were more quaint signs about the bed and breakfast and finally, at the end of a turn, we came upon an overlook of the Loonsong. There was a very large lake below, and a breeze wrinkled its dark blue water. Just above the lake was an inn built of wood. One or two cars were parked in back of it. We felt that the Loonsong was a place where rather well-to-do or famous people might stay for a few summer days. The place was private and secluded and very quiet. And it had its own lake. But that was just the impression of a couple of Arizonans. In Minnesota, a private lake is nothing. Even in Itasca Park, fishy Squaw Lake is mostly left alone by anglers -- and it has lake trout! Fifteen percent of the state is covered with water and fishermen and anyone else have little reason to congregate on the shores any particular lake. MCDONALD'S TRADING POST—A GRASSY FIELD WITH A BIT OF SCRAGGLY BLACKBERRY IN IT—LEFT-WING COUNTRY FOLK—YOU CAN HAVE A DRINK. WHATEVER YOU WANT."—"THOSE ARE THE BEATLES, I BELIEVE."—A NEW DIRT ROAD EXPEDITION—LOST!—THE MYSTERY AND THE MAGIC ONCE AGAIN We took another dirt road expedition which started at the former site of McDonald's Trading Post. There was nothing left there but a grassy field with a bit of scraggly blackberry in it. The field lay at the dirt crossroads at the edge of the forest. The trading post had burned down and the senior McDonalds had passed away years before. I remember that even in the sixties, they were quite old. They spoke with thick country accents. My father once told me that they were practically run out of the Twin Cities -- hardly redneck towns-- because they were so radical in their left wing beliefs. I never saw that aspect of them except that they liked my left-wing parents and so whenever I went in for a cheeseburger there, they simply refused to let me pay. They reminded me of the characters in The Grapes of Wrath -- the character that Henry Fonda played for example -- but much older. Mrs. McDonald once told me, "We don't fly." To which I said, "Well, how do you travel?" She said, "We take the train." In her midwestern drawl. "We really like it. You can have a drink. Whatever you want." These are the only words I remember from her in any detail, but I remember the words exactly. I have but one clear recollection of what her husband once said. We were listening to the juke box in the trading post and he said, "Those are the Beatles, I believe," which was kind of a hip thing for a guy that age to say; the Beatles were quite new. Bill Underhill, a friend of my brothers and sisters and I, said very kindly, "Well, no -- actually that's the Dave Clark Five -- but they sound like the Beatles sometimes." "Ah," said Mr. McDonald, seemingly pleased to learn. But they're gone now -- both of of the McDonalds -- and it seems nothing is left of them and their dreams and legacy but a grassy field at the forest crossroads. Sally and I started a new dirt road expedition at the site of the old McDonald's Trading Post. I drove the rented Alero off to find more magic and mystery and within minutes I was completely and totally lost. This wouldn't be a problem if I were with my other sister, but Sally is afflicted with the same malady as I: she has absolutely no sense of direction -- at all. NONE. I drove. I tried one dirt road after another. Finally, I got on a highway. I saw nothing familiar so I found another highway and started driving down it. Time passed and I must have been doing sixty for much of it and I was sure I had left most of Minnesota behind and would soon be in Ontario or maybe North Dakota. All I had tried to do was to find a bit of mystery and magic down a dirt road -- the way I had done so long ago -- and now, instead, I was hopelessly lost. Finally, in despair, I got off of the highway and took a lonely dirt road. I drove down it and stopped. There I saw a grassy field with a bit of scraggly blackberry in it. The field lay at the dirt crossroads at the edge of the forest. I was back at McDonald's. Lake Itasca 07/04/2001 ACTUALLY THIS IS ON THE ROAD UP, BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE A NEW PLACE CARD. I should have put generic highway come to think of it. Sally and I went. see next card for the WHOLE ESSAY... Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/03/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 07/03/2001 Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/02/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 07/02/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 07/01/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 06/30/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/24/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/23/2001 Noodles swam. (I wrote that, but I don't know where she could have swum.) Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/17/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 06/17/2001 At the field behind school jackrabbits everywhere. I put in generic no bird to create this journal entry. McQueen and Elliot Roads 06/15/2001 Lark at field and Noodles went swimming and lost her collar but we got it back. Jackrabbits by the 1000's. Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/10/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/09/2001 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 06/08/2001 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 06/04/2001 At Mariposa Hall. Elliot and Cooper Roads 06/02/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/28/2001 No Notes Entered Grand Canyon 05/26/2001 this was when steve and jeff took that amazing trip up the gorge. Lake Mary 05/26/2001 No Notes Entered Flagstaff House 05/26/2001 This was when steve and jeff went up the little colorado gorge. East Verde River 05/26/2001 This was when steve and jeff went up the little colorado gorge. Arizona State University 5/24/2001 Mariposa Hall Male and female. Classic look just like in the book with the female the correct Arizona color. Generic Place Anywhere 05/19/2001 Salton Sea 5/18/2001 I wrote that I went the 18 and 19th but I've only got records for the 18thand a couple of 16's which I replaced with 18 and that disappeared anyway because they were also seen the 18 and my program doesn't let you make dupes on the same date. I programmed it that way. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/17/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 5/17/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/16/2001 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 5/14/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/13/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 5/13/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 05/13/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/12/2001 No Notes Entered Boyce Thompson Arboretum 5/11/2001 Just with Noodles. Botanical Gardens 05/09/2001 Cycle dinner. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/06/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 5/6/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 05/06/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/05/2001 How I Hurt My Leg (Scroll down for the whole essay!) Tom Cole It has become a ritual of mine to get up each Saturday and Sunday, whistle up my little dog Noodles, and drive my truck to Elliot and Cooper Roads. The ritual started when a friend told me there were long-billed dowitchers there at the water recharge station. I drove over and found that four miles from my house, in the scorching desert of Arizona, I could watch shore birds. There were acres of shallow ponds that attracted all the migrating shorebirds that were coming in from Alaska and elsewhere. What a deal and a half. It's a short, easy, and comfortable outing but it has, I fear, become a bit of a rut for me as I don't wind up doing much of anything else on the weekends aside from driving back home and playing the guitar and recording music or doing whatever I think needs doing on my computer. At any rate, I awoke on Sunday May 5, 2001, Kentucky Derby Day, and it got into my head to bet on the horses. I made some phone calls and found that the most convenient place to wager was at one of the Dirty Drummer franchises. The Dirty Drummer dives are run-down shopping center saloons. There was one on the northwest corner of Arizona Avenue and Elliot Road. I had never gone in one before and so I was looking forward to testing the place out. I figured I'd hit Elliot and Cooper first and get the gambling done later. When my dog and I arrived at the recharge station. David Esenbacher, a public works employee, pulled up in a pick-up and offered to unlock the chain link door to the ponds, so Noodles and I could go in and explore the area. David is often there and seems to enjoy letting me go into the place. He loves it in there himself and has nice places at the water's edge where he has set up his own benches for having lunch and stuff like that. "Keep your eye out for any pot bellied pigs." he asked. "A guy in the neighborhood has lost a pair and he's really upset. They're family pets -- giant things now -- and he thinks they might have headed this way."I thanked him for letting us go inside and assured him we wouldn't let any pigs get past us.Inside, we walked along the gravely service roads to where the vegetation closed in overhead. It made quite a pleasing riparian canopy and it was a very natural-looking area, quiet and serene and filled with the beauty of green leaves in contrast with the ochre shades of the dusty service road and the drier flora. It was also alive with the sharp, cedary smells of desert plant resins. All the regular birds were in and around the ponds: avocets, rough-winged swallows, snowy egrets, as well as a duck I rarely used to see there, the redhead. I was also lucky enough to spot some blue-winged teals and a good flock of big, white-faced ibises. In the east pond, Wilson's phalaropes were spinning like mad in the shallow water. Their spinning creates a vortex that lifts edible mollusks, crustaceans, insect larva and the like to the surface where the birds gobble it up. This has always been a special bird for me because I sighted it on one of my first bird outings and kind of backslid on bird watching to the point where I didn't see one again for twenty-five years. Now I seek them out regularly. To get a good look at the birds, I had to jump over a little cement canal. It was the kind Noodles and I are very fond of because Noodles likes to jump into them and swim, and I like to watch her. I also like to pull her out before she drowns; the cement sides are very steep and usually Noodles is unable to climb out on her own unless the canal is dry. This particular canal on this day just had a little water in the bottom. Noodles jumped down into it and ran up the steep wall to the other side. I jumped after her, landing my right foot on the angled wall and hopping to the other side. The birds were just a few yards beyond and I got some good viewing in. Noodles and I hopped across the same canal twice again, once going back to the road and then heading back towards the birds. On that second hop, my foot didn't land as it should have. My hard landing on the V-shaped canal pushed my toes upwards toward my knee. There was a ripping, discombobulating sensation and I fell on the other side of the canal knowing I had really messed up my leg. Here's what happened: imagine reaching down, grabbing your toes and pulling the front of your foot up so hard and fast that all the tendons and muscles back in your calf are ripped and torn. Because of the steep angle of my landing spot on the canal wall, that is basically what happened to my leg, although as I lay in the dirt I wondered if it was just plain broken. I was a quarter mile from my truck, but I managed to hobble back with Noodles and drive home. The right foot merely had to press the accelerator, and that worked out all right. When I got home, however, my leg began to swell so much that I called a Cigna nurse. She advised me to get over to their urgent care clinic and urged me to get someone to drive me, but I drove over alone. The place was at Southern and Stapley, not far from Elliot and Cooper. When I got there, I could barely walk anymore so they got me a wheel chair. My blood pressure was so high they put me on a cot and wouldn't let me leave. I'd gone off my high blood pressure pills a couple of weeks before and the staff gave me somemedicine to bring my blood pressure down. Then the doctor used me as a training tool. "Look," he showed the people there. "Push on his good leg and see how that moves? Now try the bad leg. See? Nothing happens." The doctor looked at me and said, "You've torn the tendon back there. You're lucky you didn't tear it all the way off."The doctor wrapped my leg in an Ace bandage, covered that with another layer of bandage and ice, checked my blood pressure, and let me go. The ice I believed had some therapeutic value, but I am a skeptic when it comes to Ace Bandages. When there is nothing the doctor can do, out come the Ace Bandages which act as a sugar pill and make you feel you have been cured. I limped out of there all wrapped up and treated. On the way back I realized I still hadn't bet on the horses, so I drove up to the Dirty Drummer and limped in. My leg was killing me but I wanted to bet in the Kentucky Derby. Now, I'm no gambler. Oh, I used to play nickel ante Acey Duecey when I worked on a cotton rouging crew in tiny Arizona towns where there was nothing else to do, and I even cheated at it once just to run one player out of the game. (I tampered with the clock.) The night before, that guy had left the game early with all of our money. I was sure he felt sorry now and wanted to give us the chance to win it back, and, well, he did – although somewhat involuntarily. I still feel a little guilty. But, as I said, I don't care much for gambling. I don't even play the lottery because the odds are ridiculous and it isn't fair that the State of Arizona gets to run a numbers racket when I would be arrested for doing the same thing. If running the numbers is a bad thing, then it ought to be illegal for everybody. Why is the state exempt from the law? Are they somehow better qualified to run a racket than those who have practiced the art so successfully for decades, like the Mafia? I don't get it. I guess they think they can run a clean racket. But heck, so did the Godfather when he finally agreed to let the other families sell drugs as long as it was kept away from schools and children and confined to the black neighborhoods. Anyway, the Dirty Drummer was not much different from what I expected. It was a rather messy place with the customary thirty-four-and-up male crowd, half of them drunk and dreaming of meeting some decent woman in the dive and the other half basically alcoholic, drunk too, and just hanging out. I'm not really sure about those percentages, but that's the way I looked at the place. And I hasten to add I'm not judging them. I was in there too.My leg was all wrapped up and I was wearing shorts. I must have seemed as weird as anybody there -- especially whenever I bumped my leg a bit and screamed aloud. I got a beer from their lousy selection. I can't believe these saloons. They've got Coors and Coors Light and Bud and Bud Light and Miller and Miller Lite and that's basically the whole menu. After two sips no expert in the place could tell one from the other and they all are slightly sweet and otherwise completely watery and insipid. My irreverent sister calls it "panther piss." Give me a Boston Lager or a India Pale Ale any day. You can't drink many, but at least you can taste something. I had arrived with just nine minutes to spare, so I walked up to some guy who seemed to know what he was doing. "Who are the lousiest nags in the line-up?" I asked him. He gave me a couple of numbers of slow horses one named Point Given and the other Dollar Bill -- and I went to the window and bet ten bucks on both of them -- to show? To place? Nah -- TO WIN! Why fool around? I figured the only way to make any real money was to bet on the two worst horses to win. Of course, the two horses didn't win, although Point Given came in sixth. It was the worst Kentucky Derby I had ever seen -- not because I lost; shoot, I never thought I would win -- but because the crowd was a bunch of idiotic, loud-mouthed cheerers. "Go on, Sea Biscuit!" they roared. (Or similar shouts.) And I never even got to hear the band play "My Old Kentucky Home" which is a truly beautiful song and makes me an admirer of Foster as I am of Lennon and McCartney:Weep no more, my lady Oh, weep no more, today We will sing one song for my old Kentucky home For my old Kentucky home far away Worse, I didn't get to hear the part where the guy says: "Here they come -- DOWWWNN THE STRETCH!!! In the days that followed, my leg swelled a bit more. It woke me up at night and no Advil or anything had any effect upon it. It also turned completely red and purple and it was so hideous-looking that I decided I must show people at work. Some just couldn't stand the sight and would have none of it -- even when pressed to look. Others didn't care one way or the other. Still others asked to see it again. I knew that my co-workers silently admired the way I endured such excruciating agony with such stoicism, forbearance, and aplomb. In other words, I milked it for all it was worth.In a month, I could almost walk without limping and suddenly I experienced a painful, swollen big toe on the other foot. "Gout," I diagnosed. "It's got to be gout because there's no good reason for my toe to hurt." I went to the doctor. "I've got gout," I told him. But X-rays revealed a huge, knife-like bone spur on my big toe. The doctor thought it was really unusual. "I've never seen one so big," he marveled, and scheduled me to see a podiatrist."Gosh, do I have to? Aren't they just chiropractors with scalpels?"The doctor frowned. He defended podiatrists young and old and insisted that I go to find out if the bone spur was likely to cause any more flare-ups in the future. I went back to work the next day and told everyone he had sent me to a pedaphile. They all corrected me, "A podiatrist," they all said."Oh, yes-- podiatrist," I would reply. "I've GOT to remember that name."The toe and the leg have gotten better and I don't see the ped... er podiatrist until later this month. I went to my Thursday writer's group meeting and when I got home, a scorpion (genus Centroides) stung me on the index finger and the next day I couldn't even type. I had flashes before my eyes just the way Poison Control said I might. My whole finger was as numb as death, my bicep ached, and my arm, hand, and finger would explode like silent, roaring cymbals if you gave them a little tap. By Saturday afternoon, however, I had rebounded so well that I could even play the guitar. I was so pleased that I sat down and wrote my first real blues song, "Even the Sky's Got the Blues." What a killer hook! It all evens out. 2125 North Villas Lane 04/30/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/29/2001 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 04/29/2001 John Alcock was there. I can't remember if he made his comment this time or not. McQueen and Elliot Roads 04/29/2001 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 04/28/2001 Steve and me. I phoned and agreed to meet him at the stone houses at 10:30. I got there at 10:45. Long hike. I'm tough. Smilin' coyote. Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/21/2001 No Notes Entered Peace Park 04/19/2001 Heard only. Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/15/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 04/15/2001 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 04/14/2001 Fantastic wilderness. Red flowers on ocotillos -- etc.! 2125 North Villas Lane 04/09/2001 Mainly recorded this bird because it was doing that mating call. Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/08/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 04/08/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/07/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 04/07/2001 No Notes Entered Peace Park 04/06/2001 Elliot and Cooper Roads 04/01/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 04/01/2001 Drove right around the cops. Also a big hawk either a red-tail or a Swainson's Arizona State University 3/28/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/24/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 03/17/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 03/17/2001 No Notes Entered Boyce Thompson Arboretum 03/11/2001 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 03/06/2001 Flying at night. Generic Place in Mesa 03/05/2001 by Baseline and Dobson sort of around there on my way to work at 7:45. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/3/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/26/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 2/26/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/25/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 2/25/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/24/2001 No Notes Entered Superstitions 02/18/2001 This is the time Erica and her kids and Ivan and I went to the superstitions hiking. We went to the goldfield tourist trap and I drank a beer. We went there because Christian wanted a snow cone. There were snow cones there! Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/17/2001 After all these years, this is the first CB thrasher I have SEEN here. I have heard them before. Weird. Wendy's Neighborhood in Dallas 02/12/2001 This is the time I flew to Wendy's to see Lacey in the play. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/4/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 2/3/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/20/2001 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 1/19/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/14/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 1/14/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/6/2001 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 01/06/2001 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 1/6/2001 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/1/2001 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 1/1/2001 No Notes Entered Estero Morua 12/30/2000 Erica and I went on this trip with her children. Estero Morua 12/29/2000 Erica and I went on this trip with her children. Estero Morua 12/28/2000 Erica and I went on this trip with her children. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/27/2000 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 12/27/2000 No Notes Entered New Orleans Louisiana 12/24/2000 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 12/17/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/16/2000 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 12/16/2000 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 12/13/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/10/2000 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 12/10/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/3/2000 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 12/3/2000 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 12/3/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/25/2000 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 11/25/2000 With wendy. 2125 North Villas Lane 11/25/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/24/2000 Herb was there. McQueen and Elliot Roads 11/23/2000 THANKSGIVING DAY Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/19/2000 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 11/19/2000 This is the field behind Mesquite school. The field is at McQueen and Elliot. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/18/2000 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 11/18/2000 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 11/15/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/5/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/4/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/28/2000 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 10/25/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/21/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/16/2000 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 10/16/2000 Coyote there. 2125 North Villas Lane 10/14/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/8/2000 No Notes Entered El Mirage Pond 10/07/2000 When to a dumb old conference next to the pond. I put this pond in here 'cause it's in my book and I plan to go there this next weekend. (See creation date of this card to judge when that'll be, friend." Boyce Thompson Arboretum 10/6/2000 No Notes Entered Peace Park 10/05/2000 No Notes Entered Peace Park 10/04/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/2/2000 I dropped in after I took Steve to work again. Morning. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/1/2000 No Notes Entered Phoenix Zoo 9/30/2000 Of course, I went with Larry and Nancy to see the blackpoll warbler, a vagrant. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/29/2000 ACTUALLY JUST NEAR ELLIOT AND COOPER. I WAS DRIVING BY ON THE WAY BACK FROM GIVING STEVE A RIDE TO WORK.the 29 is a guess Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/24/2000 Contructing new pond??? McQueen and Elliot Roads 09/24/2000 No Notes Entered Generic Highway 09/23/2000 You recall that one of your rare encounters with snipes resulted in a small contribution to literature -- if you care to call it that. Here's what happened: You were diddling on the e-mail writing a letter to Nancy, Larry's wife. You were using Microsoft Outlook and were vexed by its broken interface. You curse: "Microsoft: Milestones in Poor Craftsmanship!" Each paragraph return was dragging the left margin around and refusing to wrap, so you got miffed and just started hitting the return key with each sentence or phrase, making breaks whenever you darned well felt like it. Then, you sent the message in a snit. Nancy read it and e-mailed you back. Could she send her friend your wonderful "poem?" You responded, "Sure." 2125 North Villas Lane 9/23/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/16/2000 THIS IS THE PAGE THAT I REMOVED THE AMERICAN GOLDFINCH FROM. HE HASN'T BEEN SEEN AT THIS TIME IN MARICOPA COUNTY. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/10/2000 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 9/10/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/5/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/4/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/2/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/19/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 08/13/2000 Brits were there on the last.... Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/12/2000 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 08/12/2000 No Notes Entered Flagstaff House 8/7/2000 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 8/5/2000 No Notes Entered Generic Highway 08/05/2000 Stopped by the side of the road and saw this bird crawling up a pine tree. It was rather near Flagstaff on the way up. I stopped. Actually it was on Fox Farm Road. The exit there for it northbound. Flagstaff House 08/05/2000 Patagonia 7/30/2000 BIRD WATCHING IN PATAGONIA, ARIZONA Arizona State University 7/21/2000 back friday Arizona State University 7/19/2000 He was back again. Sonny and Steve came to the office, and sonny scared him away. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/14/2000 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 7/14/2000 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 7/14/2000 Noodles went swimming 2125 North Villas Lane 7/14/2000 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 7/13/2000 No Notes Entered Lake Itasca 7/6/2000 No Notes Entered Lake Itasca 7/5/2000 No Notes Entered Lake Itasca 7/4/2000 Sonny caught a big bass on a jitterbug at the Douglas Lodge dock. Lake Itasca 7/3/2000 Steve and Sonny and I took this trip. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/1/2000 With Noodles. 2125 North Villas Lane 7/1/2000 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 6/30/2000 The power went out and I dangled there for two hours in the hail and pouring rain before they got me down. Also lightning kept hitting the ski lift which didn't scare me but pissed me off because it would blow out power and keep me up there. Finally, they got a generator running and inched me down. Boyce Thompson Arboretum 6/25/2000 Sonny and Steve and I went and Noodles went up the High Trail with us with no problem. Generic Place Anywhere 06/24/2000 We went to the place where the cops stopped us once wanting to know if we were shooting. Found transvestitie's stash. A transvestite left his wig and much momen's clothing out there in nice back packs and bags. Then we drove all around the pump area. NOODLES AND SONNY SWAM!!! STEVE WAS THERE. Then we sent past the mysterious oasis and then the mysterious pond with cattails. 2125 North Villas Lane 6/19/2000 Flying out there down El Monte. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/18/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/17/2000 No Notes Entered Generic Place Anywhere 06/17/2000 Saw the Riders there and also Angie and Gina, who were VERY good singers. This was the time I could have opened Ranger Doug's beer for him but I forgot I had a church key in my pocket. 2125 North Villas Lane 6/14/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/11/2000 Coyotes in the field by school. Two of them. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/4/2000 No Notes Entered Baseline and Power 6/4/2000 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 6/4/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/3/2000 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 6/3/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/29/2000 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 05/29/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/22/2000 Flex day off. All dry. 2125 North Villas Lane 5/22/2000 Walking along El Monte Boyce Thompson Arboretum 5/20/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/19/2000 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 5/19/2000 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 5/19/2000 No Notes Entered Cholla Bay 05/17/2000 This was with Larry. We went all the way to Cholla Bay and the birdwatching stank. We did see a snowy and a seal with a big gash on his head. Generic Highway 05/17/2000 Lying in the road dead between Sonoita and Puerto Peñasco. Estero Morua 5/17/2000 By the little boat ramp in the sea cucumber bushes. With Larry. Was this the time I saw Maryann Davis for the last time? Estero Morua 5/16/2000 with Larry Estero Morua 5/15/2000 With Larry. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/14/2000 Steve and Sonny and Noodles and I. Tempe Town Lake 05/13/2000 Noodles and I saw this bird. (at LOCH MESS!) Boyce Thompson Arboretum 5/7/2000 Noodles and I in my new Frontier truck. Drove my brand new Frontier Nissan to the Arboretum. Noodles had a good time. I was alone with Noodles. Yellow warblers, yellow-breasted chats, one black-headed grosbeak, phainopeplas, etc. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/6/2000 Everything's dried up and there is no water in front at all. Only far southwestern pond has water and there are not many birds there. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/29/2000 Steve and Sonny Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 4/28/2000 April 28, 2000 Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/23/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/22/2000 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 04/22/2000 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 4/22/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/17/2000 My flex day. Mount Ord 4/16/2000 Trip with Larry in my brand new truck. 2125 North Villas Lane 4/16/2000 No Notes Entered Generic Place Anywhere 04/16/2000 I saw him while I was looking at a Costa's hummer. Just above in the sky was the Black Hawk. Trip with Larry in my brand new truck. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/15/2000 With my new truck. 2125 North Villas Lane 4/12/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/9/2000 WITH NOODLES OF COURSE. Flagstaff Area 4/7/2000 Most all of these were in the forest by the Little America Inn. Noisy place because of the highway. Kaibab squirrel too. 2125 North Villas Lane 4/6/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/2/2000 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 04/02/2000 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 4/2/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/1/2000 Violet green swallow CITY! 2125 North Villas Lane 4/1/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/26/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/25/2000 My neighbor was there on a little tour from Wild Birds Unlimited Vancouver 03/19/2000 This was that time I went to give the talk on Fish Trek for Univ of Mich Press. Oh, what a snowy flight it was. I went on a bus tour and there I saw some of these birds like the winter wren. I had a delicious steak at a sports bar there. Very well prepared as medium well and they didn't make it medium rare as usual. Rained like hell. A woman in an SUV almost hit a pedestrian and would have there in the rainy downtown street but for her antilock brakes. 2125 North Villas Lane 3/15/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/12/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/11/2000 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 03/05/2000 March 5, 2000 Sunday Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/4/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/26/2000 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 02/26/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/14/2000 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 02/14/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/12/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/5/2000 Four kinds of swallows (four kinds of cheese) McQueen and Elliot Roads 02/05/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/30/2000 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 01/30/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/28/2000 Friday. My Flex Day off. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 1/28/2000 Friday my flex day off. 2125 North Villas Lane 1/28/2000 Friday, my flex day off. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/23/2000 Steve and Sonny. McQueen and Elliot Roads 01/23/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/22/2000 Ten huge geese flew by. McQueen and Elliot Roads 01/22/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/17/2000 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 1/17/2000 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 1/9/2000 No Notes Entered Generic Place in Chandler 1/9/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/8/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/2/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/1/2000 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 01/01/2000 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/31/1999 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 12/31/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/30/1999 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 12/30/1999 No Notes Entered New Orleans Louisiana 12/28/1999 Sally and I saw all of these birds. All of these were at Audubon Park. New Orleans Louisiana 12/27/1999 Wendy's Neighborhood in Dallas 12/25/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/20/1999 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 12/20/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/17/1999 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 12/17/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/12/1999 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 12/12/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/11/1999 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 12/10/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/5/1999 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 12/5/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/4/1999 No Notes Entered McQueen and Elliot Roads 12/04/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/29/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/28/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/27/1999 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 11/27/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/25/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/21/1999 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 11/21/1999 No Notes Entered Boyce Thompson Arboretum 11/19/1999 AECP retreat. I think it was Friday, but close enough. Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/14/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/13/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/11/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/7/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/6/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/31/1999 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 10/31/1999 Sunday at 11:27. Steve and Noodles and I saw this bird when we came back from Dad's house to look at the bees that were supposedly swarming there. The bees were just feeding on the flowers in the tree. When we came back the cardinal, a big red male, was charging around my desert front yard. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/24/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/22/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/17/1999 No Notes Entered Gilbert and Riggs Roads 10/17/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/16/1999 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 10/16/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/10/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/9/1999 No Notes Entered Gilbert and Riggs Roads 10/9/1999 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 10/9/1999 Maybe three of them. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/3/1999 No Notes Entered Baseline and Power 10/3/1999 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 10/3/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/2/1999 No Notes Entered Peace Park 10/01/1999 Canal by Mariposa 2125 North Villas Lane 9/29/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/25/1999 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 9/25/1999 I made up the date but I think it was September. I told my writing teacher about it. Peace Park 09/23/1999 No Notes Entered Peace Park 09/22/1999 The notes say canal on college, but it's here, of course. Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/18/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/12/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/11/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/5/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/4/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/29/1999 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 8/29/1999 Still here. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/28/1999 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 8/28/1999 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 8/28/1999 As I was driving out Noodles and I saw this bird flying over Villas Lane. Arizona State University 8/24/1999 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 8/23/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/22/1999 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 8/22/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/21/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/15/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/14/1999 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 8/14/1999 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 8/9/1999 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 8/9/1999 Still in great numbers. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/8/1999 No Notes Entered Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads 8/8/1999 From my journal: August 8, 1999 Noodles and I went to the Greenfield and Guadalupe place and saw Wilson's Phalaropes. We had a real good long walk. Walnut Canyon 08/03/1999 Wasn't this with sally? Yes, here's the entry: I suggested we all have a hearty ranch breakfast -- an English breakfast a la Flag and by golly they said yes and we went to the Ski Lift Lodge and ate these huge breakfasts and we weren't ever sorry afterwards. Noodles we left in the house. Then we went to Walnut Canyon and hiked it. Easy hike just takes you around a big loop. There were rufous hummingbirds there and bushtits. That very day I had to drive back with Davey and so I did. We played tapes on the way back. Flagstaff House 08/03/1999 Then we slept on the roof and I woke everyone up with my snoring and they called me the man who murdered sleep. Then it rained and we came in and I drank a beer and read Thuvia Maid of Mars. Then, a red-shafted flicker came up to the window and woke me up, so I went downstairs and then went up and fell asleep and snored again and woke everyone up. Flagstaff House 08/02/1999 No Notes Entered Yucatan Chichen Itza 7/23/1999 No Notes Entered Yucatan Puerto Morelos 7/23/1999 No Notes Entered Yucatan Chichen Itza 7/22/1999 Yucatan Progreso 7/22/1999 No Notes Entered Yucatan Unknown 7/22/1999 This was after we went to Progreso. We left the flea bag and went to Driznookdookie, which is not the correct name but it cost five pesos to park and 45 to get in. Yucatan Felipe Carrillo 7/21/1999 No Notes Entered Yucatan Progreso 7/21/1999 Yucatan Uxmal 7/21/1999 Yucatan Felipe Carrillo 7/20/1999 No Notes Entered Yucatan Coba 7/19/1999 No Notes Entered Yucatan Felipe Carrillo 7/19/1999 Yucatan Muyil 7/19/1999 Yucatan Coba 7/18/1999 The lake was surprisingly unbirdy. There were neotropic cormorants and anhingas sitting on posts out there, but not even coots swam in the lake. Larry got out his scope and we drove to the far side of the lake and set it up. All we saw were the cormorants and anhingas. Neither bird produces a water repellent oil so that's why they were on the posts -- to dry out in the sun. If they don't dry out a lot, their feathers get soaked clean through and the next time they get in the water they just sink to the bottom and drown. That's my theory anyway. Yucatan Puerto Morelos 7/18/1999 Yucatan Tulum 7/18/1999 Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/11/1999 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 7/11/1999 Sad anniversary. Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/10/1999 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 7/10/1999 Eating cactus fruit out front. My big nopal cactus fruit. Wendy's Neighborhood in Dallas 7/5/1999 No Notes Entered Wendy's Neighborhood in Dallas 7/4/1999 No Notes Entered Wendy's Neighborhood in Dallas 7/2/1999 2125 North Villas Lane 6/28/1999 This bird was sailing in front of the house. Still plenty of white wings cooing. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/27/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/26/1999 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 6/21/1999 There have been a lot of them around for some time now and they're still here saying kook kook a jew! Or who cooks for you? Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/20/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/19/1999 No Notes Entered Phoenix Zoo 6/18/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/13/1999 No Notes Entered Tempe Town Lake 06/13/1999 I think this was the thirteenth at least. Tempe Town Sump is being filled with water. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/12/1999 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 6/7/1999 He was out in the back yard. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/6/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/23/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/22/1999 wendy, steve Baseline and Power 5/22/1999 Wendy here. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/21/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/16/1999 I was standing under the observation area by pond 10 watching birds with another visitor. I could tell he was an experienced bird watcher by the expensive roof prism binoculars he had. I was mumbling off a list of birds as I saw them and said, "Green Heron -- gosh, he sure is a funny color." The other visitor to the site looked and said, "That's a least bittern!" We looked in our books to match the bird against its paintings. The other guy identified it, but he still said, "Thanks for finding that one for me." Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/15/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/9/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/8/1999 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 5/8/1999 Sat in the neighbor's tree and went koo kooka ju! I sang "Sitting in an English garden waiting for the sun. If the sun don't come you get a tan from standing in the English rain. I am the eggman. They are the eggmen. I am the walrus." KOO KOOKA JU! Replied the white-winged dove. Lots of these around now. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/2/1999 No Notes Entered Gilbert and Riggs Roads 5/2/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/1/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/25/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/24/1999 No Notes Entered Gilbert and Riggs Roads 04/24/1999 That herb guy with the bird group was there and I accompanied them to Gilbert and Riggs. This is that place a mile or less north of gilbert and Riggs. These birds were cool because they exhibited the Warbling Vireo trademarks: several in a tree and forever hidden behind any available twig -- no distinquishing characteristics- featureless until you see a light eye stripe. Later I am writing: You know, I think this was the "warbler tree" which is now very much a part of the past. They're putting houses out there. Hassayampa River 4/18/1999 With Nancy and Larry. We tried to get into the good sewer flats but there were vast areas of sewage pipes and no soul about. Mexican families were sporting in the fecal rush of the waters, risking typhus and meningitis. Then we drove to Wickenburg to the Hasasyampa River Nature Conservancy place. No dogs allowed but luckily I hadn't brought Noodles. I think I drank a bunch of beer on the way up. HEY, WASN'T THERE A SPOTTED SANDPIPER AND A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD IN THAT AREA???????? NEED TO CHECK. IT'S NOT IN THE DATABASE!! Generic Place Anywhere 04/18/1999 See Hassamp... river for this date for more info. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/11/1999 No Notes Entered Generic Place Anywhere 04/11/1999 I went and saw Dad but he was sleepy so I left. I drove over to Alma School and about Brown and there was a canal there with a big greater y ellowlegs in it. He was so dark I thought he was a wandering tattler or something. Cliff swallows were swarming like bees around a mud hole and a loggerhead shrike was perched on a bush in the distance. Overhead sailed an absolutely gigantic turkey vulture – bigger than a bald eagle. There was a black phoebe along the canal later. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/10/1999 No Notes Entered Gilbert and Riggs Roads 4/10/1999 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 4/10/1999 Out back Arizona State University 4/7/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/4/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/3/1999 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 4/2/1999 April 3, 1999 Saturday COULD THIS BE THE 3RD OF APRIL? Sally and Kate came on Thursday. It rained. They went to see Dad. At night we all went over to see him at Lutheran Hospital. On Friday it snowed all over Arizona and here it rained, the wind blew at about 40 miles per hour and it was colder than a witch’s chest! Then it cleared up some and was beautiful. We went to Pima canyon: sonny, kate, sally, and I. We saw some birds. We went up to the houses and then we walked back. It took a long time. Mount Ord 3/28/1999 Sunday. Larry and Nancy took me. Verde River 3/28/1999 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 3/28/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/27/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/21/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/20/1999 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 3/20/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/18/1999 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 3/16/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/15/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/14/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/13/1999 No Notes Entered Boyce Thompson Arboretum 3/7/1999 With Larry and Nancy. Storm was supposed to come but it only got a little cold and windy. Beautiful morning. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/6/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/28/1999 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 2/28/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/27/1999 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 2/27/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/20/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/13/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/6/1999 No Notes Entered Gilbert and Riggs Roads 2/6/1999 Met that Audubon Group and followed them around. The guy had great seven power binocs. His name is Herb, isn't it? Arizona State University 2/5/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/31/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/25/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/23/1999 No Notes Entered Baseline and Power 1/23/1999 Larry and Nancy. Gigantic iguanas out there. Huge. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/18/1999 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 1/18/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/17/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/16/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/10/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/9/1999 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/3/1999 No Notes Entered Estero Morua 1/1/1999 No Notes Entered Estero Morua 12/31/1998 December 31, 1998 Mexico, estero morua, beach house. The pelicans flew like turkey vultures in a great cone. The first night I was a little cold on the couch there. I wore my jacket and had one blanket. A dog came over and when I yelled at it, if fell on its back. Its name was Snicker. Saw long-billed curlews and a brown booby and other birds. Moon very very bright indeed. No one around to speak of. New Year's eve was quiet. I fixed the broken window by jamming boards in there -- actually the ceiling panels fit in there. Someone stole my barbecue grill. Mexicans like to deficate (shit!) behind our house.I bought a Corona bottle opener because I brought Samuel Adams Boston lager and needed to open one or two or three on the sandy road to the beach as I traditionally do (with any kind of beer). It is a cool bottle opener that says "Cerveza Corona" on it. It's just all metal and silver but I love it and want to marry it! I went down to fix the broken window. I pounded a ceiling panel into the broken window from within and without. There was just a glint of sky through part of the roof. I know it will leak a little but I just didn't have time to plug the very last of the chinks in the roof. I tried but I kept missing. The road to the house is kind of icky. All torn up and the dunes to the right as you approach are torn up. Stupid jerks. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/29/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/28/1998 No Notes Entered Baseline and Power 12/28/1998 Jeff and I and Noodles Superstitions 12/28/1998 Jeff and Sonny and Steve and I camped out at Skull Camp. Jeff froze. He complained about my snoring. Sonny and Steve and I slept in the tent. Sonny was in the middle and as warm as toast. It was cold. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/25/1998 No Notes Entered Generic Highway 12/23/1998 No Notes Entered Boyce Thompson Arboretum 12/23/1998 Jeff came. Noodles came along too! Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/22/1998 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 12/22/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/19/1998 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 12/19/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/13/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/12/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/6/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/5/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/29/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/28/1998 No Notes Entered Boyce Thompson Arboretum 11/27/1998 Larry, Nancy, Steve, Sonny, Noodles, Me Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/26/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/22/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/21/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/15/1998 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 11/15/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/14/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/11/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/7/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/6/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 11/1/1998 No Notes Entered Generic Place Anywhere 11/01/1998 At the dump. The cops stopped us because they thought we were shooting .22s and bothering the Indians. We (Steve and Sonny and I) drove all over the dump area. Saw the Oasis (Mysterious Pond) and the long pond. Nice dump and desert. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/31/1998 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 10/30/1998 No Notes Entered Daley Park 10/30/1998 There were a lot of them by the tracks and the oleanders there. A very crisp cool wind was blowing. Kind of cold. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/25/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/17/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/10/1998 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 10/04/1998 October 4, 1998 Sunday -- Went to Eliud Valdes's funeral today. In the morning Steve and Sonny and I went to Pima Canyon and rode bikes. I bought a new bike yesterday for 99 bucks. Took it to Gallagher's yesterday and the system worked well. I can go to the saloon and not get a DUI, but it's more dangerous riding the bike home. At Pima Canyon, I saw black throated sparrows and also the first white crowned sparrows that I haven't seen for a while. Elliot and Cooper Roads 10/3/1998 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 09/30/1998 September 30, 1998 2125 North Villas Lane 9/26/1998 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 9/25/1998 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 09/21/1998 Wednesday September 23, 1998 Gorgeous night with cool breeze. Dad and I and Noodles went scorpion hunting at the church it was late. Caught two. Derek Bennett came complaining in my office. Gailynn and I drank beer at the Timberwolf. Saw yellow-headed blackbirds flying over my house a couple of days ago. Arizona State University 9/20/1998 No Notes Entered Gilbert and Riggs Roads 9/19/1998 Water very low. Shorebirds and many herons and egrets. 2125 North Villas Lane 9/14/1998 These were flying by at the end of Villas Lane when I drove out. Males and females and everything. What a flock. I have other sightings oif this bird at my house -- some recently right out of my back yard. They whirled in the wind, but I don't seem to have recorded them. 2125 North Villas Lane 9/12/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/7/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/6/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 9/5/1998 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 8/31/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/30/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/29/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/22/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/16/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/15/1998 Saturday. Noodles and I. Only one of these sandpipers. Boyce Thompson Arboretum 8/9/1998 With Larry and Nancy and Noodles. 8:00 AM start. Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/7/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/5/1998 No Notes Entered Estero Morua 8/3/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 8/1/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/26/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/25/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/19/1998 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 7/17/1998 No Notes Entered San Juan River 07/17/1998 This was that big river trip. Killers were hiding in the desert. Flagstaff Area 7/13/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/5/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/4/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 7/3/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/27/1998 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 6/24/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/21/1998 Father's Day. I bought Dad a new hummingbird feeder and a cafeteria style bird feeder and I set them up at his house. In the morning Noodles and I went to the Elliot and Cooper site and saw black-crowned night herons and great blue herons and towhees and stuff. I bought a new pot. It is an Aztec pot. I put it out there on the patio. Arizona State University 6/21/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/20/1998 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 6/14/1998 Wendy and I saw this exotic bird at 6:30 AM out back. It flew by. Pima Canyon 6/14/1998 June 17, 1998 Last weekend Wendy and Lacey came here. We had lunch at Serrano's with dad and everyone. Wendy and steve and I cleaned Dad's house. Lacey likes the xfiles so we surfed the net. We all went on sunday to Pima Canyon, but it was too hot for wendy and lacey. We walked a long way, though and saw some sights and some birds. We ate at tianguis. We ate tacos and goofed off there. 2125 North Villas Lane 6/12/1998 Noodles and I sat in the back yard and out there in the sky I could see the swallows flying. At first, I thought they might be cliff swallows, but I could never get any glimpse of a rusty rump. NRW swallows they were and mighty fine swallows indeed. Elliot and Cooper Roads 6/6/1998 No Notes Entered Generic Place Anywhere 06/04/1998 Out of the car window 2125 North Villas Lane 6/2/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/30/1998 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 5/29/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/25/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/24/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/23/1998 Steve, Sonny, Noodles, I. the bc n heron was in the main pond alone just beyond the reeds. Puerto Peñasco 05/22/1998 This was over at Marco's shrimp stand. Generic Highway 05/19/1998 This was a trip I took just with Noodles to Mexico. On the way down I wrote this note about a burrowing owl: This bird was on a post between Ak Chin and Pete's Corner. A Coyote Crossed the road. Generic Highway 5/19/1998 This was a trip I took to Mexico with Noodles only. This bird was on a post between Ak Chin and Pete's Corner. A Coyote Crossed the road. Estero Morua 5/19/1998 This was a trip I took just with Noodles. On the way down I wrote this note about a burrowing owl: This bird was on a post between Ak Chin and Pete's Corner. A Coyote Crossed the road. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/18/1998 Not many birds here today. There's water. Noodles and I went. I'm taking the day off and the week off. This spotted sandpiper was in the northeast pond. Pima Canyon 5/17/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/16/1998 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 5/12/1998 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 5/12/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/9/1998 May 9, 1998 Today I got up late (about 8:00) and went to Cooper and Elliot. There were few birds there. I thought I saw a new Towhee as there were three there that looked just like Abert's Towhee but had no black masks. i don't know though. Saw a horned lark and it may be the last I see there as they are leveling the field by Cooper and Elliot. SEE BIRD RECORDS NOW IN BIRD BRAIN BIRDBRAIN DATABASE. 2125 North Villas Lane 5/9/1998 No Notes Entered Boyce Thompson Arboretum 5/9/1998 Steve and Sonny and Noodles and I met Nancy and Larry at 9:00. 2125 North Villas Lane 5/5/1998 Flew on by while Noodles and I were drinking HefeWeizen. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/3/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/2/1998 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 4/28/1998 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 4/26/1998 Sonny and Steve and I went. We walked clear up to fat man's pass and we walked there for about five hours. Came back on the Mormon Trail. It started raining and thundering and the rain was quite cold. It stopped and we were warm again. ----- well, it's years later and i wanted to add that this was the time (if I remember correctly) that I had the newist Swift audubons and had to wrap them in plastic of some kind to protect them from the rain. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/25/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/19/1998 Sunday. Noodles and I. Generic Place in Chandler 04/19/1998 No Notes Entered Gilbert and Riggs Roads 4/19/1998 No Notes Entered Ocotillo and Gilbert Roads 04/19/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/18/1998 No Notes Entered Gilbert and Riggs Roads 4/18/1998 Saturday with Steve and Sonny. This was the time we chanced to meet a Tempe Parks recreation bird class and followed them around. 2125 North Villas Lane 4/18/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/17/1998 Just me after work. You know there were no shovelers and the pintails have been gone a long long long time now. Dowitchers are getting brown. 2125 North Villas Lane 4/13/1998 April 13, 1998 From my journal: I saw two huge Canada Geese flying over Villas Lane as I drove out to work. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/12/1998 Noodles and I. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/11/1998 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 4/11/1998 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 4/9/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/7/1998 In the tree in the main pond -- the left tree. There were a bunch of cubscouts there and also a guy from Oregon who was looking for Arizona life listers. He and I showed all the cubscouts the birds and they wrote down all the species. The guy from the water treatment plant let us through the gate. He say the water was unsafe for humans (feces). Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/6/1998 I drove home from work and picked up Noodles and Dad and we went out there to look at birds. On the way back, the Gilbert Police gave me a ticket for making an illegal right turn. They knew that no one could see the signs and set up a trap getting everyone turning right and giving them a ticket. Superstitions 4/5/1998 Hiking trip with Sonny and Steve. An overnighter. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/3/1998 With Larry and Nancy and Steve and Sonny Showed up too. New Swift Audubon binoculars. We went to the Verde River too, Larry and Nancy and I. Baseline and Power 4/3/1998 With Larry and Nancyand Noodles. I drove everyone. Verde River 4/3/1998 With Larry and Nancy and Noodles. I drove everyone. Superstitions 4/3/1998 Hiking trip with Sonny and Steve. An overnighter. Shoot, my records show that I went to the verde river too on this day. is my date wrong? No, my journal says I rushed home to go to the superstitions. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/1/1998 Today the Paula Jones case was thrown out of court. went to this site after work to try out my brand new super smokin' Swift Audubon 8.5X44 binoculars. Oh, what a view!! Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/28/1998 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 3/28/1998 This was the time the gila woodpecker was eating the orange. Arizona State University 3/27/1998 No Notes Entered Arizona State University 3/26/1998 No Notes Entered Boyce Thompson Arboretum 3/21/1998 Went up and met Larry and Nancy. Later we had Mexican food in Superior and drank two pitchers of beer. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/20/1998 No Notes Entered Phoenix Zoo 3/20/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/19/1998 No Notes Entered Baseline and Power 3/19/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/15/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/14/1998 Went to Elliot and cooper. It rained today (El Niño). cleaned up my house so it looked okay. Steve came by later in the day to do laundry. We went over to Dad's and cleaned up his kitchen. He has been feeling sick lately. 2125 North Villas Lane 3/14/1998 Actually, the front yard. 2125 North Villas Lane 3/8/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/7/1998 Sonny and Steve and Noodles and Tom Arizona State University 3/3/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/2/1998 Same day as trip to Arboretum. 2125 North Villas Lane 3/2/1998 No Notes Entered Boyce Thompson Arboretum 3/2/1998 I took the day off and went with Noodles to theArboretum. We spent a good long time there and hiked. Noodles had a real real good time. She pooped twice and drank out of the the cold desert stream. Elliot and Cooper Roads 3/1/1998 The male bufflehead was there. Gilbert and Riggs Roads 03/01/1998 This was my first trip here. A guy told me about it at Elliot and Cooper and when I drove over there he was there too. My journal reads: March 1, 1998 Noodles and I went to Cooper and Elliot roads and saw birds. We also went to Riggs and Gilbert road and saw a new pond with Canvasbacks and redheads that like deeper water, being diving ducks as they are. A guy at Cooper and Elliot told me about the place and I drove over there and there he was too. Larry knows all about that place. Also went to the little "pond" at McQueen and Queencreek and saw some birds. I want to make a database for birdwatching, 'cause I think I can do a better job, so I bought visual foxpro fox pro and I think it might be a dog. 2125 North Villas Lane 3/1/1998 This was the time that I bought the new Busnell binoculars and found that Tom Hascall's weren't nearly as good. His get consigned to the Tom Hascall Cole museum. My new ones are great! $39.99 Tom Hascall's were 7/1000 yards mine are 10/1000 yards just for starters. (Oh, later how wrong I found this to be!) Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/28/1998 This is the first time I've seen them (the avocets) for a long time. They seemed to have pretty much summer plumage. On this trip I drove around a lot and saw 40 species. Generic Highway 02/28/1998 No Notes Entered Generic Place Anywhere 02/28/1998 On this trip I drove around a lot and saw 40 species. Arizona State University 2/27/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/22/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/21/1998 A guy from the Tribune was there and wanted to take my picture, but I wouldn't let him. He took pictures of some ladies. What a stick in the mud am I! Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/15/1998 Larry came by and we saw the Ferruginous Hawk together. The hawk soared over from nowhere. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/14/1998 This was the trip where I thought I saw Wilson's Phalaropes but was mistaken. 2125 North Villas Lane 2/14/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/8/1998 No Notes Entered Generic Place in Mesa 02/07/1998 With Larry Simkins. This place was down power road from the Power and Guadalupe site/ power and baseline site. It was a desert area right off the road. Maybe it's Gilbert and not Mesa. Doesn't matter. Baseline and Power 2/7/1998 With Larry Simkins Boyce Thompson Arboretum 2/7/1998 With Larry Simkins. We drank beer on the way back. Corona. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/1/1998 Dad, Noodles, Tom Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/31/1998 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/25/1998 With Noodles of course. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/19/1998 Noodles and I as usual. Three people there, one a lady with a spotting scope. I used the scope to look at the Least Sandpiper's legs; they were yellow all right. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/18/1998 Dad, Noodles, Tom Pima Canyon 1/11/1998 jackrabbit Pima Canyon 1/8/1998 Steve and I. YOU KNOW I THINK THIS IS JANUARY 11TH! Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/7/1998 Dad, Noodles, Tom Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/6/1998 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 12/30/1997 December 30, 1997 Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/27/1997 Jeff, Tom, Noodles Jeff identified the vermillion flycatcher quickly. Pima Canyon 08/24/1997 Sally came here with Christopher and Kate. We went to South Mountain and hiked clean up in there. It was hot, but we brought enough water -- barely -- to survive. We went to different places. Mostly to Peter Piper Pizza and like that. Pima Canyon 05/29/1997 Yesterday Steven and I went to South Mountain and hiked for a long long time. It was 106° out and I drank my whole gallon of water. We went also two other times out there. The first time down the wash and back before we even reached the stone houses and the second time to the stone houses and back on the road. Yesterday we went WAY up there and it was really hot. Elliot and Cooper Roads 5/25/1997 Dad, Noodles, and I. Elliot and Cooper Roads 4/14/1997 No Notes Entered 2125 North Villas Lane 3/22/1997 I promised Noodles we would go bird watching so we went in my back yard. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/23/1997 Dad, Noodles, and I Estero Morua 2/17/1997 Dad and I went together. We named all the mountains and stuff. Elliot and Cooper Roads 2/2/1997 Dad, tom, noodles Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/26/1997 Windy too! Really singing, those bbs. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/18/1997 Dad, Noodles, and I. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/12/1997 Dad, Sherry, Steve, Sonny, Noodles, Tom of course, who is always there. COLD! Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/11/1997 Noodles and I. One John Fink was there asking people to join the Audubon Society. Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/4/1997 Left early 'cause it was cold and no one dressed appropriately. Steve, sonny, sherry, dad and noodles Elliot and Cooper Roads 1/1/1997 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/31/1996 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/30/1996 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/29/1996 No Notes Entered Superstitions 12/27/1996 December 29, 1996 Sunday I went to the superstition mountains with Steve on Friday I guess it was. It was spectacular. There was only one nut with a gun and a bow and arrow. Federal Building blower upper type. The trail was immaculate and the scenery out of this world. We saw a turtle in a desert stream way out there. There are springs and stuff. Horses travel out there, but it was really isolated for the most part. The amazing thing is that there is so much more out there; we only explored just one little old trail and just a part of it. Big big wilderness area. There is nothing like it. Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/26/1996 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/23/1996 No Notes Entered Elliot and Cooper Roads 12/1/1996 Dad, Noodles, and I. Larry was there with his spotting scope. 2125 North Villas Lane 09/04/1996 From my Journal: There are cactus wrens in my back yard. There used to be one, but he's got a mate. They are in my back yard. My back yard. 2125 North Villas Lane 4/14/1996 I just made up the date. The wren is often here. Grand Canyon 11/03/1995 Found this reference in my journal. It said November 6 that a couple of days ago I went to the Grand Canyon and so I have written November 4. Ah, but I'm changing it to 3 because I read CANNERY ROW on that trip and the correct date is in the book. It reads: "Tom Cole November 3, 1995 700Am -8:10 ALCP trip to the Grand Canyon. Finished whole book on the trip. Finished 1 hour south of flagstaff." Pima Canyon 08/27/1995 Steve and I went to Pima Canyon and Hiked the whole thing. We talked to some mounted sheriffs who didn't like the mountain bikes at all either. The scenery is spectacular and there is not a single bottle cap out there. Elliot and Cooper Roads 05/27/1995 There are no other records for a dowitcher in June, so I set the date as May 27, a Saturday, as my journal reads: "June 6 1995 I haven't been writing for some long time now. In 95 I slept out on the patio a great deal. There was a monster out there that would snort at Noodles and me each night. Just recently Dad and I went to Elliot and Cooper Roads and saw long billed dowitchers." Close enough to June 6, I guess. I didn't know we had gone there clean back in 1995. Bird Brain records show I didn't get back there until 12/1/96! I had told Larry I hadn't seen any LBD's for ages and he said go here. 2125 North Villas Lane 3/5/1994 Found that there were no entries AT ALL for 1994! Checked journal and got this: The other day I noticed that the blackbirds were flying. I didn't see them today. I shall continue to look and report back. It was dated March 6, 1994 -- a Sunday, so I put in March 5. Boyce Thompson Arboretum 08/11/1993 August 12, 1993 2125 North Villas Lane 6/29/1993 June 29, 1993 Tuesday I called Jeff today. He is going to have a job interview in Mexico City. I called Dad. He went to see Becky Hildebranth and got some sleeping pills. Hotter than hell here in Arizona. Hotter than hell. Hey, I bought a new guitar on Saturday. It's and Ibanez acoustic with a flame maple finish. A dark colored guitar. Research Park 12/30/1992 Got this entry from my journal and it said that Dad and I went to the research park to look for towhees on December 30, 1992. Saw no towhees. It cleared up some today and Dad and I went to the research park to look for tohees. We saw an ash-throated flycatcher and some Audubon's warblers and some Oregon juncos and no tohees. We got mud on our feet. 1759 West Mariposa Court 12/21/1992 This dove came by several times and Dad talked to me about it. Finally, I came over and saw it and was surprised at what it looked like. When I read the book about it I realized that it looked exactly as it should look when on the ground: "Like a miniature mourning dove." This is an excellent sighting, and I wish one would show up in my backyard someday. Boyce Thompson Arboretum 01/11/1992 Last Wednesday, Sue called and said she was in Page. She came down the next day. She and I drove to Superior on Saturday. We went to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, and it was sprinkling a bit. We walked all over. There was no one at all on the trails farther out. Sue bought some cacti. We could have taken Noodles, but we didn't realize that dogs were allowed. I guess it's so hot in the summer that the arboretum has to allow doggies so the little creatures don't get cooked in the cars. Nice tiles with pictures of birds and lizards. The place has a nifty pond. A sign said that the high trail was closed because of high creek waters, but we took it anyway. It was nice. I saw some Naco limestone up there and some other stuff. There was a map of the tunnels in the mine in Superior. Also mention was made in one of the exhibits of the ancient fossil stromatilites in the Mescal Limestone. I found out also that the spotted river stone that I have collected numerous times and which I have also traced to its source on the shores of Apache Lake is known as the Pioneer Shale (pretty hard shale, that) and is precabrian in age. I shall continue to crack open such stones in hopes of finding a hard-shelled precambrian creature, something which would be significant scientifically. The pioneer shale is said to have a lot of volcanic sediments in it, but these sediments were deposited in an ancient sea, so there still could be fossils in it. Cotton Fields Chandler 7/31/1991 Got this from my journal. Noodles and I went to the cotton field down Warner Road behind Target and saw this roadrunner. The journal reads: I took Noodles out and we walked in the short staple cotton fields. Noodles chased a roadrunner. There was also a jackrabbit there. I collected a bunch of river stones and fixed up the display case that I had got from the exact same place several months earlier. Looks good now in my Coyote Room. I fixed up the musical instruments there so I can call it the Rock Music room because of all of the rocks and fossils there, you see. Austin Texas 05/18/1991 May 18 - 22 I flew to Austin on the 18th. Steve drove me. I landed there and Jeff picked me up. We drove around and looked at possible fossil locals. There were bluejays, house wrens, and great-tailed grackles. Also squirrels. Estero Morua 11/22/1990 November 22-25, 1990 Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday Superstitions 04/25/1990 Just a quick update. Last week, Bill Williams came to Tempe from Australia. I lost my keys but had already planned to meet Dad and Bill Williams, so I got a ride with them from Bill William’s talk. I went to the Superstition Mountains on Saturday to play guitar at Larry’s wedding. They videotaped me. Steve didn’t play. It was a very short little ceremony with some Baptist minister near the parking lot and after I played there was no move for new music. Larry invited us to have breakfast at Village Inn and Steve and I overshot the place and turned around. Larry tried to get us, but we had already turned back. He was back in a few minutes. Then, I left early taking the van and went to ASU to see the presentations in honor of Dad. Kubly, Minckley, and several others gave presentations on limnology. They had IBM screen dump-type slides. Minck showed pictures of Cuatrocienegas twenty years ago and today. Bill Williams gave the final comments, saying “I’ve known this bastar... I mean this gentleman for ....” He confessed that in his own country and for his own classes Dad’s texbook had replaced his. It was a funny talk. They all gave Dad a standing ovation. It was something else. Superstitions 02/24/1990 We took the guitars and Noodles to the Superstitions area and attended a party for John Dole's fortieth birthday. I went and got some gneiss and schist and stuff. There were good rocks in the arroyos. It was pretty desert. Noodles got stuck in some cholla. A big ball of cholla got stuck in Noodle's tail. It was practically invisible in the hair as big as it was. Steve combed it out with one stroke and one loud squeak. We later found out that Dole had recommended that dogs be left at home because of the cholla problem. Noodles was the only K-9 there. Pima Canyon 01/29/1990 Mom and Dad and I went to South Mountain. The road to Pima Canyon was blocked off. I found a scorpion and also found some mistletoe seeds stuck to a mesquite tree. Steve and Sherry met us at El Taquito. We drank a couple of beers. Estero Morua 11/24/1989 This from the journal and it's in the database for estero morua: I remember seeing this on the beach. Dad writes "On beach dead brown boobies bluefooted boobies puffers and a hard to tell gull! SEE ESTERO MORUA DATABASE (ONLINE AND ON THE COMPUTER) FOR MORE. 2125 North Villas Lane 11/21/1989 November 21/ 1989 Tuesday Went to Natural history class. Oh yeah, I got new software. Minidraw, crystal quest, and typing tutor encore. The Boat-tailed grackles sing outside in the morning. They sing varied and short perfect phrases of exquisite beauty. 2125 North Villas Lane 10/16/1989 No Notes Entered Superstitions 09/30/1989 We got up early and went to the mining camp restaurant, where Larry and Dole and crowd were waiting for us. We walked up in the desert for the fourth or fifth annual Vino y Bolillos hike. Larry is fifty-one years old. We sat up there and drank wine. A blond principal from Deer Valley Junior High was there. Everyone felt that they were duty bound to be on the best of behavior. Sherry called early before we left and said that she wasn't coming. Then she changed her mind and took forty-five minutes to get here. We were a little late. She got pissed off at me and said "Fuck you, Tom!" This made things temporarily unpleasant up in the mountain. I objected to her using her fingers to remove oysters from a can. It is a well-known no-no to do so ever since Larry used fingers to eat up in South Mountain. We went over to Peggy's brother's and played the guitars. We played Roll over Beethoven and other songs in preparation for theHalloween party in Payson this year. It is called the annual Chihuahua Drop. 2125 North Villas Lane 09/12/1989 Here is a letter I sent to mom and dad: September 12, 1989 Dear Mom and Dad: Here's that letter from Bill Williams. I have been learning about desert rats and other things lately. The blackbirds have begun their little westward flights at 6:30 PM. The puppy still wakes me up at sunrise every morning and is not housebroken yet. I just went shopping and got forty bucks worth of stuff. Light bulbs and stamps were included in my purchase. I have been reading my fossil book. I have been working on the computer. I have been watching the Caine Mutiny on channel 15. I plan to watch the Odd Couple this evening as well. As you can clearly see, I have little to write. 2125 North Villas Lane 9/10/1989 Got this from my journal that tells how Steve and I waited out back for the birds to fly by. "The blackbirds came flying by on their usual westerly evening heading at 6:30 PM. There were only a couple of flocks. Starlings and some Brewer's blackbirds, I believe. Steve and I sat out in the back yard and waited for the blackbirds. I read the fossil guidebook, and Steve read the paper about that girl who faked her own kidnapping. Crocodile Dundee was on TV, and I watched a little. I think I was getting free HBO perhaps as an adverstising scheme. The puppy is getting bigger. Mom called and needed help with the computer. " Cortes Junction 06/30/1989 This was the day that I went to Flagstaff in Steve's car and it took me eleven hours to get there because of overheating. I stopped in Cortes Junction to get a new radiator put in. Here's part of what I wrote: It took me eleven hours to get to Flagstaff. Steve's car overheated just before the turn-off to Jackass Acres. I rolled into there with a red light. The car boiled over and I filled the radiator for a buck out of their hose. Nice little rustic store/gas station there. I then foolishly tried to make it up "Radiator Hill" and was stranded eight miles north of Black Canyon City. The Highway Patrol came by and called me a tow truck. As I waited I checked out the local geology. No fossils. There was a lot of ancient conglomerate and metamorphic crap on the roadside cliff, plus a layer of really crumbling clay-like stuff, probably decomposing rock. The tow truck came and took me to Sunset point where the driver hooked the car backwards so the transmission wouldn't disintegrate on the way down the canyon. We went to Black Canyon City, which had a small desert stream which I was told was the haunt of some largemouth bass. My radiator hose was loose and my cap was shot. There was also a pin hole in the radiator. We fixed all that and with little confidence I headed north again. I made it about a mile from the Cordes Junction turn-off. I rode that mile with a red light on. Pine Arizona 06/15/1989 June 15 ThursdaySteve and I drove the van to Payson. We found some brachiopods in the wash going through Pine, Arizona. I got a really big, good one, many of the rest were not so great. They seemed to have been beaten up by getting washed down the creek. Arizona State University 3/3/1989 The date here is a guess. Estero Morua 3/5/1988 Got this from the beach book. The BROWN BOOBY WAS DEAD DEAD DEAD! Also in my 3x5 green journal: saw a dead boobie. Osprey on the house. Mom and Dad came. Water in tank dad wanted to dry. Went to the other side of the estuary with mom and dad in the boat. Generic Place in Mesa 03/01/1988 "Blackbirds blasted out of trees during a windstorm. You know by Macayo's Mexican restaurant. Phoenix Zoo 1/17/1988 Dad and Steve and I went to the zoo. .... we dumped three pigeons. Others of our were still there eating popcorn on the bridge. Looked at big horn sheep from a little tower. Fast kis of pigons. Harris Hawks o pigeon island just before you enter. Nice windy crisp and dry. went to dash inn 2125 North Villas Lane 01/03/1988 In my journal for january 6, 1988: "Oh, I forgot to say that a few days ago there were some flocks of blackbirds flying west. Canyon Lake 12/22/1987 Yellow journal tells about this. It's now 12/2010, and I've just found this entry. A no bird entry, though. A page of description. No time to type it now. Estero Morua 11/26/1987 Trip with Jan and Sherry. Lots of detail in the Yellow little notebook. It's 12/2010, and I've just discovered this entry. LOTs of writing about crabs and fish we caught. Mom and Dad were there.This was the trip when the guy bitched about our walking on homeowner's driveways. Jerk. Jan read An Island to Myself. Finished it. Apparently the Daggats were there as I mention one Tricia and how I helped barter for her cause she didn't speak Spanish. Pima Canyon 11/22/1987 From a yellow journal notebook. It's 12/2010 now and I just discovered this no bird trip. NOTES SAY: Larry and Steve and I went up Pima Canyon. We took a different hike. Real nice. Then we had tacos at El Taquito. NO BIRDS WERE RECORDED IN THE NOTEBOOK. Pinetop Arizona 9/27/1987 From the little yellow notebook. 2125 North Villas Lane 9/21/1987 Steve and I watched the blackrds flying northwest at 6:00 PM. The last flock was at 6:15 or 6:20. This is from the yellow notebook. Pima Canyon 9/20/1987 I call them blue-grays, but I'm sure I'm wrong. It's in the yellow journal. Generic Place in Chandler 09/19/1987 Yellow Journal Saw them flying by while we were watching for blackbirds. this is really GILBERT, ARZIONA I guess, but I don't want to make a million place cards when this will do nicely. 2125 North Villas Lane 9/14/1987 I just found this and it's 12/2010. Yellow notebook journal. It says, "The blackbirds have begun their flights northwest at the cocktail hour." Generic Highway 06/15/1987 No Notes Entered Lake Itasca 06/12/1987 This is the trip Steve and I took together in the ice cream green van in 1987 clean to Lake Itasca. Man, we must have seen the eastern kingbird. Generic Highway 06/10/1987 No Notes Entered Generic Highway 06/09/1987 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 06/08/1987 These sightings seem to be the day before Steve and I left for our 1987 summer trip to Lake Itasca, Minnesota. Generic Highway 06/08/1987 Ah, this must be that wonderful trip to Itasca that Steve and I took. Saw prairie dog in Pueblo, Colorado, two pronghorns near Cheyenne, Wyoming Generic Highway 06/07/1987 This is really the first day driving out of flag I think to go to Minnesota in our icecream green van. Steve and I went to Minnesota in 1987. Canyon Lake 02/28/1987 Now I have this recorded as a black-chinned but it is surely a black-throated. So I changed it here. Did I really see the black chinned? Or did I mean a contemptible black throated? Got this record from a little notebook where I recorded some jounal entries. I took that notebook to Minnesota in the summer of '87 and it has the poem "Loogy Lake" in it. You know: "Fed fat by the Elkhorn trickle and nurkled by Icky Creek, nary a sound dares to percol, or vie with its gurgling gleek... Phoenix Zoo 10/5/1986 this is from a slip of paper torn from a small notebook, like my green one. It had the date and said, "Let six pigeons go at the zoo." on the back it said October 6, bought John Dalmus's new book. Flagstaff House 08/27/1986 This date is a FAKE, but I have so many memories of the goshawk stalking the Prairie Dogs that I have to put him in. 1986 seems okay -- so does '85 or 84 or 83 etc. Estero Morua 7/4/1986 About the nighthawk, Dad wrote "Really?" by my notes in the red beach book, but I know the difference I think, so I'm trusting my record from the book. I know the difference? Sort of... You know, it's July 2, 2006 and I must admit that this is probably a lesser nighthawk. Dad was right as usual. Era un sabio. Estero Morua 6/13/1986 On the point. Record in book says black necked stilts at the point. Arizona State University 3/3/1986 No Notes Entered South Mountain 02/14/1986 This was after the Heard Museum field trip where the Navajo guy talked. The mosque-blessed hamburgers fell through the grill out there. Estero Morua 11/28/1985 No Notes Entered Estero Morua 11/10/1984 Got this from my own personal notes in the Red Beach Book. Estero Morua 11/24/1983 Old chemistry book style journal says that Jan and Steve and I went. We met that Christina at the Senorial. a mexican wanted to fight Jan. On returning on the 28 we learned that Barry Ross had been killed in a plane crash. Estero Morua 8/4/1983 No Notes Entered Flagstaff House 06/09/1983 Says in notebook journal that I made many trips in september of this year too. On June ninth, I make the note that A. Cotera is assistant to the President. Grand Canyon 05/13/1983 This was that trip down the Hermit trail where I got burned up by the exploding gas stove. Boyer went and the Hendershots. 2125 North Villas Lane 4/22/1983 I just made up the date. Park at North End of Dobson Road 03/29/1983 Got the date from my journal. The sort of chemistry book notebook journal with a fairly hard back starting December 25, 1982. Perfect. I wrote: "Mom and Dad and I went to a park at the end of Dobson Road where we heard there was a Ross's Goose, an arctic creature. The goose was there. 2125 North Villas Lane 3/27/1983 This is the first card of 2125 North villas lane, friend. Estero Morua 03/17/1983 chemistry journal.... Steve went firs and i met him day later. Swam in big waves. Saw Octavio. Read Childhood's End. Old man Farmer came by. We drove the VW around some. Estero Morua 1/3/1983 This is from the journal starting christmas 82. The exact day isn't for sure but it's almost the same. The journal said January. "IN THE FUN BUSH" vomit crade/ nephews. The day is probably almost correct now that I look. THIS IS AN EXTRA CARD! LOOK AT THE ONE BEFORE IT!!! Estero Morua 1/1/1983 Journal starting christmas 82. "Dad's first bird of 1983 was a Say's Phoebe." I remember him writing that down in the logbook at the beach with the words "what does it portend?" vomit crade night around here. Flagstaff House 12/25/1982 Chemistry book journal says that I spent Christmas snowed in at Flag. This was the time we skiied and got stuck on the mountain because the busses broke down. Basin and Range book. Estero Morua 3/17/1982 Surprisingly, this is from the little green notebook and it's 12/2010. The trip lasted from the 16th to the 21st. Hendershots and Boyer came too. Steve fell off the back of my car. Ammonious shrimp. Burned my thumb and index finger on the Coleman lantern nut on the top.3lbs shrimp for 15 bucks. Steve brought the "fun box" for the first time in which I had put my book Aztec. The Oasis was found to be a tough joint on the way back and this was the time I almost hit the abandoned car on the highway just past Maricopa on the way back. IT'S ALL IN THE GREEN NOTEBOOK. Generic Place in Chandler 03/01/1982 "I ran and chased some meadowlarks, also waterpipits and mourning doves." Got this from the little green -- I said LITTLE green notebook. Generic Place in Chandler 02/26/1982 "Went running. I saw a burrowing owl. Also caught some crayfish. there were many in the cotton-woods-type canal. There's an old house out there. Nothing but cement left -- but all the furniture was out in the "lawn" burned to a crisp. A dog came out of there -- apointer of some kind. He pointed at me. Finally, I lift. Steve and I recorded "I should have known better." This from the little green journal. Estero Morua 12/30/1981 Got this from the little green -- I said LITTLE green notebook. Estero Morua 11/25/1981 I found this record in the red beach book on march 6, 1998. I wrote: "I saw a Bonaparte's Gull. Life lister for Tom (me). Estero Morua 6/12/1981 From Beach Book: "Rhode Runner found dead in the store room. His body is under the boat." This bird had been very friendly and we fed it and stuff. I remember it seemed to have just died when I found it, so limp and warm it was. Estero Morua 05/24/1981 I was a alone at the beach house from May 25 to 26, but the journal says I started writing on the 24, so I must have been there longer. This part of the journal tells about my type three volkswagen's starter motor and many other things. Estero Morua 5/23/1981 No Notes Entered Estero Morua 2/13/1981 Look at the Estero Morua database for much more on this trip. London 6/1/1975 I write: Trafagar Square had a bunch of pigeons—zillions. For 5 pence I bought a little cup of grain and the pigeons swamped me. Mostly blue check, about a quarter blue bar some tea pattern with or without white wing tips. The blues sometimes had white wing tips. A few (one two?) had the suggestion of an archangel crest. Anyway, I had some Limey take a picture of me with about ten pigeons crawling all over me. Montezuma Well 03/07/1975 Headlight Pond 1/6/1975 No Notes Entered Estero Morua 11/16/1974 I guess this was the year before we bought the beach house! Thanksgiving but exact date a guess. remarks: Birdlife very abundant. Water would foam from their dives. Sky would darken with the birds. This was the Organ pipe trip where the big bull kangarooo rat jumped on us while we slept. Check out that card in organ pipe. Phainopeplas and loggerhead shrikes were also present there. Organ Pipe National Monument 11/16/1974 At organ pipe, a big bull kangaroo rat jumped on us while we slept. Phainopeplas and loggerhead shrike. Roosevelt Lake 12/29/1973 Fishing trip on Christmas vacation. Dec 29 and the three days after...2 largemouths on spin-rite lure. Ditsworth (tom) caught a 3.75-lb channel catfish on commercial catfish dough-bait. Then he caught a bullhead on corn. Steve caught a 2-lb carp on corn. Lake Mary 12/3/1973 No Notes Entered Headlight Pond 11/18/1973 No Notes Entered Verde River 11/18/1973 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 11/17/1973 No Notes Entered Old Main 11/05/1973 No Notes Entered Walnut Canyon 09/23/1973 Generic Highway 09/02/1973 On the way down from Flag for this labor day vacation, we saw these. On the way back up to Flagstaff, on the 3rd, we saw a terrific accident. Car and boat rig did a spectacular flip after fishtailing. Miraculously none were hurt. T. Cole was first on the scene. Flagstaff Area 08/29/1973 No Notes Entered Old Main 08/29/1973 No Notes Entered Logan Canyon 08/27/1973 Heck I made up the date I could be a little off. Alittle? shoot look at your other bird lists. You'd have had to stay in Logan for a month. Fat chance of that! Go see Utah Bird Refuge; it shows you were there in July. This must be the same trip. It must be. Change the date. It ain't august 27. Oak Creek Canyon 07/29/1973 Down Oak Creek at a later date than July 21, so I put in july 29. Utah Bird Refuge 07/21/1973 With Sue Douglas 11. Carp swimming "upstream" beaned one with a stone. Tried to grab others. LARGE. Southern Arizona Trip 1973 5/27/1973 28, 29? This was that trip with Mom and Dad down past Douglas Arizona when we got two flat tires on the Ford station wagon. Old Main 05/01/1973 On April 7, 1973 I wrote, "Some son of a bitch stole my bicycle! This is Lake Mary 4/21/1973 Lower Lake Mary. Old Main 04/14/1973 On the 7th of April I wrote "Some son of a bitch stole my bicycle!" no bird attached to the record, however. Ashurst Lake 4/1/1973 Well, on the way to Ashurst Lake Old Main 04/01/1973 No Notes Entered Ashurst Lake 3/30/1973 Well, on the way to Ashurst Lake. The journal says that this bird was seen on the Friday before April 1, 1973 and that would be the thirtieth of March. Mesa Sewer Flats 1/3/1973 No Notes Entered Phoenix Zoo 1/1/1973 No Notes Entered Old Main 12/16/1972 No Notes Entered Old Main 12/09/1972 No Notes Entered Daley Park 11/23/1972 Dad and I went bird watching here. Flagstaff Area 11/23/1972 No Notes Entered Phoenix Zoo 11/23/1972 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 11/21/1972 No Notes Entered Generic Highway 11/07/1972 "Up Black Canyon Highway" Flagstaff Area 11/6/1972 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 10/1/1972 Mom and Dad came up. Flagstaff Area 9/30/1972 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 9/28/1972 Old Main Flagstaff Area 9/27/1972 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 9/25/1972 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 9/22/1972 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 9/18/1972 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 9/17/1972 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 9/11/1972 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 9/6/1972 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 9/1/1972 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 8/28/1972 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 8/27/1972 In front of Old Main. I'm 21 today. Mesa Sewer Flats 6/28/1972 No Notes Entered Parker Arizona 6/21/1972 We also found a mummified frog. Parker Arizona 6/20/1972 Caught a baby red-winged blackbird. also saw some seagull thing. Parker Arizona 6/19/1972 Rainbow Valley 06/06/1972 sidewinder rattlesnake Bullsnake gorged perhaps on young doves 2015 Sierra Vista 5/31/1972 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 5/17/1972 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 5/16/1972 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 5/11/1972 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 5/8/1972 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 5/4/1972 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 5/1/1972 No Notes Entered 2015 Sierra Vista 4/30/1972 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 4/28/1972 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 4/18/1972 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 4/14/1972 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 4/13/1972 No Notes Entered Generic Highway 04/07/1972 Friday On the way home on a bus from Tucson, I saw sparrow hawks hovering (outside of Cooliage) and some bluebirds (western) Generic Highway 04/03/1972 Date Approximate. "Some weird tern. Easter vacation before nogales: Audubon's warbler+coots+grebe. On the train down: Parrots a flock..glossy ibis " Generic Highway 03/30/1972 On the way home for Easter vacation we saw (Jeff and I) saw a sparrow hawk. At home we went to the zoo and saw many wild ducks. Mesa Sewer Flats 3/25/1972 No Notes Entered Mesa Sewer Flats 3/5/1972 No Notes Entered 2015 Sierra Vista 03/04/1972 Cocktail Hour 2015 Sierra Vista 03/03/1972 I wrote "Boat-tailed grackles." Flagstaff Area 3/2/1972 Thursday N.A.U Flagstaff Area 2/21/1972 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 2/17/1972 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 2/15/1972 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 2/12/1972 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 2/11/1972 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 2/8/1972 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 02/08/1972 No Notes Entered Headlight Pond 1/22/1972 Went to three sites on this date. Mesa Sewer Flats 1/22/1972 No Notes Entered Verde River 1/22/1972 No Notes Entered Lake Mary 1/20/1972 Perry Albertson and I saw a BALD EAGLE over Lake Mary, Flagstaff. He was mature very high up. going about 60mph. Flagstaff Area 01/11/1972 "Many very handsome cedar waxwings by the flagpole. They ate little blue-white berries and pecked away at the big big berries in the trees. One had almost fluorescent red wing wax. Flagstaff Area 01/03/1972 No Notes Entered Headlight Pond 12/30/1971 No Notes Entered Phoenix Zoo 12/30/1971 No Notes Entered Pima Canyon 12/30/1971 Date approximate: "Before the New Year, we went to the zoo and saw many birds. Out at headlight pond I saw many coots and one common galinule.""Also we went to South Mountain and saw a rock wren." Verde River 12/24/1971 "Christmas Eve Day" On the way home, we saw a sparrow hawk, the most common North American falcon (and the smallest). It is sometimes called the kestrel. Cardinals too. Phoenix Zoo 12/18/1971 Was this the trip when the Canada goose bit me? 2015 Sierra Vista 12/15/1971 Date approximate."Tempe""Home for Christmas '71 out by the irrigation ditch I saw..." Generic Place Anywhere 12/14/1971 No Notes Entered Verde River 11/27/1971 No Notes Entered Oak Creek Canyon 11/21/1971 Caught a sucker-like fish on the little cobra. Jeff said he saw a brown towhee and he also saw a bridled titmouse. Saw both gray headed and oregon races. ALSO FOR OAK CREEK SEE 9/26/71 FOR FLAGSTAFF AREA. Lake Mary 11/20/1971 Went fishing at Lake Mary and saw crows. Then, we (Sid and I) went to a little shallow lake in a meadow. I believe it was called Marshall Lake. We fell through the ice. It was extremely fun. (See Marshall Lake at the same date to see birds.) Marshall Lake 11/20/1971 Went fishing at Lake Mary and saw crows. Then, we (Sid and I) went to a little shallow lake in a meadow. I believe it was called Marshall Lake. We fell through the ice. It was extremely fun. Flagstaff Area 11/07/1971 No Notes Entered 2015 Sierra Vista 10/24/1971 This is just before the mesa sewer flats trip because I write "earlier I saw a redshafted flicker and two gila woodperkers (at home)" (so I guess you check out the sewer flats on this date to see more. Tom, year 2002.) Mesa Sewer Flats 10/24/1971 Sunny with clouds. The drawing in my notebook shows the sun peeking out from behind a cloud. It reads " I was alone with a small bottle of booze. saw the heron Maw+paw+steve came It rained but they saw the heron and shoveler duck." It is now the year 2002 and I remember a poem I wrote about this. 2015 Sierra Vista 10/23/1971 All day we saw mourning doves and at breakfast this morning I saw a red shafted flicker who flew up into the palm tree. Headlight Pond 10/23/1971 No Notes Entered Phoenix Sewer Flats 10/23/1971 "Saturday A Mild Day" I'm not sure whether this place exists anymore. Once we went there and there were many many many dead ducks. Botulism? Was this the time Dad pointed out my first water pipit?It was on a fence, which is rather unusual for them. Flagstaff Area 10/18/1971 No Notes Entered Old Main 10/18/1971 No Notes Entered Flagstaff Area 10/14/1971 On April 10, 2003, I write: "As I recall it was JEFF and I who saw these birds and they were new to us. We looked in the book and identified them. They came in snipping in snicking groups in the bark of the pine trees." I WRITE NOW ON OCTOBER 20, 2004 THAT WE DISCOVERED THESE BIRDS ALL ON OUR OWN AND IT WAS A BIG BIG DAY. ah, 7_2006 I wanted to say we were out in the woods I think on one of those roads to the left as you drive toward the grand canyon. Flagstaff Area 10/09/1971 Saturday We looked out the window of Saga Foods cafeteria and beheld some CEDAR WAXWINGS. They ate from a berry tree (bush) round, blue-black berries (big ones). Then they ate some red berries from a neighboring bush. Some of these waxwings were immature and I think there were only 3 or 4 of them in all. They allowed us to get within inches of them. Later the same day and outside of town, we saw a redtail hawk, a marsh hawk, steller's jay and gray fllycatcher and what appeared to be a winter audubon's warlber. This was the same place as page # 31" (record # 397) Oak Creek Canyon 10/03/1971 On September 26 I wrote that we saw a mountain bluebird and "The next sunday we went to Oak Creek and found a dead Redtail, eaten except for feathers and one foot. P.S. it turned out to be a turkey!!" Flagstaff Area 09/26/1971 Sunday That's all except we went to the Northern Arizona Museum and saw lots of STUFFED Birds. The next sunday we went to Oak Creek and found a dead Redtail, eaten except for feathers and one foot. P.S. it turned out to be a turkey!! Flagstaff Area 09/17/1971 Sharp-shinned Hawk,09/17/1971,Flagstaff Area,This is oustside of Flagstaff actually. There were two posts perhaps fifty feet apart and they flew from one to the other. There appeared to be the remains of their prey on the posts. Not any snow on the mountain. Flagstaff Area 09/09/1971 Lake Mary 9/9/1971 Mesa Sewer Flats 8/27/1971 "27th of August Birthday Black neck stilts. Steve got hot and thirsty remember? Mesa Sewer flats I'm 20 years old." Grand Canyon 08/17/1971 Tuesday I also write that I saw "some ridiculous blackbird? Orange-yellow head and chest." bats and a crow and the next morning, 18th saw a funny little gnatcatcher? and green hummingbird. Mesa Sewer Flats 8/16/1971 No Notes Entered Mesa Sewer Flats 8/15/1971 No Notes Entered Cotton Fields Safford Arizona 8/8/1971 I remember Safford and I remember that in the cotton fields there was a lot of pottery that was very interesting. I also remember seeing the rufous many times elsewhere, like to the west, in Arizona during my job as a cotton rouger. I recall them so very well and have often commented that they looked like flaming flourescent orange puffs of yarn as they raced by. Their screaming red throats accented their bright, rufous feathers. Cotton Fields Tucson 8/4/1971 No Notes Entered Cotton Fields Tucson 8/3/1971 Tuesday "I caught a white wing dove. They have a long beak. And blue, azure (redundant) eyelids. Cotton Fields Tucson 8/2/1971 Cotton Fields Wickenburg Arizona 7/30/1971 "Baby sparrows in crotch of eucalyptus tree. Clear, sparkling water with deep greens" (a small canal) Cotton Fields Wickenburg Arizona 7/29/1971 No Notes Entered Cotton Fields Wickenburg Arizona 7/28/1971 Boyer saw a lesser night hawk. Cotton Fields Salome Arizona 7/22/1971 Also Swifts of some kind were seen. This ought to go into a generic swift place. Cotton Fields Salome Arizona 7/21/1971 No Notes Entered Cotton Fields Salome Arizona 7/20/1971 No Notes Entered Cotton Fields Salome Arizona 7/15/1971 No Notes Entered Cotton Fields Salome Arizona 7/14/1971 No Notes Entered Cotton Fields Salome Arizona 7/13/1971 No Notes Entered Cotton Fields Salome Arizona 7/12/1971 Cotton Fields Unknown Arizona 6/24/1971 Maine Trip 1971 6/15/1971 Tuesday Maine Trip 1971 6/14/1971 No Notes Entered Maine Trip 1971 6/13/1971 This was the day I saw the baby seal. Maine Trip 1971 6/12/1971 No Notes Entered Maine Trip 1971 6/10/1971 No Notes Entered Vermont 06/09/1971 Maine Trip 1971 6/3/1971 New York on 1971 Trip 6/2/1971 Missouri on 1971 Trip 6/1/1971 Generic Texas 5/31/1971 Oklahoma on 1971 Trip 5/31/1971 Texas on 1971 Trip 5/31/1971 No notes for bird or day. Verde River 5/16/1971 No Notes Entered 2015 Sierra Vista 5/11/1971 Right out through the window while I was drinking coffee. A real life lister. This was in the tree in the front yard. I remember this as if it were yesterday! I wrote "Lifelister. Yellow warbler in palo verde of front lawn in the morning." and I drew a picture of a coffee cup. 2015 Sierra Vista 4/30/1971 In the cactus garden. I wrote: I saw a verdin in our cactus garden. He jumped on Don Juan's type of plant. Also, a boat-tailed grackle flew overhead. Mesa Sewer Flats 4/25/1971 I loved these sewer flats Headlight Pond 4/17/1971 First birding trip ever. I went with Dad. This was the trip where they smashed our headlights. Was it? Irreverently, I wrote: some cuckoos smashed our headlights out when we left the car. (Maybe they weren't cuckoos but they certainly were cocks.) I also wrote LOCATION: Pond between Mesa and Scottsdale Generic Place Anywhere 4/14/1971 Found this record in about Dec 2013 as Mark Gregory found it and he was my realtor then. Generic Highway 08/14/1963 Mom wrote: " .. we drove three hours before pulling into Acapulco. Shortly before we got there we hit a large buzzard, luckily not through the windshield but it knocked off our windshield wiper." How well I remember this. Steve and I went out and found the poor creature still alive. It hissed at us. It was very sad. 2015 Sierra Vista 1/8/1962 No Notes Entered 2015 Sierra Vista 1/8/1959 It is now August 27, 2002 and I checked and the semipalmated is quite possible as a sighting according to my Maricopa County bird guide. They're here at that time. "Amazing, huh?" (referring to the cedar waxwing sighting) It just said june so I made up the 6 We tried to go to Fossil Creek, but we took one look at the canyon and dirt roads down into it and decided to try that another day. It made Fish Creek Hill look like Kansas. Really frightening drop offs. Actually we didn't even dare to look. Maybe it wasn't so bad. Anyway we saw band-tailed pigeons and a summer tanager. At Cordes junction I waited hours before a radiator shop down the road from the gas station could repair my radiator. I had a cheeseburger and fries at the café. Then I walked around a little. There was a swamp that looked like a place where people had been dumping their sewage. A killdeer walked ahead of me screeching. It was Thanksgiving Day. I got up a five in the morning and got ready to go to Mexico. Jan came by, and we packed the car and stuff. Larry and Nancy came by and we waited for Steve and Sherry, who came twenty minutes late. Finally, we left at 7:00. I had to take Noodles. I left a lot of grain and water for the pigeons. We stopped at Vasquez Liquors and bought some rum. Steve stopped in town (Puerto Peñasco) for something and Jan and I continued with Larry and Nancy following. I missed the turn-off and asked directions near Perryville. The Mexicans told me exactly where I was and told me to turn right at the cement mixer. I got to the beach house easily. We sang some songs until nine o’clock. Then we went to bed. In the morning Larry and Nancy and Noodles and I went to Stingray Bay and looked at pelicans and ospreys diving in the water. Dad followed us and threw a dead Merganser in the water. I took some pictures of the midden heaps and of a creosote bush that Dad needed as an illustration for his book. A dog, a little one, which I had fed earlier was waiting for us at Ruben’s house there. It had snapped at me as I fed it earlier after thanksgiving dinner. I ran it off before. Now, the little bugger was going for Noodles. I kicked dirt at it and threw some beer, but that did not deter it. I then threw the entire beer in front of it (half a beer, anyway), and it split. We sat around the fire with the Holmes and I played guitar for them for quite a while. Jordan, who married Holly Holmes, sat around the fire with Steve and me until the late hours. I talked about the delicious dog meat that one could get at Kennel Farms. He would always laugh at my stupid jokes, so I kept talking. We went fishing, but Steve’s motor conked out right away. Jan caught a flounder at the point. So did Larry. I caught two trigger fish and a pinto bass. Steve caught something, too. We took the engine back and Jan found that the spark plug was fouled with a single strand of carbon between the spark gap. It ran great afterwards. The next day we took the boat out and the leather jackets started running a bit. We caught eight of them. Jan caught most of them on the cast master that he had bought for that express purpose. I caught quite a few trigger fish. They were schooling under the boat at the rocks nearest the point. Steve left the boat after a while to check on the baby and Jan and I went back out. Then, we saw him and Sherry on shore and let them have the boat. Dad came along with Noodles, so I took Noodles and he went with Steve on the boat. Before he left, he showed me a dead pelican and I also saw a dead porpoise on the beach. Dad caught a trigger fish. Jan drank too much rum just before we had shrimp dinner. He loved the dinner but had not recollection of it whatever the next day. I remember him commenting on the way the shrimp had been prepared, but he couldn’t remember anything about it the next day. In the morning Jan and I went and got the porpoise off the beach. I had made a nifty little sled with a flat sheet of plywood through which I bored a half-inch hole. I tied a piece of nylon rope through the hole, and Jan and I pulled the porpoise back to the house. It was only a 150-pound porpoise. I buried it behind the house after I taped its teeth in. The teeth always fall right out when the animal rots. I also cut off the dead pelican’s head and filled its mouth pouch with sand until it bulged mightily. Then, I propped its mouth open with a stick. We became friends. I put the whole mess under an orange crate and topped it with a sheet of wood to keep out the rain and a big cinder block on top to keep the wind from knocking everything over. It’ll dry and when I dump out the sand, I’ll have a colossal display of a pelican with distended jowls. Yesterday I took Noodles to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum. It was hot. The place is only three miles from Superior, a fact which surprised me; I thought it was closer to home. Oh, I have not written much in the Journal lately. I have been writing my Article Book and a fine, fine thing it is too. I am on vacation, and I still have a few days to go. I have not really gone anywhere. I’ve just been sitting here and writing. Last month I bought a new guitar and have been working on my performance, with success. Jeff was here and left the other day for Texas. Steve just moved into his new house??? YES THAT WAS ON NEBRASKA STREET. Noodles and I went for a walk down Pima Canyon today. I bought a sun face at Tianguis and spray painted it turquoise to put on my garage because we painted the mailbox and gate turquoise. Note: it is! I just bought FILEMAKER PRO FOR THE MAC. I have a book to help me and it's not hard. They have a runtime version you can make and it costs fifteen hundred dollars and will convert both Mac and BARF Windows versions so you can distribute and make a million. I could put soft windows on my mac and make the version for the fools who use DOS machines. I could. Today there was a mourning dove with a broken wing and some students and our faculty were trying to help it. I took it from one of the ASU students when it started flapping and a few seconds later it died in my hands. It just gave up. Its wing hurt and I was holding it and it just freaked and died. It was very sad. The ASU student cried. Today Steve and Sonny and I went bike riding in South Mountain. It rained and we had to use the back pack raincoats that you buy for a buck. They were good. It has been wonderfully cool, but today it rained and it is still raining for about the first time in 200 days. Okay I made that up but darned near. Yesterday Noodles and I went to Elliot and Cooper and saw about 3000 yellow-headed blackbirds. We got there before daylight almost. Nancy and Larry and Noodles and I met at Greenfield and Guadalupe and went bird watching. We saw a lot of brewer's sparrows. Afterwards, we toasted our adventure over a couple of Red Hook ales. It was only ten o'clock. There was an epidinax flycatcher in Larry's tree. Steve and I got some new tiles for my yard. Stepping stones is what I mean. I took a bench from Larry's house and spray painted it turquoise. The black-headed grosbeak was the first bird we saw just about. FROM THE JOURNAL: May 7, 2000 Drove my brand new Frontier Nissan to the Arboretum. Noodles had a good time. I was alone with Noodles. Yellow warblers, yellow-breasted chats, one black-headed grosbeak, phainopeplas, etc. THE WEB; MY TRUCK; THE TUNA, FRUIT, AND BEER DIET; THE HIGHWAY TO TUCSON; THE SONORAN DESERT ENDS; SALOONS, KARAOKE, AND LOCAL YOKELS; THE PRESERVE; PHAINOPEPLAS AND MISTLETOE; RAP ON BINOCULARS; THE HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS; WRONG WAY TOM I was on the web looking at the Maricopa Audubon Society's page when I saw that on July 29, 2000 there would be a trip to the southern Arizona town of Patagonia, population 200. I knew the place was renowned for its varied bird species and my friends Larry and Nancy had been there a million times. I figured it was time I made plans to go down myself to knock off a few life listers. I told Larry and Nancy and they wanted to go but couldn't, so I phoned the trip leader and got on the list of participants alone. This meant that I had agreed to meet the people at the Nature Conservancy's preserve in Patagonia at 7:00 AM on a Sunday morning. Patagonia is three hours from my home in Chandler and since I am incapable of getting up at 4:00 in the morning for a drive that far, I knew I would have to go down the day before and spend the night. I used the web again, found the only hotel in town, the Stage Stop Inn, and made a 55-dollar reservation. Larry and Nancy told me the place had a lounge and there were a couple of saloons down the street. Larry always likes to crack a beer to toast the conclusion of any day's bird watching, and I am always happy to join him. I made arrangements for my dog Noodles to be cared for and headed down towards Tucson on Interstate 10 at two in the afternoon. It just so happened that I was especially equipped for such a trip as I had very recently purchased a year 2000 Nissan Frontier pick-up with six cylinders, five gears, and four full-sized doors. It was very SUV-like and I felt fairly safe in the thing until I learned that these high-off-the-ground machines roll too easily. One bump from some careless bum on the road and my truck could turn over on the highway. I got the safety stats on my truck and was not happy with what I read. My brand new cruiser was a bowling ball. I put a cooler on the back seat. It was loaded with pop and beer and some apples and pears. The apples and pears were to help me lose weight. An ectomorph and barely five feet eight inches tall, I knew it was time to do something when I began to push 200 pounds and so I had recently gone on a tuna, fruit, and beer diet and the trip was no occasion to go off of it. The diet, which I invented myself, is simple and effective: you can drink all of the beer you want and eat all of the tuna and fruit you want. That's it. Now, the tuna has to be packed in water instead of oil and technically the beer should be light beer. The beauty of the diet is that you give up so little for it and it contains absolutely no fat. You can also more easily add exercise to it than with normal diets. This is because you can exercise and have a beer at the same time. It's a wonderful incentive. I go out to my patio and get on the running machine. It's as hot as hell out there, but I have a big fan hooked up that blows air on me. I also have a beer to cool me off and to give me the inclination to go out there and run. It's like my friend Jan's entrepreneurial dream: he wants to have his own bar and grill -- only he'll have washing machines and dryers in it so everyone can have a beer while they do their laundry. The principle is essentially the same. I don't like the drive to Tucson. Interstate 10 is way too narrow and there is a steady barrage of huge trucks barreling back and forth between Phoenix and Tucson. In addition, the scenery is unremarkable, if not unattractive. For a better view you can take 89 south, the Tom Mix Highway. There's a lot of chain fruit cholla along it and it's quite scenic. On the side of the road is a memorial to Tom Mix because he got killed there speeding like a fool in a convertible and crashing into an arroyo. A heavy suitcase in the car came loose in the crash and bashed his brains in. The suitcase is on display in the Tom Mix Museum in Dewey, Oklahoma. As I drove I tried to pay attention and not let my usual spatial confusion set in. I stayed on I-10 and didn't foolishly get off it for some reason. The fact is, I have no sense of direction and can get lost anywhere at any time. I am simply brain dead with regard to my bearings. I admit it. I almost always make a wrong turn and wind up having to turn around and drive clean back to wherever I goofed up. Because of this, my own nickname for myself is Wrong Way Tom. This disorientation was a particularly dangerous problem for me many years ago when I became a pilot. In fact, when I went up for my test flight with the FAA guy, he told me to fly to a power tower on the map, but I couldn't find it and got lost. Finally he said, "All right, enough! Turn to three six zero degrees. You've been flying around in circles for twenty-five minutes!" Highway 83 had rolling hills covered with green ocotillos. This, I realized, was no longer my familiar Sonoran Desert. Southeastern Arizona looks like no Arizona you ever saw. It's a mix between Nebraskan-like rolling hills and low chaparral and a touch of scraggly jungle. I hadn't seen any birds along the drive save one turkey vulture, but now I saw feathery movement on the roadside and birds that headed for the bushes and looked like towhees. There wasn't time to get a good enough look to identify them. A big bushy-tailed rock ground squirrel darted in front of my truck and I ran clean over him; I didn't dare swerve enough to avoid him. I looked in my rear view mirror and he was gone. Evidently the tires had missed him and he got nothing worse than the fright of his life. From Sonoita, Arizona I got on 82 south to Patagonia and arrived in town a short time later. I was surprised at how easy the trip had been. Wrong Way Tom had made it without a hitch. A sign directed me to the Stage Stop Inn and I parked out front and went inside where I had to ding the bell to rouse the clerk. She was Hispanic and young and told me that the restaurant closed at nine and opened at seven. Shoot, I thought. No coffee for breakfast; I had to be down the road at the preserve at seven sharp. I should have brought my own coffee-making gear. Outside the hotel, barn swallows were everywhere. I looked at them through my binoculars and then went back to the room. It was after five and instead of walking around and doing any bird watching I decided to check out the Lounge. I figured there would be bird watching galore tomorrow. Besides, it was Miller time. The bartender told me that there were some one-thousand people in the surrounding area and that they didn't often show up at the Stage Stop Lounge. The lounge, he says, was for the convenience of the hotel patrons, but a lot of them were bird watchers and they didn't drink much. "Just a few GT's occasionally." I asked him what a GT was and learned that it was a gin and tonic. "You sell much of that Bacardi 151, here?" I asked him. "I won't mix drinks with it," he replied. "It's too dangerous. I just use it for flaming drinks." I downed the rest of my beer. "Hey," he said. "Let me make you a flaming Dr. Pepper." He got a short, none-too-clean glass -- like a cafeteria milk glass -- and pumped it full of low grade beer from the tap. Then he filled a shot glass with root beer schnapps and set the two in front of me. From the bottle of Bacardi 151 he poured the tiniest bit of high test rum on top of the schnapps and set it on fire. The flame burned weakly. "Drop the shot in the beer!" he ordered. I picked up the shot of flaming schnapps and dropped it in. There was a ploop! and beer cascaded over the rim of the glass; I knew it would. The glass was too full. "It's supposed to spill," he told me, though he didn't offer any good reason why. Properly mixed and scorched, this drink was supposed to taste like Dr. Pepper. I drank what was left in the glass. The beer was warm and flat and the rum had spilled out and I realized that root beer schnapps didn't go with beer on the best day it ever had. Not only was it the dumbest drink I ever had, but it tasted awful as well. "Yum," I said. I chatted with the bartender a bit longer. He made references to people with grudges against each other around these parts. He also said he knew how to bring business to this lounge but implied that there were forces at work against him. Patagonia: scenic, peaceful, quiet ....but with a terrible secret. I thought. I turned to the bar TV and saw a show with a DJ playing recorded music for a bunch of dancing teens. I remarked that it was a shame that high school kids didn't have live bands at their dances. I said that in the 1960s we used to always have local bands from the various high schools who would audition to play at each dance and that we would have laughed ourselves sick at the thought of some DJ up there flipping records for us. The bartender (so contraire!) explained that it was easy to become a second-rate DJ, but to be a good one took a lot of experience. I concurred and lamented that the same was true of professional wrestlers, psychics, and chiropractors, but then it was time to go. The bartender said that the Wagon Wheel was the place to be tonight and that it was just down the road, so off I went. Outside, a big cool breeze was blowing. The weather was quite a bit nicer here than in Chandler. There was a grass-bordered sidewalk through a kind of park and to the left an establishment called "The Big Steer Bar." I walked over and looked in. It was kind of a rough joint, but I pushed open the door and stepped inside anyway and took a seat at the bar. There was an older Hispanic guy in there with a cowboy hat and a bunch of guys with tape measures on their belts. A Springer spaniel lay on the floor. He looked up and checked me out, staring at me for five or six seconds before lying back down to sleep. The barmaid, in her forties, was wearing a long skirt, a tie-dyed shirt, and a concho belt. I ordered a Pacifico and she brought it to me with two dried-up wedges of lime. I guess tradition in Patagonia called for lime with each Pacifico, the way it used to always be with Tecate in Mexico. There was an Anglo couple in the bar in their forties and they announced that they had been in love for nineteen years and were finally getting hitched. The Hispanic guy came over and embraced them both. The TV above the bar blared with a show about some black city kids raising domestic pigeons called flights. They were waging "pigeon wars," a sport where you send your flock of pigeons out to lure the other guy's birds back to your coop. When you've got his birds in your coop, you hold them for ransom. I watched for a while until the beer was gone and then I left for the Wagon Wheel. The bartender at the Stage Stop Lounge was right; the Wagon Wheel was the place to be. It was full of people but I managed to get a good place at the bar. A girl was setting up a karaoke machine and I quickly went over and signed my name with the number of the tune I wanted to sing: "Mack the Knife." A few people got ahead of me. Back at the bar I sipped a beer and looked the joint over. The bar itself was made entirely of varnished pine. The walls and ceiling of the room were covered with harnesses and saddles and old rifles and flintlocks and stuffed animals. There was a Red-Tailed Hawk posed as if attacking its prey, a few hapless deer staring from the wall, a gigantic elk's head, a pheasant, a ram, a ferret -- I counted ten animals in all. The crowd was a mix of Hispanic, Native American, and Anglo and they were aged 21 to 81 I guessed. The couple next to me were getting on in years. They both sat drinking beer and chain-smoking. The man had a mottled, almost piebald complexion and thick head of gray hair with that yellow tinge some older guys get. The woman, his wife I presumed, -- to whom he rarely spoke -- was wrinkled and bony with age. To my right were two younger guys. One had a good-natured smile and wore one of those cowboy hats that seems kind of broken in the middle so that rain would pour off of it front and back without even getting the guy's shirt wet. The other guy was odd-looking and short. He didn't look too swift to state it bluntly. He too wore a cowboy hat, and it had little guitar pins on it -- you know, those tiny pewter replicas of guitars. On his belt he wore a pretty wicked-looking knife. "I love Tucson," I heard him tell his friend. "But I can't afford to live there." In all, the people reminded me of the clientele in the Vine at Rural and Apache in Tempe. Slightly weird-looking. But why not? This whole place was a little weird; full of stuffed critters and cowboy tack. There was a frog in the urinal too -- a plastic one, of course. I supposed it was there to keep things fun and interesting and make sure everyone was on the mark so to speak. The guys at the bar laughed about the frog. "Well," one of them said as he slid off of the bar stool. "I guess I'll go visit Mr. Frog." "Give him my warmest regards," I said. The karaoke started and several people did their songs before it was my turn. Normally shy, I had no fear of singing in front of this drunken crowd. My only worry was that they didn't have the original Bobby Darin version of "Mack the Knife" on the machine. There was another version floating around karaoke circles and it didn't sound even half as good. Luckily, this time they had the good one. The song changes key at least three times but it is just a great number to choose for karaoke. You can even sing it like Satchmo if you like and aside from the key changes and the four-measure note you have to hold at the end, it is very forgiving. I did a real good job and got a fine applause. In fact, a couple of people came out of their seats to shake my hand and punch me in the arm. It was Darin's arrangement actually; I'm not that hot a singer. The guy in the cowboy hat next to me actually had a good voice, but he picked some countrified thing to sing. I complimented him on the job he did. The karaoke was all so jolly and everyone joined in; even the old guy next to me went up and sang. Soon enough, however, I was ready to leave. I don't like staying up late. I had had my beer and sung my song, and now I was hungry, sick of tuna, and ready to cheat on the diet, but I realized it was 8:50 and the clerk at the hotel said the restaurant closed at nine. I'd never make it. I decided to have something to eat at the bar. I ordered a Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich and fries, and oh, what a mountain of fries it was! Calorie city. I ate it all and didn't feel guilty because I hadn't had a real meal in more than a week so it was time. Let me say this: I love American food. The bars, pubs, cafes, and restaurants of America have it down to a science. The lowliest dive can provide a good tasty feed anywhere in this country. Try ordering something to eat in a similar cantina in Mexico. Barf! It took me a while still to get out of the joint. There was but one barmaid for this whole mob and she had my credit card and it took her forever to get back to me so I could cash out. I finally paid up and split. On the way back I passed the Big Steer Bar and noticed a fresco on the outside wall -- a painting of some floozy, drink in hand. Standing next to it was another floozy -- a real one-- a young thing all painted up and dressed in floozy clothes. She was with a normal-looking person, so perhaps she was in a play or advertising or something. I didn't ask. I got back to my room, did 30 sit-ups, and went to bed. The phone rang at six o'clock. It was the wake-up call I had requested. I went over to the preserve, which was only a five-minute drive and saw a bunch of cars and ten or twelve people hanging around. We made some quick introductions and then the Nature Conservancy guy came over and gave us a little talk. Mostly he just told us about the relationship of the Conservancy with the townies and things like that. He also warned us of chiggers and to stay out of the tall grass. We stood at the edge of a wide meadow just beyond which was a huge meandering stand of giant cottonwoods. Some of these trees were over 100 feet tall and very old. A lark sparrow jumped into a scraggly bush a few feet in front of us, and beyond -- in the meadow -- Cassin's kingbirds flew back and forth between bushes and scags. We all looked at them hard, hoping there might be a rare thick-billed kingbird among them. A pair of hooded orioles scared the lark sparrow out of the bush and everyone's binoculars focused in on the brightly colored male. Far across the field -- at the border of the woods -- a yellow-billed cuckoo sailed along and alighted in a tree. That bird was a new one for me, and I added its name to the list in my notebook just under the hooded oriole. Then I drew a five-pointed star next to it to show that it was a life lister. There was a trail through the meadow leading into the cottonwoods, and our group slowly moved down it. Phainopeplas were everywhere and we talked about how even the most spectacular of birds becomes a "trash bird" if there are too many of them around. Such was the case with phainopeplas on this trip. You'd see movement in the trees and raise your binoculars to your eyes only to lower them with a disappointed frown and say, "Just a phainopepla." But the phainopepla is one of the most beautiful birds of all. For those who may be unfamiliar with them, imagine a lean cardinal dipped in the blackest of paint from crest to tail. Give him a narrow bill and two blood-red rubies for eyes. Then add a startling patch of white on each wing that appears only in flight, and you'll have an idea of what the bird looks like. More than once a person has seen my binoculars and come up excitedly to say, "We just saw this bird that looked like a black cardinal!" "Phainopepla," I answer immediately. Phainopeplas are silky flycatchers of the arid Southwest. At certain times of year they feed upon poisonous mistletoe berries. During these times, their stomachs shrink to the size of the berries and they process them one after another by swallowing them and squeezing the pulp and seeds out of their bellies and into the intestines and, rather quickly then, into the outside world again. Mistletoe berries don't have much nutritional value, so the birds have to eat an awful lot of them. A curious drama plays out when the remains of the berries pass through the bird. Mistletoe berries are very sticky. (In fact, people used to use them to make birdlime.) When the sticky seeds that fall from the phainopepla adhere to the limbs of a mesquite tree, the tree knows it and starts a process of self defense by excreting a kind of sap under the seed that raises it above the bark. At the same time, the seed begins its attack by sending out a root-like shoot downward toward the surface of the limb. The tree raises the seed and the seed counterattacks by lengthening the shoot and the race is on. If it rains before the shoot reaches the bark, the seed is washed away and the tree wins the race. If not, the seed will root itself there and a parasitic clump of mistletoe will grow on the limb of the mesquite tree. We saw yellow-breasted chats when we got into the woods and the occasional white-breasted nuthatch crawling upside down over and under the limbs high in the cottonwood trees. I was a little surprised to see the nuthatches there. I always felt that they were high-altitude birds. In a clearing overlooking the stream, I spotted a lazuli bunting and everyone rushed over to look. The lazuli bunting is always a welcome sight -- or at least the turquoise male is; the drab female is likely to go unnoticed. There were acorn woodpeckers and Gila woodpeckers, red-shafted flickers and summer tanagers in the woods. Hopping on the ground was a small bird with a dark spot on its breast. "Song sparrow," I announced. "It's a Bewick's wren" someone said. "But it has a spot on its breast," I protested. "Well, then it's a Bewick's wren with a spot on its breast." I looked again and had to admit it looked an awful lot like a Bewick's wren. But what was with the spot? That wasn't the last misidentification I would make that day. A while later, we were at the edge of a clearing and someone shouted, "Gray Hawk!" I looked through my binocs and caught a gray bird in the field of view. "I've got him," I said as I watched the bird whirl in the intense, magnified blue of the clear sky. "He's gone," I heard someone say. "I've still got him!" I replied excitedly. A gray hawk was a rare bird after all. "No you haven't." I lowered my binoculars and saw that I had been looking at a big, bull goose Cassin's kingbird fluttering up there. "Oops," I said. The trail ended at another stream overlook. There we spotted a blue grosbeak and another male lazuli bunting. We got a warbling vireo there too, although I felt it looked a little chubby for one and I never saw the characteristic white eye line. I wrote him down on my list anyway. We all sat on some logs and loafed a bit. One of the guys was an former US Air Force F-15 pilot and he and another guy talked about birds and planes. The girl in front of me had a pair of Swarovski 10 X 42 roof prisms and she let me try them out. I focused on a tree that had fallen across the stream. Through the binoculars, the tree looked huge and the view was brighter than that of my Swift Audubon 8.5 X 44 porros. These binocs had some fine optics. Just the same, the image shook quite a lot and the field of view was only 350 feet or something -- too narrow for my taste. Let me clarify the above with some pertinent facts about binoculars. The "10" in "10 X 42" is the power of the binoculars. Simply stated, a pair of ten-power binoculars make a bird look ten times as big as he is. The "42" is simply the diameter in millimeters of the objective lenses -- you know, the big end of the binoculars. The bigger this number, the larger the lenses and the more light collected. The term "roof prism" refers to how the light is sent through the binoculars. I have no idea what goes on inside, but there are basically two types of binocs: roof prisms and porros. The position of the prisms in porros imposes the standard binocular shape we are all so accustomed to seeing. The placement of the prisms in roof prism binocs, however, results in quite a different shape, and it allows the user to look straight through the binoculars without the offset eyepieces of the familiar-looking porro glasses. Imagine taping two toilet paper tubes together and looking through them and you'll get the idea of how roof prism binoculars are shaped. A lot of people think that the higher the power, the better the binoculars. This is simply untrue. Bird watchers are the best experts in binoculars and they almost always use from seven to ten power -- rarely lower and almost never higher. Eight power is ideal in my opinion. If you get beyond ten, you'll begin to need a tripod to steady the image. The birds will seem to jump around so much through those glasses that you'll have real trouble identifying them. Look at it this way: Imagine you've got a 40-power telescope on a tripod precariously focused on a distant star and a pair of hand-held seven-power binoculars. Look at the star with the binoculars for a while and then take the telescope off of the tripod, hold it in your hands, and try to do the same. Which device do you think will give you a quicker, clearer, easier look at the star? You guessed it. Bigger ain't better. The difference between ten-power and eight-power, while quite noticeable, will probably never make the difference in whether or not you can identify a bird. Lots of people love ten power, however, because of the satisfying, almost addictive size of the image. But they pay a price for that -- and not just in a more wobbly, jumpier image; they sacrifice field of view. My swift Audubon 8.5 X 44s have a whopping 430-foot field of view. This means that at 1000 yards, I can see 430 feet left and right -- as well as up and down. It also means that I have an easier view; it's easy to get a bird in my sights with 430 feet to work with. Locating birds with a narrower field of view takes more effort and your eye and mind get tired faster trying to do so. If you plan to buy binoculars, there's another thing to be aware of. After about 250 dollars you are not necessarily getting better optics; the difference between my 300-dollar glasses and a pair of 800-dollar nitrogen-purged roof prisms is almost all in weather proofing and shock resistance. The actual optics in my binoculars are virtually unmatched at any price. Of course, there are other features that might be included in the 800-dollar package -- like close focus. I can only focus if something is at least 13 feet away, but my friend Nancy has expensive roof prisms and they allow her a close focus of just six feet. This is great if you're a butterfly watcher, or if you're very tall and a bird lands on your shoe, or if there are towhees hopping around under the bushes a few feet away. A close view can be spectacular, but there's got to be a price for it; you'll sacrifice something -- field of view -- whatever. There's always a trade-off with any special binocular feature. Most people don't realize what a tremendous difference good binoculars make. I didn't know that myself until I upgraded to my Swift Audubons. I can't even see through my old binoculars now. How I ever used them I'll never know. So, if you want to take up bird watching, get some good birding binocs -- and don't ask some hunter in the sporting goods section of WalMart or Popular Surplus for advice. They don't know diddle about binoculars. Ask some bird watchers. Over the past sixty years they have put more demands on optics than anyone else on earth and are the real reason that binoculars have evolved into the quality instruments that they have. Three final suggestions: 1.) Don't buy any binoculars with the little rocker arms that you focus with. If they were a good idea, you'd see them on the 1500-dollar models, but you don't. 2.) Don't buy any instant focus binoculars unless you are so gullible that you believe in magic wands and fairy godmothers. 3.) Don't buy any binoculars with a zoom. You're not going to make a movie; you're going to go bird watching for Christ's sake, so pick a power from seven to ten like I told you and forget about a zoom. There were a few things that were unsatisfactory about this bird walk. One was that it took us a solid three hours to hike a quarter of a mile into the woods. We spent five hours in essentially the same place and I had no idea that we would do that or else I would have brought some water with me. I had anticipated marching into the riparian area, knocking off some birds and then marching out in a half hour or so to caravan in our cars to the next birding area. That didn't happen. Instead we lounged around for five long hours and only then went somewhere else -- to the humming bird feeders in a private residence a minute or two drive from the preserve. The people who owned the house charged nothing for the privilege of sitting in their yard. All they asked for was some "sugar money" donations so they could fill the feeders. I left them five bucks in the coffee can they had nailed to the fence. It was all a nice set-up. There were ten big feeders with numbers on each so you could yell, "Violet-crowned on feeder four!" (Instead of "There's a violet-crowned on that half empty feeder sort of second from the end -- no... no -- the left end!" or something like that.) Hummingbirds swarmed around the feeders like bees. We saw five species of hummers and I was happy to be reaquainted with the rufous hummingbird again. It was an old friend from my youth when I rouged cotton in the fields from Wickenburg to Safford. I have dates for him as far back as August of 1971. I didn't get to see the blue-throated hummingbird, however, which my computer tells me I had seen once on May 27, 1973, but I didn't mind; I had had enough bird watching for the day. Despite the long trip, the bird list was pretty unimpressive and quite a bit disappointing. I had only a couple of life listers and the count for the day was a measley 39 listed here in taxonomic order: We had planned to go to a roadside rest area where people had seen the rose-throated becard, but I didn't bother. I knew the bird had not been seen this season and it was a waste of time. I bid everyone adiós and got in my truck and headed back to Chandler. I passed Karchner Caverns State Park on the way, and I pulled in to take a look. All the tours were booked for the day, but I got a brochure and left. Then, a fear struck me and I turned back to the State Park and asked the ranger where I was. "You've got a good hour back to Tucson," she said -- but I already knew what had happened. The State Park was right next to Benson and that meant I was thirty miles east of where I was supposed to be, a fact that translated as sixty miles of unnecessary driving. Dang! Wrong Way Tom had done it again. Here's the so-called poem: Nancy, You will be happy to know that driving home yesterday I espied a Long-billed Dowitcher on the side of the road Close to rush hour traffic. I applied the brakes, Immediately reassessing and realizing That it was a snipe! I swung around And picked up Mr. Inland Sandpiper. He was very pretty -- Very very pretty was he indeed! With a chocolate back, A rosewood beak, (a teak beak) And a tail like a Texas Prairie Chicken. Oh, he was a fine, fine -- and beauteous creature, Quiet and reserved, And headed for the last round-up too I should think. I left him in some weeds And drove away. You never told her it wasn't really a poem. Went to the writer's meeting with my essay "The Joy of Catalogs and my Casino Guitar" and no one showed and then I called Bobbie Bookhout and she said oops I said it was the seventh but it's next week! Shoot. I went over to Timber Wolf and had a couple of beers. It was hard to finish the second. I took Noodles over to the Unitarian Church in my truck and we had a short walk. A killdeer was calling in the black night sky. Why killdeers fly at night? I have been taking Noodles over in the truck and having long fast running walks with her over there at the church. On the way home I saw strings of blackbirds flying northwest. I looked through my binocs and saw that many were male yellow-headed blackbirds. Wow. I put in potted plants and swam and LA Fitness, employer of criminals, liars and cheats. The steak I cooked was awful. All dried and kerosine smelling. Noodles and I went walking, using the car as a vehicle to get to further locals. Later Noodles refused to walk to the left toward the point and I took her back and put her in the house and went by myself. Coyotes the first night. Slept 14 hours the first night and twelve the second. Some nice sun but some awful wind out at the point at one time. Very quiet. We went to fat man's pass and junk. Steve cooked his lunch using a gas stove. We hiked six miles. I squeazed through fat man's pass. I had had a whole can of el pato tomato before. I thought I would pass out in the restroom it was so hot and junk. Kathe, Shoot, I looked at the map there and it showed Pond 5 just ahead as you pass through the Heron Gate. I checked it twice. The pond was kind of dry. Some people there and I started looking for the bittern and finally one lady spotted something. We looked at it a long time. We could see a bittern-sized critter on the far shore and finally it moved. We were sure it was the bittern. We looked a long time. It was well across the pond and near the limits of our binocs. The lady asked what power I had. I said 8.5 as opposed to her 8-power. We wished we had a scope. Then, the sun shone across the basin and lighted up the creature's ears. The sun shone straight through its ears and lighted our binocs with pink. It was a big, bull-goose jackrabbit! Tom On Nov 14, 2004, at 9:11 AM, Kathe Anderson wrote: Tom--I think the map at the east entrance to the Water Ranch has the ponds labeled. If not, go to the pump site on top of the hill (near the outlying restrooms) sorta in the middle of the site. Pond 5 is SE from there, and directly in front of you if you stand on that hill. Good luck! Kathe. ----- Original Message ----- From: Tom Cole To: Kathe Anderson Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2004 7:37 PM Subject: Re: American bittern Kathe, Oh, I don't know which pond is pond five at the water ranch. I went to E&C today (trip 528!) and tried to look into pond five and saw no bittern there, so this gives me a great early morning project tomorrow with my dog Noodles. Tom On Nov 13, 2004, at 2:24 PM, Kathe Anderson wrote: Oh, Tom, whoops! The bittern is at the Water Ranch, and was there today, as well, so perhaps you'll see it. Sorry, my mistake not to be specific. Neat, unusual bird, and worth the trip! Kathe ----- Original Message ----- From: Tom Cole To: Kathe Anderson Sent: Friday, November 12, 2004 9:37 PM Subject: Re: American bittern Here's my only record. He was in Pond 10 on the 7th of November in 1999. Seems like he may be regular in his wanderings. American Bittern,11/7/1999,Elliot and Cooper Roads,I remember this really unusual bird fly over to those reeds where I first saw the least bittern. This guy was weird and different from any other heron-like bird. I'm going to go look, but pond 5 is hard to see into. Thanks for the info. Tom On Nov 12, 2004, at 4:41 PM, Kathe Anderson wrote: Tom--In case you hadn't gotten the word yet, there was an American bittern hanging around the basin at Pond 5. I'd never seen one before Wed! Kathe I helped a lady get a verdin as a life lister. She was from Colorado. I saw two sparrows that I couldn't identify! It's 5/6/2007 now and I'm looking and I guess this is Kentucky Derby Day so it has been four years since I hurt my leg here. Thanks for the quick response on the bird data. The best part of the morning was birding with the Coles. The butterfly walk had 34 people, about 20 too many. We took a checklist and left after the opening lecture. Just too hard for everyone to see. Remind Steve to send me the caterpillar photos to see if I can ID them. Good to see all of you. Nancy A cloud of insects hit my windshield. Sally was there and can confirm this. We cleaned up the house and got plumbers and everything and we went to the dump and to the internet cafe and to the brewery and clover went with us to have dinner and then she invited us to our house and we ate steaks with her wonderful dogs three! Clover and mike are retiring and going to california for good to raise horses. Mike is only 54. Well, I will retire some day too. We went walking through all of the shops. One guy was so contraire. Whenever I said anything about kokopelli, he would say "No,....." and contradict me. Har. I bought the Three Suns of Amara and Red Planet at a bookstore. On the way up i wrote a lymric about the dowitcher. My favorite bird is the dowitcher Its beak is as big as a howitzer When it moves it it seems Like a sewing machine But he's just getting pieces of chow which're Quite tasty really, thank you very much indeed! Kathe ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom Cole" <tom.cole@asu.edu> To: "Kathe Anderson" <Kathe.coot@cox.net> Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2006 5:56 PM Subject: Re: Strange Hummingbird at the Water Ranch Kathe, Do you mean that the tag itself is colorful as I described? Tom On Feb 19, 2006, at 4:38 PM, Kathe Anderson wrote: Hi Tom--Thanks for the report! You are seeing a bird that was tagged yesterday by an ASU graduate student! They were out collecting hummers and marking them for a study from the bio dept that is looking to find the connections between coloration and mating productivity. At least that's how I understood the explanation! I didn't see any of the tagged birds myself, but now I know what to look for! Prof McGraw from ASU spoke at the last Audubon Soc meeting about his studies on color in house finches. It was fascinating! He is likely to know more about the hummers, tho I don't think this is his project directly. Kathe ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom Cole" <tom.cole@asu.edu> To: "Kathe Anderson" <Kathe.coot@cox.net> Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2006 3:03 PM Subject: Strange Hummingbird at the Water Ranch Kathe, I saw what I took to be a male Anna's at the Water Ranch. However, here are my notes on it. Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads Sunday, February 19, 2006 Anna's Hummingbird,02/19/2006,Greenfield and Guadalupe Roads,VERY STRANGE AND INTERESTING. Its RUMP had blazing red FOIL and its RUMP ALSO had a rectangle of mirror-bright foil, metallic turquoise or sky blue in color. Have I made a misidentification? Its head was fiery red/orange top and bottom like an Anna's, but what kind of hummer has such a screaming rump? The foil-like turquoise was a long rectangle. It was very bright and pretty and impossible to miss. Is this some other hummer? A mutant? Yours, Tom It's 5/6/2007 now and I'm looking at this and I guess it is Kentucky Derby Day and that means that five years before this day I hurt my leg. It's Kentucky Derby day and that means it has been six years since I hurt my leg here at Elliot and Cooper Roads. I saw a JACK RABBIT AT THE HOUSE. I'm getting a WATTLE! Oh, I'm old. LAST DAY OF MY VACATION. MEMORIAL DAY. I went early in the morning. I went to Carlos' house last night. conflict because they were quiet and I was on the balcony booming down on them and I had to wait for their breaks. Luckily, they were older even than I and took long breaks. I sold one CD. Some biker bought it. He stuffed two bucks in my shirt pocket before he bought the CD. I got paid in beer and burgers. My guitar went dead twice during songs. Something must be wrong. Then it quit doing that. Stats: 30 songs and 49 performances, so I repeated quite a few, but since I was there from 12 to 5:00 no one noticed. I was practicing them. I didn't do some of the cowboy songs and junk. They want me back next weekend, so I'm going back on Saturday. I will try to play inside as I was standing in the sun today. Here are the thirty songs 1. Wahoo! 2. Don't be Ashamed of Your Age 3. What Would I Do without You 4. You Darlin' 5. Happy Cowboy 6. Take Me in Your Arms 7. Tuxedo Junction 8. Loveless Love 9. I'll See You in My Dreams 10. Ain't Misbehavin' 11. Blue Bonnet Lady 12. You Don't Know Me 13. My Heart is Texas to a T 14. Flip Side of Love 15. Lorelei! 16. Down by the Riverside 17. Back in the Saddle 18. Ragtime Cowboy Joe 19. Smoke that Cigarette 20. San Antonio Rose 21. Miss Molly 22. If I Didn't Have You 23. Trail to San Antone 24. It's a Sin to Tell a Lie 25. Lulu's Back in Town 26. Prairie Lullabye 27. Riding Down the Canyon 28. C'mon Kid! 29. Roly Poly/Rhythm Range/ I've Got Rhythm 30. Without a Song On Feb 10, 2008, at 7:22 PM, sally mooney wrote: > How did your gig go? > > Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage. Start out going SOUTH on N VILLAS LN toward W EL MONTE PL. 0.2 mi 2: Turn RIGHT onto W WARNER RD. 1.2 mi 3: Turn LEFT onto S PRICE RD. 0.1 mi 4: Turn SLIGHT LEFT to take the AZ-101-LOOP S ramp. 0.3 mi 5: Merge onto AZ-101 LOOP S. 2.1 mi 6: Take the AZ-202-LOOP E exit, EXIT 61C, on the LEFT. 1.2 mi 7: Merge onto AZ-202 LOOP E. 7.0 mi 8: Take the VAL VISTA DR exit, EXIT 42. 0.4 mi 9: Turn LEFT onto S VAL VISTA DR. 0.6 mi 10: Turn RIGHT onto E PECOS RD. 2.1 mi 11: Turn RIGHT onto S HIGLEY RD. 3.1 mi 12: End at S Higley Rd & E Ocotillo Rd Gilbert, AZ 85298 "Who?" I asked. "Debbie Shearwater," he answered. "She organizes pelagic bird watching trips off the coast of Monterey." "Shearwater?" "Well, obviously she wasn't born with that name; she changed it." I called up Debbie and none of her trips fit my schedule. Well, way led onto way, and I didn't get around to calling her back for several years. A coworker last year set me back on track when she gave me a book called Water and Marsh Birds of the World. It was illustrated by the great Arthur Singer, and I started to read it. The short-tailed shearwater caught my imagination as I read. The short-tailed is a pelagic species that, true to the name, visits terra firma only to breed. Like the other pelagics, the bird spends its life flying across the vast, open ocean far from the sight of land. The short-tailed shearwater builds a deep burrow to lay its eggs on the islands between Australia proper and Tasmania, and when it has finished its reproductive duty, it takes once more to sea, flying up to New Zealand and then clockwise all the way along the thousands of miles of western Pacific, past Korea and Japan, over the Bering Straits, and down the coast of California. Then, somewhere well off of the coast of southern Baja, its path leads it outward, over thousands of miles of open sea -- half a world of water towards home. The mature shearwaters may find their efforts to breed on the islands somewhat disappointing; the Australians harvest the young shearwaters from their burrows and sell them canned as "Tasmania Squab" or "Mutton Birds." They are considered a delicacy. This at first would seem to present some concerns. There are, after all, too many endangered birds already, and some like the long-billed dowitcher are only with us now because market gunning has been outlawed by governments. Happily, Australia regulates the shearwater harvest now, and though hundreds of thousands of "squabs" are wrested from their burrows and butchered, the species still flies in enormous numbers over the Pacific. The fascinating facts about the short-billed shearwater got me thinking about Debbie Shearwater and her seabirding trips, and I booked a $185 day-long jaunt on a ship in Fort Bragg, California. I travelocitied everything, but I made one mistake when I booked a room in the Fort Bragg Travelodge; I checked its user reviews too late. One read, "A crappy hotel in a bad neighborhood." Another, "Don't stay here unless you're a real budget traveler! I was seriously scared in my room." Still another, "Not clean, not safe, actually scary." "Gosh," I thought. "Two of them mentioned safety, and one talked of meth addicts hanging around. This lodge is not for me." I'm the kind of guy that meth addicts bother. Junkies too. For some reason, they see me as an easy mark. I rebooked, talking the nice Asian Indian telephone staffers at travelocity into waiving the $25 cancellation penalty. It was, after all, a matter of life and death. My new lodgings were at the Glass Beach Bed and Breakfast at a good savings. I telephoned and told them about my Travelodge fears, and they in turn sympathized but neglected to tell me that they were exactly -- I mean directly -- across the street from the lodge and that the deadbolt lock on my cottage was broken. But I didn't mind because it was such a nice place, and I got free breakfast. My host and hostess told me that their B&B was called the Glass Beach because the ocean used to be used as a dump and all of the millions of bottles in the trash got sanded and polished and now washed up on the beach for people to collect. Before my trip ended, I made sure to spend some time finding the prettiest of these nature-made cabochons: clear, coke bottle, beer bottle, and green. I'd done much the same thing thirty-seven summers before at Moonstone Beach in Rhode Island, where stones washed up perfectly shaped for rings or bolo slides. I never was lucky enough to find a real moonstone, though. But I have kept what I found for all of these years. And I'll keep my Glass Beach stones as well. The Glass Beach itself was only five minutes from the B&B, and I walked there, getting a good look at the Travelodge. It didn't seem so bad. I went past a lumberyard and found a dusty path between giant patches of blackberries. Many of the berries were ripe. Along the path were also iceplants -- those big stalked kind with the blades looking like dill pickle spears. A few families with kids were on the path and down on the edge of the ocean. The beach was surrounded by crumbling bluffs and rocky cliffs. The water was filled with floating seaweed, long yellow-brown tubes as big around as your arm with bulbous, frilled ends. The air had a disagreeable smell. Some blackbirds were flying in and out of some brush offshore, and I hurried over in the hopes that they might be tri-colored blackbirds, but no luck; they were the garden variety red-winged kind. Back near the shore, I raised my binoculars and saw a fairly large bird with white wing patches. It seemed a weak flyer as it struggled to get over the water to the cliffs. Its feet were bright red. "That's a pigeon guillemot!" I said to myself in surprise. I was pleased at first because I had always wanted to see one. I was also a little disappointed. The pictures in my field guides led me to believe that this was a true pelagic, never near shore. A lot of the romance I'd built up surrounding this species faded when I saw it puddling around in the water like a common mud hen. But it was still a great bird to get on my list. On the rocks nearby was a group of black turnstones. Funny; they were far and away more pigeon-like than the guillemot, as is the ruddy turnstone, which I see at the family beach house on the Sea of Cortez. The black turnstone isn't present there, nor is the black oyster catcher, which I would see flying by in the distance a little while later. A giant western gull was flying towards shore with a long ribbon of seaweed in its bill. Was it just showing off? No, it landed on a rock, and I could see that there was a crab tangled up in the seaweed. The gull started tearing off the crab's legs and flinging them down its throat whole. A black turnstone waddled up to see if there might be anything left for him. I was happy to get two more life listers at the beach, Brandt's cormorant and the pelagic cormorant, and then I was ready to go back to my room. It had already been a long day. I'd taken a jet from Phoenix to Sacramento and driven for hours on the long, twisting two-lane roads to Fort Bragg. I had the whole next day free, so I would have plenty of time to explore the beach some more later. I remembered that when I drove into town, I saw a brewery, and it was just three blocks from the Glass Beach Bed and Breakfast. My inner compass unerringly led me there. To my surprise, I had heard of the place. It was the North Coast Brewing Company. They make Seal Ale, which is for sale in my local Sunflower Market. I took my place at the bar. Through the window across the street, I could see the actual brewery, a separate building. The bar sold nothing but their home made stuff. No Miller Lite® or anything else like it. Good for them, I thought. I got an India Pale Ale and chatted with some tourists who were drinking Old Rasputin, a Russian imperial stout. One of the guys had lived in Phoenix as a child. The barmaid was a native of Fort Bragg. Born there. An American guy and his German girlfriend wanted to talk about birds after they saw my bird book. They had many misconceptions. You know the kind: that birds are ubiquitous except for maybe the ostridge, that they migrate by flying at 40,000 feet and riding the jet stream, and so on. I always try to straighten people out on the basics. "No, no," I said. "You probably didn't see a crane. We've only got two, the whooping crane and the sandhill crane, and neither was a likely sighting for you. You probably saw a heron, a great blue heron." I had a feeling of satisfaction because later, I knew, they would be passing on this new knowledge and would say to a friend, "No, no! That isn't a crane. It's a blue herring!" The brewery served pricy food on white tablecloths, so I went and ate at a Mexican restaurant. The next morning, I drove around the area. There was a nature walk down to a working lighthouse near the town of Casper, and I took it. Along the trail, I found a noisy little flock of bushtits and a few chestnut-backed chickadees. I'd seen the bushtit five times before but the chickadee only once, in Vancouver. Down towards the lighthouse, you could look at the sea over crumbling cliffs. A sign read: "DO NOT APPROACH THE CLIFF," and it had a drawing of a child in shorts who had stepped too close and had caused the rocky edge to break away and fall, taking him with it. A little later, I pulled my rental car off the side of a road and walked up a path up to a graveyard. All along the trail in the redwood branches, chestnut-backed chickadees hopped and snicked, and I quickly grew tired of them. An Epidonax flycatcher hopped down to the ground and then flew back up into a redwood tree. The graveyard had a sign asking people to be respectful and not to desecrate the graves. I walked through the graveyard and looked at who died and how long they lived and who they were buried with. One grave marker was made of welded steel in the form of an anchor. It was spray painted green. Obviously, the person buried there had made his living on the sea. He was born in 1941 and died in 2002. Sixty-one years old. I did not desecrate any of the graves. I visited a few of the beaches. All of them were bordered by water so full of seaweed that you would have trouble swimming through it without getting tangled and drowned. I didn't know that not far from Fort Bragg was a canyon where you could see wrentits, unusual little birds with funny faces and an odd shape. I would have gone there had I known, but I went back to my room instead, parked the car, and walked down to the Glass Beach and collected glass gemstones. I saw a wandering tattler on some rocks, and later I saw a birder walking down to the beach. I knew she was a birder because she had roof prism binoculars. Hardly anyone but birders buy that kind. She was doing a survey of the beach for the Audubon Society. I told her about the wandering tattler and she said that such a sighting was a big deal and went off to find the bird. I'd eaten up the day driving around. I had seen few birds, but the real idea of this free day was to make sure I wasn't rushed and could ease into the boat trip the following morning. I judged after a time that another visit to the brew house was due, and I walked back to my room. On the way, I ran into a drunken street person. He said, "How's it going bro?" "Great!" I told him. He was drinking beer out of a quart bottle. On his hip was a long barreled pistol in a red leather holster. He seemed to be trying to hide the gun under his untucked shirt. I was glad he hadn't asked for money because I don't like to disappoint gun-toting rum-dumbs. I thought of asking him if he was staying at the Travelodge but thought better of it. About forty-five minutes later, I started off from my room on the way to the brewery. Then I stopped. There was the drunk not a block away sitting on the side of the road. A young guy walked by and the drunk got up and shook his hand. "Damn," I thought. "He sure hasn't gone far." I walked across the street to avoid him, went the three blocks, and then crossed the street again to the brewery. I drank two India Pale Ales. I decided to walk around a bit and find a cheaper place to eat. I ran into the drunk again. Over by the Welcome Inn, he had the holster off his belt and was doing something or other to it. I said to myself, "Are there, like, police in this burg?" Not all of the people were bums. The town folk were everywhere walking. There were some young people, but most of the folks out and about seemed at least fifty, beards and pony tails on many of the men. Everyone looked a little wind blown. One family walked by, and a woman said, "Thank you so much, Uncle Donny! We'll get it next time." Uncle Donny must have popped. Fort Bragg isn't a bad place. A little run down, but not bad. I ate at the Mexican restaurant again. I arrived at the wharf an hour early the next morning. I didn't want to miss the boat by finding out too late that California had a different time zone or something. I knew darned well what time it was, but my compulsive nature would not allow me to tempt fate by arriving on time instead of way early. In a while, Debbie Shearwater showed up and asked for ten bucks extra for some fuel tax. Twenty-five others arrived a little later, and after a ten-minute talk on boat etiquette, safety, seasickness pills, and birds, we disembarked. Five of the people aboard were leaders and experts at identifying seabirds and other sea creatures. We hadn't even got beyond the sight of land when one of them started screaming. "Blue whale!" he shouted. He neglected to say, "Off the stern!" or "At six o'clock!" as we were all told to do. Seeing a blue whale, the largest animal that ever lived, was quite a big deal to everyone. We chased it with the boat. We'd stop and wait to hear the animal breathe. It was a huge sound, and you could see the column of spray out of its blow hole. The hump that I saw did, indeed, look blue. The whale would disappear, and then we'd see it rather far away. This made us think that we may have been looking at two of them. After a while, we stopped chasing the whale as it was going in the wrong direction. The boat headed out to sea and we soon lost sight of land. Debbie Shearwater had brought a huge bag of popcorn which she explained would be used as chum. I wondered how long it would last, but I needn't have worried. One of the leaders would stand at the stern and every few seconds drop a single kernel into the boiling blue wake. Western gulls appeared, followed the boat, and dove to pick up each piece of popcorn. In no time, there were also Heerman's gulls and California gulls following us for the corn. They would attract other birds we were told. Soon I heard the shout, "Common murre!" and looked to see a black and white bird flying over the surface of the ocean. "Did you get him?" someone asked. "Yes," I replied. "A fine old saddle shoe." I'd been waiting to say that. Murres are in the auk family, also referred to as the alcids. They are very penguin-like, though not related. Like penguins, they are black and white, and they cannot walk well as their hind feet are positioned too far to the rear, but they can fly underwater using their wings. The common murre males were often seen with a chick next to them floating on the water. The next cry was "Sooty Shearwater!" It was a dark bird flying at great speed just inches over the surface of the rolling sea. This was as close as I would get to seeing the short-billed shearwater. The two birds are very much alike and difficult to tell apart, and the sooty is also canned and sold as a delicacy. Unfortunately, the leaders told me that the short-billed didn't generally appear off of these waters until the winter, so I would have to be content with the sooty. The next cry was for the rhinoceros auklet. It was resting on the surface. It was a bird I had always wanted to see because of its pairs of unusual white facial plumes and the vertical spike on its bill. I could see neither because of the distance or perhaps because the bird may not have been in breeding plumage when those features are present. When the first black-footed albatross showed up, I started muttering lines from Coleridge's Ancient Mariner. Yes, I knew it was an obvious cliché to do that and really somewhat obnoxious, but I could not help myself, and the other birders, one of whom was on his 65th trip out, seemed to expect it and happily quoted along with me. The albatross stayed with us for food or play the whole trip, and six or eight others came by and stayed too. The black-footed albatross is kind of a goofy looking bird. When it was arching over the water with its long narrow wings, it was a marvel. When it sat on the water, however, it seemed more suitable to the barnyard. With its bulbous bill, it had a familiar look somehow -- like a brown hound dog sitting contented in the living room happy to be at home. Seeing the albatross at rest on the water gave me a clearer picture of what being a pelagic bird means. When you think of pelagic birds, you tend to assume they must either fly or drown, but the ocean is a great habitat not unlike the land to them. If the birds wish to rest, they simply sit on the water. All of them seemed to do this. The western gull, when it wasn't flying above our wake, would float on the surface. So did the little Cassin's auklet. In fact, I don't remember seeing one on the wing. Red necked phalaropes, small pelagic sandpipers, would stream by in stringy flocks, and three species of jaegers showed up along with another shearwater, the yellow-footed. I was standing at the stern and looked up to see a fluttering little bird fighting against the wind. "What was this little pelagic?" I wondered. "Was it a storm-petrel?" I heard one of the leaders behind me say, "Well, for goodness' sake!" The little bird fought its way around the boat and finally alighted on the cabin roof. It was an immature brown-headed cowbird lost at sea miles from shore. I'd never seen a baby. Its breast was heavily streaked with brown. It made its way to the walkway on the side of the boat where we threw it bits of cracker. It hopped over and ate them. The cowbird would occasionally abandon ship and find itself battling the wind to catch up with us before it alighted again. Some of the birders grumbled about it. The cowbird is a pest that lays its eggs in the nests of favorite songbirds such as the warblers. They don't make their own nests. The baby cowbird that hatches is bigger and stronger than the other nestlings, and it grabs up all the food that the parents bring to the nest and in the end tips the other baby birds out. We had one of these villains in our midst, but I am particularly fond of the blackbirds and cowbirds, so I was happy to have him aboard. One of the guys mentioned that he had never seen a bronzed cowbird, and I was able to tell him about the times I had seen it. I was looking out over the bow when I heard Debbie Shearwater screaming at the top of her lungs. "Petrel!" Everyone ran forward and Debbie continued shouting to the skipper, "Don't stop the boat. FOLLOW THAT BIRD!" The skipper gunned the engine, and we went after the petrel. I could see it ahead winging over the waves. We kept up with it for quite awhile. In the meantime, Debbie Shearwater was yelling, "Pictures! Take pictures!" She wanted to prove that she had got the bird. There were two guys with those cameras with long lenses attached -- more like telescopes. The guys were snapping photos. "This is why we fucking came!" Shearwater shouted, perhaps unmindful in her excitement of her rough use of language. When the bird had outdistanced us, one of the guys showed one of the pictures he had taken. I was amazed. It was a perfectly clear shot of the black and white petrel angling over the sea with its pointed wings tilted in the camera screen. The bird was an Hawaiian petrel and was one of the very few sightings ever made from the mainland of the United States. Later, we saw Hawaiian petrels twice again, but we could not be sure if it was the same bird or not. It didn't matter, Shearwater said. It was three sightings.Not long afterwards, we got the Xantus's murrelet, which caused about the same level of excitement. I spotted a black fin in the water and Debbie Shearwater said it was a huge shark. "It must be ten feet long," she said. The skipper told us it was a salmon shark. I went back to the cabin. The cowbird had flown into the head, and I caught it there. It bit me, of course. I showed it to the other birders and asked whether we should put it in a box to make sure it got to land all right. "I think he's doing all right on his own," one of them said, so I let the bird go in the cabin, where he sat on a chair. We spent nine hours on the water and I got fourteen life listers off the boat, and seventeen for the trip with the three I got on the beach. When we were chugging back into the harbor, I suddenly remembered the cowbird and asked if it was still aboard. "No," one of the birders said with a smile. "When we got close to shore, he saw the land, flew off of the boat, and made a beeline for it. It had been a long day. I was glad to be getting back to shore, and I was glad the cowbird made it back to where it belonged. Hello, Seabirders,Three sightings of HAWAIIAN PETRELS on Shearwater Journey's August 8, 2008 pelagic trip from Fort Bragg thrilled seabirders with repeated passes as close as 50 feet to the boat! Other highlights of this day included two XANTUS' MURRELETS, sitting on the water providing excellent views of this small alcid that rarely reaches northern California; a BLUE WHALE just outside of the harbor, over 90 BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES; great views of CASSIN'S AUKLETS; a grand slam on all three species of jaegers, POMARINE, PARASITIC, and LONG-TAILED JAEGERS; over 550 COMMON MURRES, many with chicks, 55 RHINOCEROS AUKLETS, and other assorted wildlife.THE STORY:Well, its been in the news— 8-8-08 was supposed to be a very lucky day! Indeed it was for the folks who journeyed on the Shearwater trip that day from Fort Bragg. Billed as a "Search for Mega-rarities," we departed Noyo Harbor at 7:10 am with many a seabird veteran, and a few folks who were making their very first pelagic trip, ever. I announced in the morning that the recent, strange southernly storms may have created what I dub, The Great Southerly Push"— a movement of warm water from southern California, in finger-like streams to central (Monterey and environs) and sometimes, northern California (Fort Bragg), and even into Oregon. The marine forecast was for great sea conditions, and practically no wind from the north, any north! This presented a rare opportunity for us to travel south with no fears of being "creamed" on our return trip to the harbor by the prevailing northwest winds! Yippee! However, the very lack of wind, meant, in my opinion, that we had little chance of encountering any Pterodromas. And, so I announced that folks should not plan on any Hawaiian Petrels on this day! Maybe, better luck on our Sunday trip. But, perhaps, we could find some murrelets. I gave instructions for the proper calling of murrelets, meaning, "murrelets on the water," or "murrelets flying." As we headed out of the harbor to a well known past fishing haunt, Casper Heights, Al De Martini bellowed out, "BLUE WHALE!" Turning the boat around, we followed this giant leviathan for several minutes. It seemed to be traveling and not feeding. Trouble is, it was traveling in the wrong direction for us. So, we resumed our track to the Caspers. The Caspers are three high knolls or pinnacles which attract fish. Leader Clay Kempf, dubbed them the "Casper Heights." It was immediately apparent when were within shouting distance of the "heights" as the shearwater numbers increased dramatically. The sea surface temperature was a very chilly 51.3F. I held out little hope for murrelets in such cold water. I was to be proved wrong, and it would not be the last time I would be proved wrong on this day! The holler came from the stern of the boat, " XANTUS MURRELET ON THE WATER!" Sure enough, at N39.07.25/W124.03.76 in 51.6F water, a sweet little Xantus was on the water for all to see. Conditions were so great, that I decided to take a hunch and head to a "Life" canyon for me—Navarro Canyon off of Point Arena. This area of ocean has practically never been explored by any seabirders. On one past trip from Fort Bragg, I headed south, but I do not think that I reached this canyon. On the famous trip from Bodega Bay to Fort Bragg, overnighting in Fort Bragg, and returning to Bodega Bay (a once-only trip), we found the first North American record of an ADULT WHITE-CAPPED ALBATROSS! But, we did not make it to Navarro Canyon on that trip because the weather was so bad that we could not get more than 8 miles offshore. So, this would be the first birding trip, ever to reach Navarro Canyon!!Looking at the chart in the wheelhouse with our skipper, we descended down a steep canyon wall some 22 miles offshore. This pleasant day gave way to one seabird after another, with jaegers flying in to check out the masses of BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSSES following our boat. When we reached the Point Arena weather buoy, a large structure, a BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD flew off the buoy and to our boat! I began to ponder where the heck to lay out a menhaden oil slick, and I kept thinking, "a little further, a little more down the canyon slopes." On deck, leader Lisa Hug and I were casually discussing this. I told Lisa of my plan to head downhill to deeper water. She asked if that would be good for anything-- any good seabirds, and I replied, well, it might if we wanted to see a pterodroma! Just about at that very moment, a tubenose flew within 50 feet of us, and whoaaa! It was the first HAWAIIAN PETREL OF THE DAY!! Running up to the bow, we locked our bins onto the bird, and followed it for 5 minutes before we could no longer see it. Immediately, I stopped the boat, and dumped out the oil. The petrel never returned. We were at: N39.06.05/W123.08.71, with a sea surface temperature of 54F. This petrel was in view from 11:06 until 11:11 am, by my watch. We estimate that we were 22 miles north off Point Arena lighthouse. Not only had we hit some great underwater topography, but also a good sea surface temperature break. In all the pandemonium, it is a miracle that no one stepped on the cowbird who was constantly underfoot, picking up crumbs of popcorn and such!After all of that drama, and a great many "high fives" and broad smiles all around, we continued on our way. Ted and Chris Koundakjian logged a life bird that they have been searching for on many boat trips for the past several years. Ted estimated that this was his 161st pelagic trip with Shearwater Journeys! It didn't matter what we saw after this mega-rarity!! Well, ever the persistent one, I did tell stories of a few rare pelagic trips where we recorded TWO mega-rarities in one day. At 12:47 pm, the call went out again—HAWAIIAN PETREL!! This one seemed to fly thru the wake, and up the side of the boat. We were at N39.11.69/W124.11.36, some 5 miles from the previous sighting. Sea surface temperature was now a whopping 55.9F. This individual also flew within 50 feet of the boat. I dumped oil immediately, but it did not return. Whew! The third sighting of HAWAIIAN PETREL came at 2:04 pm, some 12 miles from the second sighting at N39.18.77/W124.04.53, about 12 miles off Mendocino. Sea surface temperature was 55.8F and the depth was 2066 feet. This time, the petrel flew off rather quickly, making photography impossible. However, some of the passengers on board were able to obtain images of petrel #1 and petrel #2. We hope that these images might help us to learn whether we are dealing with one individual petrel, or two, or three. It seems extremely unlikely that we could be so lucky as to run into the same individual petrel three times in one day, over the course of our long travels. Coming home, we encountered another XANTUS' MURRELET, on the water, sitting next to a CASSIN'S AUKLET. This was a great comparison. The Xantus was at N39.20.37/W123.58.95. Sea surface temperature was down to 53.6F. We were impressed with the numbers of Cassin's Auklets on this trip. It is no coincidence that Cassin's Auklets and a Blue Whale were both recorded on this day, as both are krill feeders. Exploring Navarro Canyon was a great idea. Heading south was a great idea (although, bear in mind that all of the previous records of Hawaiian Petrels from Fort Bragg have been on trips that headed north). The Great Southerly Push seems to have materialized, in that we had 'fingers" or "streams" of warm water currents. Whether these currents and the the fact that we were over a steep, deep canyon attracted the Hawaiian Petrels, remains to be determined. Certainly, Fort Bragg pelagic trips offer one of the best opportunities to find Hawaiian Petrels anywhere on the California coast. I've also seen Hawaiian Petrels as many times on Bodega Bay trips that visit Bodega Canyon. Navarro Canyon needs much more exploration, and I fully intend to do this! We doodled along the kelp beds on our return to the harbor, hoping for one of the small, rare alcids, but found none. We had nice views of many HARBOR PORPOISES and PIGEON GUILLEMOTS. Nevertheless, all on board were thrilled with this wonderful day of seabirding on a "mega-rarity search" trip, that actually found a mega!! My friend, Sophie Webb, who is working on the ORCAWALE (see previous blog report at www.shearwaterjourneys.com) research cruise, reported a HAWAIIAN PETREL on August 7 and another sighting of HAWAIIAN PETREL on August 8, both off of OREGON. We are unsure if records of Hawaiian Petrel exist for Oregon. Sophie also reported seeing BLUE and SEI WHALES. We thank all of the seabirders who joined us on the August 8, 2008 pelagic trip from Fort Bragg. Shearwater Journey's leaders for this day were: Lisa Hug, Clay Kempf, Al De Martini, and Debra Shearwater. It is possible to join us on the August 10 Fort Bragg pelagic trip, if you live relatively close to town. We meet at 6:30 am in Noyo Harbor for a 7 am departure on the Trek II. We also have spaces available on the August 12 Bodega Bay pelagic trip. We meet at 6:30 am in Port O' Bodega for a 7 am departure on the New Sea Angler. You might try emailing me, if you are interested in either of these trips.The complete species list for our fantastic trip is below:AUGUST 8, 2008 FORT BRAGG PELAGIC TRIP MEGA-RARITIES:BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS- 94 NORTHERN FULMAR- 25**HAWAIIAN PETREL- 1 to3PINK-FOOTEDSHEARWATER-68SOOTY SHEARWATER- 350 BROWN PELICAN- 48 BRANDT'S CORMORANT- 100+PELAGICCORMORANT- 6SURF SCOTER- 1BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER- 16BLACK OYSTERCATCHER- 1 WANDERING TATTLER- 1 WHIMBREL- 2 MARBLED GODWIT- 1 BLACK TURNSTONE- 1 SANDERLING- 1 RED-NECKED PHALAROPE- 85 POMARINE JAEGER- 2 POMARINE/PARASITIC JAEGER- 1 PARASITIC JAEGER- 3 LONG-TAILED JAEGER- 7 Jaeger sp.- 2 HEERMANN'S GULL- 40 WESTERN GULL- 150 WESTERN/GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL- 1 SABINE'S GULL- 2 ELEGANT TERN- 3 CASPIAN TERN- 1 COMMON MURRE- 550 PIGEON GUILLEMOT- 35 XANTUS' MURRELET- 2 XANTUS/CRAVERI'S MURRELET-3, get-away birds CASSIN'S AUKLET- 150 RHINOCEROS AUKLET- 55 BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD-1, HY CALIFORNIA SEA LION- 12 STELLER'S SEA LION- 1 NORTHERN FUR SEAL- 3 NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL- 1 HARBOR SEAL- 2 BLUE WHALE- 1 RISSO'S DOLPHIN- 12 HARBOR PORPOISE- 28 DALL'S PORPOISE- 32 SALMON SHARK- 1 OSPREY- 15 September 12, 2009 Gilbert house heavily damaged by fire by Jim Walsh - Sept. 21, 2012 04:19 PM The Republic | azcentral.com A house was heavily damaged by a fire Friday afternoon in a rural subdivision in Gilbert. Captain Brian Ruffentine, of the Gilbert Fire Department, said the house would likely be a total loss, but no one was injured in the blaze. Firefighters were dispatched to the fire after Gilbert police noticed smoke coming through the eaves in the 900 block of South 131 st Street, southwest of Gilbert and Warner roads. The White Fence Farms II subdivision has many ranch style homes built in the 1970s on large lots. Residents enjoy a rural atmosphere, with many having animals. The area was formerly an unincorporated county island. Ruffentine said firefighters searched the house and rescued some dogs, but because the fire had spread into the attic, they adopted a defensive attack, fighting the blaze from the outside. "Once it goes into a defensive situation, between the smoke and the water damage, it's going to be heavily damaged,'' he said. The fire started at about 2 p.m. and firefighters are expected to be working on the blaze for much of this evening. Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/20120921gilbert-house-fire-damaged.html?nclick_check=1#ixzz279jMaTbi New Orleans Louisiana 6/6/1995 I haven't been writing for some long time now. In 95 I slept out on the patio a great deal. There was a monster out there that would snort at Noodles and me each night. Just recently Dad and I went to Elliot and Cooper Roads and saw long billed dowitchers. I just got back from New Orleans. I caught a red fish. I did many other things there. While I was there, Randall Paul of Xmas Music called me up and wanted to talk to me about Christmas Time Out West. I dropped Justin Wilde of Christmas and Holiday Music after that. Mike and his neighbor used big hooks, big boat, shallow water. I took pictures. I brought Christopher a gift. He's going to Yale. His high school principal was going nutty. Crawdads. Their band. Elliot and Cooper Roads Halifax Nova Scotia On mouseup repeat until x = plumber I turn on the garbage disposal and water boils up into the opposite sink on the right. I turn off the disposal, and water explodes out of it and fills the sink on the left. answer "Are you going to call a plumber?" with "No" or "Yes" if it is "Yes" then put x into plumber exit repeat end if end repeat end mouseup |