I have not been to Louisiana

I am saving the South for last

These are the states I've been to. I like to keep them in a cluster, except Delaware which I like to keep up around Maryland.


create your own personalized map of the USA

Terri Schiavo should not be allowed to die, she should be killed.

If Terri Schaivo was a dog she would have been shot 15 years ago. And that would have been the humane thing to do. Maybe you have to be a dog to be treated humanely. Maybe we should make a humane society for humans. For the record, if a similar thing ever happens to me I only want to be kept alive for 14 years.
It is a shame that when she is finally allowed to die it has to be from starvation and dehydration. What about a morphine overdose or some other less grotesque option? Like when we put Sally's rat in a can with a rag soaked in formaldehyde.

Ants

This morning, while on our walk, I noticed a lovely ant colony. I showed the ants to Robert who said, “Ants? Ants are great; you can train them: A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,E,H,E,H,E,E . . .” I did not notice any immediate response from the ants. But, as I can attest from my attempts at training Pixel and Photo, our two young dogs, training animals takes time and patience. Robert gave up on training the ants right around the fifth ‘E.’

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Nap

I just tried to wake Robert from a nap and he said, “Just hold me for a while. I want you to hold me.” He never opened his eyes though so maybe it wasn’t me he thought he was talking to. I hugged him and he was hot like a baby with a fever. (I’m trying my hand at metaphors).

dogonrug

dogonrug
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

This is what my new carpet looks like. It is in progress.

flor

flor
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

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Paint Job

I just had my bike painted. You may have noticed it in the previous post. I took it to the bike shop to have the headset and bottom bracket put on and the mechanic chipped the paint. For the record, I didn't get angry. Oh, and there were four unleashed dogs in the bike shop.


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Molteni

rmerckx
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

food taker

food taker
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

This is the guy who stole my biscotti. So I grabbed another one, took a bite and the next thing I knew he was eating it too.

bird eaters

bird eaters
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

Can you see the two black shapes in front of the tree? They are dogs watching a bird hoping to kill it.

backyard

backyard
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

This is the backyard today. Note the broken branches.

snow bird

snowbird
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

This is yesterday after it had snowed a few hours. Can you see the Junco?

snow dogs

snow.dogs
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

This is yesterday at the beginning of the snow storm.

I am a stupid son of a bitch

Well, I did it again. I angered another unsuspecting citizen. It snowed about a foot here in Albuquerque. I decided to take all four dogs on a walk. I wrongly assumed it would be okay to let them run off leash because there would be no cars and probably no people along the path. June, age 81, was with me. A man one hundred yards ahead was heading toward us with his dog. He whistled to get our attention. He got the dogs attention and they headed toward him. He yelled at me to get my dogs. I tried calling them but only Taffy came. The man said that I’d better get my dogs. I finally had to run up and grab Gypsy who was being bitten by the man’s dog. The man said, “You’re a stupid Son of a Bitch.” Then he said, “YOU ARE A STUPID SON OF A BITCH!” I kept saying, “I know. I’m sorry, “ as I grabbed the dogs and went home. He said, “If I ever catch you alone I AM GOING TO GET YOU!” And at some point he said I was a fucking idiot. I know, I know, people keep telling me that. As he walked past June he said, “Do you know that guy?” To which she said, “I know him." Then he said, “You’d better tell him that I am going to get him.” Another woman, whom neither the dogs nor I were near, yelled at me to keep my dogs on a leash. I said, “I know.”

Fashion Don'ts

While drinking an iced and blended coffee drink at the Flying Star, the one on Rio Grande, I couldn’t help but watch, like a car accident, a guy alone at a table. He is a type. He sat in such a way to suggest a circle with his body as the outer, protective wall. Or maybe he just got out of prison and is used to protecting his food with his encompassing arms. He wore baggy factory faded jeans and an aqua, wide wale corduroy over-sized shirt. He had no t-shirt under it like a properly dressed man. He also had those horrible, suede, slip-on shoes so popular with the tasteless. And of course he wore no socks. He had earrings and short bangs and was a little too tan for this time of the year. What originally caught my attention was that he was talking on a hands free headset, which is probably the only way he can talk on a phone because he talks with his hands. He made sweeping gestures to help illustrate points he was making. I hated him. The question is, is he the one with the problem or am I? It’s him, right? Not me.

Bee and Butterfly

beeandbutterfly
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

This photo shows the wear on the butterfly's wing better than the other photo. But what I would like to discuss is the relationship between the bee and the butterfly. It is clear in this photo that the bee is attempting to communicate with the butterfly. The method looks similar to that used by dogs to say hello. Amateur naturalists like myself can make some pretty significant discoveries. Now, because of me, we know that bees and butterflies can be friends.

Truck Driver Wisdom

A man dressed in cowboy clothes just pulled up in a truck. He said, “Nice place.” I agreed that it is nice. So naturally he said, “Wish I had it and a feather up my butt and we’d both be happy.” Who does he think he is, Dan Rather?
I admit I do not know what he meant. Does he mean he and the feather would both be happy or he and I would both be happy?

Courage.

Dark Eyed Junco (Oregon var.)

juncosm
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

Another casualty from those ruthless puppies.

bee

bee
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

More about spring: The Sand-hill cranes are headed north. I saw hundreds today and at least a thousand two days ago. My eyes are itchy and watery and my nose is running down my face and down my throat in turns. And I already mentioned the bees.

first_butterfly
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

Here is a closer look at the Mourning cloak.

Nymphalis antiopa

firstbutterfly
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

There are several indications that spring has arrived in Albuquerque: The 65 degree, sunny weather, the almond and apricot trees are blooming, birds are perching on top of trees and singing, bees are in the flowers, and this Mourning cloak butterfly. Notice its worn wing indicating age. Fresh (newly emerged) butterflies have perfectly intact wings. Old butterflies often look worn and torn. This butterfly spent the winter in torpor, waiting for a day like this to feed and lay eggs and die (maybe not all in the same day). I am not a Mourning cloak expert. I don't know if both sexes hibernate or, if like bees and ants, only the fertilized females survive the winter. I assume they do not even hibernate at all in warmer climates.
I have never used "torpor", in a sentence until very recently. I expect it to become a permanent and welcome addition to my vocabulary.

Paranoia, Delusion and Cigarettes

Sometimes I have no patience for paranoia or delusion, which if my job had a description, patience for paranoia and delusion should be in it. But usually I do have patience for paranoia and delusion. Rarely though, do I encourage paranoia, but not long ago I did just that. I woke Robert from a late nap and as he was dressing he said, “I am so goddamn pissed off. About ten people came in to this place with…” he paused, trying to think of the word so I coached, “Boxes?” He continued, “…boxes and they carried away hundreds of books.” But I told him that I did not let them get away with anything. I said all the books are still here. He was thankful to hear that.
Earlier he got in the car and was upset because J. keeps stealing his cigarettes (and sometimes a shoe). He had 5 lighters and no cigarettes. He rarely lights them anymore when he has them, but they are a comfort. For the record, J. never takes Robert’s cigs. He takes hers, but he doesn’t know it. All cigarettes are equal to Robert.

Our Real Room

germanbunnies
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

The 1000.00 Euro room was real, we just did not stay in it. Our room was 40.00 Euro. I do not have a picture of it but here are some German Rabbits to look at. And the guy in the spandex on the luge is not Luke. Its me. I just wanted credit for the photo. I am sorry I lied. And I am sorry I just lied again about the guy being me.

Sledding in Germany

luge
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

This is Luke going down the sleddy thing.

Home

meinhotel
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

I am back in Albuquerque. I saw Robert in the bathroom and he saw me first in the mirror and then at the door. He said, "The twins are back." I laughed and he laughed and he said, "No really."
Also, I just spent a week in Germany resetting my circadian clock, which I can confidently say was complete Thursday night. I slept like a baby - a rare baby that actually sleeps all night. But Friday I went to the U.S.A (the most powerful country in the world) where the time zone is different. So was this trip to Germany a waste of time? Fortunately I had other business in Germany that went smoothly. Luke and I had a guided tour of the Hotel Intercontinental. Our tour guide even spoke English, which was helpful as Luke's German is not, how shall I put this, fluent.

The picture is of me in our 1000.00 Euro room at the Intercontinental.

Piterfun Internetcafe

I am writing this from Sazberg. In fact I am writing this because I am in Salzberg. We are at ien interneten cafe typing on crazy, mixed up keyboards. The "Y" is where the "Z" should be and I have no idea where the "Z" is.