Walking–it’s not so bad

The new outdoorsy me is really quite enjoying January.

Ready for a holiday

We are still applying Carmex even though we have no cowboys to kiss. Carmex is one of the Cackler’s favorite American discoveries and she has returned to England with a case full, determined her lips will be unchapped should a chap (with or without chaps) appear and pucker up.  Anyone who considers antiseptic an aphrodisiac

No Legover and Mounting Frustration

“Were you raised around here?” I asked, gesturing widely.  It is bad enough to know the beads you are buying were mined in Michael’s without learning that your roadside reservation jeweler is an art student from Park Slope. “My mom was” said the young woman adding the last copper wire link to my new bracelet.

Desert Diversions–the road to Tuscon

In Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1968 my sister and I learned to sing the Lead Belly song “Pick a Bale of Cotton”. We did not know who Lead Belly was, we barely knew what cotton was (we were a Brentford Nylons family) and we certainly knew nothing about slavery or the hardship of picking cotton

My Sister, the Saguaro and Customer Service

The barman had called last orders by the time we checked in but agreed to stay and serve us.  “Glass of wine? You’d better have two each since I’m closing” he said. Our kind of chap. Hearing that we planned to negotiate an icy staircase leading to the fire pit he had another bright idea

Don’t Stop The Rock: Unaccustomed Amazement in Arizona

The fairies who danced at my christening brought many welcome gifts but forgot the parcels labelled contentment,patience and satisfaction: I go through life perpetually fretful and impatient. My habit of seeking more and better does not make me a relaxing travel companion. While others are stopping to marvel, applaud, savor and appreciate, I am usually