Painting of Maclovia Zamora by Nanibah “Nani” Chacon on wall of Remidios Religious Articles, 4th St., Albuquerque, NM
The name? In 1950, Ralph Edwards, the MC of the popular radio quiz show, announced that he would broadcast the 10th anniversary show from any town that changed its name to youknowwhat, and so Hot Springs, NM became T or C (as locals call it).
A vein of hot water flows under the town, and there are a bunch of spas. I arrived after dark and drove around sussing out the choices. I liked the looks of La Paloma. They had one room left. Bingo! $80 for rustic room and 24‑hour access to about a dozen different soaking rooms, ranging from 103 to 110 degrees.
After soaking a few times, I wandered out into the town and it turned out to be full moon, total eclipse night. Will my luck never cease?
I got a beer and sat on a bench on the deserted main street in the 28-degree night (in 2 down jackets, gloves, wool hat, scarf), and watched the moon slowly become smoky looking, then disappear. Went back to the spa and hung out with other guests around a courtyard fire.
Jumped in the springs again, and then again at 6:30 the next morning.
In store window (they’re about 8″ high.)
I took off from San Francisco on a rainy Sunday morning. As soon as I got off the plane in Albuquerque, things felt different. Relaxed. Mellow. Palpable low stress level.
Picked up rental car, punched in address for Canteen Brewhouse, where I had scoped out beforehand there was a local bluegrass band playing at 4PM. Garmin magically delivered me to the pub. Good vibes. Community tables. Got dark porter, alc. content 10%, aged in whisky barrels, had best bratwurst I’ve ever had, homemade mustard, cole slaw, black bean chile, guy next to me at bar was carpenter; we had things in common. Perfect.
The band, Squash Blossom Boys, was good. Occasional 3-part harmony. There’s just something about a local band, a local crowd, relaxed atmosphere…
I took off heading south for Truth or Consequences, a town of hot springs I’d read about, at dusk. Cue Willie: “On the road again…”
Lloyd,
Going to toss this out in case you have a mortise to pound a round peg into:
After five years+ of oblivion, I’ve resurrected my website (albeit on a different domain). It’s pretty much the same old bus-and-truck dance with a layer of blog posts floating on top:
www.mrsharkey.com (archived)
This should be a stable host for the foreseeable future. May register a domain name, may not…
–Sharkey
For a lot of housetrucks and housebuses, see Tiny Homes on the Move.
I’m going to The Winter Institute, hosted by The American Booksellers Association, which runs from January 22-25, at the Albuquerque Convention Center. I’ll be attending some seminars, and giving out and autographing copies of our (just printed) book, Driftwood Shacks to buyers at the Author Reception, Thursday Jan 24, 5pm to 6:30.
Per my usual M.O., I’m taking off a few days early for some exploring. I’m getting there Sunday, Jan. 20th, thinking of heading south to Truth or Consequences, a town with many hot springs, and exploring small towns like Hillsboro and Kingston and searching the countryside for barns and interesting buildings to photograph.
Anyone have any tips on stuff to do in that part of the world?
Bugs Bunny compilation sent by Doug Armstrong. I’d forgotten about Sounds like the same guy that said:
“There was thoity boids sittin’ on the coib, choipin’ and boipin’ and eatin’ doity woims…”
Shot a few years ago when I went to Hong Kong to oversee printing of Tiny Homes.
I found this on a beach on the East Cape of Cabo San Lucas.These fish inflate to discourage predators (and how!). They have no pelvis and few ribs, allowing them to inflate and become spherical without breaking bones. Their skin contains an abundance of collagen fibers that allow it to expand 30 to 40%.
From National Geographic:
…Toxicity A predator that manages to snag a puffer before it inflates won’t feel lucky for long. Almost all pufferfish contain tetrodotoxin, a substance that makes them foul tasting and often lethal to fish. To humans, tetrodotoxin is deadly, up to 1,200 times more poisonous than cyanide. There is enough toxin in one pufferfish to kill 30 adult humans, and there is no known antidote.
As Food: Amazingly, the meat of some pufferfish is considered a delicacy. Called fugu in Japan, it is extremely expensive and only prepared by trained, licensed chefs who know that one bad cut means almost certain death for a customer. In fact, many such deaths occur annually.…
I have it hanging in my shop. Kids love it.
As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.
–H.L. Mencken,
Baltimore Evening Sun
July 26, 1920
Tom made this meticulous tiny home, cutting out all the mini-shingles by hand. It’s 7″ wide, 16″ long, 10″ high (to peak of gable). It was made for us to use as a display when selling our book Tiny Homes at fairs.
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