Portability: On Finishing

Before

A long time ago, it was my habit that if I started a book, I finished it, no matter how horrible the writing, how eye-rollingly stupid the plot points, or how vacuous the characters.

Eventually, though, I understood that I wouldn't be living forever, and I wasn't getting any younger, so I changed my strategy wherein I'd try to give a book 100 pages (sometimes only 50 if it's really bad), but if the author didn't deliver by then, I tossed it. What a relief.

And so about my my dwindling cache of classic sci-fi paperbacks ..... I've now re-read all the ones I have an interest in re-re-(and sometimes re-re-re) reading, and it has now become a chore to go through those that remain. Guess what? I don't have to finish this self-assigned task! There's no particular nobility in it, no character-building involved, no Gipper that I need to do one for.

After

I deem myself finished.


In a few days, I'll be taking the last little pile of paperbacks to the library's paperback exchange.

Not re-re-re-re-read worthy.

When I leave New Mexico in October, my car will have one less cardboard box of stuff than what I arrived with.

My worldly goods in September 2012. The cardboard box of books must still be in the car.

I feel lighter.

Truth or Consequences, NM: Miss Photogenic

Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

New Mexico has many photogenic towns, and Truth or Consequences is one of them.

You might not think so at first glance, but then as you walk or ride or drive around a bit, you see something that catches your eye, and then another, and another.

I was here before (this and this) and recently I returned.

An album from this year and past:



#30


I felt a little wistful when I was here in May, rethinking my decision to base myself in Alamogordo instead of Truth or Consequences. I like Alamogordo very much ...... but ..... there's a vibrancy in Truth or Consequences that I don't feel in Alamogordo.

This small regret passed.

Aztec, New Mexico: Drums

I recently revisited Aztec, New Mexico, and ..... took a conga drum lesson!

Yup, at Crash Music, which I talked about when I was last in Aztec.

George, a career music teacher, gives drumming lessons every Saturday and Monday.  

Drums at Crash Music, Aztec, New Mexico

I had never had a drumming lesson. I don't read music. Have never played an instrument. But it was all fine. George gave me a little one-on-one before things got going with the rest of the students, and it was too much fun. If you're visiting, check it out - he's got the drums for you to use.

Drums at Crash Music, Aztec, New Mexico

Being rootless, I won't be investing in my own conga drum any time soon, but I've already called my daughter to reclaim my djembe drum, a long-ago Christmas present that I loved, but never put to the use I dreamed of. When I sold my house and moved on, I passed it to her kids. She is delighted to give it back on to me.

Drums at Crash Music, Aztec, New Mexico

This is me getting into the ritmo:

OK, yes, a lie. That is a killer drummer named Jennifer Rojas.

Truth or Consquences, NM: Just Soaking

Hot springs by Rio  Grande, Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

A few years back, I stopped in Truth or Consequences while on a road trip with my mother.

Hot springs by Rio  Grande, Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

Recently I returned and stayed at the same place, Riverbend Hot Springs.

Hot springs by Rio  Grande, Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

There are a number of accommodations in Truth or Consequences that have hot spring baths (some with the hot baths in the hotel rooms), but only RHS has the springs right by the Rio Grande, where you can soak and watch the river go by.

Hot springs by Rio  Grande, Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

I chose to return to T or C the weekend of its May Fiesta, but the pleasures of soaking in hot water by the river were so seductive, that's how I spent most of my time.

Hot springs by Rio  Grande, Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

Can you blame me?

The News From Gallup

The news from Gallup, New Mexico

Highway 491, New Mexico: Dead Cow

More accurately, the dead cow was off of Highway 491 - the paved road that goes by Shiprock. The geologic feature, not the town.

Dead cow, off Highway 491, near Shiprock, New Mexico

Dead cow, off Highway 491, near Shiprock, New Mexico

I think I saw part of its rib cage farther out in the field.

I wonder how it died.

Highway 371, New Mexico: Road Lovelies

Dazzling.

Highway 371, Navajo Land, New Mexico

Highway 371, Navajo Land, New Mexico

Highway 371, Navajo Land, New Mexico

Another Geography Lesson: Americans' Map of the World

To follow up on yesterday's geography lesson, I love these maps of the world as purportedly seen through the eyes of Americans. .... if we can't laugh at ourselves sometimes, then we're in trouble, right?

And note that I say laugh at ourselves - I don't support the sneering, condescending tone that some Americans adopt toward fellow citizens.

American map of the world. Credit: Cruise Critic forum

American map of the world. Credit: Intercultural Meanderings

Reagan's map of the world. Credit: Intercultural  Meanderings

Truthfully, it's kind of hard for me to laugh at the Reagan map of the world. Under his administration, we did (or enabled) some vile, despicable things in Central and South America. We denied desperate pleas for asylum from terrified Central Americans seeking refuge in the U.S. from death and torture because granting them asylum would have acknowledged that the governments we supported with financial and military resources were the perpetrators of said death and torture. It sickened me when George W. brought back players from that dark time to his administration, such as John Negroponte and Elliot Abrams.  Jesus, looking back on this is depressing. Not that I'm thrilled with Obama's apparent disinterest in restoring some civil freedoms we used to have in the U.S., before the so-called Patriot Act. 

OK, getting a grip .... 

American map of Asia. Credit: e-junkie info

There are also maps of the world according to other countries. Here's a view of the world by the British:

British map of the world. Credit: e-junkie info

Geography Lesson

My fantastic job of teaching English online has connected me to students in (so far):

• China
• Argentina
• Italy
• Germany
• Brazil
• Mexico
• Spain

It have come to realize that I don't know shit about a lot of stuff in these countries. Like these countries' states or provinces. Often, my students - all adults - know the U.S. states.

An Ethiopian friend told me that when he was a child, all the kids learned about the U.S. states. In fact, there was a common phrase for when something got lost, "Where it'd go, Arkansas?" ... (if it was believed something was stolen, the question was, "it must have gone to Baghdad.") 

So I'm undertaking a project to learn the provinces of my students' countries.

China

Here's China in a reader-friendly visual:

Credit: SACU

Once I found a provincial map of China, my mind turned to land mass as compared to the U.S. Below is a nice graphic - note that it shows the comparison and also minds the latitudinal information. Note also that neither Hawaii nor Alaska appear.

Credit: Flora of China

One of my students told me that the area around Chengdu is particularly beautiful. Home of the pandas, too. And the five-color lakes.  It's in Sichuan province. Famous for its cuisine.


Argentina

Argentina has several states known for their regional wines.

Credit: La Vida Es Hermosa

If I compare China's size to the U.S., I guess I should do the same for Argentina.

Credit: Rand McNally

Mexico

Since I'll relocating to Mexico next year, I definitely need to get a handle on its states. Do you see the state of Michoacán? Yeah, that's where I was thinking of going, but maybe I've got to rethink that.

And the comparison between Mexico and U.S. land area:

Credit: Rand McNally

Below is a graph of expats who live in Mexico. I'm surprised the Canadian number is so low. Where do they go?
 

Place	Country	2010	2000	1990
1	United States	738,103	343,591	194,619
2	Guatemala	35,322	23,597	46,005
3	Spain	18,873	21,024	24,783
4	Colombia	13,922	6,465	4,635
5	Argentina	13,696	6,215	4,964
6	Cuba	12,108	5,537	5,217
7	Honduras	10,991	3,722	1,997
8	Venezuela	10,063	2,823	1,533
9	El Salvador	8,088	6,647	2,979
10	Canada	7,943	5,768	3,011
11	France	7,163	5,723	4,195
12	China	6,655	2,100	1,161
13	Germany	6,214	5,595	4,499
14	Peru	5,886	3,749	1,633
15	Chile	5,267	3,848	2,501
16	Italy	4,964	3,904	2,397
17	Brazil	4,532	2,320	1,293
18	South Korea	3,960	2,079	1,161
19	Nicaragua	3,572	2,522	1,521
	Other countries	43,799	37,126	32,487
TOTAL		961,121	492,617	340,246
Source: INEGI (2000),[20] CONAPO (1990)[21][22] and INEGI (2010)[23]

Italy

Back in the day, the first words that would come to my mind about Italy would be beautiful scenery, wine, good eating, rich history, and a people with a joie-de-vivre world view. Based on reports from recent travelers, the images that stick out most for me about Italy are crowds, heat, and high prices.

If you agree, then may I recommend a fine country for you to visit - Caucasus Georgia.

I'm kind of bored with the size comparison thing, so I'm going to stop on that.


Germany

One of my former (Caucausus) Georgian students is visiting Germany right now with a friend - they look to be having a fantastic time!

German provinces. Credit: Maps of Germany.

Do you see that pointy area in France below Saarland and to the left of Baden-Wirttemberg? That's Alsace-Lorraine.

Alsace-Lorraine. Credit: Travels in Europe With a VW Camper

My matrilineal and patrilineal ancestors passed through this area in centuries past, the maternal line being French Catholic, and the other Swiss Mennonite, aka Anabaptist (German-speaking), before their descendants, in different immigrant streams, in different centuries, ended up in North America. 

My maternal grandfather saw battle in Alsace-Lorraine during World War I.

Gee, what a detour I made.

So back to Germany. Because of my economic stratum, I tend not to think much about Western Europe as a travel destination - I can't afford to go, so it's just not on my radar.




Spain

Spain. Credit: Property net.

Jeez louise, the time it took to find a decent provincial map that also showed the almost-adjoining countries of Morocco and Algeria to the south of Spain (in English). Oh, you see they aren't there. Right. So anyway, see that land with the little airplane on it, south of Cadiz, practically touching? That's Morocco. If you look to the right along Morocco's coastline til you see the other little airplane? And then the yellow squiggly line? To the right of the squiggly line is Algeria.

The economic crisis in Spain right now is crushing. Recently, a British man bought an entire Spanish village (abandoned) for 60k euros. (There are villages like this in Caucasus Georgia, too.)


Brazil

Brazil provinces. Credit: emaps world

I always think of Brazil as being very big. Let's compare it with the U.S.

Brazil - US size comparison. Credit: Rand McNally

 Woo, yeah, it's big.
 
Although Brazil can boast tremendous advances in many areas economically, technologically, etc. it's also  suffering now in many areas. People don't feel safe. The government is perceived to be corrupt and ineffectual. There are some who believe the public school system is in awful shape, as there is no investment in bringing along new teachers for the public system, i.e. low pay and miserable working conditions. (Sounds like Caucasus Georgia, although there is ongoing reform.)

According to the World Atlas, Brazil's Sao Paolo is the ninth most populous city in the world at 20 million (just under NYC's 21.4 million and just over Mexico City's 19.4 million).