Indiana Dunes State Park

"Connie, look, the sun!" said Carol as she got up. I had already noted the sunshine and my mood quickly improved. It had been the first sun since being here. I had a hike planned at Indiana Dunes State Park, a 2000-acre park along Lake Michigan that provides the one natural haven between steel mills and power plants. I hike here everytime I come back to this area. The cold blue skies and calm winds meant my hike would be a good one.

A good, but still very cold one. The winter gear I had bought this past summer on-line proved invaluable: my Kayland mountaineer boots, my OR snowboarding pants and my Mammut men's small ski jacket all kept me comfortably warm. Only my nose was cold.

My hike started shortly after 11am after a short visit to the park's old beach house, built early in the 20th century when this part of Indiana was a playground for the Gilded Age. The building's facade is looking worn, and the paint inside is peeling off, but the building still stands as a memory of what this place was surely like when eastern European immigrants, like my paternal grandfather, were lured to the nearby steel mills for decent jobs.

I walked toward the shoreline but a thick layer of iced slush pervented me from reaching the waterline, where white-capped waves splashed ashore. It was best to keep my distance as I wanted to keep my feet dry.

The park road was slick driving in. It had been plowed but not salted. One large, older-model sedan was already stuck over a side rail, victim of a reckless and very embarrassed male driver. There is no admission here in the winter (otherwise I would have started this hike on the park's far eastern perimeter) and I drove to the trail head near the Nature Center, along a short boardwalk where trail #10 begins.

Other cars were already parked here, and two young women got out ahead of me to start a late morning jog. I didn't see any one else along the trail until I got back to near the trail head again.

I hiked mostly trails 10 and 9. Trail #10 is also the "Indian Portage Trail" which follows eastward along the bogs, then turns toward the lake two miles into the trail. It's a very diverse trail and also the longest one in the park. The lakefront was slushy and further up the beach the sand was even iced over. One lone seagull flew nearby and the few people I saw were a few miles west on the beach, perhaps near the old beach house.

I could see the distant Chicago skyline. I climbed up over a sand dune, rested a bit, then continued downhill on Trail #9 back to the trail head, completing a six-mile loop through the forest. I was back at the van at 2. The thermometer registered 28F.

I drove on to Michigan City, photographed the lighthouse, then drove back to Valparaiso. A quick stop at Target to get new windshield wipers proved to take longer than expected as everyone was at Target. I rested an hour at the Barnes and Noble across the street, downloaded my hike photos, and then Erin called. We had arranged a dinner date and chose the TGI Friday's next door.

That proved to be a disappointment. I had a chicken Parmesan pasta dish that was too oily. We sat at a corner table near the bathrooms and I had to flag down a server for soda refills. The bill was a whopping $34 and most of that was for the sodas we had. I am still tempted to fill out the on-line survey to let the chain know I wasn't happy with the food. With all the great locally-owned restaurants in the Region, there is no excuse to eat at a national chain again.

It had dropped down to 18F once we left the restaurant. I stayed overnight at Erin's place, chatting briefly with Kristin who came over with her white German shepherd dog Buddy. I took lots of photos again before Kristin left and Ethan went to bed. Erin's cat chewed on my watchband all night long.

Christmas with the family

Christmas this year was mellow. I had gone straight to Erin's place in Chesterton once I got to the area, spent the night there, then had a lovely lunch with her and Ethan before heading down to Carol's place in Crown Point , 30 miles west,where I finally spread my stuff out. I really did overdo the packing again, bringing more clothes than I know I will wear.

I had no desire to shop for anything else once I got here. Now that I was back in"The Region" I wanted to enjoy the end-of-tour and simple relax with the family. It was cold out, and that first night here another 3-4 inches of snow fell. The sky remained a dark grey, greyer in the western sky, and cold. We had a White and cold Christmas.

C'mas Eve I was with Carol at her brother John's house, which is always a blast as the company and food are great. I have grown old with John and Ruth (they are only a few years older than me) and they are also new grandparents. This year Ruth's older brothers John and Roger and their wives were also at the party.

I didn't see Eric until late on C'mas Day when he came over with Erin in one car. He dozed off on the couch all day because he had been working eight straight days. He didn't seem all too excited to see me, and he didn't seem all too enthused with the presents I got him (both which bummed me out a bit but I need to be patient with his as he's been working a lot). Erin seemed busy and preoccupied as well, and easy to irritate, but she told me that Eric is reclusive with everyone and not just me. "Don't take it personal, Mom."

But when Carol asked me what my kids got me for Christmas, I found myself on the defensive. They got me the usual: nothing. My children have never been giving people and they don't make enough money to afford being spendthrifts, but I know they are used to me showering them with presents. It's a habit I have to break MYSELF out of to avoid being disappointed every Christmas.

It's not the family that bums me out, it's the area. Northwest Indiana, with its many industries, is such a depressing area with its steel mills, air pollution, trashy streets, brown slushy roads and lack of any scenery. People driving through the state on the Indiana Toll road don't even see the pretty dunes because the belching mills and power plants overwhelm the horizon.

Shopping and eating out are past times here. Every time I come here in the winter I get those depressing flashbacks from my teen years here. Oh, how I hated this place back then, with its bigotry, ignorant working masses smoking and drinking their lives away. I felt out of place then, and I still feel out of place today. I feel no shame for having deserted this place years ago.

And yet so much of my family is here, I have no option but to return to this place every few years.

Driving across the Great Plains

I finally left the house a few minutes shy of 11am last Tuesday. I drove along the border on USHwy 90, through Douglas and the heavily-surveilled area NE of town where Rancher Bob was killed earlier this year. There were several Sheriff and USBP vehicles all along that stretch, but I never saw any people. It's as if all those who had wanted to be with family over the holiday had already left for the trip. Weather on the first day was ideal: warm, blue sky and little traffic.

There were more USBP along NM9, another eerie but pretty road that hugs the border. I turned north when I got to Columbus, and drove I-10 into Las Cruces.

I had a major blowout on the transition ramp from I-10 and I-25, just as the evening was setting. My saving grace was that I wasn't driving fast when my tire blew, there wasn't much traffic and I was able to pull off the road and call AAA. (The first things the dispatcher asked me was if I was safe and if I was safely off the road; I answered "yes" to both). My van has Chinese-made Hankook tires I was coerced into buying. I will never buy that brand again.

That blowout cost me $188 and three hours of driving. I missed watching the rising Solstice Full Moon over White Sands. Lesson learned. I ate dinner at a Carl's Jr and read more of "Memoirs of Ulysses S Grant Vol I" while eating, so all was not lost.

However, despite a new tire the tire pressure monitor remains lighted. I hope it's just the cold weather.

I only made it 540 miles that first night, pulling over south of Clovis, NM to a cool-to-cold night with the cows. The next morning there was a chilling fog across the valley that followed me well into Armarillo, TX and the Panhandle. I was now no longer in the desert but in the cold Staked Plains that Mark and I had explored a few years before. I will always enjoy that area and its red soil. It was here that I began seeing unique roadside attractions like giant Cowboys, antique cars and plastic cows on top of old slaughter houses. It's a photographer's delight with the variety of things to capture.

I didn't warm up until I neared the Oklahoma border on Day II and stopped at an interstate rest stop designed like a Route 66 museum. The place offered clean rest rooms and free WiFi. The rest stop was also a designated tornado shelter (built on a hill top?!) The rest of the drive from Oklahoma to Springfield, IL followed old Route 66, although the old Route 66 was mostly an old frontage road along the interstate.

The drive was very scenic, and it remained scenic even across Oklahoma, which was not anywhere near as flat and ugly as I remembered it to be. I was expecting to be inundated with religious messages along the interstate, and although I did see a lot of churches and ministry buildings in OKC (I believe the majority of them are in OKC), I also saw my share of ADULT BOOKSTORE billboards near the churches. Churches and pornography go so well together here

I avoided the Toll Road and existed I-44 outside Oklahoma City, driving eastward on a parallel road north of the city that went straight into Tulsa to the Missouri state line, where I saw another near full moon rise over the flatlands. I made it to Springfield, MO where I got a room at the "Ozark Inn" that offered me a comfortable bed for the night and a decent cable TV selection, but in which the heat never got warm enough to get comfortable in.

My final drive was across Missouri and into Illinois and arriving in Northwest Indiana at 9pm at my daughter's place. By the time I reached Kankakee, IL I could see the darkbrown rusty northern horizon of Chicagoland, I could smell the steelmill sulphur and I knew I didn't have much further to go. It also felt warmer there than it did in central MO where my van thermometer dipped into the upper 20s.

I liked what I saw of Missouri off I-44 but by the time I got to that state I was getting antsy of the drive and wanted to make good time. I hope to enjoy parts of the Ozarks on my return trip; I may even drive the same way as I drove going out as it was scenic, diverse and historic. I didn't even see ground snow until I crossed the Mississippi River into Illinois, and that is where I lost the blue sky for the rest of my travel.

Kevin says I made good time on this drive. I only pushed myself on Day II because of the lag I started with on Day I. I only stopped to pee and gas up; most of my food came from eating salted peanuts from a plastic jar. Rather than listening to local PBS stations (I did that only for hourly newscasts a few times a day), I entertained myself splendidly listening to audio books: Laura Bush's "Spoken from the Heart" and "The autobiography of Mark Twain" which was a true delight once I got past the first two introductory discs.

The price for gasoline remained steady across the Plains, $2.79-$3.09. I paid mostly $2.79 and only once paid $3.09 in central Illinois. Prices were higher the closer I got to Chicago ($3.34 was the highest) but dropped to just below $3 when I crossed into Indiana.

It's a 1950-mile drive that can be comfortably driven in 4-5 days and I plan on taking my time going back, perhaps exploring more of "the middle." all that is weather-dependent, as that storm that blew across California on Monday came through here last night with 3-4" of snow. It's the Upper Northeast that is going to get hit hard tomorrow, from DC all the way to Maine. It's been a year since the last blizzard there.

Leaving for Indiana

Today is my first time in three years that I am driving to Chicagoland for Christmas. Although Chicagoland got hit with more snow today, the drive itself should be eventless for me.

California is getting pounded with heavy rains and that storm is moving over Arizona tonight, but I should be far east by then. A mild temperature surge will follow me eastward. I don't expect to see snow until Missouri.

My van is packed. I plan on leaving soon, but watching the full lunar eclipse last night has delayed my departure by a few hours. The eclipse was beautifully eerie, as it got so cold and windy the darker it got. I lay on the driveway taking photos with my Canon SX210IS point-and-shoot camera, which took amazingly clear photos until the moon lost its radiance and the sensor did not know where to focus. The next full lunar eclipse on a winter solstice will be in 2092. I don't plan on being around for that one.

The house is no where near as clean as I had hoped it would be; the floor needs mopping and some stuff still needs to be put away.

My van is full of stuff for the kids. There won't be much room to get comfy in at all.There's a full moon tonight; I hope the skies are clear enough to see it. It's also winter solstice. I don't want to leave Kevin but I'm looking forward to seeing Ethan again.

Another end of semester

I had my last final Wednesday night, my Spanish final. I took my time, going over all my answers and finding a few mistakes along the way. By the time I turned in my paper there were only three other people remaining: Sheila, Kristi and Juanita, all who have sat around me all semester long. The instructor had all the other papers stacked on her desk and was already grading them. I took out my new eReader to read while she graded, as I was in no hurry.

"Do you want to know your grade?" she asked.
"Yes, but take your time!"
"You got an A."
"But you haven't even looked at my paper!"
"I know you, Connie. You got an A!"

Oh, if life were only so easy. But in her defense I'd gotten As all semester long on all homework, in-class assignments, quizzes and tests that if I had failed the final I could have still gotten an B. I had reviewed the grammar all day anyway.

I'm glad I finally took that Spanish course. I really should have taken it sooner. Knowing better Spanish would have made my trips along the Rio Grande back in early 2008 even more interesting. I'm already signed up for the next course and I'm considering taken the intermediate course next fall. I enjoy a culture more when I understand the language better. And when one understands the culture and language, one understands the people as well.

There were several native speakers in this course. Besides Juanita (an older, passionate woman in love with her heritage) there were two men who sat in the back of the class. They consistently chatted in Spanish to each other, speaking a lingo Juanita said was typical of the northern Sonoran dialect. Both men had grown up speaking Spanish but both had trouble reading it. They didn't seem to take learning the language seriously, though, and were not the best students. Juanita said she struggled herself with the grammar, but now better understands her mother tongue. I like Juanita. I always enjoyed listening to her experiences in Mexico and her childhood memories.

If only the violence along the border would relent! It's only gotten worse in the last two years. A few days ago a USBP agent was killed in southern Arizona while pursuing a group of drug smugglers in the Rio Rico area, a hilly region known for its drugs and smuggling. The murderer from the March killing of a rancher near Douglas also remains unsolved.

***

We have had an unusual warm winter all month so far. I witnessed a spectacular Monday night meteorite shower while walking the dogs late that night. The Geminids were at their peak and I purposely delayed their nightly walk to watch the meteors. I counted 22 during the brisk 2.2-mile walk around the neighborhood, finishing with a very stiff neck as I kept my head up to the sky. I only tripped once while walking the dogs.

We got some overnight rain though, our first rain since October. The sun's not up yet so there's no telling if we got any snow on the peaks. I'm hiking up Miller Peak with a few others tomorrow and we are hoping for some snow.

I'll be leaving for Indiana on Tuesday. I have a van full of goodies this time, having bought C'mas presents since August. I dread the long drive since there's already so much snow east of Tulsa, and nightly lows into the 20s and 10s. Car camping and hiking won't be as much fun this time. I still have to plan my packing, get my stuff organized, clean out my office and turn recyclables and used clothes over to the respective charities that I'll be busy all weekend long.

I will be studying ahead during this break, learning more Spanish, reading up on Modern History and listening to more downloaded podcasts from the University of California. One can bash California for all its worth, it still has the best overall History podcasts out there. Its professors at San Diego, Berkeley and LA all have great courses to offer for free to the listening public.

I enjoyed my Medieval History and Women in Literature courses as well. Next semester I'm taking on History of Mexico post revolution, English Lit I, Biology I and Spanish 102. The one class that I need for my History concentration, however, is not offered next semester. That's where the UC podcasts will come in handy as I still plan on listening to the USCD courses on Modern History since 1648 because I still plan on taking the state exams in both History and English this coming spring. And who knows? Maybe Spanish will follow in a few years.

Next year is my last year of low-level courses. I will have taken all the courses I've been wanting to take. Unfortunately, the school district continues to cut back its resources and teachers continue to be laid off. I hardly worked this semester because of this. This was great for my studying time but not good for my spending money. Thankfully Kevin's raise went through and we are financially well off. With empty houses still lingering in our neighborhood, that is a good thing.

Thanksgiving in Phoenix

We spent a lovely 2.5 days in western Phoenix, in a new suburb near the White Tank Mountains. I had never been there before. Kevin's relatives moved there a few months ago fter retirning from Boston and own a huge 3000+ sf home with giant living room, high ceiling and 1.5 acre lot. It's ideal for hosting large parties which they love to do and I got to meet all of Kevin's relatives. Most I didn't know.

Weather was cool but fine.

Another semester coming to an end

Although we have three weeks left, I feel the end is near. It wasn't so chaotic this time around, but I also only took three courses. So far, so good.

But then I wanted to sign up for more classes today but was denied registration for two of them (both history classes) because I hadn't taken a required reading comprehension test yet! Oh. My. God. A person with my grades and my English abilities has to take a reading test? The counselor would not budge. (Previous ones saw my grades and were more common sensical and signed me up for the courses anyway. Not this woman.). Cochise College is so discouraging when it comes to bright, talented students. I feel like I am treated like a kid. I hope UA is much better.

So next Thursday at 3pm I'm scheduled to take a reading and a math test. I need to see where my math abilities are before I can even sign up for the elementary algebra course next semester. The sooner I take that placement exam, the sooner I can register for it.

My Spanish 102, English 201 and Biology 101 classes are all online. I'm not so sure I'm going to enjoy the online Spanish class. How can one effectively learn a language without regular human interaction?! My counselor wanted to assure me that on-line classes is what the current generation prefers. If that's the case, the current generation is going to have problems at regular jobs if they can not interact normally.

This whole idea of having to take a placement reading exam just urks me. Is this just a Cochise College requirement, to make sure it doesn't allow non-English-comprehending students from taking reading/writing intensive classes or is this a state-wide requirement?

I'll need to remain upbeat.

Although I've enjoyed the classes this semester and the classmates I've had, I've gotten burned out by all the studying. Kevin thinks I overdo it. (He told me when we were in Florida that I take the classes way too seriously). He'd like to take an American History class but doesn't want to have to write papers "After I've seen how you write all the time." He has a point. My office looks like I've got research and scholarly papers all over the place. Part of that is me throwing the papers on the ground, part of it is from the cat knocking stuff off the desk. As soon as this semester is over, I'm cleaning house. I can't stand the mess.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. We are expecting the coldest holiday in 30 years, with freezing temperatures in the valley tomorrow overnight.

Meanwhile, North Korea blasted artillery toward a South Korean island yesterday morning, killing two South Korean soldiers. My history instructor fears a WWIII will break out in that part of Asia before this week is over. I hope not. We have American troops there along the DMZ risking their lives for another country's people.

Universal Studios

It was a week ago this morning that K and I flew to Orlando for my sister's wedding. This was my first family wedding I attended!

It was a beautiful wedding. Alex had put her entire heart into organizing the perfect wedding: from a gorgeous wedding dress to location, minister, food menu and vows. About 30 people attented this wedding and everyone flew or drove down from other places to attend.

I even enjoyed Universal Studios, although I'm not a fan of amusement parks. After the wedding ceremony and reception Matt had us all go on a scavenger hunt around the park. Iris and I were teamed up with two other women we had never met before. One of the other women, Linda, had as much fun as Iris and I had looking for the hidden secrets. The hunt was a good way to get familiarized with the park.

We arrived in Orlando Thursday afternoon, rested at the hotel and enjoyed a free meal at the next-door TGI Friday's for Veteran's Day. TGI Friday's went all-out as well and offered their free meals to all Veterans for FOUR DAYS! That means that K and I enjoyed two breakfasts and two dinners there, always getting great service. TGI Friday's meals are much more diverse than Applebee's.

The park itself was crowded. We went on a few rides but spent most of our time walking around and looking at stuff. We rode the Spiderman ride. We tried out the Harry Potter ride (which broke down on us while we were in it!). The Hulk rollercoaster gave me nausea and a headache. We floated through Jurassic Park a few times, always managing to avoid a major soaking.

Saturday we opted to visit the park again and ride some more. The Harry Potter ride broke down on Saturday as well for 20 minutes. We tried Butterbeer and sported frothy white mustaches, although I'm not crazy about the Butterscotch concoction.

Weather was ideal although it got cool after sunset. This, however, was not an easy feat because one of my family members demanded we spend the entire time in Orlando as a family. Since this was as much my vacation as it was K's, I sided with K and refused to play along. Oh well. Most of the other family members supported my decision. K and I ended up having a great time all last weekend. We made Orlando a mini-vacation we both promised to repeat again in another city next year, like Portland or Seattle.

We stayed at the Double Tree Hotel located a block away from the Universal Studio's main entrance on Major Drive. One can't see the entrance as it's covered with foliage but we learned that it's a mere half-mile away. Cabs charge $5 a ride to get there from the hotel. The hotel was rather basic. There is no free continental breakfast. The rooms have refrigerators and coffee makers and decent cable TV, but in-room WiFi costs $9.95 a day. Free WiFi is only in the lobby area. I saw a cockroach hiding behind the hotel room's desk the second night I was there.

We will most likely never go back to Universal Studios. It was a one-time event we enjoyed, though.

In Limbo

I was up late Sunday night working on an English paper. At 1am local time I got an email from Eric:

...I'm being kicked out of my apartment. Not because I skipped out on rent or was too messy or too loud. But because Derek, my friend and roommate, is moving back with mommy and daddy and I'm being kicked out too because he doesn't want me living with his girlfriend. There's also the amazing part where he told me to make sure I move out at the same time he does so his girlfriend isn't screwed over on the rent.
So, being in a position where my best friend is basically fucking me over without any kind of remorse or respectful consolance, I'm getting the fuck out as soon as possible - and I'm seriously considering Arizona as a viable option. And since I'm wasting my time and money here with two people I thought had class and respect, I think school mY be the best thing. So I would greatly appreciate the following info:
What schools are available out there?
What information or papers would I need to bring?
When would be a good time to make the transfer over there?
That's all I can think of for now. I hope to hear from you soon.

I immediately sent him a reply saying that I was glad he finally got his shit together and decided school is the answer. He's spent the last four years "Finding himself" and working jobs an unskilled illegal immigrant would take. Friends who have all gone on to college are now graduating and he's still at the starting point in his life. I'll do whatever it takes to get him through school but he has to show me he's serious.

I told him he could come as soon as 15 November, but that the house would be a mess since I'm busy with college and Kevin doesn't do a damn thing around the house unless it's his personal stuff he's cleaning up.

So I wrote him back with the Cochise college spring schedule (which came out yesterday), and even showed him UA's schedule. I called him soon thereafter and only got his voice message.

Three more attempts to call him during the day also proved fruitless. All I got was his annoying voice message.

Finally, yesterday afternoon I got another email from him that sounded less desperate:

I think writing would be my best option for classes. Also, I need to talk to dad to see what he's able to do. I need to weigh all my options before I make a move.

That tells me he's back to Ground Zero again. Which means he most likely has decided to stay in Indiana. I'll help him as much as I helped out Erin with her dental classes but I will not go into debt for it at this point. Even when I compared tuition between Cochise College, UA and IU, Cochise's non-resident rates are cheaper than IU for the first two classes. Eric would have to take the standard Liberal Arts courses to get a degree in Creative Writing.

I have opted not to expect Eric here in January. I'll drive home for C'mas and hear from him then what his decision is and I'll honor it. It will also be the last time I stand by for him as I'm tired of his constant indecisions. There will always be a room for him here but the next time he asks to come in he may find the house empty.

Two years later...

I remember the glee I felt when Obama was elected our new president. I also remember the hope I had for change.

The change never came and hope faded. I can't point my finger on just one issue that made me lose hope. It was a number of issues that piled up and got out of hand: the troop increase in Afghanistan. The continued bail-out of big corporations. Pushing his "Obamacare" to everyone despite that requiring even more tax increases for many who are barely scraping by. I'm sure there are more issues that waned hope for me.

So, it was no surprise then that Democrats lost six seats in the Senate. They deserved to lose the majority they had. They hadn't deserved to continue at the helm. Now Republicans are the majority in the House which hopefully means better checks and balances when it comes to appropriations. Not that the Republicans have been fiscally responsible, either these last ten years, but at least there is bi-partisan control in Congress.

I'm not expecting the GOP guys to get along with the Dems or vice versa. But I do want to see more focus on the wants and needs of Americans instead of lobbyists.

Governor Brewer won re-election hands-down. So did Senator McCain for his 5th term. Tom Horne is the state's new Attorney General and John Hoppenthal the new Chief of Public Instruction. The county race is still being tabulated, and it's a very close call between incumbent Gabriele Giffords and GOP Jesse Kelly.

Medical marijuana use was voted down. So was making hunting a constitutional state right.

A very active weekend

Despite an English paper due Sunday night, I took time out Friday, Saturday and Sunday to exercise my body. Friday I hiked Lutz canyon with Brenda. Saturday I completed the Bisbee 1000 Stairclimb. Sunday I hiked with Kevin and the dogs down Bear Creek. Now I'm exhausted because I was up every night getting homework done.

The Bisbee Stairclimb was much better organized this year than last. Staggered starts prevented bottlenecks at the stairs. The roads weren't as congested. There were no major lines anywhere.

However, there also didn't seem to be as many participants as last year. Perhaps the higher registration fee of $40-$70 scared people away. (I paid $50 in August and that that was ridiculous!) There is no longer any day-of registration, so there were less people at the last minute wanting to join.

I ran a better time this year, although I still need work up the stairs.\

TBC

When fathers aren't fathers

Yesterday I got called in to take over at an elementary school. I reluctantly agreed.

When I arrived at the school the principal greeted me, told me of the troubles at that school since another substitute had taken over for an ailing teacher, and gave me the details of what had transpired since Monday. He walked with me to the classroom and read the students the riot act. While he spoke I wondered if I had gotten myself in deep waters for taking over this job. I stood by his side and smiled coyly. Surely all those obedient children who listened to the man would behave for me...

Well, not exactly but it also wasn't a repeat of Bisbee's 6th grade. Although I had to stay on my toes the entire time and never give the kids stagnant free time, by the end of the day I had several kids come up to me and hug me. "You did good!" said one boy, Michael, who gave me advice all day long about classroom procedures. Several girls also acted as aides and helped me pass out papers, assignments, student folders. The teacher's aide, a woman my age who is also working on her teaching certification through UA, helped me maintain my tempo. Without her I surely would have failed.

One girl, Claire, told me she suffers from depression and easily gets upset when classmates don't talk to her. Another boy told me he doesn't like being called by his real name and prefers to be called "Zay" so that is what I called him, much to his approval. One Mexican boy sat quietly at his desk and followed all instructions without fail. I smiled at him several times and gave him the thumbs up for doing such a good job on his class work.

There were also little battles among the students to gain my approval. Several boys fought over computer time to get their English assignments typed out.

"Steve has been on that computer for over ten minutes!" cried one boy.
"No, I haven't!"
"I got here first!" said another boy, also working on his English assignment.
There were times I just wanted to bang the heads of these three boys together to make them stop fighting. Enough fighting, already!

Then there was a little curly-topped boy, also named Michael, whose father was recently arrested on child pornography charges and who, according to him, could be "sent to prison for at least ten years." The boy, who by now was clearly hurting as he volunteered this information, hadn't seen his father since late August when the city cops stormed the house and ransacked the house looking for evidence. "I haven't been able to sleep since then" he continued, and has been restless and more disruptive in class. "I may never see him again!"

Michael was a sweet boy to me and although he was hyperactive (what boy isn't?) he did listen to me overall.

I wanted to hug this boy and let him know that everything will be OK, but how honest is that when the boy knows that he will lose his father for the next ten years, the most formative years of his life?

I left the school saddened for Michael's future, but I also left the school relieved that the day did not go as badly as I had feared. Although my voice was hoarse and my feet were tired, I left the school with even greater admiration for elementary school teachers who have to take care of little boys like Michael, little girls like Claire and all the other children whose parents failed them as primary caretakers. It's moments like today, despite all the screams and hollers and my warnings to cease and desist, that I drive away with a smidgen of satisfaction for a job well done.

Our Borderlands

Has it been almost a month since I last wrote on this blog? Where has the time gone? Although I am only enrolled in three courses, I have been working practically full-time at the high school and loving it. My teaching skills have improved so much in the past year and my continued studies have made me more knowledgeable in the subjects I enjoy the most: History and English.

Today I taught 7th-grade English. The kids, as usual, were tough and I had to play tough, too. During my first hour planning period I had hoped to get some Spanish homework done but instead kept getting interrupted by visitors: two students who asked for money for the Student Council, another teacher who came in to unlog myself from the computer so she could log on to upload a document, another student who came by to give the teacher a bouquet of chocolates and yet another student who dropped off a "confidential" document. I didn't get much work done.

But then Mike came by, my friend Mike who almost two years ago led a hike up San Jose Peak in Sonora. He is fluent in Spanish, loves the outdoors and gets out as much as possible. The last time we really talked was almost a year ago (!) when he talked about how he was held up by Mexican police at a gas station in a border town under the suspicions for being a drug runner. A drug runner! Mike is far from such a thing. He is an active member of the "Friends of the San Pedro River" and videotapes wildlife along the San Pedro river that originates in far northern Sonora. I have seen some of his videos and they are quite informative.

What made him suspicious to the cops, at best, was that he was seen videotaping the countryside along the San Pedro River. What Mike didn't know was that in the same spot he was seen was also the same spot in which a few hours earlier an SUV was ambushed and shot up with over 80 bullets. The driver of that SUV was killed.

The police had surrounded him with automatic rifles. It was the first time Mike ever felt cold fear run through him. It's been a year since this incident and he hasn't been back to Mexico since.

"I am not going back down there until that situation clears up" he told me today. For Mike to say that means that the situation has indeed become intolerable. Mike and I are people who don't just visit cheap touristy places. We explore back roads, talk to locals, and look for the real stuff. There are a lot of beautiful places in Mexico that I wish I could see but I don't feel comfortable traveling the back roads that are slowly getting taken over by well-armed narcotraficos.

It's a crying shame, too. There is so much history south of me. Every time I see the lights of Naco, Sonora on my way home I long to be able to visit Mexico without the fear of being held under suspicions of being a narco. Those who terrorize the Mexican people are a small percentage of the total population, but that small population have the arms, ammunition, money and the power to control an entire country through fear.

Some people say that that's all because Americans are heavy drug users, that it's all about supply and demand. If we weren't such heavy users, they wouldn't be so determined to smuggle the stuff across the border.

But maybe "we" are such heavy drug users because "they" for years had the advantage of a near-open border. Mexico admits that it has 400 million drug users within its own borders.

It wasn't even two weeks ago when I witnessed an SUV race up Hunter Canyon Road where I was walking the dogs when the vehicle stopped behind some trees. The dogs froze, I stopped and stood silently while I heard peoples' voices as the SUV was loaded with human cargo. A few minutes later the SUV sped back down Hunter Canyon Road to Highway 92.

I am angered, frustrated and tired of all the illegal activity along the border. I want normalcy. The few who are caught are given light sentences: deportation to Mexico where the shitheads come right back over the border. I want to be able to travel south of the border to explore the rugged canyons and meet real Mexicans. But as long as the drugs and human cargo are slipping across our borders I have to wonder why we spent billions of dollars on a more secure border fence when illegal border crossers are still coming across in such high numbers.

http://www.svherald.com/content/news/2010/09/21/officials-believe-arrested-suspect-same-person-who-led-police-chase-through-

Classes back in session

Tonight starts the fall semester for me. Unlike the other semesters, this time I lack enthusiasm. I'm only enrolled in three classes (Spanish 101, Women in Lit, Medievel History) so that I can focus on the subjects.

I also started subbing at the high school. That was fun, seeing old students again. I wasn't expecting to be called in to work for another month.

I hope I can get my MoJo back to studies, though. Cochise College in Sierra Vista, however, has annoyed me with its green grass. Why did those in charge agree to have GREEN GRASS planted in our desert environment? In comparison the University of Arizona has a more native desert look, planting only the flora that grows here. It seems such a waste to provide scarce water to the campus green grass. The only thing I can see why the officials opted for grass is to provide jobs to the Mexicans who were working on this project this past spring.

Still, green grass that resembles a golf course in this area seems so idiotic. The next time tuition goes up, I'll know it will be to keep the grass green.

Meanwhile, our neighbors across the street have moved out over a week ago. Annie and Dennis now live in their custom-built home in town. The house remains vacant but this morning there are gardeners trimming the landscape. Several other homes have been up for rent for several months. Houses around here are slow to fill because most people want to stay in the city.

Hiking the John Muir trail

If it hadn't been for a cyber friend of mine who invited me to join her on this 170-mile trek, I would have gone off to Oregon this summer. Instead, what I experienced was part "Biggest Loser" (without Jillian screaming at me as she wouldn't be up those 13,000' peaks), US Army SERE training (without the obligatory rape for female contestants) and part spiritual awakening. I got to discover my own physical limitations (which were greater than expected) and what I do and do not like.

I started a blog on the JMT but it's still a work in progress.

Finally! I'm taking off for California

I can't possibly think of anything else that could delay my departure now. Notebook and iPods are charged up and the van's packed. I won't return until August; three weeks in the High Sierras...

I'm in love

Having Erin and Ethan this past week was a real joy. That little boy stole my heart. Erin is a great mom, a devoted and loving mom.

I had all these plans to take them across the state but in the end all Erin wanted was to stay local and get a tan. After a short hike up Coronado Peak on Monday to show her the Mexican border I realized she's not into "landscapes" like I am. She was miserable walking up the half-mile to the overlook (in her flip-flops). She prefers shopping in large malls, amusement parks and movie theatres. That made it easy for me as we stayed local once we spent a day with my mother. We rented movies, stayed up late and walked around the neighborhood. We saw Toy Story 3 together at the mall theatre and ate out a few times, trying new restaurants in town that we hadn't yet eaten at. It's no wonder I've gained weight this week: no hiking and all eating makes one fat!

Ethan is a wonderful child. He laughs easily, so getting him to smile was easy. All I had to do was yell out "Bing!" and he'd break out into a giggle. He was fascinated by Pache the cat and Sadie the dog, although it was Sara who snapped at him and gave the boy a toothmark on his upper forehead; luckily it wasn't serious but after that we all made sure Sara was outside whenever Ethan was in the living room.

"Hi ditty!" Ethan would say to Pache. By the end of the week Pache was comfortable around the boy. Sadie loved playing ball with him and the older dogs were content watching from a distance, although all of them were fascinated with Ethan's diaper.

Ethan really took to me. He wanted to be held by me and would stare at my face. Sometimes at night I'd lay in bed with him while Erin stayed up late on the internet.

I got to see Erin in a new light. She's no longer just my child. She is now a young woman and mother and has grown emotionally since having Ethan. I give her credit. She is not an active, outdoorsy woman like I always was, but I can respect her differences.

"You are the most active woman I know" she told me. She also told me I was "the least paranoid person I know." That is good to know! She cried horribly when we were driving up to Coronado Peak. The winding dirt road to the summit parking lot was traumatic for her; she is not used to driving on unpaved roads through mountain passes. That is when I learned that a road trip across Arizona's backroads was not a good idea for our sanity.

I think she had a good time. She left with a nice tan which is what she wanted. She got to see a part of AZ and liked it more than I thought she would. We talked about future road trips, most notably to coastal California in a few years when Ethan is older and appreciates visits to museums and water parks. This is why I enjoy having my summers off.

Erin and Ethan in Arizona

The big week has finally arrived: on Saturday I picked up Erin and Ethan from the airport in Tucson. They will be spending a week in Arizona. It's Erin's first time here since 1997. It's also the hottest week here all year and yet she's loving the dry heat. I can tell she's not from here because the locals hide from the heat as much as possible and stand in the shade. She, however, stands in the open sun.

"I want to get a tan."

We have taken her to Tombstone and Bisbee this weekend. Other plans are the Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, Mount Lemmon and perhaps Prescott. Wednesday we have a day trip to my mother's place in Sahuarita.

I'm just loving being a hostess. Ethan is a real prince and loves playing with Sadie and Sammy. Sara is a bit more reluctant and keeps her distance from the boy. Pache is curious but a bit hesitant to come up to Ethan, although he sniffed him in bed last night. I'm surprised he's afraid of Erin so far as he's very affectionate with Kevin and me.

I have no toys for him here other than a stuffed bear I got him. He, however, makes simple things play things. Ethan's big joy is walking around the dining room area carrying big cans of green beans. We take those cans from Ethan and replace them with smaller cans like sliced mushrooms or tomato paste in case he drops a can on his toes. A wooden rod that's part of a book shelf I'm putting together has become his walking stick around the house. It's his future trekking pole.

SB 1070

Governor Janet Brewer signed SB 1070 on 24 April of this year. This bill requires all immigrants to carry their legal immigration paperwork with them should law enforcement officials request them during a traffic stop. This bill also makes it illegal for an illegal immigrant to solicit work or accept work without proper documentation. It is now also illegal for employers to knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

The 17-page bill is pretty clear about what is expected of illegal immigrants. The underlying focus is to permit law enforcement officials to have more leeway in apprehending illegals in this state, to crack down on the growing human and drug smuggling along the border and to stem the flow of illegals coming here.

I support the Governor on SB1070. She's had more balls to push this one through legislation than any other recent Arizona politician.

And yet she and the state are now seen as the bad guys. People who don't live here near the border don't realize why so many Arizonans are in favor of this bill. It is not about Mexicans, it's about ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

All laws are subject to abuse. My history instructor, a self-proclaimed Radical, claims this SB1070 violates the 4th Amendment (search and seizures). So asking people for proper identification is now against the constitution? When I get pulled over for a traffic violation I'm expected to hand over my driver's license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance. Those three pieces of paper are not an inconvenience for me to carry (They are only an inconvenience for me to FIND in the cars!)

Illegals are arrested here in this border county on a daily basis. People die in the desert crossing illegally, especially now that we're in a heatwave. Drugs and weapons are always getting found, felons and fugitives and prior sex offenders are picked up every day crossing into the United States. They are coming here illegally with illegal intentions.

Yet the entire county is rising up against Arizona.

Here is why I support SB1070. In just a few days the following events have occurred within 100 miles from my town:

A speeding pick-up north of Benson overturns, killing one pregnant illegal immigrant. Most of the 12 passengers of that pick-up fled from the scene and have not been found yet.
http://www.kvoa.com/news/update-deadly-accident-north-of-benson-involving-suspected-illegal-immigrants/

A Pakistani was picked up earlier today trying to enter the US from Mexico.
http://www.kvoa.com/news/pakistani-citizen-caught-crossing-border-into-arizona/

Interstate 19 north of Nogales, a major bordertown, is currently closed because of a major bomb scare.

http://www.kvoa.com/news/part-of-interstate-19-closed-is-closed-indefinitely-bomb-technicians-called/

Opponents to SB1070 say this bill will cause racial profiling, meaning that all Hispanics will be suspect illegal immigrants. As in any law, there is always a possibility of abuse, but with the many Hispanic law enforcement officials we have in this state, how likely is that? There are also laws that profile criminal behavior, and that is for a reason. A person, not just an Hispanic, who comes here with the intent of doing harm, will act suspiciously if s/he knows s/he's being watched.

California businesses are now boycotting this state. Other businesses are pulling out of contracts. Los Lobos, a Chicano rock-blues group from East Los Angeles, cancelled their performance in Phoenix over the SB1070 passage. Everyone is saying SB1070 is against immigrants. It's not. It's against ILLEGAL immigrants. The heated debates just go to show how ingrained illegal workers are (and have been) in this country.

Most of the agricultural workers, hotel workers and restaurant workers are Mexicans who are illegally here. They are here illegally because the current laws to get legal working status is cumbersome, expensive and slow. Corporate farms, hotels and restaurants want these illegal workers because they can be easily manipulated and many feel don't need to be paid as much as a legal resident. When they get injured at work they often don't have decent health treatment and pay expensive (or none at all) medical bills. The tab for all this then gets passed down to those who are here legally. Businesses want illegals because they are cheaper.

President Obama and Governor Brewer met briefly yesterday to discuss border security and SB1070. Not much has been revealed in the media about any resolution. Both are on opposite ends of the bill.

Arizonans need answers. They need solutions. The constitution guarantees the security of our borders and to "repel invasions." Arizona is being invaded. It's being invaded by drug runners, human smugglers and people meaning to do harm. SB1070 will hopefully stem this tied of violence. Hopefully not too many innocent people will be harrassed by this law. It doesn't even go into effect until July.

End of the school year

I really lucked out this spring and took on a long-term substitute teaching job at the high school. I really liked the kids and the subject was OK. But what won me over is that the kids never made me feel like a "sub." I enjoyed going to work. And now that we are approaching "Finals Week" I'm sad to see them go. I won't be returning to them in the fall as two new instructors have been hired, but I promised them that I would visit as often as possible. And besides, I will still be working for the school district as I finish my final year as an "undergrad" in my new BAs and will see my old students all year long.

I have truly improved as an educator over last year. I had few "bad days" this year. Feedback from teachers was also much better this time around. I will continue to take classes on methodology; Pima Community College has a few good courses I can't get via Cochise College.

If it weren't for the backpacking trip in July and Erin's visit in June, I would have continued with summer school this year, attempting what for me are the hard subjects: math and physical science. I also know, however, that I need a break from the stress and pressure to do well. It's been a week since my finals and I've already finished reviewing two more books for Amazon, played around with CS4 and done other personal readings without a deadline.

Apache Middle School in town is closing. A ceremony was held yesterday. Many of the teachers will move to the high school, teach elsewhere or take on "sub" jobs during the year. I liked the staff there.

And although I love reading about history, I also enjoy English and literature. The high school is looking for three English teachers this fall. Argh! I'm a year behind of being accredited so I missed my mark there, but the old principal was right: if I wanted to stay in the school district, I should pursue a degree in English (as opposed to social studies). My least favorite subject in English is studying Shakespeare, and "British Literature" is a requirement for all English majors.

I can handle one more year of being in school as I've enjoyed learning. I wish now I had this kind of time when I was younger, but small kids and definitely the military were two major barriers. (The army pushes its soldiers to get a college education but it doesn't push its soldiers to study so hard to earn all As and take the time off to do well.) Thank goodness Kevin is supportive of me and my studies. Together we earn enough to be comfortable.

Regardless, this will be a fun-packed summer with lots to do! Erin is flying here in three weeks and major housecleaning is in order. I must also find time to do a few practice backpacking trips, which is excuse enough for me to backpack the Rincons in June sometime as I've never been up Mica Mountain. That peak is part of the Saguaro National Park and dogs aren't allowed. Afterall, the dogs would make the horses nervous...

School's out for summer

And it hasn't come soon enough. These last three weeks have been torture on me mentally and physically. My body's craving for some good sleep.

I enjoyed all my courses but as usual some were more fun than others. My favorite course this time around was ENG225, American Literature which was taught by Mr. Norman Bates, an enthusiastic and compassionate instructor and lover of American literature. He made the class fun. The classmates were all very interesting to listen to (many had great imput to add) and the reading level was about right. I plan on reading more American literature in the next few months. The choices we had were all great.

My most disappointing course, oddly enough, was the Digital Photography. The instructor was quite knowledgeable in the field but he wasn't very personable and seemed more interested in chatting with the young women in class than helping everyone individually. This wasn't his fault because there were too many people signed up for the class. We had close to 30 students in the class and every computer was taken. He liked the professional students the most. He seldom came to my corner of the classroom, and I will admit my corner seat was not conducive to stopping by to look at my work.

He did like my portraits and micro photography. I'd like to hone in on both, but I never got the encouragement from him he gave others. In fact, he seemed rather kurt with me when I came into class that last day early for some assistance on how to convert images to web and he replied "You act like you never opened CS4 Bridge" when in fact I've been working on it for the past two months at the computer library and taught myself how to do initial work in that program. I don't pay an instructor a lot of money so that he can degrade me like that. I watched him mingle with other students who clearly had no idea what they were doing and he never used that kind of tone with them. He did apologize for being short with me, but I have to admit I never got talked to like that from any instructor, EVER.

All this means is that I'm not flocking to his next class, as much as I'd love to learn some more advanced techniques. I may be better off teaching myself CS4 over the summer, one lesson a week, or following an on-line free tutorial.

Both of my history courses were good, too. I enjoyed both instructors. And my Biology 114J class was more time consuming than I expected for a one-credit class. I got an email from the instructor tonight saying I made "Best Student" of the class. I was not expecting that, not with those low As I was getting on those frustrating multiple-choice exams. I did like the course and I did learn some interesting things about Arizona critters, but for a one-credit course I sure was putting in a lot of time into it. The on-line course always met Fridays at 6:30pm, which was a very inconvenient time for me.

But I pulled through. I don't have all my grades in but I hope I did as well as last time. I will never again take more than four classes per semester as long as I'm also working.

I'm already signed up for three courses this fall: Spanish 101, English 273 (Women in Literature) and History 241 Medieval era. UA-S is offering some wonderful US History courses this fall, but I need a historiography course first before I attempt upper-level classes.

Earth Day 2010

My big mission today was to take photographs for my DMA266 class. That ended up taking me most of the day.

We started out visiting the Swap Meet but there were few people there worth photographing. I was focusing on children and there weren't many there. There were plenty of other interesting folks I got to meet, though, including an old co-worker of mine who filled me in on the old office gossip since I left. Some co-workers have left, one died of a heart attack last year, and a few were fired. And one former Marine was hired as a GS-15.

But I wasn't interested in office gossip. I never could get into that stuff.

Our next move was the commissary and PX, where I did some comparison shopping of cameras. The PX sells the Sony SD970 for $199. The same model on Amazon goes for $359.

I had planned from here to go back home and get ready to drive over to Bisbee for its well-known Earth Day festival, but instead we came across the Earth Day celebration right off Fry Boulevard in town, known as the West End Block Party. I didn't even know the town was holding it today! I met a few more people there, including the wonderful bunch from the Tombstone Vigilantes, an all-volunteer group that collects donations to the city's animal shelter. They were dressed in 1880s regalia and gladly posed for photos.

We ate a quick lunch at the nearby Chinese restaurant and drove home. I drove back to the festivities for a few more hours, photographing singles, couple, groups and children. I was nervous at first (especially around children) but soon learned that after asking permission to photograph someone's children you normally get a smiling face. Young girls were always willing to pose. Less so the boys. And when I started meeting people with dogs, they all willingly posed. So did the aging veterans and grandparents of children. No one told me "No!" I met a cross-section of Americana right here in my town.

The fun part was meeting students from the high school. They all smiled and waved at me. It's been admittedly a great semester at the school and I enjoy my job. I've improved on my technique so much this second year. I smile more, I love going to work and I feel fulfilled when I get to help young people. Some came up to me to chat. One student's father was the drummer for the local band "Solstice" which played sets all afternoon.

There was plenty for the entire family. The kids could try to throw someone in a dunk tank. One lady from Elfrida, Cindy, brought her entire petrified rock collection to give away to kids, who loved picking up the rocks and placing them in plastic bags to take home.

"I collect them every year from around my house" said Cindy, "And I give them all away every year." Her booth attracted a lot of kids and parents--a perfect place to hang out and meet parents--and watch the glee begin.

Another kiddie attraction was a 15-year-old desert tortoise that refused to sit still for me.

My camera, however, gives people the impression I am a professional photographer. Or they think I work for the local newspaper. I told everyone the truth: I was simply out to take photos for a class assignment.

I got to met such a variety of people today, from the working poor to the comfortably rich and they were all courteous to me. I met such a variety of backgrounds that it made me proud to be here. This town is starting to feel like home.

Summer plans

I've had to change my plans for Oregon this summer. Instead, I took up an invitation from a long-time hiking friend of mine to join her on the John Muir Trail (JMT) in California. She's hiked this trail before and I told her years ago that I would love to do that trail with her if she ever decided to do it again.

So, here are my tentative summer plans:

1. After school is done in mid-May, take a week to clean up the garage and my office. I've been promising Kevin for almost six years that I'll clean up the garage "soon." This will probably be the most boring part of the summer, but perhaps I'll find things I've lost like my two sets of car keys...

2. 21-24 May: Join Donna and ten others for a group hike in Arches National Park.

3. Early June: Do a backpacking weekend with Kevin in the White Mountains. I need to get my back strong again for July.

4. 19-25 June: Erin's flying in for the week with Ethan. We may go to San Diego four of these days.

5. 3-5 July: Spend the holiday in Flagstaff and hike Humphrey's Peak, to get ready for the next two weeks in July...

6. 14-31 July Hike the JMT with Darlene, starting in Yosemite National Park and heading south.

7. 4-6 August (last free weekend before school starts up again) Tentative trip to Dallas to meet old high school friends.


Somewhere in there I have about ten history books to read and a few American classic novels as well.

Southeastern Arizona rancher shot dead

This news has been shaking up the borderlands since Saturday (Sunday via the media). Updates are coming in slowly as the sheriff's department is still investigating the case. A suspect(s) has not been identified yet.

This is the first murder of a US citizen in Arizona by an illegal since I have been here. We get car jackings, hold-ups, break-ins, but Mexican criminals are normallyrespectful of Americans in the United States.

At any case I'm sure "La Raza" (or "La Racistas") will defend the Mexican(s) at any cost. Here in this country an illegal has more rights than a US citizen-landowner-homeowner.

We were out hiking in an area known for drug smuggling yesterday and Kevin carried his rifle with him even before this news broke out locally. Now I'm sure he's never going to set foot into the mountains without a rifle again.

I hope Krentz's death was not in vain.

___


Douglas rancher reported encountering illegal immigrant before he was shot

By Brian J. Pedersen and Tim Steller Arizona Daily Star Posted: Monday, March 29, 2010 10:50 am

Related: Well-known Douglas-area rancher is found slain -->

A longtime rancher killed Saturday on his property northeast of Douglas was shot while sitting in his all-terrain vehicle, authorities said.

Robert Krentz, 58, and his dog were found shot to death just before midnight Saturday, several hours after Krentz’s brother called the Cochise County Sheriff’s Department to report Krentz missing, according to a department news release.

No suspects have been identified in the shooting, department spokeswoman Carol Capas said.

Krentz and his dog were spotted by an Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter following a search of the Krentz Ranch, a 35,000-acre property along Arizona 80 between Douglas and Apache, about 20 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border, the release said.

Investigators determined Krentz and his dog were shot then Krentz drove about 1,000 feet before passing out, the release said.

Search crews from the Sheriff’s Department, DPS, the U.S. Border Patrol and the Arizona Department of Corrections found foot tracks at the scene and followed them 20 miles south to the U.S.-Mexico border, the release said.

Phil Krentz told authorities he and his brother were working the ranch in separate vehicles between 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Saturday when Robert called him on a hand-held radio phone, according to the release.

Phil Krentz said his brother mentioned the words “illegal alien” and “hurt” and assumed Robert was assisting someone in need but couldn’t reach Robert on the phone again, the release said.

After Robert failed to meet up at noon family members searched the area before contacting the Cochise County Sheriff’s Department at 6:20 p.m., the release said.

Krentz was out checking the water on his ranch when he spotted somebody, said Wendy Glenn, who lives on the neighboring Malpai Ranch.

Glenn said she heard Krentz radio to his brother Sunday morning on a radio network used by area residents.

“He said ‘There’s an illegal here that needs help’ and ‘I’m out at such and such windmill’ and ‘Please call the Border Patrol,’” Glenn said. “His brother said ‘I can’t hear you.’ ”

In that area, most ranchers use All Terrain Vehicles to check water supplies, fences, cattle and do other jobs on the ranch, Glenn said.

When Krentz’s body was discovered that night, Glenn’s husband and daughter helped officials track a person’s footprints from the crime scene south to the Mexican border.

The Krentz brothers’ conversation was routine for the area between the New Mexico border and the Chiricahua Mountains, which has been an active corridor for border crossers, she said.

Agents from the Border Patrol’s El Paso sector have helped in the area, but they have difficulty communicating with the agents from the Douglas station because of differences in their radio systems, Glenn said.

Krentz was a member of the board of the directors of the Malpai Borderlands Group, an organization of conservation-minded ranchers. The Krentzes also had a conservation easement on the family’s land, meaning the land can’t be subdivided.

“They really believe that if you take care of what’s out here, it will take care of you,” Glenn said.

Krentz’s family had been ranching their property since 1907, and in 2008 the Krentz Ranch was inducted into the Arizona Farming and Ranching Hall of Fame.

Officials have scheduled a news conference in Bisbee this afternoon.
http://www.azstarnet.com/news/local/crime/db544bc6-3b5b-11df-843b-001cc4c03286.html

http://www.azstarnet.com/news/local/crime/article_db544bc6-3b5b11df-043b-001cc4c03286.html

Empire Ranch

I spent most of yesterday with my digital photography class out at Empire Ranch, north of Sonoitaoff Highway 83 in beautiful wine country. We had to do landscapes, portraits and still lives as a project and were divided into three teams. I dreaded the portraits because I don't like photographing people I don't know. I want to capture their personality whereas the guys in the group were looking for provocative poses. It was an interesting observations of what both genders think is attractive.

It turns out the work with all three models was quite nice. Two of them are in my class and one is the daughter of a former student. I got to chat with some of my classmates and strike a few interesting conversations. The gals made the assignment easy for me.

It was a long day out at Empire Ranch, a former ranch now tended to by BLM. I had been in the area last spring but never walked around the ranch per se. There were many interesting angles to photograph from. The ranch is not in very good shape: the adobe structure in all areas is cracking. The foundation is uneven. Paint is peeling off the window sills. Rusted abandoned farm equipment lies carelessly across the property. Signs warn of rattlers. Yet it's the "rustic" part that adds charm.

My biggest learning experience was working with light diffusers and reflectors. I enjoyed working with them so much, that as soon as I got home I ordered one from Amazon.

It was a mild day with a cool breeze. I never took off my wind breaker. Cottonwoods were already in bloom but I didn't find too many birds around the dry creek bed. The only wildlife I saw were various ant species and a few raptors flying overhead. The surrounding mountains were brown-dry, except for the tallest peaks of the Santa Ritas and Mount Wrightson.

I stopped in Patagonia on my way home at 3pm to drop off recyclables. Then I drove around Sonoita and Elgin and discovered a few more interesting corners of this beautiful state. Highways 82 and 83 are designated "Scenic Byways." I can see why.

I was quite tired when I got home around 5pm. I guess standing around in the sun all day and walking around looking for things to "shoot" is more exhausting than it looks.