Snows of Thisteryear

Snows photos by Dennis Fulfer

Know Your Turkeys

Know Your Turkeys

Doug Savage: 26 Nov 2009

Doug Savage wishes a Happy Thanksgiving to his American Readers!

Count, Connect... Laugh too

Count ~ Does "counting your blessings" really help? This article from Cognitive Daily,on Science Blogs, reposted from April 2008 as a Thanksgiving offering, describes research that subjects regularly listing what they are grateful for develop a more positive outlook. Doing it daily generated the greatest benefit, but it appears that doing it weekly helped, too.

The 10 week study was divided into three groups: the first group listed five things they were grateful for each week; the second group listed five hassles or irritants; and the final group simply wrote down five "events or circumstances" from the past week.

After duplicating results with other groups, the researchers speculated that simply enumerating things one is grateful for might be a treatment for mild forms of depression.

In a modified form, this might make an interesting shared blogging project or an assignment for my onine ESL class ~ and a good reflective question to ask now and then ~ especially appropriate today.

And now connect: from the LA Times: "A connected life is a great gift" by Nicholas A. Christakis and James H. Fowler, authors of Connected on the seem subject

You know all the family members and friends who are stressing you out during the holidays? You need them.


Ideas and attitudes about healthy and positive behavior do tend to spread from person to person to person, but data also shows that dumping your friends is not the answer. The positive effect of staying connected is stronger than any negative effect or influence.  

Second, the network itself is community and its own reward.  We not only help ourselves by staying connected, we also help our whole community.

You got that? Straight from Harvard Medical School to boot. Not to mention EM Forster... "only connect..."


Ending on a lighter note: Faster Times reviews and comments on an anthology of humorous & horrible holiday stories, appropriately titled The Dreaded Feast: Writers on Enduring the Holidays.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Understanding Influence; the Chris Brogan Effect (myventurepad.com)
• You and Your Friend's Friend's Friends (nytimes.com)

Thanksgiving Greetings

Remember making these? Happy Thanksgiving! 

 

Related articles by Zemanta

• Thansgiving...Myeong Dong style (liveactivecultures.net)
• Autumn Food Quarterly: Turkey or lobster this Thanksgiving? (network.nationalpost.com)
• Thanksgiving Giveaway Party! (momblognetwork.com)
• Americans searching for cheaper Thanksgiving trips (sfgate.com)
• Michele Bardsley | Thanks, Grandma (freshfiction.com)

Rescue for the rescuer

Local rescuer Tanisha Starr, Mountainair Animal Control Officer, needs rescuing ~ or at least a helping hand.

The Starr home on NM 55N burned to the ground. Tanisha and children Brenda and Gary were out at the time. Husband Gary, who was at home, made sure no animals were caught inside as well getting data (computer, papers) out in time. The house and all remaining contents were lost.

At present, Tanisha, Gary and the children are staying with Tanisha's mother, Carlota Moorhead. Their home was insured but paperwork will take time, especially this time of year.

Clothes, according to Shannon deRemer, fellow rescuer and point person for "Rescue the Rescuer" project, are not a problem, but everything else is. Shannon, who is coordinating donations and fund raising, recommends major store "gift cards" to help the Starrs resupply and not miss out on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I'd write more, but I'm waiting on more complete contact information (hint: when a home burns down to the ground, don't expect someone to pick up on the other end) and details fundraiser, donations, volunteering, etc.

In the meantime, call Shannon at 847-0204, email Tanisha at TanLaLette@aol.com ~ or you can probably leave a message at City Hall. I'll update contact info and other details as soon as I know more.

2010 Water Conservation Conference

The Xeriscape Council of NM is again extremely pleased with the agenda and speaker list for the 2010 Water Conservation Conference - the 15th! The theme for 2010 is "The Water Use - Land Use Connection". This 2-day conference will feature three very prominent water experts including Peter Gleick, Robert Glennon and Sandra Postel and renowned speakers in urban heath - Dr. Richard Jackson; urban design - Doug Farr; sustainabilility as seen by private industry with Will Swope of Intel and a notable sustainable farmer, Joel Salatin; plus watershed management by Dr. Isobel Heathcote of Guelph University. Since we are approaching the holiday period, I urge you to register now! We regularly register about 400 individuals from about 25-30 states and have already filled about 25% of that capacity. The 2010 Conference is 25-26 February at the Albuquerque Marriott at I-40 and Louisiana - a new very convenient location. Please check the website for agenda and speaker bios and register. Thank you and let me know if you have any questions. ....... Scott Varner, Executive Director Xeriscape Council of NM, Inc. http://www.XeriscapeNM.com 505-468-1021, scott@xeriscapenm.com

Annual CoC Turkey Bingo tonight

Annual CoC Turkey Bingo tonight

Reminding you about tonight's Turkey Bingo (annual Chamber of Commerce event), previously posted at Mountainair Announcements, on Mountainair NM Net & Town of Mountainair calendars. Facebooked, shared & tweeted to boot

More updates: Dennis writes

Got all the prizes for the Turkey Bingo tomorrow night. It's going to be an AWESOME event. We've got 35 prizes for only 20 games!...There will be some heavy duty door prizes and we've decided to change the tie breaking rules. No more drawing cards, all bingo ties gets a prize.

27 Turkeys prizes, gift certs galore, and a special prize from Edward Padilla/Rosebud Saloon, a Crown Royal gift package.

Opening: Other Environments by Timothy Wyllie

Other Environments: 

Graphic Work by Timothy Wyllie

 
Opening: November 21, 6 –9pm

Show dates: Nov 21, 2009 – Jan 8, 2010

Gallery hours:  Thurs & Sat, 11am – 5 pm & by appointment

Mountainair artist, Timothy Wyllie, creates Southwestern landscapes that operate both as closely observed portrayals of specific environments and as settings for an interface between the limitless environments of inner mind and outer space. His canyons, mountains and mesas, populated by otherworldly orbs, eggs and ET’s, are whimsical, thought provoking, colorful, and loaded with detail. This exhibit features 22 works on paper, representing a sampling of Wyllie’s oeuvre from the  current time-space continuum.

THE LAND/gallery functions as an urban, indoor branch of the Manzano Mountain siteTHE LAND/an art site a contrasting environment designed to enrich & expand artists’ site projects & provide an additional or alternative space for further exploration & dialog. Because new land-based art often explores ideas about the environment through digital & other technologies,

 

THE LAND/gallery is also important as a venue for work that relies on “indoor” media. The gallery’s location in downtown Albuquerque increases opportunities for community interaction & involvement, making it a

convenient point of entry for artists & others who want to know more about THE LAND/an art site.

 

419 Granite Avenue NW  Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102

Tel 505.242.1501

theland@comcast.net & www.landartsite.org

Images from 2009 Christmas/Crafts Fair

Above: organizer Joan Page in front of Dr Saul Center

Below: exhibitors and exhibits ~ Jane Smoake, Ruth Ballen, Tony Scaccia w/ birdhouses, Carolyn Goodgion & her Gentle Whisper dolls, Rebecca Leuras' Candy Wreaths

  

Photos by Kristine Lauritsen, Stonehouse Gallery B&B

More Crafts Fair images, by Dennis Fulfer on Mountainair NM Net....

State of the Arts

Welcome to State of the Arts, the Arts Alliance's twice monthly newsletter with news  about the arts and culture scene both in Albuquerque and beyond - trends, people and what makes this industry tick. It's all State of the Arts.

If you like what you're reading, forward this newsletter on to your friends so they can get State of the Arts in their mailbox, too.

We want to hear from you, too. Send us your news, tips and suggestions. But don't send us calendar listings - those go to Something To Do.

Ed. Note: Has MMAC sent anything about the Readers Theater? If not ~ time for the arts council to get cracking. Promoting individual programs and events promotes the town and all community organizations and events. 

 

Community Pharmacies Struggle To Stay Afloat

We need our local pharmacy, Meds & More. That means supporting the pharmacy AND letting Risk Management know it. Let's have a letter writing campaign: send the message to Claudia Melendrez-Rei ~ Benefit Operations Manager, Employee Benefit Bureau, PO Box 6850, SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO 87502-6850, to stop supporting and promoting Home Delivery from the Express Scripts Pharmacy over local pharmacies. Express doesn't know you and isn't going to provide the kind personal service and information that KC and Lori do.

Posted via Google Reader:

Community Pharmacies Struggle To Stay Afloat - East Mountain Telegraph, 11/12/09

The threat of losing the pharmacy in Mountainair has pushed West to take a stand, presenting information at the October Partnership for a Healthy Torrance ...

From here you can subscribe to Google Alerts for Mountainair using Google Reader

Annual Christmas/Crafts Fair

Don't miss this huge holiday shopping opportunity at Mountainair''s annual Christmas/Crats Fair, Saturday, November 14, 10am-6pm. Vendors, including jewelers, potters, painters, fiber and folk artists and artisans, will be selling hand crafted items, gift, food, folk art, collectibles, decorations, craft supplies, original art and more! 


Shop or sell local. Some booth space still available: contact Joan Page at 505-847-2450. Live music! 

Take HWY 60 east into Mountainair, turn left on Roosevelt to the Saul Community Center and the Town Square, lots of parking! 

Vendors include 

• Stone House Gallery B & B, jewelry, lamps, antiques
• Montgomery Designs, 
• Milagro Moon Ranch, goat milk soap, handcrafted felt
  
  The Gentle Whisper Collection,
  
  
  
• Out of Tyme Shoppe, hand dipped chocolate creations, Cape Cod chocolates, natural soaps, scents, lotions
• Timothy Burciaga, Sun PhotoGraphic, photographs/cards
• Chuck Wagon Cowbelles, Rada Cutlery
• iCreate,  neck warmers, chocolates, refreshments
• Celeste Simon Mixed Media, mixed media art and clay works
• Coronado Club, food table - Frito Pies
• Earthsong Gallery, gift items - dreamcatchers, pottery, fiber art
• Linda Tripp   -  handknit/wearable crochet items, purses, jewelry, etc
• Debra Haden  -  Handspun yarns, spinning demo
• Paula Riley  -  ornaments/jewelry
• Jane Smoake -  pridkly pear preserves, cactus, mesquite bean jellies, jams, etc
• Dixie Boyle - crafts, gourds, jewelry
• Felicia Tolson - ceramics, woodwork, glass bottle art, animals, statues, floral ceramic bowls
• Barbara Horton  -  jewelry, crocheted goods, Christmas goodies, baked goods
• Anita Sandoval - sterling silver jewelry
• Kathlyn Casey - Avon and crafts
• Darle Vosburgh  -  Shadow boxes
• Joanne Sheldon - cloth books, pot holders, etc
• Mary Rinehold - Christmas ornaments, corations and other seasonal items
• Barbara Spada  -  Potpourri, cone fire starters, jewelry, raku masks, crosses, etc
• Tony Scaccia  -  handcrafted birdhouses
• Linda Johnson - water colors, gourmet cheesecake by the slice
• Christie Riley  - bags, jewelry, clothing apparel
• Mary Hewitt - unique gift items
• Barbara Shroeder -  jewelry, scarves
• Michelle Hardy - beadwork on gourds
• Dianna  - Jewelry by Diana
• Eva Miranda  - food table - burrittos, frito pies, nachos, drinks, coffee

Learn the Net News

Tag under “Mountainair Wired” and “just for fun”

 

		Learn the Net News November 10, 2009   a weekly roundup of fact and factoids from across cyberspace.
Ten Things You Can Do on the Net This Week
		Visit the sites...
CoolTool: EveryBlock
		While world events can be fascinating, the news that effects us most is local--what's happening in your neighborhood. Get up-to-the-minute information by entering your address or browse by subject. Read news from the 'hood...
Personal Computing with Larry Magid
		Caution: Email send button can be hazardous to your reputation By now, just about everyone knows that whatever is digital can be copied, stored, and forwarded, which is one of the reasons I try to avoid using e-mail for anything highly confidential or potentially embarrassing. But I have had a few embarrassing oops over the years. Though not a big deal, I was embarrassed the other day when I got an e-mail from a colleague asking why the "signature" at the bottom of my e-mail I sent to a list of fellow journalists had the name of a newspaper that I hadn't written for in about two years. Read the article...
		http://www.learnthenet.com

 

 

 

delayed and deferred but not indefinitely

Blogging that is... just to explain why Arts has been MIA and not yet up to speed. I lost the weekend due to be connectivity challenged (long for dead line) and spent most of today catching email. Next comes NaNo so as not to fall to far behind on my word count. Hopefully, requested updates ~ bead soup, usw ~ are wending my way as I type.

In the meantime and thanks to timely inbox and reader items I blogged Mountainair Announcements and Poets and Writers Picnic (which runs as a poetry/ lit blog between picnic).

Mountainair Tackles Bullying at Schools

Ashley Bergen of the Telegraph covers Nov 3 forum at the Mountainair Elementary School

Mountainair Tackles Bullying at Schools via MountainView Telegraph on 11/5/09

The town of Mountainair is working to come together to combat youth violence through a series of community forums and workshops hosted by the Mountainair School District and facilitated by the New Mexico Forum for Youth.

1st in NM

Shelter Challenge update: the Mountainair Animal Shelter ranks 1st in NM. Keep clicking The Animal Rescue Site to support the Mountainair Shelter Project

Virtual Keyboard

Nurture your inner musician. Take a spin on the Virtual Keyboard from The Presurfer by Gerard, 11/1/09, blogged via Google Reader

Play the piano on this virtual keyboard. Or the organ, saxophone, flute, pan pipes, strings, guitar, steel drums, or double bass.

---

Too much fun not to share... 

Dead good

Even the British Museum does Day of the Dead

Dead good from Culture | guardian.co.uk by Jonathan Jones, 11/2/09, Blogged via Google Reader

The British Museum's Day of the Dead celebrations did more than offer a joyous take on Mexico's annual spectacle. It revived its own standing on the cultural landscape, too. Skeletons on stilts danced in the smoke that wafted from fiery braziers. Babies wore skeleton costumes and children feasted on sugar skulls while a Mariachi band played. Elsewhere, a musical anthropologist had people singing along to an Aztec dirge. And most of all, wherever you looked there were people – thousands and thousands of participants in what must surely be one of the most extraordinary public events ever staged in a museum.

Not since the Bolsheviks overran the Winter Palace in 1917 – today, it's part of St Petersburg's Hermitage Museum – has a cultural treasure house hosted quite such a spectactular popular gathering. The Day of the Dead at the British Museum on Sunday was the ultimate consummation of Neil MacGregor's transformation of the Bloomsbury collection into a meeting place of world cultures. This autumn's theme at the museum is Mexico. Along with its Moctezuma blockbuster, there's an excellent exhibition of modern Mexican revolutionary art in the prints gallery, including Posada's famous prints that celebrate the Mexican Day of the Dead, when people welcome the spirits of the departed; so it made sense for the BM to offer its own Day of the Dead.

But the sheer scale of this festival was mind-blowing. The crowds were so huge and joyous, the events such an artful cocktail of entertainment – skeleton parades, macabre ballets, those stiltwalkers – and education. The crowds didn't just gawp; we listened to erudite talks as well. And there were the two Mexican exhibitions to make part of your visit, adding up to a revelatory cultural encounter.

As it happens I was in a debate the other day on the theme of museums as agents of cultural diplomacy. Dr Tiffany Jenkins, a trenchant critic of the British Museum's global vision of itself as cultural melting pot, was another speaker. There was no one from the BM on the panel, so I found myself defending it, pointing out how rich the aesthetic rewards of its "cultural diplomacy" have been. But in light of yesterday, it needs no defender.

No other museum in the world could have put on a mass spectacle of curiosity and intelligence like this. Only once have I witnessed anything comparable in a gallery and that was at an exhibition about the Manic Street Preachers staged by Jeremy Deller in Cardiff. That was an artist's event, this was done by archaeologists. But any artist would be proud of the magical atmosphere of this great day at the museum.

Jonathan Jones. guardian.co.uk © Guardian News