And I thought I was a Book Snob...

From various of the usual suspects.


Name the era, and you can name every artist from
it. You've got an eye for design and a knack
for feng shui. Color schemes, architecture, and
objet d'art - these are all your forts.
What people love: You're the perfect person to shop
with.
What people hate: They have to clean their house
whenever you come over.


What Kind of Elitist Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

"I'm Back," Said Sam

From Santa Fe, that is. whitezinnia and I went up to audit a clinic with Bereiter Hausberger from the Spanish Riding School of Vienna. Neep later, when I have a slightly more functional brain. Short form: Much good stuff, much cool arcana. Also, much sightseeing, and a lovely overnight with badgermirlacca on the way home.

The house was still standing, all the aminals were alive and more or less intact, and the Fat White Crowd had been most well looked after by indefatigable farmsitter Tina. Pook was a little put out with me for going away. The rest were visibly pleased to have the hay dispenser back. They all looked extremely nice after a week of Very Fancy Warmbloods and Interesting Others (including several Lipps).

Short takes:

Nobody ever told me about Texas Canyon. I had no idea. And now one of my very most favorite landscapes is about 40 miles from here.

El Pinto in Albuquerque. Chile con carne enchiladas with blue corn tortillas. I think I prefer New Mexican Mex to Arizona Mex. The flavors suit me better.

But the landscape and presence around Tucson are Mine. New Mexico: A wonderful place to visit. Early and often, one hopes. And then one comes home again.

I found some more of the horses sold in the Beachport sale--the Lipizzan show that liquidated ca. 1999 after its organizers discovered that horses, like, require maintenance. And lots thereof. Clinic host took two, and another rider took the one I didn't even ride because he was cray-zeeeeee. He is now soft-eyed, happy, and thoroughly loved. He looks a Lot like da Pook. I got most excellent Fat White Pony fixes from Rex during the week. Rex's owner is a goner--she's properly gaga. All true Lipizzan slaves are gaga.

Seret & Sons in Santa Fe. Featured on Ground Force America this week. I oh so badly want that marvelous kilim-covered divan. And even more badly want the life-sized horse covered in plates of silver. And the Porch Swing of the Gods can go on the veranda in my palace. (Along with the amethyst-geode fountain from the bar in El Pinto.)

Georgia O'Keefe did landscape paintings. Wonderful, passionate, gorgeous landscape paintings. Her flowers are nice but do little for me. Her landscapes are marvelous. And what she said about the landscape of the Southwest is exactly how I feel about it. That it's mine and I belonged in it from the minute I saw it and no one who has not been there will truly understand it.

Corrales. Chocolate martinis.

Elephant Butte. What does the high school call its teams? whitezinnia suggests Pachyderms. I suspect the common usage is rather raunchy.

The shortcut from I-25 to I-10 via Hatch and Deming is lovely because one can renew one's chile ristra for a fraction the cost of doing it elsewhere, watch the thunder walk, and admire the dust devils.

And home feels good. Very, very good. After a most excellent escape and mental steam-cleaning.