Friday Humor

How does Moses make his tea? Hebrews it.

Venison for dinner again? Oh deer!

A cartoonist was found dead in his home. Details are sketchy.

I used to be a banker, but then I lost interest.

Haunted French pancakes give me the crêpes.

England has no kidney bank, but it does have a Liverpool.

I tried to catch some fog, but I mist.

They told me I had type-A blood, but it was a Type-O.

I changed my iPod's name to Titanic. It's syncing now.

Jokes about German sausage are the wurst.

I stayed up all night to see where the sun went, and then it dawned on me.

When chemists die, they barium.

I'm reading a book about anti-gravity. I just can't put it down.

I did a theatrical performance about puns. It was a play on words.

PMS jokes aren't funny; period.

Why were the Indians here first? They had reservations.

We're going on a class trip to the Coca-Cola factory. I hope there's no pop quiz.

I didn't like my beard at first. Then it grew on me.

Did you hear about the cross-eyed teacher who lost her job because she couldn't control her pupils?

When you get a bladder infection, urine trouble.

Broken pencils are pointless.

What do you call a dinosaur with an extensive vocabulary? A thesaurus.

I dropped out of communism class because of lousy Marx.

All the toilets in New York 's police stations have been stolen.
The police have nothing to go on.
I got a job at a bakery because I kneaded dough.

Velcro - what a rip off!

The 3rd Alternative: Solving Life’s Most Difficult Problems

By Stephen R. Covey with Breck England

http://www.amazon.com/Languages-Appreciation-Workplace-Organizations-Encouraging/dp/0802461980

Book review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

There is no doubt that Stephen Covey is a fine writer. The book flows smoothly and comfortably, and readers will have no difficulty understanding any of the concepts or ideas here.

Any book designed to help people solve problems, no matter what the context (work, home, school, law, society, or the world) makes a valuable contribution to our society. Too bad the Republicans and Democrats in Congress can’t read this book, learn the basic concepts and truths, then apply them in thier work with each other. The idea that "I’m right, and you’re wrong" never got anyone anywhere when it comes to solving problems and resolving conflicts. Yes, of course, there is a third alternative (a win-win strategy) that will work, and the explanation (through page 85) is clear, useful, practical, and desperately needed.

The value of the application chapters (3-9) is simple. Many readers will only read the application most relevant to themselves, whether it be work, home, school, law, society, or the world, and they are unlikely to read others. What this means is that there must be redundancy and repetition. It can’t be otherwise. Readers really only need to read through page 85 and then select that chapter that fittingly applies to them or to their situation. That, for most readers, becomes a complete offering and all that’s needed.

I have been writing about empathy, listening, group participation and leadership, as well as conflict management for most of my professional life. My book, Communicating Effectively, 10e (McGraw-Hill, 2012), contains my most recent thinking and writing on these topics. I don’t think that Covey offers anything new or startling with respect to synergistic thinking, but what he does is effectively underscore its importance as well as the specific steps necessary for achieving it. This is worthwhile and makes an important contribution to human-relations effectiveness — and success.

What makes this book truly outstanding is the selection of examples. Now, you may get tired of reading them, however, note what I said previously. You don’t need to read every chapter in the book. After reading up to page 85, then read only that one or those that apply to you or to your situation, and you won’t become overwhelmed by the sheer number of examples. They are certainly one of the strengths of the book.

In your life, you will not and cannot avoid conflict. Conflicts are inevitable. Since that is true, the best recourse you have is to learn how to deal with them effectively. Covey provides a useful set of tools, and the more tools we have in our toolbox, the more likely it is that we can resolve the conflicts we face and move on with our life.

Friday Humor

BLOND MEN JOKES

A friend told a blond man: "Christmas is on a Friday this year." The blonde man then said, "Let's hope it's not the 13th." ------------------------------------------------------------- Two blond men find three grenades, and they decide to take them to a police station. One asked: "What if one explodes before we get there?" The other says: "We'll lie and say we only found two." ------------------------------------ A woman phoned her blond neighbor man and said: "Close your curtains the next time you & your wife are intimate. The whole street was watching and laughing at you yesterday." To which the blond man replied: "Well the joke's on all of you because I wasn't even at home yesterday." ------------------------------------ A blond man is in the bathroom and his wife shouts: "Did you find the shampoo?" He answers, "Yes, but I'm not sure what to do... it's for dry hair, and I've just wet mine." ------------------------------ A blond man goes to the vet with his goldfish. I think it's got epilepsy," he tells the vet. The vet takes a look and says, "It seems calm enough to me". The blond man says, "Wait, I haven't taken it out of the bowl yet". ------------------------------------ A blond man spies a letter lying on his doormat. It says on the envelope "DO NOT BEND ". He spends the next 2 hours trying to figure out how to pick it up. ------------------------------------ A blond man shouts frantically into the phone "My wife is pregnant and her contractions are only two minutes apart!" "Is this her first child?" asks the Doctor. "No", he shouts, "this is her husband!" ------------------------------------ A blond man was driving home, drunk as a skunk. Suddenly he has to swerve to avoid a tree, then another, then another. A cop car pulls him over, so he tells the cop about all the trees in the road. The cop says, "That's your air freshener swinging about!" ------------------------------------ A blond man's dog goes missing and he is frantic. His wife says "Why don't you put an ad in the paper?" He does, but two weeks later the dog is still missing. "What did you put in the paper?" his wife asks. "Here boy!" he replies. ------------------------------------ A blond man is in jail. Guard looks in his cell and sees him hanging by his feet. "Just WHAT are you doing?" he asks. "Hanging myself," the blond replies. "It should be around your neck" says the guard. "I tried that," he replies, "but then I couldn't breathe". ------------------------------------ An Italian tourist asks a blond man: "Why do Scuba divers always fall backwards off their boats?" To which the blond man replies: "If they fell forward, they'd still be in the boat." --

Write your life story: How to organise and record your memories for family and friends to enjoy

By Michael Oke

http://www.amazon.com/Write-Your-Life-Story-Telegraph/dp/1845281330

Book review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

When I first looked at the Contents of this book, I quickly realized that the process Oke discusses is precisely the structure that I intend to follow when I write my own memoir (no date is set, but it is certainly an item on my agenda). There are 16 chapters in this 212-page book (194 pages of content in 15 chapters means an average of about 15 pages per chapter), and Oke begins with, "Why Write Your Life Story?" — an excellent place to begin. (Although the book contains 16 chapters, the 16^th contains "Advice from Others...." — about 18 pages of advice.)

"Thinking Things Through" is the title of Oke’s second chapter, and that one is followed by: "Getting Organised," "Planning the Structure," "Considering Alternative Structures," "Preparing to Tell Your Story," "Some Tips and Techniques," "Inspirational Extracts," "Doing Your Research," "Being Ready to Write," "Tackling Difficult Areas,""Revising the Manuscript," "Presentation," "Production," "Publishing," and "Advice from Others Who Have Written."

The advice in this book is specific, practical, and realistic. I liked the way sections were divided up, the many examples, the numerous case studies used to illustrate the text material, as well as the checklists and assignments. There is so much in this book, including a glossary, useful addresses, further reading, and an index.

There is one weakness with the book that Americans need to understand. Look at the title and note the word "organise." That is the British spelling of the word. Oke is a British writer, and the book is published by a British publishing company (), and you see it not only in the spelling of certain words, but I thought the "Further Reading" section was most interesting. 1) Of the 8 books recommended for further reading, half of them were published by How to Books. 2) Of the 11 magazines recommended (although all have websites), they are all British publications.

Here is an example of some of the British oriented text material: "Another source worthy of consideration for the more enthusiastic researcher is the National Newspaper Library in Colindale, London N11. Here you can read through local and national newspapers from decades ago. It is a fascinating place, but worth booking first" (p. 122). (There is no website offered for this source.)

This is a useful source for those thinking about, about to begin, or engaged in writing a memoir (or life story). Why? Because it really covers the essential ideas, offers many different suggestions, and provides additional possibilities that many writers may not think about or may find valuable. It trips synapses that may make you stop and think or may help make your memoir better or more complete. It is a worthwhile assistant — like having a trusted mentor offering hints, recommendations, and counsel that you may not get from any other source.

One overall impression with which I am left is captured in this sentence: "Writing your autobiography is immense fun. . . ." (p. 8). Oke is an enthusiastic advocate of the process, and it is almost as if he is a cheerleader for readers’ ability and their success. If I heard that people were planning to write their life story, this is the kind of book I could and would happily recommend. It is not just a good starting place, it offers the guidance, direction, and information that will help them move from their appropriate starting place to the end of their work.

Friday Humor

A father put his 3 year old daughter to bed, told her a story and listened to her prayers which ended by saying, "God bless Mommy, God bless Daddy, God bless Grandma and good-bye Grandpa."

The father asked, 'Why did you say good-bye Grandpa?'

The little girl said, "I don't know daddy, it just seemed like the thing to do."

The next day grandpa died. The father thought it was a strange coincidence.

A few months later the father put the girl to bed and listened to her prayers which went like this, "God bless Mommy, God Bless Daddy and good-bye Grandma."

The next day the grandmother died.

Thought the father, "this kid is in contact with the other side."

Several weeks later when the girl was going to bed the dad heard her say, "God bless Mommy and good-bye Daddy."

He practically went into shock. He couldn't sleep all night and got up at the crack of dawn to go to his office. He was nervous as a cat all day, had lunch and watched the clock.

He figured if he could get by until midnight he would be okay.

He felt safe in the office, so instead of going home at the end of the day he stayed there, drinking coffee, looking at his watch and jumping at every sound.

Finally midnight arrived; he breathed a sigh of relief and went home.

When he got home his wife said, "I've never seen you work so late. What's the matter?"

He said, "I don't want to talk about it, I've just spent the worst day of my life."

She said, "You think you had a bad day, you'll never believe what happened to me. This morning my golf pro dropped dead in the middle of my lesson!"

Friday Humor

Three friends married women from different parts of the country.

The first man married a woman from Alabama . He told her that she
was to do the dishes and house cleaning. It took a couple of days, but
on the third day, he came home to see a clean house and dishes washed
and put away.

The second man married a woman from South Dakota . He gave his
wife orders that she was to do all the cleaning, dishes and the
cooking. The first day he didn't see any results, but the next day he
saw it was better. By the third day, he saw his house was clean, the
dishes were done, and there was a huge dinner on the table.

The third man married a girl from Virginia . He ordered her to keep
the house cleaned, dishes washed, lawn mowed, laundry washed, and hot
meals on the table for every meal. He said the first day he didn't see
anything, the second day he didn't see anything but by the third day,
some of the swelling had gone down and he could see a little out of
his left eye, and his arm was healed enough that he could fix himself
a sandwich and load the dishwasher. He still has some difficulty when
he pees.

Friday Humor

There was a Irish painter named Patrick McGilligan who was very interested in making a penny where he could, so he often thinned down his paint to make it go a wee bit further.

As it happened, he got away with this for some time, but eventually
the local church decided to do a big restoration job on the outside of
one of their biggest buildings.

Patrick put in a bid, and, because his price was so low, he got the
job. So he set about erecting the scaffolding and setting up the planks, and buying the paint and, yes, I am sorry to say, thinning it down with
turpentine.........

Well, Patrick was up on the scaffolding, painting away, the job nearly completed, when suddenly there was a horrendous clap of thunder, the sky opened, and the rain poured down washing the thinned paint from all over the church and knocking Patrick clear off the scaffold to land on the lawn among the gravestones, surrounded by telltale puddles of the thinned and useless paint.

Patrick was no fool. He knew this was a judgment from the Almighty, so he got down on his knees and cried: "Oh, God, Oh God, forgive me; what should I do?"

And from the thunder, a mighty voice spoke..

(you're going to love this)

"Repaint! Repaint! And thin no more!"

"Blessed are the cracked, for they are the ones who let in the light."

White Sands National Monument and Missile Range

Essay by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.
 
Honestly, I thought we had one of our most impressive visits when we toured Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge (which is the subject of another essay of mine). It was as if one experience was trying to upstage and outshine the other. The drive from Elephant Butte, where we were staying in our fifth wheel at the Cozy Cove RV Park, is 153 miles (just over 2 hours), and we had no idea what we would be seeing.

There is a Visitor’s Center at the entrance to the paved road (the Dunes Drive) that leads about 2 miles north to the start of the sands.

As you enter, you cross the edge of the dunes which is just a few feet high and support some plant life—several species of grass, yucca, and saltbush. Further into the monument there is little or no vegetation—just an unbroken white landscape.

As you begin the drive into the monument, you will notice that the road is paved, although blowing sand often covers the surface. Toward the center of the monument, however, the surface of the road is simply compacted gypsum, and the road becomes just a series of large cleared areas. This is important simply because the roads then can be adapted to changes in dune positions. The sands move up to 20 feet per year—growing, cresting, then slumping, but always advancing.

Driven by strong southwest winds, the sand covers everything in its path.

During the summer in the center of the dunes, everything is white, dazzingly bright, intensely hot, and capped on most days by a clear blue sky. Our visit duplicated this description without the intense heat.

The White Sands National Monument (WSNM) is considered one of the world’s great natural wonders. The wave-like dunes of pure gypsum sand move across 275 square miles of desert and, thus, create the world’s largest gypsum dune field. It is truly a sight to behold! The National Monument includes only about half of the sand in the entire dune field.

Within the dune area there are a couple of sites where shelters and picnic tables allow places to have your lunch. Because we always pack a lunch before traveling, we ate it in one of these areas—especially valuable because of the shade.

Despite its harsh climate and surroundings, the dunes "support a limited range of wildlife., some of which has evolved white coloration to match the surroundings, and exist as species unique to this region, such as the white sands wood rat, the Apache pocket mouse, the white sands prairie lizard and the bleached earless lizard. The most prominent plant, in the dunes," this website continues, "is the soaptree yucca, a species with numerous thin narrow leaves and an extensive root system that can stabilize a mound of sand and remain in place after wind causes the surrounding dune to move away."

What you may not be aware of is a vast area of desert and mountain ranges 100 by 40 miles in size directly to the west of Alamogordo. This area is closed to public access because it is used by the military for various kinds of weapons testing. There are warning signs as you approach the gate to the military base, and, as a visitor, you are not allowed to drive in without a thorough and complete search of your vehicle and, after showing your driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance, obtaining a vehicle pass.

We were told at the gate that if we just wanted to visit the military museum, we could park in the visitor parking area prior to going through the gate and, thus, avoid the search, and still be close to the museum, located just inside the gate. That is precisely what we did by going through the gate, making a U-turn at the traffic light, coming back through the gate and entering the parking area.

It was at this military base—at the Trinity Site—where the first atomic bomb was detonated in July, 1945.

If you followed the information at the White Sands National Monument website , you would think that you could not visit the base except on two days each year: "the first Saturdays of April and October, when accompanied tours are provided." That is not entirely true.

The military base has a museum, as noted, which is interesting and worth a visit. The feature, however, that intrigued us the most was "Missile Park," where there are displays of the 61 (too many to list here) rockets and missiles tested at the site. You simply walk a winding concrete sidewalk that takes you to each clearly labeled display. Those that I remember included the Hawk, Nike (whether it was the Ajax, Hercules, or Zeus, I don’t remember), Patriot, Pershing I and II, Redstone, and Sidewinder.

One of the most striking images in the Missile Park is the Aeroshell Flying Saucer. You can see a picture of the Saucer at the flickr White Sands Missile Base Museum website . This was the object seen over Roswell and probably gave rise to all the "flying saucer" rumors. The real purpose of the Aeroshell was to test a method of landing a missile on the planet Mars.

As we entered the gate, the guard informed us that pictures could be taken at "Missile Park," but only under the condition that the camera is pointed toward the mountains and not down into the valley below the park. The valley is where active missile silos are located.

At the White Sands Missile Base Museum website , it says this about the Missile Base: "It is the largest military installation in the United States. This strip of New Mexico desert has been in use since the 40s to test practically every weapon system in the U.S. military arsenal. Pioneering research in rocket technology shortly after World War II at WSMR [White Sands Missile Range] helped propel the U.S. into space. Because of this, WSMR is sometimes known as the ‘Birthplace of the Race to Space.’"

If you haven’t gained the feeling, let me be specific: This area of the country, between the White Sands National Monument and the White Sands Missile Range Museum, is an incredibly important region, and a visit to this area will certainly convince you—especially if you head in this direction with no knowledge of what to expect, as I did—why I was so impressed.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

There is a lot of information at the White Sands Missile Range website , including a brief history and an explanation as to why it is considered the birthplace of the race to space.

At tripadvisor, "White Sands National Monument," , there are reviews of the Monument by people who have visited. Their reviews are outstanding.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Copyright October, 2013, by And Then Some Publishing LLC

Quotations by Richard L. Weaver II

Certainly it’s a risk or gamble, but when you venture and win, the benefit to your ego and your willingness to take a similar risk or gamble a second time, increase out of all proportion to the chance that you took in the beginning.

And Then Some News

The first paragraph of Thursday's essay, "White Sands National Monument and Missile Range," reads as follows:

Honestly, I thought we had one of our most impressive visits when we toured Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge (which is the subject of next week's essay). It was as if one experience was trying to upstage and outshine the other. The drive from Elephant Butte, where we were staying in our fifth wheel at the Cozy Cove RV Park, is 153 miles (just over 2 hours), and we had no idea what we would be seeing.

The compound effect: Jumpstart your income, your life, your success

By Darren Hardy

http://www.amazon.com/Compound-Effect-Darren-Hardy/dp/0981951244

Book review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

Over the years I have read a large number of self-help books. This one is a small book (6-inches wide and only 7½-inches long) of only 162 pages of text. So, right up front you know that it will be a short read. It reads quickly and comfortably.

Every day of his life, Hardy reads "something positive and instructional" (p. 103). I would recommend this book—that is, if you’re looking for something positive and instructional. It fits, it works, it succeeds! "Finally," Hardy writes, "I like to read at least ten pages of an inspirational book before going to sleep. I know the mind continues to process the last information consumed before bedtime, so I want to focus my attention on something constructive and helpful in making progress with my goals and ambitions" (p. 104). I have a second suggestion: Read this book. If you’ve already finished it? Read it again.

There is no index, no notes, and no references. Often, this is a trigger for me that suggests that the book is lightweight, frivolous, shallow, and not to be taken seriously. What counters that notion are the characteristics of the writer of the book.

Hardy has been a leader in the personal development industry for sixteen years, a successful entrepreneur by the age of eighteen, and CEO of a company producing $50 million in revenue by the age of 27. But these, to me, are not the most profound credentials. He has been the publisher and editorial director of SUCCESS magazine for five years (since September of 2007).

It is his work at SUCCESS magazine that gives him the unique credentials to write this book. That is because, as he says it himself, "as publisher of SUCCESS magazine, I sift through thousands of article submissions and books, help choose the experts we feature in the magazine, and review all of their material. Each month I interview a half-dozen top experts on a multitude of success topics and drill down to their best ideas. All day, every day, I read and filter through an ocean of personal-achievement information" (p. 3). That is what makes this book great—no, not just great, terrific!

Throughout the book he borrows from the self-help gurus he has interviewed, written about, or read about. He cites his sources, of course, but he borrows liberally. So, this isn’t just Hardy talking, he backs up his thoughts, and he offers tidbits and suggestions that have worked for others and that he, himself, has adopted in his life. This makes for a very enjoyable read.

His background, expertise, and knowledge is evident (and appreciated) throughout this short book, and he is absolutely correct: If you want a distillation of what all the other self-help authors have written about ad nauseam, this is surely the book for you. It is crisp, succinct, well-written, and full of noteworthy, memorable, and valuable examples.

There are so many places in this book that directly reinforce what I have been teaching for over thirty years. For example, he says, "For most of us, it’s the frequent, small, and seemingly inconsequential choices that are of grave concern. I’m talking about the decisions you think don’t make any difference at all. It’s the little things that inevitably and predictably derail your success. Whether they’re bone-headed maneuvers, no-biggie behaviors, or are disguised as positive choices (those are expecially insidious), these seemingly insignificfant decisions can completely throw you off course because you’re not mindful of them" (p. 25).

For a second example, Hardy was in a seminar when the speaker asked, ‘What percentage of shared responsibility do you have in making a relationship work?’ Well, the answer is NOT 50/50, 51/49, or even 80/20. "The instructor turned to the easel and wrote 100/0 on the paper in big black letters. ‘You have to be willing to give 100 percent with zero expectation of receiving anything in return’. Only when you’re willing to take 100 percent responsibility for making the relationship work will it work. Otherwise, a relationship left to chance will always be vulnerable to disaster.’" (p. 29).

For a third example, "You alone are responsible for what you do, don’t do, or how you respond to what’s done to you. This empowering mindset revolutionized my life. Luck, circumstances, or the right situation wasn’t what mattered. If it was to be, it was up to me" (p. 30). It revolutionized my life as well.

For yet another (can you believe a fourth?) example, "Personally, I’m always happy when something is hard. Why? Because I know that most people won’t do what it takes; therefore, it will be easier for me to step in front of the pack and take the lead" (p. 90). There are so many examples!

Also, I liked the "Summary Action Steps" Hardy places at the end of each chapter. No, they’re not really needed. This is a short book, and chapters read quickly. But I think the reinforcement they offer is useful, and since each one is so practical, they can serve a functional assist for those who are trying to put Hardy’s advice into action.

You see what really energized me about this simple but profound book? He reinforces, buttresses, supports, and lends encouragement to what I have taught, lectured about, put into my speeches, and written about for all of my professional life. All in a 162-page book! It has taken me so much more time and space that it’s embarrassing! (He says with tongue placed squarely in cheek! —even though tongues are not square!)

This book isn’t merely motivational (and yet it is!), it is inspirational! If you are looking for a book that will rouse your spirits, stir your emotions, energize your conscience, influence your intellect, galvanize your gut, and incite you to action with a fire in your belly, then choose this stimulating, animating, uplifting book because it will have a compound effect on your life!

Friday Humor

A PLANE IS ON ITS WAY TO TORONTO , WHEN A BLONDE IN

ECONOMY CLASS GETS UP, AND MOVES TO THE FIRST CLASS

SECTION AND SITS DOWN.



THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT WATCHES HER DO THIS, AND ASKS

TO SEE HER TICKET.



HE THEN TELLS THE BLONDE THAT SHE PAID FOR ECONOMY

CLASS, AND THAT SHE WILL HAVE TO SIT IN THE BACK.



THE BLONDE REPLIES, "I'M BLONDE, I'M BEAUTIFUL, I'M

GOING TO TORONTO AND I'M STAYING RIGHT HERE."


THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT GOES INTO THE COCKPIT AND TELLS

THE PILOT AND THE CO-PILOT THAT THERE IS A BLONDE

BIMBO SITTING IN FIRST CLASS, THAT BELONGS IN

ECONOMY, AND WON'T MOVE BACK TO HER SEAT.



THE CO-PILOT GOES BACK TO THE BLONDE AND TRIES TO

EXPLAIN THAT BECAUSE SHE ONLY PAID FOR ECONOMY
SHE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE AND RETURN TO HER SEAT.



THE BLONDE REPLIES, "I'M BLONDE, I'M BEAUTIFUL, I'M

GOING TO TORONTO AND I'M STAYING RIGHT HERE."



THE CO-PILOT TELLS THE PILOT THAT HE PROBABLY SHOULD

HAVE THE POLICE WAITING WHEN THEY LAND TO ARREST

THIS BLONDE WOMAN WHO WON'T LISTEN TO REASON.



THE PILOT SAYS, "YOU SAY SHE IS A BLONDE? I'LL

HANDLE THIS, I'M MARRIED TO A BLONDE. I SPEAK BLONDE."



HE GOES BACK TO THE BLONDE AND WHISPERS IN HER EAR,

AND SHE SAYS, "OH, I'M SORRY." AND GETS UP AND GOES

BACK TO HER SEAT IN ECONOMY..



THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT AND CO-PILOT ARE AMAZED AND

ASKED HIM WHAT HE SAID TO MAKE HER MOVE WITHOUT

ANY FUSS.


"I TOLD HER SOFTLY, "FIRST CLASS ISN'T GOING TO TORONTO ".

Three Snapshots of New Mexico

Essay by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.
 
As we traveled to and from the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge and to and from the White Sands National Monument (on Interstate 25), we saw small signs along the highway that advertised Silver City. Once again, we packed a lunch, and our trip took almost three hours from Elephant Butte where we were staying at the Cozy Cove RV Park. We left shortly after 9 a.m., and immediately upon entering Silver City asked about a park where we could eat our lunch. Gough Park was the suggested location, and it was situated in the center of the city.

"Perched on the edge of the Gila National Forest in a high-desert wonderland of ponderosas, deep gorges, and red-rock mesas, Silver City is a bit rough around the edges," says one website. The town sits on top of a site that has been home to Native Americans, Hispanic, and Anglo settlers for hundreds of years. It was formed in the 1870s after the discovery of silver and quickly became a boom town. The silver industry crashed in 1893.

With approximately 10,000 inhabitants today, Silver City "is noted as becoming one of the most popular small town destinations for visitors to explore in America. Voted the best small town in New Mexico, Silver City offers the best of small town American charm and true American beauty," says another website.

Although we did not have a chance to investigate the local culture, history, exciting events, or beautiful scenery, we did visit a number of the two dozen art galleries and studios in the central city.

What we discovered was well worth our time. Some of the artists maintain superb retail sales areas where most are actively working as well as selling their products. In one, we relaxed and had ice cream in a back corner of the shop amidst a fabulous display of a wide range of the artist’s paintings. It was truly an aesthetic experience. (There was a slight aroma of incense.)

Talking to some of the local artists, we discovered that Western New Mexico University, located there, has an excellent Art Department and through shows and other cooperative efforts, helps support some of the many local artists. Also, Silver City itself makes certain that the local artists can afford to operate shops downtown and live inexpensively in the local community.

= + = + = + =

We left the White Sands Missile Range Museum heading back toward Elephant Butte, New Mexico, when I proposed to our group that we go to Las Cruces (only slightly out of our way) and eat Mexican. There was unanimous support for the suggestion. Having to do a little banking, while others conducted their business, I asked a woman in the bank where the best Mexican restaurant in town was located. She asked which was more important, the price or the atmosphere. Thinking that it is difficult making quality distinctions with Mexican food, I opted for atmosphere.

Not only did she direct us to the La Posta restaurant, but she drew us a map as well. It was a bit difficult to find since it sat back from the main thoroughfare, but it was worth the little difficulty we had.

The restaurant occupies a mid-18th-century adobe building that is the only surviving stagecoach station of the Butterfield Overland Mail route from Tipton, Missouri, to San Francisco. Kit Carson, Pancho Villa, Douglas MacArthur, and Billy the Kid were all here at one time.

Quoting from the Frommer’s review of La Posta at the New York Times, "Las Cruces" travel site: "The entrance leads through a jungle of tall plants beneath a Plexiglas roof, past a tank of piranhas and a noisy aviary of macaws and Amazon parrots, to nine dining rooms with bright, festive decor. . . .The tables are basic, with vinyl and metal chairs." The ambiance alone made our visit worthwhile—and, besides, we were all starving.

La Posta offers traditional "New Mexico" Mexican dishes made from century-old recipes handed down over the years from the Fountain, Chavez, and Griggs families. Because we had no background nor history of their food, we took our excellent waiter’s suggestions and ordered the Tostada Compuesta—which originated at La Posta in 1939. The dish consisted of a toasted corn tortilla cup filled with frioles, red chile con carne, topped with chopped lettuce, diced tomatoes, and grated cheddar cheese.

Others tried the green chile amd the "Locals" favorite, the sour cream enchiladas. That dish consisted of corn tortillas smothered with green chile sauce, topped with grated Monterrey jack cheese and sour cream. Also, it included refritos, rice, and La Posta’s tasty Mexican slaw.

I am not one who normally enjoys Mexican food, but this meal was delicious— and filling.

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The third and final snapshot comes from Truth or Consequences, NM. It is our visit to the Geronimo Springs Museum. There were at least eight different rooms in the museum, and I will focus on just two of them: the Pottery Room and the Miner’s Log Cabin. There is so much more to see than these alone.

In the Pottery Room we found the largest prehistoric southwestern pottery collections with pottery ranging from A.D. 200 to A.D. 1350. Most of it was the Mimbres and Tularosa black-on-white pottery from southwestern New Mexico found within the Sierra County area. Their collection of early tools, effigies, bone artifacts, and arrowheads is also impressive.

The Miner’s Log Cabin came from the Black Range Mountains and is accessible through the Museum. Dismantled log by log and reconstructed on site exactly as it was built, it includes displays of items from early mining history in Sierra County such as a pedal-powered grinding wheel for sharpening knives and early gasoline and diesel jackhammers.

The Geronimo Museum includes a Ralph Edwards room celebrating when he came to town in 1950, the time the town changed its name to Truth or Consequences to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the radio show by that name, and his contributions to the town and the Ralph Edwards’ Fiesta—celebrated annually to this day.

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At the Geronimo Springs Museum website, you can read about the other six rooms of the Museum and the displays housed there.

Visit the Silver City, Grant County, Chamber of Commerce’s official website for additional information on Silver City.

The New York Times website labeled, "36 Hours in Silver City" includes a wide range of things to see in Silver City. This is one of the most useful sites on the City.

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Copyright October, 2013, by And Then Some Publishing LLC

Quotations by Richard L. Weaver II

In a state of relaxation I find the best time to consider ideas, problems, and concerns. Relaxation offers views, angles, approaches, and interpretations that I seldom have during the ebb and flow of daily activities.




If you find it difficult to discover a quiet time---when your creativity can truly exhibit itself---begin by imagining yourself behaving the way you want to behave.  Use "covert reinforcement" by imagining your friends, co-workers, family, and acquaintances noticing your behavior and praising you for it.  It will help you carry out your intention of discovering quiet times and, thus, becoming more creative.

And Then Some News

The first paragraph of Thursday's essay, "Three Snapshots of New Mexico," reads like this:

As we traveled to and from the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge and to and from the White Sands National Monument (on Interstate 25), we saw small signs along the highway that advertised Silver City. Once again, we packed a lunch, and our trip took almost three hours from Elephant Butte where we were staying at the Cozy Cove RV Park. We left shortly after 9 a.m., and immediately upon entering Silver City asked about a park where we could eat our lunch. Gough Park was the suggested location, and it was situated in the center of the city.