This is my list of birds seen in Santa Fe from October 2008 through December 2009 (a little more than a year’s worth, but the extra three months can be counted as part of the learning curve). Most if not all of these were seen on my morning bird walks in the neighborhood north of Paseo de Peralta and west of Old Taos Highway, an area mainly of ( Read more... )

No, I wouldn't, for several reasons.  Just in general I prefer not to rely on medications and the like if there's another alternative.  This isn't to say I wouldn't take something prescribed for me by a doctor, or that I won't swallow the occasional aspirin (or equivalent) if I have a headache.  But as an example, I prefer to shield myself from ( Read more... )

A demonic cat sticking its tongue out.

Probably Indian, but Chinese would run it a close second.  IIRC I discovered Indian food in college and had a "Where have you been all my life?!" reaction.  Indian also has a good number of vegetarian options...though Chinese stir fry is probably healthier overall.

I probably shouldn't have done it... asking rahirah for the various Tower/New Hope timelines, that is.  Now I find myself wanting to go back there ... only it can't be done.  The holt itself is in the process of closing down, and though I'm still in touch with many of the people I particularly liked working with, they've all moved on to other things.  ( Read more... )

So I've decided to post at least some of my old ElfQuest stories on Fanfiction.net.  Digging out the stories themselves -- from old files, old binders, old zines ... has been kind of a trip, and has made me a bit nostalgic, too.  I think the stories hold up pretty well, myself.  We'll see what other people's opinions are, perhaps.

So far I've posted ( Read more... )

I spotted an appropriately festive bird this morning:  a male Western Tanager!  Brilliant yellow, with a scarlet head, he obviously didn't mind being admired as he sat in a tree right next to the road and preened himself.

We usually think of colors that gaudy on tropical birds.  Indeed, tanagers do spend their winters in South America ... but while ( Read more... )

I caught this morning morning's minion, king-
            dom of daylight's dauphin, dapple-dawn-drawn Falcon....

In other words, I saw a kestrel on my bird walk this morning!  People who've known me for a long time may remember that this is a special bird for me.  It's also a particularly appropriate bird to see on Good Friday if, like ( Read more... )

Well, that's what it said on the bumper sticker:  Keep Santa Fe Dipherent.  Ha, thought I.  That's a word I've never seen before.  I'll look it up when I get home and know that I'm learning something ( Read more... )

Though I didn't think about it, today is the first day of spring, so perhaps a particularly good bird walk is appropriate.  I spotted both White-crowned Sparrows and an Evening Grosbeak, both birds I've seen in Santa Fe before but not on the "usual suspects" list.  Official Bird of the Day has to be the Curve-billed Thrasher, since one of them was ( Read more... )