…slowly, and with difficulty. Hard frost at sunrise. Powerful wind; from the south, but still cold. High clouds overpowering the sun’s attempt at warmup. But by 5 p.m. clouds gone, wind softer and warmer, and spring peepers out peeping.
Just about right for a tootle around town.
The little blob is the start point, and the finish point. Twelve point seven kilometers, all told.
Near tornado last night, snow this morning, back to spring tomorrow. And up north…16 or so inches of the white stuff. All this moisture could be good for water levels.
Now for some basketball.
…than New Mexico. High near 70. Little thunderstorm last night, light rain now, more storms likely.
Update—strong thunderstorm just now, with tornado warning and siren. Out of an “abundance of caution,” or perhaps an over abundance, we spent half an hour in the basement.
…back in pocket, where it, or one of its predecessors, has been for many a decade. Having to leave it behind is one of the drawbacks of flying, and I feel undressed without it.
Today’s flight uneventful. It took longer to get from our hotel (near the airport) to our seats in the plane than it did for the plane to travel from Denver to Milwaukee.
Spring has not advanced noticeably in our week’s absence.
Long drive north from Taos, on alternate route through the high, inter-mountain plain (alto plano) west of the Sangre de Cristos—a fascinating part of the world. Sometimes over 10,000 feet with towering mountains on every side. Crossed the headwaters of Rio Grande and Arkansas and Platte rivers.
…through the Sange de Cristo mountains, up high, but, searching the valleys (where water is found) for ancient native Pueblo sites, and slightly more recent Spanish colonial remnants.
And then happy hour (with incredible food and cocktails) at a great restaurant in El Prado.
…where the wind is windy and the cold is cold. Not exactly what I was expecting in the southwest. Taos Ski Resort up, and, lower down, Arroyo Seco.
…and points in between. Trip mostly focused on Georgia O’keeffe museum.
Rio Grande gorge, the Earthships, old Taos, and for dinner, the oddly named Love Apple
After a beautiful mountain drive. 7,700 feet, and light snow on arrival. Very nice hacienda.
Quiz: name this painter, and the artist who made the mobile behind her.
Air travel not high on the list, but we made it. Fun supper in the hotel pub.
Above, departing MKE.
Some time spent today on this philosophical problem. Otherwise, even more mundane things, such as taking the garbage out.
Heading west tomorrow. Not cold, but gray and damp.
Blooms, bikers, baseball batters, basketball bouncers, and the like.
Springlike, in other words.
…and dinner and Sequence at the neighbors’. Also, hippo birdie to Mimi.
…as March winds are blowing. But, at least, the temperature is more like March than February.
That’s why a race for Wisconsin state Supreme Court — Election Day is April 4 — has extraordinarily high stakes. A Democratic win would deal a big blow to the MAGA movement’s 2024 hopes, underscoring its dramatically weakened hold on must-win territory once dominated by Trump. That outcome would give liberals a 4-3 majority on a court that could thwart any rerun of Trump’s 2020 effort to overturn his loss by legal chicanery.
The conservative candidate for the court seat — Republican lawyer Daniel Kelly — has sterling MAGA credentials. He was reportedly involved in discussions about a “fake electors” scheme to overturn Trump’s loss in the state. Last year, he helped lead “election integrity” events that suggested the state’s 2020 voting was suspect.
…and a bitter wind. No buds bursting today.
On the basketball front, I got 25 right and 7 wrong on the first round (round of 64), but since then things have been going catawampus.
…with a dusting of snow after last night’s rain. No ice on Lake Geneva.
And, majorly important election coming up April 4:
…bracket busted.
In the tournament, I chose Illinois for the first round over Arkansas, which demonstrates the foolishness of emotion over reason.
…on the stationary bike, but glad to be pedaling.
Having fun trying to program Sphero Bolt, in spite of no documentation.
And, advance notice—enhanced 15 bean soup for dinner.
~~~~~~~
Renunciation can be great if it means giving up things that make you miserable.
No sense of Spring just yet.
Here’s the Rock River making itself to home in a cornfield. And there’s more moisture to come.
Faux crab cakes for dinner. Report to follow.
Almost as good as what you might find on the Chesapeake.