Avoiding the sun or her adoring fans?

Sometimes life here just surprises me. We are so far from most things--dry cleaning, a good gym, excellent ice cream--and then smack in your face is the reality that you can have some fun experiences anywhere.

Soooo Saturday, I'm out and about and who do I see at the bookstore in Marfa with big floppy hat, sunglasses, loose denim shirt and baggy skirt? Carrie/ Coal Miner's Daughter/Crimes of the Heart tiny fragile tough girl, Sissy Spacek! It was the voice that gave her away, since she looked as much like a middle-aged woman avoiding melanoma as she did a BIG MOVIE STAR. She came in with a young man, said something about the New York Times, and made a beeline to the magazine section. Even though all I could really see were brief glimpses of that cute profile and her calves, it was her.

She was in town to visit her husband, who is working on the Coen brothers' film in production in Marfa, and her daughter who was scheduled to do a concert that night.

Why didn't I stay for the concert? Well, it was due to begin at 9, which is pretty close to my bedtime and Marfa is an hour away. After dark that road can be a jackrabbit killing field; it is hard to avoid nailing one. Even though they're pretty big rabbits, they're not that dangerous on the road as long as you keep to your path and don't swerve. But it doesn't feel too good to be a bunny executioner just to have a few more moments with a STAR.

Snack time for the Burro Lady

Thanks

My thanks to all of you for making a trip home so enjoyable and memorable! I had a blast seeing everyone again, and only wished we had more time to visit!

Want to buy a goat?

"One Processed and Packaged Cabrito Goat" which will be butchered and dressed by fellow board member Ike to benefit the Chihuahuan Desert RC and D. This is an incredible organization (read entries below) working to improve soil and water conservation efforts, strengthen non-profit organizations, rebuild wildlife habitats, and teach basic computer classes in rural communities. Since the recent budget amounts to a 50 percent cut in federal funding, your $1 ticket will help us send our local members to Washington to lobby for continued funding of this important organization in far west Texas. C'mon, when's the last time you bought a goat? I'm bringing the raffle tickets with me to Iowa and Illinois. You need not be present to win!

Coming Home

Tomorrow, I'll be in Iowa!

I'm wishing for a big May downpour, Indian food and pink drinks (Sara!), good conversations with friends (Doreen and everyone else!), a workout at the skating rink, shopping for some "essentials," and a good haircut (Cindy!) while I'm home.

I sure hope I get to see you when I'm in town!

Dry, part 2

Last week I was traveling with some people from Alpine, a small community in my region. They told me they haven't seen any precipitation of any kind since September.

If you watched PBS's Texas Ranch House, you may be interested to know it was filmed near Alpine last summer. They had rain last summer, so I'm sure the land looks relatively lush on camera.