Update

Hi, all--this is OmegaMom, GrannyJ's daughter. She wanted me to write a post to let you all know what's going on.

She's not doing very well, and I am here at her house to help her out. Looks like she'll need to go into the hospital/nursing home for a while to get her back up to par, see if evaluations show that there's anything that can be done. But right now she's in a fairly bad way.

She wants you all to know that the blog is the most fun she's had in years, and that she loved doing it. She doubts that she'll be able to keep it up--she certainly can't go out and take new pictures, and she has too little energy to put together posts from her stash of existing pictures. But the blog has been a source of joy for her for the past few years, something that she has truly enjoyed putting together and sharing with her readers, and she has loved the interaction with every one of you.

Take care.

Bloggery 101

The Yavapai College campus is much prettier than the last time I visited. Much greener, with big beautiful trees and new landscaping, not to mention that a huge central staircase and solid expanse of cement between buildings was gone, to be replaced by curved ramps and plantings.

A fellow blogger, Susan of As Your World Changes, had organized a series of class discussions of social networking sites for newbies and asked me to talk with the group about blogging. They had already been introduced to Twitter and Facebook; it was time for them to meet up with Blogger and Wordpress.

The course was part of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, an unusual participant-directed program at the college. As the OLLI website explains, our "learning groups" are discussion groups conceived, created and facilitated by our own members, who volunteer their time. There are no tests, grades, or college credits associated with our groups. Topics have included regional and international history, current social and political issues, the worlds' religions, fairy tales and writing your life story. Want to talk about dreams, or study the opera, movies, art or ballet? This is your chance. If American Indian art and culture interest you, stop by. And don't forget current economic issues, astronomy, our founding fathers, the Middle Ages, and Prescott's beginnings.

And so here I am, trying to compete with the strange light emitted by a computer projection system. I learned a lot prepping for the meeing. F'rinstance, Technorati has counted some 133 million different blogs since 2aughtaught2, adding that 1.5 million blog articles were posted in the past seven days and 900,000 in 24 hours. This presumably does NOT count the 72 million Chinese blogs. Wikipedia has a reasonably good entry about blogs, their history and pedigree, but I discovered that old, nearly forgotten About was the best reference I could find covering the blogging phenomenon.

Here's the student volunteer who manned the computer projection keyboard.

And some of the students, several of whom are quite interested in starting a blog. They are all on their own. I had it easy when I started out. After all, the dotter (OmegaMom) already published her own blog, was an IT person quite comfy with the Internet and she set me up, complete to a blog reader (Bloglines) and traffic counter (Sitemeter).

Susan Gerhart (far right), who organized the class series, here talks with other students at the end of the session.

Note: The Old Fat Man was mighty pleased to read about this type of learning opportunity. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute programs are found nationwide; check here to learn more.

Bloggers: it's time to picnic!

Believe it or not, Flinn Park came recommended by a blogger -- one with kids. It's a small neighborhood park, one block west of Gail Gardner & one long block north of Gurley. At our last Prescott area blogger get together, a couple of the folk suggested that a picnic might be a pleasant change this time of the year. Never one not to jump off the deep end before consulting wiser heads...

...I went ahead and reserved the ramada, (even tho there's a charge.) Why? Because otherwise, someone (me?) would have to arrive at an hour quite early in the morning, claim a picnic table and be ready to scowl at people wanting to muscle in on this apparently unused table waiting for the afternoon. And even then, that's only one table. Far too complicated. Tell me I did the right thing!! Looking back, maybe I should have taken a poll or roll call. I apologize if that's what you would prefer.

Anyhow, a further look at the park. Above, a basket ball court. Below, playground equipment. The baseball diamond is off limits while new grass installs itself.

More playground equipment, but, even better, nice shaded granites for climbing.

Full Details: Prescott area blogger get together. Sunday, April 19, 1 p.m. at Flinn Park, 280 Josephine St.. The rental for the ramada is $37.50; a tip jar will be available to help pay off the city. Any and all local bloggers or prospective bloggers plus family are quite welcome! BYOG (bring your own goodies).

Notes: Muffler Man, Redoubt, Anonymity

Sorry. I got caught up in combing through my photo file looking for interesting fences, the time passed as it will, and it's much to late to open PhotoShop for a session. So: links and notes.

#1 -- The Courier discovered the missing Muffler Man, whom they are calling Big Johnson. Good details about his history -- plus a picture of the cowboy hat.

#2 -- Inasmuch as the dotter is up in Alaska in the Mt. Redoubt volcano territory, I've been following the eruptions. The Alaska Volcano Observatory has a set of fine photos, the best being the night shots with lightening dancing around the peak and the ash column.

#3 -- A blog controversy has erupted up in that cold, northern territory, too, having to do with anonymous political commentary -- and a local politician outing the offending blogger. The dotter gives one account, incidentally explaining her reasons for blogging anonymously; the blogger tells her story as well. Many of my readers may not agree with the politics of the people involved; on the other hand, having lived in a world (Chicago) where complex local ordinances are designed to make almost any ordinary property-owning citizen a potential law breaker, I can understand the desire to keep one's profile low. (BTW, the federal IRS rules & regulations would appear to be closing in on the Chicago standard, to judge from recent shenanigans in DC.)

This 'n that

It's been cold, with back-to-back storms in the neighborhood the next few days, plus another storm on tap for the following weekend. Not a propitious time for even a short walk around the block. Hence this 'n that.

Number one: about midday on Friday, the knocker was knocked, the door opened to a strange young lady with a small gift bag in hand. She was from the Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home , with a one-year remembrance of my mom's death -- this angelic little fellow. Thanks, folks! Totally unexpected!

Number two: back-to-back winter storms always prompt one (at least, this one) to lay in supplies. Sorta like Y2K, but not quite the same order of magnitude. (Or perhaps I am recalling the many tales from old timers about the great 19-aught-67 snow storm.) The kitchen table got very crowded as I unloaded, which prompted Max cat to plop right in the middle of stuff to supervise. Note that cats, too, suffer red eye problems.

Number three. By this morning the snow had arrived. As you may know, pine trees were invented for snowfall pictures. Too bad they shrug off much of the snow by early afternoon. Just four days ago, when the weather was a good 30 degrees warmer, here's the same pine in a different pose, catching the last bright light as the sun hides behind our hills.

Number four. Just part of our blogger gathering -- before we had to add another table for late arrivals. 18 folk (including two spice) were present. A great get together with most interesting people exchanging ideas and information. We're hoping to do this on a monthly basis. (Note: for more pictures of the gathering, click on over to Oddball Observations, where Catalyst has posted several. There will likely be more & I'll post links as they occur...)

Look, Ma, no hands!

The building at the NE corner of Gurley and Cortez Streets was originally built as the Prescott National Bank back in the 19-aughts. It remained in the banking biz until 1957, when the Valley National moved down the pike to the premises at Granite Street now called JP Morgan Chase. Most recently, this corner building housed a real estate office promoting the American Ranch development. Of course, RE operators are pulling in their horns these days and the 1st floor offices/showrooms have been vacated. However, one matter has me quite puzzled: why did the RE folk take the time to remove the hands on that corner clock? To me, it looks embarrassingly naked.

Were the hands perhaps removed by the building's owners who didn't want to be responsible for keeping the time correct? Or might it have been the high price of electricity to keep the clock running.

Further question: will that rather elegant sign (above) painted on the Gurley Street side of the building remain, to weather through time, thus joining the ghost on the north side of the structure (below). Rather hope so -- it's a great reminder of our current follies.

Blogger Get Together: Unless we're hit by a half-foot of snow tomorrow, the local contingent of bloggers is scheduled for another get together. In honor of the occasion, I've updated the links to our local posters in the right hand column. Some of the blogs new to the list include Bindle Stick, Dove and Snake, Inner Eye, Prescott Past, Romance Magic, Simplewise and Victorian Vices.

Prescott blogger meet-up

We did it! Despite the competition from the big football game down in Phoenix (and on local TV screens) a good group of local bloggers got together this afternoon over at Casa Sanchez to see what the people they know only from the screen really look like.

At my last count, there were slightly over 40 local folk who blog on a regular basis, whether they are writing about local news, their own interests and hobbies, or highly specialized topics such as the role of PCs in education or how to use technology (including blogging) to assist visual impairment. Most of the locals are listed over at the right hand side.

We will probably be meeting every month on the 2nd Sunday, same time (2 p.m.), same place (Casa Sanchez). It's a great crew!

Who's Who: As requested by a commenter, picture one -- As Your World Changes, Photos from Prescott, Ric & Debbie's Place, Observations, Airstream Chronicles, Foolsewoode. Picture two -- Airstream Chronicles, Foolsewoode, Tombo, Inner Eye, Dagny's Desk. Picture three -- Inner Eye, Dagny's Desk, Rowena Art. If you'd like a list of everybody who's ever signed up for a blog on Blogger, go to My Profile in the right hand column and click on Prescott. Today, there were 388 listed (and another 1 in Prescott Valley). If anybody out there can tell me how to get similar lists from the TypePad, WordPress, LiveJournal or other blogging platforms, by all means send me instructions! Furthermore:

Any and all other local bloggers are invited to meet-up with the group. Next time, Feb. 8, 2 p.m. at Casa Sanchez.

More family blogging

In case you've revisited recent posts, you may have noted a new visitor -- Tall Nephew. He truly is, by the way, as you can see from pictures of TN with his mom (above, The Other Niece from Memphis) and me, in my Elvis finery and Mother's Day orchid (below).

However, the important news is that after several comment exchanges, the Tall Nephew logged on to Blogger and opened up himself a blog. In case you'd like to welcome TN, the site is Points of Interest.

And while I'm introducing family members, here is TN's bro and basketball champ Z.; he has traveled widely playing in the Special Olympics.

A pretty little dam...

...sits astride Lynx Creek upstream from the south end of the lake as you drive back out toward the Walker Road. Usually, there is a only small amount of water a couple of inches deep behind the dam. Thanks to all the welcome rain/snow we've had, water is pouring over. If you look closely, you'll even see the miner panning for gold on the near bank.

This stretch of Lynx Creek has been dedicated to the casual gold prospector -- unlike most of our public lands, which may be claimed for exclusive use (and most of them are, already).

At this point, I should confess -- not feeling up to the climb down to and up from the stream, I handed my camera to the dotter to take these pictures. She did a neat job, I'd say.

The water was making bubbles -- when it wasn't freezing.

I guess everyone -- well, at least some others -- were out looking at water cascading over local dams. After all, this is drought country and water over the dam is not a casual matter. In any event, on Sunday Tombo, Sadira and Rich all took pictures of Granite Creek topping the big dam at Watson Lake. And on the weekend, our little family of three couldn't resist photographing water-over-the-dam at Granite Basin and Lynx Lakes. I find myself wondering what about the Big Chino out at Sullivan Lake.

Note on Mom: Please take a moment to read the dotter's blog about missing Mom. She has expressed my feelings (and those of my bro) so well -- I couldn't begin to wrap the words around the subject as sensitively as she has. Thank you, OmegaMom!

The snow arrived

Not nearly as much (1 foot) as promised, but certainly enough to tempt the photographer. In fact, a fair amount of our precips arrived as rain. Any and all moisture welcomed, of course.

The snow does wonders for dried grasses and Ponderosa pine trunks.

It tells you about the brief play of a man and his house dog..

...as well as what happens between car and snow.

It even let me know of a stranger, coming down the hill. The paw prints looked more or less like a cat out hunting in the cold.

Even Max had to inspect the new surface of his usual haunts. He quickly turned around and returned to the warm indoors. Our mountain bloggers luxuriated in the snow -- Cat-A, Rich, Foolsewoode all posted pictures-- and there was even a report from the high desert. In the meantime, I'm happy to report that not only are my shut-in days about over, but I will be getting my Real Computer back on Thursday. Oh, how I've missed PhotoShop and my DVD reader and... and... walking!

What's up overhead?

Answer: ceilings, of course; some make lovely patterns. Especially if the sun plays its part, as it does in the front lobby at Samaritan Village NH, where I often sit visiting with Mom. This is a morning location; by early afternoon, the light is no longer transmitted through the shade...

...and it's time to look in the other direction where light fixtures and fans are the players.

Here is a different ceiling, this across the street at the church. Without the fans, the patterns aren't quite as interesting.

Additions & Subtractions: I've removed a couple of blogs from the blogroll at right -- nothing was happening! And there are several newcomers. Locally, an educator concerned with using low-cost computers as a learning tool ... a Prescott woman who writes of adjusting to vision loss ... and an enthusiastic & flamboyant weaver. Also new: An Alaskan adjusting to life in the big city (Atlanta.) Read and enjoy.

Later & At Your Service: Mr. RV-Boondocker-Explorer (see comments) wondered what the pix would look like turned upside down. Ho-kay -- here are two of them. I'd say that the first of the pair doesn't look that outlandish and, thus, is a failure for the imagination. However, the second bears a certain relationship to a Hollywood vision of a high-tech nightmare. You can picture our heroine running between those knife-edged fans, pausing briefly to fire her blaster at the alien hordes on the hunt.