Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
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"While the landscape around Santa Rosa is more semi-arid ranch country than desert, it's true! Santa Rosa is a scuba diving mecca. There's the famous Blue Hole, a geological phenomenon. The natural, bell-shaped pool is 80 feet deep and has astonishing clarity and a constant water temperature of 64 degrees. There's even a training platform at 20 and 25 feet." — Santa Rosa chamber of commerce website It's an essential that, at least once during the summer, I ensure that my grandkids, usually with a friend or two, make a trip t...
"While the landscape around Santa Rosa is more semi-arid ranch country than desert, it's true! Santa Rosa is a scuba diving mecca. There's the famous Blue Hole, a geological phenomenon. The natural, bell-shaped pool is 80 feet deep and has astonishing clarity and a constant water temperature of 64 degrees. There's even a training platform at 20 and 25 feet." — Santa Rosa chamber of commerce website It's an essential that, at least once during the summer, I ensure that my grandkids, usually with a friend or two, make a trip t...
Things that are essential for two kids under 12 to have fun on vacation: - A motel or a campground with a swimming pool, preferably huge. This one, at a motel, is indeed huge. The motel serves better than a campground because one of the primary purposes in this vacation is to give the above mentioned kids a chance to become better acquainted with their great grandparents. Thus we are on a schedule, not just the relaxing experience of hanging out in the woods. - Fun stuff to do. In this case, on top of anything spontaneous...
Things that are essential for two kids under 12 to have fun on vacation: - A motel or a campground with a swimming pool, preferably huge. This one, at a motel, is indeed huge. The motel serves better than a campground because one of the primary purposes in this vacation is to give the above mentioned kids a chance to become better acquainted with their great grandparents. Thus we are on a schedule, not just the relaxing experience of hanging out in the woods. - Fun stuff to do. In this case, on top of anything spontaneous...
A mong the affordable, and accessible, places where one can go this summer, Santa Fe probably heads the list. We were privileged to make a family excursion, due to a graduation party, and found the same sense of another vision that we usually do. Affordable and accessible, of course, has to do with the fact that, at least in my Camry, it only takes one tank of gas for the entire journey, not including the driving around while in the "City Different." Relatedly, I have made the trip in less than three hours, not including the...
A mong the affordable, and accessible, places where one can go this summer, Santa Fe probably heads the list. We were privileged to make a family excursion, due to a graduation party, and found the same sense of another vision that we usually do. Affordable and accessible, of course, has to do with the fact that, at least in my Camry, it only takes one tank of gas for the entire journey, not including the driving around while in the "City Different." Relatedly, I have made the trip in less than three hours, not including the...
T omas Lopez is my hero. Not my only hero, as there are many other heroes in my life, but my newest hero. He is joined by several other heroes, coming out of the same incident. Tomas is the young South Florida lifeguard who left his post to save a drowning man who had gone into the "swim at your own risk" area. Because Tomas left his post, he was fired from his job. At issue was the liability clause, and the fact that the swimmer was in the "own risk" zone. As the young man said on nationwide TV, "I lost my job, like I knew...
T omas Lopez is my hero. Not my only hero, as there are many other heroes in my life, but my newest hero. He is joined by several other heroes, coming out of the same incident. Tomas is the young South Florida lifeguard who left his post to save a drowning man who had gone into the "swim at your own risk" area. Because Tomas left his post, he was fired from his job. At issue was the liability clause, and the fact that the swimmer was in the "own risk" zone. As the young man said on nationwide TV, "I lost my job, like I knew...
The year was 1976. Sadly, it's an admission of age just to say that I remember back that far, for I was in college at the time. It was the nation's bicentennial. I do not have any reason to believe I will see the tricentennial, so I am glad I was old enough to see this one, and young enough to enjoy it. Two events stand out in my mind, in relationship to the July 4th festivities taking place in and around Western Pennsylvania that year. One was the Allman Brothers Concert at the now defunct Three Rivers Stadium in...
The year was 1976. Sadly, it's an admission of age just to say that I remember back that far, for I was in college at the time. It was the nation's bicentennial. I do not have any reason to believe I will see the tricentennial, so I am glad I was old enough to see this one, and young enough to enjoy it. Two events stand out in my mind, in relationship to the July 4th festivities taking place in and around Western Pennsylvania that year. One was the Allman Brothers Concert at the now defunct Three Rivers Stadium in... Full story
Several weeks ago, we made a long anticipated trip to Lubbock, Texas, for the first Friday evening monthly arts tour. Trolleys and buses are provided to take guests from venue to venue. As it becomes rather crowded on the public transit near the 9 p.m. closing time, I noticed that every male over the age of 12, self included, was doing the courteous thing we were taught to do in training as gentlemen. Obviously, I refer to offering the seats available to women and senior adults. I remarked to my wife that this seemed to be a...
Several weeks ago, we made a long anticipated trip to Lubbock, Texas, for the first Friday evening monthly arts tour. Trolleys and buses are provided to take guests from venue to venue. As it becomes rather crowded on the public transit near the 9 p.m. closing time, I noticed that every male over the age of 12, self included, was doing the courteous thing we were taught to do in training as gentlemen. Obviously, I refer to offering the seats available to women and senior adults. I remarked to my wife that this seemed to be a... Full story
The memories formed with one's father, often shape the memories which one provides as a father (or grandfather, as the case may be). I have done things, and continue to do things, as a grandad, because they were done for me. For example, participating in activities that are not exactly my cup of tea. Such as playing Barbies, a skill in which I was totally deficient until a few years ago. Or, in the case of my grandson, learning my way around video games. I had never before played with Matchbox, Johnny Lightning and Hot... Full story
The memories formed with one's father, often shape the memories which one provides as a father (or grandfather, as the case may be). I have done things, and continue to do things, as a grandad, because they were done for me. For example, participating in activities that are not exactly my cup of tea. Such as playing Barbies, a skill in which I was totally deficient until a few years ago. Or, in the case of my grandson, learning my way around video games. I had never before played with Matchbox, Johnny Lightning and Hot... Full story
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water — lack of public dignity and modesty hits a new low, and public interest in the bizarre reaches a new high. Well, perhaps you really never had thought it was safe to go back in the water. Now you know for sure. It started innocently enough — bizarre, but innocent. A very large woman in a pink bikini decides to do a pole dance on "America's Got Talent." My granddaughter notices this, as we are eating dinner and the TV is on in the living room. Even at age eight, she fin...
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water — lack of public dignity and modesty hits a new low, and public interest in the bizarre reaches a new high. Well, perhaps you really never had thought it was safe to go back in the water. Now you know for sure. It started innocently enough — bizarre, but innocent. A very large woman in a pink bikini decides to do a pole dance on "America's Got Talent." My granddaughter notices this, as we are eating dinner and the TV is on in the living room. Even at age eight, she fin... Full story
It's not the focus of this column, but it would be remiss to not mention that the approaching Wednesday is D-Day, the 68th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy beaches by Allied troops. Effectively, this confirmed that the Axis powers in Europe were now fighting a defensive war, and that the Nazi terror machine was on the run. It's another day that every American, especially veterans, should remember with respect and honor. Memorial Day, coming slightly early this year, culturally marks the beginning of the summer season,...
It's not the focus of this column, but it would be remiss to not mention that the approaching Wednesday is D-Day, the 68th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy beaches by Allied troops. Effectively, this confirmed that the Axis powers in Europe were now fighting a defensive war, and that the Nazi terror machine was on the run. It's another day that every American, especially veterans, should remember with respect and honor. Memorial Day, coming slightly early this year, culturally marks the beginning of the summer season,... Full story
The mission was to debrief snipers in the process of returning from Bosnia. Due to the nature of their mission, they were a mixed group, some Marines, some Army. Most of them had been on six months tours, partly, though not wholly, because many snipers in the Army (and apparently the Marines) are reservists, often police in civilian life. At least, this was true 15 years ago. This particular Marine captain, however, was not a policeman. Debriefing combat troops for an Army chaplain requires more than just rubber stamping....
The mission was to debrief snipers in the process of returning from Bosnia. Due to the nature of their mission, they were a mixed group, some Marines, some Army. Most of them had been on six months tours, partly, though not wholly, because many snipers in the Army (and apparently the Marines) are reservists, often police in civilian life. At least, this was true 15 years ago. This particular Marine captain, however, was not a policeman. Debriefing combat troops for an Army chaplain requires more than just rubber stamping.... Full story
The mission was to debrief snipers in the process of returning from Bosnia. Due to the nature of their mission, they were a mixed group, some Marines, some Army. Most of them had been on six months tours, partly, though not wholly, because many snipers in the Army (and apparently the Marines) are reservists, often police in civilian life. At least, this was true 15 years ago. This particular Marine captain, however, was not a policeman. Debriefing combat troops for an Army chaplain requires more than just rubber stamping.... Full story
The mission was to debrief snipers in the process of returning from Bosnia. Due to the nature of their mission, they were a mixed group, some Marines, some Army. Most of them had been on six months tours, partly, though not wholly, because many snipers in the Army (and apparently the Marines) are reservists, often police in civilian life. At least, this was true 15 years ago. This particular Marine captain, however, was not a policeman. Debriefing combat troops for an Army chaplain requires more than just rubber stamping.... Full story
In the middle of the chaos and sorrow which has surrounded us in our home the past several weeks, comes a ray of hope or at least of a bright promise for fun and benefit. Simple message, via email: The Pike's Peak Challenge is now open for registration. Pike's Peak Challenge is a hike (not a climb) up Pike's Peak. The point of this, in addition to challenging oneself to excel, is to raise money for the Colorado Head Injury Center, located in Denver. "Excel" may be an exaggeration, but the truth is that climbing from 17,000...
In the middle of the chaos and sorrow which has surrounded us in our home the past several weeks, comes a ray of hope or at least of a bright promise for fun and benefit. Simple message, via email: The Pike's Peak Challenge is now open for registration. Pike's Peak Challenge is a hike (not a climb) up Pike's Peak. The point of this, in addition to challenging oneself to excel, is to raise money for the Colorado Head Injury Center, located in Denver. "Excel" may be an exaggeration, but the truth is that climbing from 17,000...
The Gearins, as a family, were scattered throughout the hills of eastern Ohio, between East Liverpool and Youngstown, and in another direction, to Steubenville. Their prominence, which was not based in finances but in long tenure, dated back to the late 1700s, which I suppose made them eligible to be Daughters and Sons of the Revolution, and perhaps some of them had joined. I dated Ronda, the athletic blonde one, for a while — she was about three years younger than I — and later performed her marriage ceremony to Myron Jones,... Full story
