On the road back from Yuma

Finally the end of the road trip! I know a 3 day trip was stretched into weeks of blogs, however, you saw something different each time. Trust me went to DQ at least once a day and I have pictures from each time that I could be regailing you with!

We left Yuma in the afternoon, so we did hit many places in the dark.

On the way out we stopped at the phallic big gun by the Yuma armory.




We saw funky little businesses in the middle of nowhere.



Look at all the services this one thing provides- AND IT WAS CLOSED! That looks like a place that should be open LONG HOURS.

We saw the sun set


And finally we came upon the honey place again. Can you believe that my friend never had gone into it. Something about she being female and that being a dodgy trailer advertising self-serve honey. However, I was all over it!


There wasn't a creepy person in there, he left a notepad and sold on the honor system.



I looked around for the mansion that this little honey empire built, but I didn't see it. Probably because it was too dark I am sure.

But the funniest part, was a little town called Searchlight, Nevada. It is where Senate Majority leader Reid is from. Now Searchlight is teeny tiny, so not a big budget for policing.



They even move Officer Stiff around so people wont get used to him and, I dont know, pass him off as "human."

Next post I plan to bring some culture to the blog and post about my latest museum trip.

Imperial Sand dunes (aka Algodones sand dunes)

OK, so I was really surprised at all the things I could do in Yuma. I actually even felt like I could stay a couple more days and be fine. I am also quite happy that I visited Yuma, and now what is the #1 movie in the nation this weekend?? 3:10 to Yuma. I am very familiar with California, but I was taken to an area that I had actually never been, which is a few minutes outside of Yuma.

The Imperial Sand Dunes stretch for 40 miles and reach 300 feet high. Return of the Jedi was filmed there (the opening sequence when Luke is captured by Jabba the Hut and is taken out to a sandy duney area to be eaten by a monster.) The next time you see Tatooine you will know where it really is. Star Gate and Road to Zanaibar were also filmed there.

There's nothing I can say that will do them justice. I hope the pictures will convey some of their extraordinariness. Included is one with a truck in it for scale.











In SP news, my spoiler sent me a spindle! It is gorgeous, which I am glad because I have no spindle spinning skills. I am going to display it in the living room. It doesn't deserve to be hidden away. I love the green stem! Thank you SP.




But not to make my Suzie jealous with the newer cuter model... I plied 73 yards of colonial top. I have no idea what I am going to do with it.


Tiffany was outside when I was taking pictures of the spool. I tried to get shots of her, but she was too busy bouncing in the grass to stop and pose. This was the best I could get of her. I do however have lots of pictures of grass and tips of her tail. I told her that she needed to pose cute because whatever I got was going up, but ferrets, bad focus. She'll be sorry once she sees this on the net.

Mexico

I am combining 3 days worth of Mexico trip into one post. I went to UCSD so my Mexico was Tijuana, or as we call it TJ. And I would like to say that I got to know TJ pretty well in my tenure in SD, however, I didn't like to go there because it was sleezy and dirty and we students and tourists alike never really ventured outside of one area, Avenida Revolucion. During the day TJ sells touristy trinkets and at night it turns itself over to the nightclubs where students go to get shitfaced fast. Then ofcourse I knew your Spring break Mexico, the Cabo, Cozumels, Acapulco... but those are other posts for other days...


So the prospect of discovering a new Mexico (no pun intended) was very exciting for me. The first day we crossed over into San Luis. San Luis felt like being in any other built up city except the signs were not in English. San Luis is a popular destination for people that cannot afford or do not want to pay the crazy prices that drugs companies charge in the States. There are pharmacies everywhere! You can get anything without having to present a prescription. The limit to bring back into the US is a 3 month supply. And ofcourse some drugs cause more suspicion than others-- narcotics like Xanax, are not going to go over well at the border crossing. I am happy that this option is available, but sad that it has to be. An example of a price difference, CRESTOR 1 month supply in the States cost approx $130 per month while in Mexico, $42. And with that the pharmacist was apologizing that it was so expensive. 200 amoxicillin cost $6, 1000 ibuprofren $3. This is all the same stuff. In fact, WHN told his doctor about it, and was telling him about it and his doctor whole heartedly supported it.

Another health care cute anecdote... my friend's two youngest brothers were born in Mexico. Their parents lived in Yuma but crossed the border to give birth. The youngest's birth cost 140 pesos.

Bringing them back over the border is weird. The first crossing at San Luis everyone in my party that had drugs were questioned by the same guard... ex. what is this for? DIABETES are you a diabetic? I wonder how many people get tripped up on that. She really pawed through my stuff and treated me like I was trying to pull something over on her. I was asked the last time I was in Mexico etc etc. Frankly, if it is not a popular narcotic drug which I am sure they have a list of, and you only have a 3 month supply, I don't feel you should be questioned too severely. A person's health condition is his/hers. A person bringing 3 mos is pretty innocuous. It seems a lot of trouble to protect the profits of the US pharmacuetical companies.

The border wall Mexico side- Dubya's handiwork (and also my breast... I really need to get Photoshop Elements!)


The American side:


While we were in the pharmacy, Tony the friendly pharmacist suggested we drive to Golfo De Santa Clara about an hour away for the freshest seafood. Going to the beach sounded really appealing. The following day we drove across the border (for San Luis we parked on the US side and walked over) after we stopped for Mexican car insurance.

The road between San Luis and Golfo De Santa Clara was a 2 lane road and it was sparse. Just desert. Except lots of litter.




When we got there it was pretty deserted. I don't know if it was because they were out of season, or people just don't go to Golfo De Santa Clara anymore.





We had lunch in El Dolfin. I had a fabulous breaded fish (god I hope it wasn't their signature dish) And I was far enough in to
be able to practice my Spanish. Though I did notice that the Mexicans that understood English would just start speaking to me in English (San Luis) and the ones that didn't know English at all wouldn't even try to understand my Spanish (Golfo)

At first glance, one thinks oh they ran out of room painting PARKING... but look at the bottom line.


The locals were in the water despite the jelly fish, which were also dead on the sand and the sharks.

(Yes, evidently is quite normal to deflate your tires and drive onto the sand)






For $3 you can get a 6 bottle pack of Mexican beer packed in ice.

Bimbo is a popular cake like treat. I just like the idea of a slutty little teddy bear:


On the way back we were stopped at a random Federale check point. Notice no pictures. This is because I was in the middle of a foreign country with 18 year olds with really big guns. Imagine a 2 lane desert road with a makeshift stop sign and road block. I think they chose the spot because there was a tree for shade. Federales have a reputation for being roguish or is the Mexican cops-- which group expects bribes and which ones are insulted by it? I am quickly trying to remember. We had to get out of the car while they poked around. I felt nervous even though we had done nothing. Though, I'll be honest with you, I did in my best Spanish ask one of the guys if I could take a picture of him. I figure what's the worse he could do. Don't say it... That didn't even enter my mind, but later when I was talking to the family in Yuma their answer was SHOOT YOU... and WHNs first response was the same. Look, I just wanted to practice my Spanish and really being shot over that didn't enter my mind and who knows I might have gotten a picture! (JavaJem would understand.) They let us go, don't worry I am not using my internet time to blog from Mexican prison. And crossing back over the boarder in the car, the border guard was really pleasant.

The last day we went to Algodones.


Algodones is closer to the touristy feel of TJ, but without the filth.






Algodones along with having many pharmacies, is known for dental work... (I would birth a baby in Mexico, but they aren't touching my chompers!)

(Unlike San Luis, Algodones is a bit more unabashedly going for tourists combining what they think people want liquor and pills.)
They also have many optomotrists. It was quite weird walking down the street with men saying HOLA SENORITA DO YOU NEED ANY DENTEEESTREEE? HOW ABOUT YOUR EYES??? They also had many shops where you could get knock offs of your favorite designer bags. We would have spent more time there except it was so freaking humid that day. We were pulled into one jewelry shop and were immediately served Coronas. Ofcourse being from Las Vegas, starting to drink at 9am is normal.

Crossing back into the US I had Ibuprofen and Imitrex (which I did have a perscription for on me.) I just said they were both for headaches and the gaurd said boy you get a lot of headaches. I replied yes, I'm married. With that, he let me back into the good ol' US.

I wish this picture could convey how hot and sticky it was!
Next time, Luke Skywalker's home planet!

Yuma Prison

I'm trying to remember all the Yuma facts I picked up. Yuma is one of the oldest towns in Arizona because it sits on the Colorado River which makes the land quite fertile. Yumans (haha I love that's what they are called) grow such crops as citrus, cotton and hybrids like caulicolli.


Yuma has a casino that sits on the California border. In fact, one building is in Arizona while the other is in California. Each state has its own gambling laws so in one half of the casino dice are used, but in the other half not allowed.

Near the casino, is the Yuma Prison which was a federal prison. Actually, the prisoners built the prison themselves. As much as I loathed walking around in 104 degree weather, I really got an appreciation for how miserable this clink was. And then to have to do hard labor in it. OI!


This cell slept 6. 3 tier bunk beds that are so closed together, I couldn't get a picture, but they could reach across and touch each other because in the joint that's what you need, a little tenderness.

I was interested in the prisoners. They had everyone from murderers to adulterers. I wonder if they divided them up; I doubt it. Could you imagine meeting your murderous cellmate and having to tell him you're in for loving too much?



I am not sure if the prison wasn't as bad as I thought because they allowed pets, or this is one really REALLY naughty chihuahua.

They also cracked down on polygamy and there were Mormon prisoners.


They also had female prisoners. And though in every level of society women were treat unequally, in prison there was equality.

The fact that she ran off with jugglers seemed sexier to me... though I would imagine living with jugglers would get very old, very fast.


I don't know if you can read her blurb, but it said that she asked for fabric and made her own prison uniform in the style of the time!

They also had crafts!






Entrance to prison yard:


Cell blocks:



I like this picture because it reminds me of a Twilight Zone episode
.

Watch tower. The cement structure below is the water tank. I was miserable going up the stairs, I can just imagine building them, and schlepping wood up and down them.


So there you have it. Where really bad and not so bad in the scheme of things went. Next time another place I went Mexico. OLE! Yes I am stretching this trip out. For everyone but one particular person who knows who she is the post is over. Unless ofcourse you are dying to get me a present, but have no idea what-- then feel free to keep reading.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
A. I'm pretty easy. I'm not really into fun fur unless it's really soft posh fun fur and then maybe not that either.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
A. I mostly use my Denise's which have a case. I also have a great straight needle case made by SP9 and a circ needle case made by SP10.

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
A. I have been knitting for 10 years. I am intermediate/advanced.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
A. No.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
A. My favorite perfume is Fresh Index Apricot Fig (to give a concept); I love lavender, plumeria, I love this hand lotion I put on because it smells like cleaning fluid, so obviously my scent pallatte is not that refined. Go into the fall I will like warm curl up by the fire scents. I love the smell of coffee, but hate the taste.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
A. chocolate (but not together). As a vegetarian, I don't eat marshmellow or my beloved gummi bears. I also don't like tea.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
A. Yes I have a spinning wheel. I am a beginning level spinner, but I love spinning and fiber.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD).
A. I like alternative, jazz (not smooth jazz or the the kind I have to think about), big band, 80s. My favorite song this year is Read My Mind (Killers) My favorite song that irritates people is Hey There Delilah (Plain White Ts)

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
A. It's fall so I am going into a green, claret, olive phase. These are actually the colors that look best on me. But I also like retro color combos.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
A. I've got all sorts of pets. It's like a petting zoo but without the cash intake.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
A. I wear scarfs to dress up outfits going out on The Strip. I feel like I am 30 years too old to wear mittens, but I do need to wear them and gloves. I have tiny little hands (the size of a 6th grader) that get cold very fast. Not really a poncho girl... but HATS... I LOVE HATS! I would wear a hat constantly if I could. I love hats.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
A. Anything that I can finish.

13. What are you knitting right now?
A. I'm not knitting, I am ripping right now. I did the Brea bag, but decided I wanted that yarn for something else.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
A. I love handmade stuff.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
A. I use my Denises the most then Addi Turbos. I like speed baby. I dont knit for leisure, I knit for some nuerotic speed torture

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
A. Yes I have both.

17. How did you learn to knit?
A. Barbara Walker's LEARN TO KNIT AFGHAN BOOK

18. How old is your oldest UFO?
A. See #17. Also I have granny squares I made when I was 8 or so (look at previous questionaires for that ugly little story) I am determined to finish the blanket next year..I just have to figure out how to make these 70s squares look posh and sophesticated yet honor the little 7 yr old, who, now that I think about it was posh and sophesticated then too. Unfortunately her grandmother wasn't and there is some ugly 70s yarn.

19. What is your favorite holiday?
A. Halloween! The air smells like fire and the wind is just crisp.. and daylight savings is ending. Oh and Christmas because I get gifts and my bday because I get gifts. I would love Arbor Day and Presidents Day if it involved a gift for me.

20. Is there anything that you collect?
A. Bulldog and ferret stuff, and tiki/ polenesian stuff, mermaids (evidently I have the taste of a 50 year old man)

21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
A. I once saw this book 99 crochet flower motifs. You put them all together and voila you have a flower afghan. I meant to buy the booklet, but I was distracted and didnt.

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
A. Armenian knitting

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
A. I love to knit socks but it takes me forever to start a pair. I love it more when people knit them for me. I wear a US 8.

24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
A. 3/15. Same day as Fabio, Judd Hirsch, Eva Longoria, and the character Michael from The Office. Also it was when Caesar was off'd.