Bronchitis

JWise Photo of the Day

Handicapped parking marker painted on asphalt

Turns out I am allergic to one of the meds I am being given for bronchitis. Late in the evening and early morning I awake, I am forced awake by the inability to breathe. I am left gasping, barely able to capture or exhale a tablespoon of air. I try pouring in water, putting tiger balm under my nose, but I just have to wait a few moments sitting up for my airway to relax from being in the grips of a bronchospasm. And now I learn that the Chinese use honeysuckle tea and something called forsythia to treat bronchitis without worrying about cardiovascular collapse or sudden death – another side effect of the med I was prescribed.

VLA

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Driving from Socorro, New Mexico to Arizona

Today’s breakfast was, of course, enjoyed again at the El Camino Restaurant & Lounge in Socorro, New Mexico, before striking off on the scenic route through Magdalena on our way back to Arizona.

Driving from Socorro, New Mexico to Arizona

The drive out here on the western side of the middle of New Mexico is lots of endless beauty.

Very Large Array in Datil, New Mexico

Along the way, we passed the Very Large Array pictured above.

Driving from Socorro, New Mexico to Arizona

A lone pronghorn sheep acts as a cattle guard near the intersection of Datil. We’ll keep on driving toward Pie Town, and for the umpteenth time, we’ll yet again strike having yet to taste the pie in Pie Town.

Caroline Wise and John Wise on the Arizona border with New Mexico

Back in Arizona, the clouds will give way to blue skies and the cold became a distant memory as the baking Phoenix desert welcomed us back with hazy smoke-filled horizons due to a fire 40 miles away.

The Trinity Obelisk

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Trinity Site in New Mexico

Cold, windy, grey, and dismal are the conditions awaiting us at the Trinity Site. A record cold snap across the midwest snagged this part of New Mexico near Socorro. This land that experienced the world’s first nuclear explosion is made miserable by today’s weather. I think all 2,886 other visitors would agree from the grumbling we heard.

Trinity Site in New Mexico

Our previous visit was in April 2001, when blue skies and warm weather made the place downright nice. If you find yourself in the area on the first Saturday of April or October between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., stop by; it’s free, and you will be one of the approximately 6,000 visitors per year who will visit the obelisk marking ground zero of this historic event.

Rio Grande River near Socorro, New Mexico

After our visit to the Trinity Site, we took a nap as the songbirds, wind, and water nudged us to sleep at Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.

Socorro, New Mexico

For lunch, we returned to Socorro and our favorite New Mexico eatery, known as the El Camino Family Restaurant.

Abandoned House near Socorro, New Mexico

The day continued with a short road trip to Carrizozo…

…Claunch…

Socorro, New Mexico

…and Mountainair.

New Mexico Bound

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

Northern Arizona on the way to New Mexico

With my cough in tow, Caroline and I are on our way to New Mexico for the weekend. It is almost too late by the time we take off from Phoenix; we expect to arrive in Socorro near 1:00 a.m. Our reservation cannot be canceled at this point so we keep on going. Today’s photo looks back west as we drive east on Interstate 40; the mountains on the right are the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff, Arizona.

Very Berry

JWise Food, Photo of the Day, Travels

Berries from the farmers market in Goleta, California

As the Beverly Hillbillies said, California is the place I oughta be. These tasty organic berries screamed buy me when we were last in California. Farmers’ markets alone should drag us the 350 miles west to live in the Golden State, but there are also Ramen shops, ethnic shopping areas, films that only show in New York and California, beaches, boba tea, Disneyland, Magic Mountain, Knott’s Berry Farm, Universal Studios, San Francisco just up the road, Redwoods, museums galore, organic handmade cheeses, the Monterey Aquarium, Highway 1, real Chinese food, Death Valley and so much more. More, such as traffic, lots of traffic, rents requiring slavery to your dwelling, big fires, and earthquakes, but where else are you going to find imagawayaki, Little India, a Vietnamese shopping mall, body surfing, yellow raspberries in April, and Japanese gardens all in one day?

44

JWise Photo of the Day, Travels

John Wise with Boyd on the left and Woody Burns on the right in Santa Barbara, California

Today, the 4th day of the 4th month, I turned 44. This celebratory photo was taken a week before in Santa Barbara, California, where very much to my surprise, this cake, along with a rendition of the Birthday song, was all of a sudden in front of my face. I needed a few moments before I realized this was in my honor. Keeping Caroline out of the loop helped as she looked as surprised as I did. My cousin Nancy, Aunt Jean, Daniel, Theresa, Aunt Ann, Uncle Woody, and good old Boyd were all present and made for the best surprise party I have ever had.