Ask Me No Questions and I’ll Tell You No Lies

Posted on October 25, 2013 by waterhigh

“Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies.”

Enzo to Andreas from The Dane

Cripple Creek, Colo., under martial law, 1894 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Thanks to Stephanie and Toby for sharing Tuesday’s book signing Q & A in Santa Fe. It’s the next best thing to being there.

Forrest Fenn was being Forrest Fenn—

a) generously giving a new clue: The treasure is not above 20,000 feet.** Not that any of the mountains appearing on his map in Too Far To Walk are nearly that high.

I remember wishing while out west that my car had an altimeter so I’d know when I was over 5,000 feet (a previous clue.)

b) sealing his lips when asked for too much information.

2012.07.17-IMG_5034 (Photo credit: martin_kalfatovic)

It looked like the entire trio (Fenn, Preston, and McGarrity) had a wonderful time. Thanks again!

Now, in other business—i.e. Dal’s current contest—

I sent him 2 pictures, so the caption you see goes more with the first one, not shown, which is a shadow of a small wooden chest dripping with (costume) jewelry, and it’s the only picture, shadow or otherwise, that anyone is going to see of my “chest” on the internet.

Secondly, and this shouldn’t need to be stated, the “jewel” I’m holding in picture two is fake, a piece of glass, just so no one gets the idea it would be worth their trip to the Midwest.

If I had something like that, it would be in a vault like this one which happens to be on an island somewhere in the Pacific. Just saying.

** A better clue, the treasure is not over 10,200 feet, appeared in a separate article recently.

The man who buried his treasure in a poem (telegraph.co.uk)

Tonight in Santa Fe

Posted on October 22, 2013 by waterhigh

Ready, set, . . . .

Hi to all the searchers in Santa Fe tonight for the triple book signing at Collected Works Bookstore. (Yes, I’m still jealous. Someone, give Forrest a hug for me. )

And, by the way, I just finished reading Douglas Preston‘s The Codex last night. Gripping. —–Repeat to self: This is not about Forrest, this is not about Forrest . . . .

Maybe I need to start another campfire, but someone mentioned 3 inches of snow.

If you can’t make it to this book signing, Mr. Fenn will be signing Too Far To Walk in Taos on November 2nd.

Another campfire. Marshmallows. Cocoa. My next read?

Hot chocolate (Photo credit: Sheep”R”Us)

Pepperoni, Watermelon, and a Chainsaw?

Posted on October 19, 2013 by waterhigh

Forrest copied me on this colorful tale, so I’ll share it for those of you who haven’t seen Scrapbook Forty Six on Dal’s blog, Thrill of the Chase. It’s so Fenn!

“October 2013

I never go shopping…

But I was in Kaune’s grocery store with five items in my cart. Just a few things I needed to watch the Broncos play the Cowboys: pepperoni, bologna, Tabasco, salami and horseradish.

As I approached the check out counter, a shapely twentyish-looking woman raced past me. Her pushcart was loaded with six-packs of Corona beer. She wore tight shorts and slosh sandals, but it was her large hair – garish red and full of curlers – that struck me. The curlers were mostly white but a few were brown, and her piercings and tattoos introduced me to a world I had rarely seen before. I told myself I had to get out more.

As I slowed my cart to prevent a wreck, Mz Fashion Maven gave me a grin that said my 83 years were no match for her youth and exuberance.

The checkout line moved slowly and the delay gave me time to observe Mz Maven, who seemed to be annoyed by my preoccupation with the objects that decorated her hair. As we stood there looking at each other, I politely asked, pointing to her hair, “How many stations can you get on that thing?”

Zowee, I quickly regretted the question as the color in her face started to match her hair tint. Suddenly she looked like she had an itch in a place she couldn’t scratch. It really bothered me when she yelled, “How dare you…!” (expletives deleted) in a loud and commanding voice.

When all of the shoppers started staring at me, I wanted them to see that my hands were in my pockets and had been there for a long time. I was embarrassed and slowly backed away. Outside I watched from behind a truck of watermelons until Mz Maven loaded her supplies beside a chainsaw in the back of her pickup truck. As she pulled out, I saw she had a bumper sticker that read: Practice Beauty & Random Acts of Pleasure.

I munched on saltine crackers while the Broncos beat the Cowboys by three points. I’ve decided to stay at home more. f “

Heated curlers in Schenzhen, China (Photo credit: Pondspider)

I told Forrest it sounded like a chapter for his next book. Title? How about “If You Are Brave.”

(Do the saltines mean he left without the health food?)

English: Curlers in Innisfail, Alberta. L-R back row: Mr. Fairley; Billy Wilson. L-R front row: Mr. Agnew; John A. Simpson (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Me.

Posted on October 18, 2013 by waterhigh

Just because.

A student of mine recently sent me the following comic strip under the subject: “You”. I can’t help but agree and decided this was totally worth sharing:

View original post

Gators in the Gallery

Posted on October 17, 2013 by waterhigh

(Okay. This is not about Forrest Fenn‘s book tour, but certain things just remind me of his backyard “pets”!)

Now showing—

Gator Jowls

Artist, photographer, poet, naturalist Susan Van Wassenhove illustrated her book of poetry by making 19 finely-detailed quilts. The book The Seldom-Ever-Shady Glades was inspired by her sojourn in Florida and is published by Boyds Mills Press.

Her next collection, poems and photos of butterflies….

The traveling quilts can be seen here:

English: Eureka College, Eureka, Illinois (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Alma mater of—

Ronald Reagan on the Eureka College Football Team 1929 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Florida Everglades (touristamerica.wordpress.com)
Sea Level Rise Swamping Florida’s Everglades (livescience.com)
USDA To Test New Trap To Catch Everglades Pythons (wctv.tv)

In the Plaza with My Ancestors

Posted on October 14, 2013 by waterhigh

A thought from the 19th century that resonates today, courtesy of Eddie Two Hawks.

Book Signings & Fireside Chats (Updated)

Posted on September 27, 2013 by waterhigh

Twelve hundred miles, twelve hundred miles, ….

It’s too far too walk. Or drive. Or fly. Just to get my new TFTW book signed. I can’t fault the shipper. They were expedient. Prompt. Speedy. Only the book flew out of there before Mr. Fenn could sign it.

I’m jealous of you New Mexicans, Coloradans, Arizonans, and others who live within a couple hundred miles of Santa Fe. Don’t it make my brown eyes green.

Forrest Fenn. Douglas Preston. Michael McGarrity. Details for you lucky ones who can mark October 22nd on your calendars —

http://www.collectedworksbookstore.com/event/forrest-fenn-too-far-walk

And now, the blues. Folk music, rather. I’m also going to have to forego the chance to have a glass of wine with Forrest and to hear Bob Haworth of The Brothers Four and The Kingston Trio, (am I old enough to remember? almost, maybe) in front of a cozy fireplace in the lounge at the Inn and Spa at Loretto!

The Inn and Spa at Loretto (Photo credit: Jim Nix / Nomadic Pursuits)

Details: Monday September 30th from 6 to 9. See Stephanie’s blog Chase Chat for the invitation to bloggers.

Also, Tuesday, October 1st from 5-7 (you’ll need to RSVP). Visit Dal’s blog, Thrill of the Chase, for the actual invitation from Forrest Fenn/Charmay.

My RSVP —- Regrets.

Where will I be? Twelve hundred miles NorthEast by East (–ish). Flyover country. The Midwest. Flat lands.

I plan to start a campfire. (That would be about 6 or 7 pm CST. Hmm. Still daylight savings time? Whatever.) I’ll crack open a bottle of wine. Put on some folk music. Watch the blaze.