Cuba New Mexico that is.

Joining the Harley Owner’s Group, or HOG as they prefer to be called, on a ride to Cuba. Leave at 10:30 and lunch in Cuba around 1:00. The email I got announcing the ride had a cool write up of Cuba that I’ve quoted below. Lots of history in this state.

In Spanish, the word “Cuba” means a tank or basin or keg. It probably refers to the basin-shaped contour of the valley Cuba sits in. Cuba was originally named Laguna. The earliest settlers were attracted to a profusion of small lakes and swamps that once covered what is now downtown Cuba. The Rio Puerco River and other little streams came down out of the Nacimiento Mountains to the east and fed into the lakes and ponds. The land was as close to lush as you can get in this dry part of New Mexico.

The lakes eventually were drained by early Spanish settlers who arrived here in about 1766. The settlers were given a tract of land from the King of Spain known as the San Joaquin del Nacimiento Grant. Many little communities sprang up all along the Rio Puerco. Most of them are no longer in existence. Present day Cuba, in this location, dates from about 1879.

The mountains you see to the east of Cuba are called the Nacimientos and refers, probably, to the mountains as the birth place of all the water in the area.

Cuba has a rich, multi-cultural history! It was the home of Anasazi and Gallina Indian cultures. There is today a large Navajo population living to the west, Apaches to the north, and Zia and Jemez Pueblo Indians to the south. The history of Cuba is closely tied to the land. Sheep, goats and cattle are raised here. Gold, silver, copper, coal and fertilizer have been mined in the area. Wheat, hay, fruits and pinon are harvested.

Cuba was and is today a source of goods, services, school and health care for the surrounding communities.

Over the years, Nina and I have passed through Cuba many times, but have seldom stopped there, other than for gas. The road through Cuba is our preferred route to Ouray, one of our favorite vacation spots in the Rockies. The surrounding area is rich in history and its stark beauty is almost distracting when driving.

This trip will be a solo ride for me as Nina has decided not to join us. I will riding out there with Dennis since his bike is stored here. He has no garage where he lives so he has a storage unit here.

I’ll post pictures and a ride review when I return. Peace.

Another big O joke:

George Bush, Queen Elizabeth, and Vladimir Putin all die and go to hell. While there, they spy a red phone and ask what the phone is for. The devil tells them it is for calling back to Earth.

Putin asks to call Russia and talks for 5 minutes. When he is finished, the devil informs him that the cost is a million dollars, so Putin writes him a check.

Next Queen Elizabeth calls England and talks for 30 minutes. When she is finished, the devil informs her that the cost is 6 million dollars, so she writes him a check.

Finally George Bush gets his turn and talks for 4 hours. When he is finished, the devil informs him that the cost is $5.00. When Putin hears this, he goes ballistic and asks the devil why Bush got to call the USA so cheaply.

The devil smiles and replies, “Since Obama took over, the country’s gone to hell, so it’s a local call.”

The rest of you can watch this too, but those two are stupid about owls.

httpv://youtu.be/XeFxdkaFzRA

• Met Nina at Dick’s Liquors for lunch, then went for a nice ride.
• Left Vegas and shot down 84 to 40.
• When passing the Hern’s turn off, I was tempted to stop.
• I didn’t.
• I headed west on 40 and got off on NM Route 3.
• 32 miles later I passed under I-25 and was home in minutes.
• Parked a bug splattered bike and should wash it tomorrow.
• Just a shade under 150 driven today.
• While I enjoy backroads, interstates like I-40 are less than fun.
• Too many trucks and cars.
• Saturday’s ride to Cuba will be about 100 miles each way.

httpv://youtu.be/BeLkrPkjimo

THE SNEEZE

They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-two students filing into the already crowded auditorium. With their rich maroon gowns flowing and the traditional caps, they looked almost as grown up as they felt.

Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and Moms freely brushed away tears.

This class would NOT pray during the commencements, not by choice, but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it.

The principal and several students were careful to stay within the guidelines allowed by the ruling. They gave inspirational and challenging speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the graduates or their families.

The speeches were nice, but they were routine until the final speech received a standing ovation.

A solitary student walked proudly to the microphone. He stood still and silent for just a moment, and then, it happened.

All 92 students, every single one of them, suddenly SNEEZED !!!!

The student on stage simply looked at the audience and said,

‘GOD BLESS YOU’

And he walked off the stage…

The audience exploded into applause. This graduating class had found a unique way to invoke God’s blessing on their future with or without the court’s approval.

Isn’t this a wonderful story? Pass it on to all your friends………and

GOD BLESS YOU!!!!

This is a true story; it happened at Eastern Shore District High School in Musquodoboit Harbour , Nova Scotia.

I hope this goes around Canada …and the USA ….and the rest of the world!!!

• I took my bike out yesterday to head to the county to sign some paperwork dealing with Lodger’s Tax awards.
• Added a short ride to the morning trip before heading home for a long morning nap.
• It is now a consensus here that Erin will be a handful in school. Poor teachers!
• Between yesterday and the past night, we’ve had 2 vehicles stranded in the parking lot because of mechanical issues and a lack of gas. Both are gone now.
• With all the people shot by cops in New Mexico, the press seems to ignore one salient fact in each article, the fact that the person shot initiated the contact by breaking the law in some manner. Other things are ignored also, but I find the above shocking in its absence. Of course the failure to comply with police orders is also a very big issue. It highlights the stupidity of many.
• This just in: The morning weatherliar is leaving the station to take on the job of chief meteorologist in Portland Oregon. Portland, you have my condolences.
• I’m betting Skippy, the chief weatherliar here, will miss trying to tap her.
• Just received a new pair of jeans yesterday. Carhartts. I may have to make these my new default pants. super comfortable and they make my ass look great!

I read this morning; When an old person dies, it’s like a library burning down. This is the reason I have this blog, to keep my wisdom alive for the ages! You’re welcome.

httpv://youtu.be/WXp5a-VMEBc

• After returning from the bank and other errands, I went home and stayed in bed until 12:30. Erin was tired too, she joined me for this 2 hour nap.
• Did you know that if you want to join this blog and actually write something, all you need to do is send me an email. I actually welcome most to join, except low-life spammer scum. All it takes is an email to me and if you don’t know me, in one form or another, a few words of introduction wouldn’t hurt.
• I know some spammer will read that and do a slow burn. Meh.
• If you don’t have my email address, well then you got a problem. There’s plenty of clues if you’re clever.
• I have my dates set for my summer trip east. Want a clue? It’s in July and I’m bringing Erin and a friend.
• I’m also hoping to head east this month to visit with Mom for a few days. This trip is still up in the air and may not happen.
• I do need a Ledo’s Pizza fix though. Dammit!
• I have a Lodger’s Tax meeting on Friday @ 11:30 @ el Rialto Restaurant. Why at Rialto? I like that place and i’m the boss of  the LTAB!
• You’d think that with all the Tuesdays Nina and I go there that I’d enjoy going elsewhere, but I don’t want to.

this world is full of monsters with friendly faces

• Yep, another Monday. They’re getting old and you’d think someone would replace it with another day of the week.
• Sunday was boring due to weather issues. Rain, snow, sun, clouds, nothing stable.
• ML was talkative yesterday too, which is a pain in the ass. Nina insists on replying and she drowns out the TV. I turn up the volume and so does Nina.

Other things

• Just saw a commercial for a self parking car from Ford. I think that other auto makers are pimping the same feature. I don’t think you should get a driver’s license of you can’t parallel park!
• I may get some 2-wheel time this week. Weather app I found on Saturday shows bright skies and warm weather for today and tomorrow.
• We got ZERO rain at our place yesterday. I knew I should have pulled out the bike to force it to rain. It rained all around us and dodged us completely.
• Banking this morning.
• Erin goes to the clinic this morning. Wellness checkup required by our nanny state government until she’s 10 Tori was told.
• Tori doesn’t want to take her. Maybe I will.

dat’s all