Psilocybin Guide

She agrees that LSD has a clarity that psilocybin lacks, but the State of New Mexico's law authorizes the use of psilocybin, not LSD....so there we go.

As a D.O., Doctor of Osteopathy, she played a major role in getting the law passed and is representing the State of New Mexico at the Psychedelic Science Conference (June 16 - 20) in Denver. 

Men & Emotions

 

Office of Gun Violence Prevention

Gone - hours after inauguration.

About Greg Jackson

Interview with Rob Wilcox February, 2025

Tabitha the Intrepid

The park has a lot of dawgs, so we were delighted to see a cat!

Kent Monkman

Has a show of 41monumental works on display at the Denver art Museum through August 17, 2025.

The link is to a gallery of paintings.

https://www.kentmonkman.com/painting-2020-present/#itemId=67fffed7affb2e55385d7a8b

I don't usually care for representational work, but Monkman's so perfectly parodies the Bierstadts, Morans, and Hans Wholebines I had to mention him.

Painting from Monkman's website: gallery of paintings. 

Link to Denver Art Museum exhibit.

But don't get me wrong, as far as I'm concerned, it's trash art. Nicely executed, but one look and you've seen it; nothing subtle; no reason to look again.

Still, I laughed.

I like this one

Study for Our Women Hold the Power

2024
Acrylic on canvas
24" x 62.5"

Christmas Lights

We were late getting the lights up. It was before the 25th but we'd just started enjoying them when everyone else was celebrating Valentine's. Then, the other day, they pooped out. It was tragic! Today, having decided they're too pretty to take down, we put up a fresh strand.

A much nicer porch-light too.

They're on a light-sensor and turn themselves on/off.

A Walk In the Park

They upped the fentanyl patch to 25mcg, still a very low dose, but it boosted my energy enough that I was able to get up. We went to a nearby park where Michelle took commemorative photos.

Age, having its way with me

The Squidges! Still enthralled after 30 some-odd years!

The hospice social worker recommended a massuese who, after her second visit this past Saturday, has worked a miracle; my hips are pain free and today, for the first time in about a year, I was able to walk more than 20 feet. In fact, I estimate today's "hike" at somewhere close to 600' !!!!

We

Talk About Junk Mail

FINAL NOTICE! Prepare to be hauled off by storm-troopers in jackboots.

            IDLE THREATS

                        

A commemorarive coin set! Not collectible, celebrating aspects of freedom. The versa features a raised arm with fist ala Jesse Jackson, Stokely Carmichael. No mention of ecology, climate, population control. $99.00. 

Her Cottonwood

It was October in Jemez Springs when we met. The cottonwoods were changing as we were about to.

They were already iconic for her and over the ensuing years the became even more so as we camped our way though and around New Mexico, Arizona, beloved Utah, Wyoming, Nevada and California. 8 years we traveled together.

Steve Arrives

After his 6-week tour of Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, Viet Nam, Cambodia and Sri Lanka, he's stopping by to do the things that need doing and that I can no longer do.

Trixie blames Michelle. It's bad enough she has to put up with me.

Steve lives in Denver but travels the world as, he claims, protocol requires of people his age with nothing else to do. 

Deja Foxx - The New Politics

https://dejafoxx.com/

Ms. Foxx's views on "the issues."

https://dejafoxx.com/issues/

Executive Chair

Decades ago when Michelle announced she wanted a new office chair we all thought she'd pick a diminutive secretarial style run-about. 25 years later it's shedding its outer coat but still no rips or tears. And it's as comfy as ever.

Cantaloupe

 

That li'l green sprout.

MAID Came Today

New Mexico's Medical Aid In Dying (MAID) program was the result of years of effort. Over 10 years ago Dr. Gunasegaram, a renowned oncologist at the University of New Mexico Medical Center and I stood on the Court House steps along with several others in support of its implementation. 

After artist Vincent Distasio died from cutting his wrists, his granddaughter testified before the State Legislature about how he was unaffected by morphine. The excruciating pain of his bone cancer drove him to kill himself.

It came in this delightfully macabre black bag.

The presiding physician will open the case and dispense the medication on the day and time I choose. The medication is good until October 5th. The case must be returned.

I wonder who makes the case?

The Penguin Lessons

I rarely go out, but The Penguin Lessons at The Guild Cinema had the right blend of Old Yeller and To Sir With Love.  

The Archer

Some years ago Michelle and her brother Steve made a pilgrimage to the Blue Bunny factory in La Mars, Iowa. I got a cap.

The Release

The Draw

The Stomach

Good Day On The Market

Though I consider myself one of the luckiest in love, I was never able to make any money.

From Trader Joe's 

Lying here hour after hour, day after day, I realized I had all the time in the world to study. I lost $40,000 in the market crash of 2008. I was day-trading and doing okay, not great, but was trading with over $100,000 which, for me, was a significant amount.

The crash left me with a bit of an aversion, but at the start of the year things just looked too good. My curiosity wouldn't leave me alone; I blame the years of associating with cats.

Hoping to get rich, and soon too, I opened a Webull account with $1,500.00. Now, 3 1/2 months later, you can see the bottom line. It's kept me entertained.

Something changed last week. It had a similar feel to when years ago I suddenly realized I was an art dealer. It had taken three years of continuous study including a number of classes at the University in art history and art theory and a tremendous amount of networking and information gathering. But that day I stepped out onto my porch, straightened my tie, shot my cuffs and sauntered off to the gallery knowing I knew what I was doing. Or, at least I had a better idea of it than I'd had before.

A similar change occurred a few days ago with regard to the stock trading. It was subtle and had to do with the feeling that losing no longer felt inexorable. Up until then I'd approached each trade with a sense of dread....almost resignation. Nevermore.

I don't know what to attribute it to. I did stop eating red meat which did seem to reduce the incidence of twinges in my chest, but this is grander...it has to do with my identity. Instead of just being a dying lump on hospice, I'm now a source of income; there's the potential to do good things. I might start a foundation. But the main thing is I now have a sense of optimism; a feeling that things, rather than going down, could go either way. 

Today's trading, or rather "putting on the positions," as it's called, portends some positive results. I'm still in the kiddie pool in terms of numbers of shares. I don't have a lot of money to lose. But what we're looking at here includes the recovery of the $150 lost over the previous two weeks. I'm pleased. And it's only Tuesday; there're three more days of trading.

Concentrator

Process! It's like Bugental says...curiosity and process. 

https://draft.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7680448513888634383/7885177733516665285

It's sort of like trying. I guess it was Yoda that popularized the "You no try! You DO!" As much as this may appeal to The Castaneda Crowd, it lacks appreciation of the things, the process involved, before one "does."

There's:

Hold my beer.

Have you ever done this before?

Is there a Plan B?

Is there an extra key for the handcuffs?

The main thing here is dying..the process of getting to dead.

There are markers along the way. The ever-increasing array of medications. Similar to guinea hens, there're concentrations at the dining table and bedside. They get moved around, regroup, then spread out again.

The hospital bed, with its silent workings.

Yesterday they installed the oxygen concentrator. It buzzes along kinda like a small plane with a half decent muffler. It came rolling up the front walk with an insouciance that belied its purpose. About the size of a smallish Labrador, it has a cuddly physiognomy and the water filter evokes sentiments of Christmas bubble lights. One can almost burst into a carol....Caaaaaaaaatt Oddddoorrrrrrr Reeeeevvvviiiiieewww..,.

The plastic cannula stinks of phenols, those petroleum-based units that determine plastics' flexibility. (Imma check for glass.)

Guylian

It's rare that I find a product worth mentioning. Thirty years ago we discovered these at our local Cost Plus store. Ten years ago they disappeared. And now, TODAY! they've been rediscovered! 

https://www.amazon.com/stores/GuyLian/page/6E6AB9B7-D855-4B28-9F33-C1A135BF5675?lp_asin=B004LDEYFE&ref_=cm_sw_r_mwn_sf_stores_8N8HFF1D8BX7R0RKY4X0&store_ref=bl_ast_dp_brandLogo_sto

And *still* only $9.99!

https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/F722E606-54AD-456B-8542-3E05DE3FEB86?ingress=2&visitId=4a14989d-be3c-47dc-8e3e-26da057a7562&store_ref=bl_ast_dp_brandLogo_sto&ref_=ast_bln

27.Apr.25 -- OOPS! 3 days later I went to order & the price has gone up $2.00. Thank you, President Trump, for those tariffs that're gonna replace income taxes.

Acrylic-Handled Bumbershoot

Susan, Michelle's mom, spent the late '30s and early '40s in New York & Paris where she wore couture. The clear acrylic horse-head handle of her umbrella still glows with the embers of those years.

A striking brunette, fully cognizent of her charms, she had over 40 pairs of shoes.

https://newmexnomad.blogspot.com/2014/03/susans-shooz.html?m=1

We celebrate spring with hyacinths. Their emergence signals the survival of -- yet another winter. We usually get a trio from Smith's. 

Tradition has, in our family, meant a deep delve into the erotic velveteen that affords sensual pleasures. But now the years have left us little more than soft purrings of whose cosiness we nestle amongst. Gone are the flickerings of the tongue that brought forth sweet ecstasies. 

We still decorate eggs.

Many happy returns!!!

Archery Salon

Back in the old days, we used to host salons every other week. We'd have about 10 to 12 folks over and usually it was a potluck. We often had a theme in which people got to demonstrate skills, talents, and other forms of entertainment. One noted scholar demonstrated his turkey call. Who would've guessed

Given my diminished energy and Michelle's loathing and hating of all things social,  we've discontinued the practice, but I needed some kind of social interaction. So I invited over Brett, his partner Victoria and his son Adrian, age 12, for some archery.

Brett got this great video of Victoria letting fly.

Aside from Victoria's exquisite form, the audio is interesting. Turn it up.

First Week of Morphine

I'm ambivalent about my dimensionality. On the one hand, I'm grateful that the body still works. I had a conversation with a friend the other day in which she told of someone who can no longer shit.

On the other hand, the view in the mirror is shocking. Another friend who saw me in the blog about getting on hospice said, "You don't look so good."

When I discovered that a friend and his son both enjoy swimming, I thought to use their enthusiasm to incentivize myself. The pool is in the nearby high school and has lap swim from 6 - 8 weekdays. The parking lot is big and I had to rest awhile once I got inside. 

The gratitude enables me to go forth in public, but just barely. Swim trunks are pushing it. But I keep in mind the two guys in Tucson who were nearly twice my size. They're still my role models.

I'd barely swim swam swummed 20 feet when the angina hit. I walked the rest of the way across and rested for ten minutes before heading back.

I had to ask Brett to bring me a sublingual nitroglycerin in order to muster the energy to get out. I still needed his help.

I spent the rest of the evening watching him and his son enjoy themselves.

It took four "rests" to get to the car. At home I had to take the morphine every two hours instead of every three. By morning I was starting to run low. At 11 a.m. I called the hospice nurse about getting more. A doctor has to authorize the prescription and it can be awhile before they become available.

IAC Contemporary Art

NY        Paris     Albuquerque

Around 6 o'clock this evening the hospice supervisor called to let me know they were doing all they could to encourage the Walgreens pharmacist to fill the prescription, but Plan B was to take me inpatient if they didn't get it done.

Michelle called a few minutes ago to let me know that the pharmacist said it would be ready in about 15 minutes. I've heard good things about the inpatient facility; there are 10 beds and the Supervisor said there're only about five people in it this evening. The background noise gave the impression she was at home. She sounded as relieved as I felt. 

Next time!

Putting A Stop To It

Prime Minister Carney came up with a plan to help the GOP think a little more about its actions.

https://www.adammockler.com/p/canada-silently-killed-trump-with?publication_id=3506104&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email-share&triggerShare=true&r=2c5x1i

Laundry Box Collage

As I wrote in the Youtube "Description," Albuquerque is a cultural wasteland; youse gotz tuh make yer own entertainmints.

Collage!

I needed a box to toss stuff into. Michelle has been making noises about collage and with a project like this, we could collaborate.

Several months ago we'd set up three card tables to work at so it was just a matter of finding the time. Then! There it was! Three whole days with no cat-sits! Given that our days begin around 11 a.m.-ish, it was truly an astounding accomplishment! And we took our time.

We work well together, donchewtink?

If The Insurrection Act is called into play

 

https://wagingnonviolence.org/2025/04/what-to-do-if-the-insurrection-act-is-invoked/

Dr. Cali

Young fellow. Aware of the CIIS program for psychedelics.  Aware of their potential for reducing anxiety around death.

He was reassuring as far as pain management. Didn't push MAID. Said all they really have is morphine though. He acknowledged the drawback of it being befuddling. 

I described the subtle deterioration. He said it's par for the course; I'm on course...

with a faire breeze.

       and only a little flatulence. 🥸

           Beans, beans, the musical fruit...

34th Anniversary

 

We married in '93. Then, when I became aware I was going to have a heart attack, we made it legal in 2018. The only thing that changed was after 9 months she could inherit my social security.

https://newmexnomad.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-squidges-get-married.html?m=1

Their New Rig

They got a lot of use out of their 16' Casita, but there came a time when it needed to be sold. Then the Volvo died. On their way to the Volvo dealership they saw an Alto. Made in Montreal, they managed to squeak one through to Durango, Colorado before the tariffs. They'll pick it up sometime next month with the new V60.

The Tow Car

Granted Hospice

It's bestowed, like a benediction. We got a 9 x 12 envelope with a strong magnet for the refrigerator.

7:30 pm - 1st dose of morphine to relieve the pain of angina. 

The morphine takes effect quickly; there's a slight euphoria. Having signed my death warrant - the agreement to receive services - the relief from pain reminds of Faust's pact w the devil.

When asked about religion I affirmed my commitment to sybarism.

Esmerelda was the best!

Bedside Komode

They're Not Waiting For Summer

My stomach, encroachingly substantializing over the last 20 years, has, this last year, ballooned into a prodiousness that April, my weekly massuese, is convinced is octuplets.

The angina flares as I hobble to the ceramic defecatorium less than 15 feet away. Thank the gods for indoor plumbing! Meds are needed every five hours, augmented with ginger capsules to help stave off the nausea.

Life infuses around 5 pm in time for a baaahth; to assemble dinner or a cake. On a good day I "exercise" as April has encouraged by swinging my legs backward; forward motion being constrained by arthritis in both hips. 

Almost completely bedridden, I read and play the stock market. If I'd held QBTS last week I'd be $400.00 richer. But I'm studying William J. O'Neil's method & sold when it dropped below 14% (O'Neil says SELL at 7%). I watched with chagrin as it picked itself up, dusted off and at the end of the week clambered back up leaving me $60.00 poorer. 

And last week my cardiologist washed her hands of me. When I asked about further pain management she said when things get bad I should goto the E.R.  I called a couple of E.R.s and they said they'd need to use an I.V. to administer anything and since my Advance Directives clearly state NO INVASIVE TECHNIQUES, I'm out of luck. 

I recently got a deal on a subscription to the Wall Street Journal, Barron's, Market Watch and Investor's Business Daily -- all for seven bucks a month -- and read with interest of Dr. Kahneman going to Switzerland to "check out."

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-american-nobel-laureate-daniel-kahneman-revealed-to-have-died-by-assisted-suicide/amp/

I'm considering it. My sister lives in Bad Kreuznach, Germany and would, I think, help me navigate. After all, it's obviously time to leave the country. 

Resignation

Someone, perhaps it was Laura Huxley that said: the challenge of olde age is adaptation. 

Then there's resignation. 

DIAPER DISPENSOR

Every Mens' Room Should Have One

Drawing by Michelle Cook

Musk: To the Polish foreign minister

Be quiet, small man. There is no substitute for starlink.

My god!!!! Unbelievably rude!! 

Ben Meidas

Phoebe's Wishful Thinking

The Volvo died as they were leaving for The Springs. She got excited about car-shopping and settled on the new Lexus GX-550 Trailtuff. 

Gearjunkie article

Bryon Dorr of Gearjunkie has a 2013 he added Scheelmann seats to. Now Phoebe wants one. There's only the driver's so it's not that much to ask.

Bryon's 2013

Photos are UNattributed but

Imma gonna surmise Byron took it.

Here're some gallery shots of a CJ. The 8+ photos give the idea. 

https://scheel-mann.com/pages/60-series

Carol's 80th

 

Sunnyside Up

 The unchanging zeitgeist of the town...

Gallup - Non-partisan

 The Gallup poll on duh gubmint...from Feb 6 - 13th

https://news.gallup.com/poll/656891/trump-job-approval-rating-congress-jumps.aspx

A DOGE Cancelled Contract

Listed on DOGE's site under SAVINGS is this contract for a cool 7.5 million with

https://hcnglobal.com/

Here's the contract as seen on FPDS. The amount is upper right. Forest Service below & left of amount and Hispanic Communications Network LLC at lower left. 

I'm woke, but this looks like pork barreling. 

My guess is Bud drinkers don't wanna hang out w people who drink Corona beer. I mean, a corona is the ridge around the head of a penis, ain't hit?