Yesterday the Arizona Daily Star published an article titled “31 songs that have the word ‘Tucson’ in them.” Of course, it go my attention so I read the article figuring that one of my favorite singer-songwriters would be included in the 31 songs, Tom Russell, who penned The Ballad of Edward Abbey — he was not. I guess the list was not intended to be comprehensive.
It was in the town of Tucson in Nineteen Eighty-Three A man named Edward Abbey come a walking up to me He pulled his cigar from his mouth, said, «I smell lawyers here» The politician, running-dogs, they crawled away in fear Singing do-ra-do Singing do-ra-day Ed walked across the desert at least a thousand times He spoke with javelina, slept ‘neath piñon pine And if he saw a billboard there, he’d chop that bastard down Said, if a man can’t piss in his own front yard, he’d never keep close to town Singing do-ra-do Singing do-ra-day Lord, I wish Edward Abbey were walking round today Ed had a taste for women, in fact he married quite a few He said, «I’d fall in love, boys, but I’m only passing through You know I like ’em all, boys, and some more than the rest I’ve tried my hand at monogamy, now I’m off to save the west Singing do-ra-do Singing do-ra-day Ed died one day at sundown in his Tucson riding shack They wrapped him in a sleeping bag and drove him way out back Beneath the wild saguaro, the coyotes chewed his bones And on a hidden marker, was ‘No Comment’, carved in stone Singing do-ra-do Singing do-ra-day Yeah, I wish Edward Abbey were walking round today Now I’m living in the desert, but the town is a-closing in Those cracker box developments, Ed would call a sin We stole this land from the Mexican and now we’ll sell it back And they’ll live like mortgage prisoners in those goddamn housing tracts Tell me, who votes for the mountain lion, tell me, who votes for the fox Who votes for the spotted owl who hides there in the rocks I wish that Ed would come again with a chainsaw in his hand And carve all up those housing tracts and take on back the land Singing do-ra-do Singing do-ra-day Yeah, I wish Edward Abbey were walking round today
I’ve been watching the pattern hummingbirds seen to follow coming to the feeder on our patio, especially when I’m on the patio. I divided it into three stages, and I created a short video of those stages.
Re Ann, Justice, and Katelyn after Katelyn’s Graduation on May 28, 2022 — Image by kenne
“Wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they’ve faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.
Don’t worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.”
— from Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young by Mary Schmich
I don’t know, why I don’t Put it out baby We kiss and the flames Just get higher But yeah I know When I hold onto you baby I’m all tangled up in barbed wire I get burned, I don’t learn I’ll be back, give it time Yeah, I know it sounds crazy But guess I like playing with fire
Mike Durbin Talking To Blues Friends (Ken & Mary’s Blues Project, May 2017) — Photo-Artistry by kenne
The Blues Project
They called it a project, a Blues Project, but really, it was a party — a party for family and friends to share happy times, talk about living life, and a love for good old blues music.
Once this party began there would be no stopping it, even when forced undercover of rain, friends laugh and talk about déjà vu the evening had become.
Just sitting on the front porch doing that front porch thing telling stories now embellished by all the good times dancing and singing the night away in the woods off Old Houston Road.
The Blues Project may be over so listen, the night will lead you to the music, the stories told, and smile one more time for each house concert was just a rehearsal for what our tomorrow’s will bring.
— kenne
Kenneth Harris shares the story of how Ken & Mary’s Blues Project came about. (May 20, 2017)
Mr. V (James Vaughn) of Mr. & Mrs. V on Houston’s 90.1, KPFT — HDR Image by kenne
Mike Durbin of the Moe Hansum Band — Image by kenne
The Houston Blues community is feeling the pain. Two of the communities well known personallities past away this past week. To hornor the memory of these Houston friends, I’m sharing a Diunna Greenleaf video I posted several years ago — Growing Up and Growing Old in the Fellowship of Family and Friends.
Amazon Rainforest Sunset (August 2019) — Image by kenne
Spending time on the river walking its banks, seeing the variety of wildlife, that lingers there, makes for beautiful paintings and photographs, for people to admire.
![Strawberry field forewer [Explore 2023-05-30 #1]](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52938290739_54fc88d448_s.jpg "Strawberry field forewer [Explore 2023-05-30 #1]")
Becoming is Superior to Being 