#i am a colorado native

[greenvertumna]

Lobster used to be food for prisoners and poor people and that makes me mad. I love lobster and apparently rich people stole it

[ivorysorrows]

I absolutely need to make the woods around my cottage even more sinister

[toxycodone]

ship. captain grant mccurley (curly) x reader

content. general hcs + sfw + romantic

an. hehe u guys know i love doing these big ass hc posts to like. characterize and get a feel for how I write for characters sooo yaaaay enjoy this

general curly hcs (feat. the Tulpar crew near the end)

as much as I love scottish/irish/british curly,,,,he is american born. HEAR ME OUT. his parents/grandparents are immigrants buuuut this man is all american (where it counts ig).

he's from Colorado! his family mostly lives around there/mid america. He grew up playing a lot of winter sports (hence his love for it). As a kid he played ice hockey for sure and lost a tooth. there's a polaroid at his mom's place with him smiling happily after a game with a bloodied tooth in between his fingers

but as a pre-teen/teen he moved to the south. somewhere around the mid-south/mississippi basin. as sad as he was to leave Colorado behind, he latched onto southern culture sooo fast. I am a huge southern transplant Curly believer.

And this is when he meets jimmy. They went to 8th grade and high school together. After witnessing Jimmy's terrible ass home life, curly kinda latches onto him. It's a weird mix of being way too empathetic, his savior complex, and just desire to be useful/helpful/etc.

Jimmy basically lived with Curly his junior and sophmore years of high school. His household was abusive and terrible so Curly's own parents let him "sleep over". He has his own toothbrush, loofa, shower products, etc at Curly's. He didn't even ask for them either, Curly and his dad got them out shopping once.

^ Jimmy is thankful but oh my GOD does he resent curly for having such an unproblematic home life. curly has vented about his parents being too overprotective or something before and jimmy lashes out at him for it (oof)

Curly sticks up for Jimmy way. too. much. As much as he cares, it's actually kinda toxic. Curly never lets Jimmy face the consequences of his own actions, downplays all his shit, doesn't take the warning signs Jimmy clearly exhibits...he kinda acts as a barrier to Jimmy growing up and learning to be himself alone.

And on the other hand, Jimmy is way to enabling of this. It's easy. Simple. He latches onto Curly and like. feels threatened by any new friends, romantic interests, etc.

when Curly starts working for the Pony Express (an actual REAL career that takes Curly away from Jimmy)...Jim spirals. yeah.

He goes to jail. and when Curly gets back from his haul, the first thing he does is bail him out, co sign shit for him, etc. So again, Jimmy doesn't face the consequences of his actions. (and we see how that plays out in game...)

BUT YEAH. Jimmy is a mississippi native and he and curly do so much country ass shit together. hand fishing for catfish, mudding, hunting, all that jazz. they are avid rodeo fans too. Curly goes every year (he's tried to compete. broke his wrist doing those calf cathcing/tie down things i think)

Curly and the Tulpar crew have been together for a handful of hauls. (I mean in-game dialogue suggests this too). Knowing people that long means he's a well respected captain and they're kinda a little family!

Swansea is tough to work with, but actually respect's curly. This is bc Curly skirts by the typical PE rules, but not in a bad way. He's really adamant about safety and following protocol, which Swansea respects (although it's annoying). But the 5 hours of rest rule? Curly thinks that's ridiculous. As long as the work is being done, Curly doesn't count break time. So there's plenty of blankets or pillows lying around the common room in case anyone needs a nap on one of the couches. Curly also advises everyone have a blanket and pillow in their work areas during shifts for "comfort" (it's just code for everyone to catch some sleep outside of the time they spend in their quarters).

Curly also makes sure they have game nights + shared meals +etc. He counts these as "meetings" or "team building exercises" when sending reports to corporate.

Curly and Anya haven't been together too long compared to the others. The Tulpar haul is her second haul with Curly, but they've known each other for at least 3+ years and are pretty comfortable with each other. Curly made sure she felt as comfortable as possible being the only girl on their team. (well. yknow. until that ultimately gets tested.) But I think Anya and Curly aren't extremely close which explains why she doesn't immediately come to him w issues + why Curly doesn't deal w Jimmy in a harsher way (it's a combination of Curly being sleep deprived, favoring Jimmy, and ultimately his own paranioa and shortcomings. Curly has a real problem confronting Jimmy bc of his past w lashing out).

Curly is an insomniac. Not on Earth, but on hauls most definitely. He has a lot of anxiety about hauls (which he chalks up to being "normal") and the monotony of them drives him crazy. He's constantly a little sleep deprived.

He picked up weight lifting as a hobby on hauls bc cardio is like. impossible on that ship and it makes him feel good. <3 When he doesn't have access to the gym he does pull ups on loose bars on the Tulpar and stuff lol. He has a few weights and crap though. And that Pony Express brand protein powder is hella useful for cutting.

sfw + romantic

Oh he most definitely doesn't have a partner on earth. It's why he's facing his mid life crisis shit because he's like my god. all this work and status and nothing to show for it wtf. I think he really wants to have a relationship, but most people don't want to put up with the fact he's gone for about a year or so. off planet. with little communication.

On the Tulpar he keeps it in his pants. Curly is a professional and does his best to continue acting that way. But no one really comes onto him anyways? (if they did. my God I think he would be very weak to it.)

He has rizz. Like. Mr. Grant McCurley can fucking flirt like a champ. If he wants you he will make it clear. Ask you out for drinks. Then pay at the end. He makes it clear he's not expecting anything either?? Total southern gentleman shi

Insists on only giving a cheek kiss after the first date too like sheeesh (he's playing the waiting game with you. trying to keep you wanting HIM yeah he's good).

I like to think he's more traditional when it comes to romance like...dates weekly or bi weekly. Gives you flowers and chocolates and stuff. He actively pursues you and its soooooo <3333

No sex until at least after the third or fourth date too like. AGAIN. WAITING GAME. wants you to initiate that stuff (but he'll give hints like putting his hand on your knee and letting it trail up your thigh. YEAH)

He's the type who is always planning his life with you in it. Like, he's gotta have your fave snacks/drinks in his pantry/fridge. You have your own stuff at his apartment before you move in (that he bought, btw. he takes note when he visits ur place). His apartment feels like your home away from home. <3

He definitely rubs his stubble on you to annoy you when he gives you hugs. ewwww i hate men (im lying)

ok idk what else to write but. he used to use old spice but now uses a calvin klein cologne that man smells GOOD ASF

ok thats all i got enjoy

[annieqattheperipheral]

HER STORY IS INCREDIBLE EVERYONE SIT DOWN AND LEARN FROM THIS QUEEN ⤵️

Kiana Scott, who played minor hockey system for 11 seasons, including four seasons on boys teams, gravitated to scouting from watching her brother’s games and critiquing his strengths and weaknesses.

Unaware of jobs available in hockey, she enrolled in makeup artistry college after high school, but knew her heart was in the sport.

She eventually enrolled in an online hockey general manager scouting course.

Scott joined the International Scouting Service Hockey mentorship program in 2018 and scouted for the service for two years while holding down two jobs.

“I love scouting future prospects, and the evaluation process,” she said. “I think that's kind of where my passion lies. It's just the evaluation process. And it's exciting, building a team.”

Scott spent two seasons as a full-time scout for Erie before she took a bold step and left the organization to move to Calgary and became an independent scout in June 2022.

“I just kept practicing my craft and kind of paid my own way, like, throughout the whole year,” she said. “All of the tickets to every game, all of my travel expenses, everything. I just put all my money into scouting and trying to evolve and then I ended up getting my (Avalanche) internship the next year.”

Scott had some financial help from her family for the move and she supplemented her income by working as a bartender at a Calgary casino, a job with hours that allowed her to scout games.

If all that wasn’t enough, she also enrolled in the University of Florida’s online sports management program.

“I've always had the mindset to just keep betting on myself and working hard and evolving,” she said. “I think I've taken a lot of risks to get to where I am, but I wouldn't try to change the journey for anything.”

Scott said she hopes women, women of color and people who don’t come from a so-called “traditional” hockey background will follow her on the journey.

“I grew up playing hockey, but I didn’t play professional hockey, I didn’t go to college or university for hockey,” she said. “I just had a passion for it. I love scouting. I worked at it, and I continue working at my craft.

“People that don’t necessarily come from the traditional background, I hope they see themselves in me and believe that they can put their minds to it and get it done.”

-----

The 2024 NHL Draft was as eventful for Kiana Scott as it was for the players who were selected in the seven-round event at Sphere in Las Vegas last month.

The 25-year-old Barrie, Ontario, native signed with the Colorado Avalanche at the draft to become a full-time amateur scout, fulfilling a goal she has had since she was a teenager.

“This is something that I've worked really hard for my whole career to be able to sign my first NHL contract,” Scott said. “I was elated. The Avs have been really good for me the past year, and I’m excited to keep building with them.”

Scott joined the Avalanche after working as an intern for the organization.

Colorado general manager Chris MacFarland said he and executive director of hockey operations Suzanne Borchert “were impressed with her work ethic and her passion."

MacFarland said: “Kiana was on our radar when she was scouting in major junior circuits ... and it worked that a few years ago we had an internship opportunity for her.

“She did a good job in that role and was an integral part of our amateur scouting department. We’re excited to see her contributions moving forward in her full-time role as an amateur scout.”

-----

Scott made history when she became the first woman scout in the Ontario Hockey League with Erie in March 2020.

She was among the initial of a wave of women who were hired in recent years as scouts at all levels of hockey, including Cammi Granato (Seattle Kraken), Blake Bolden (Los Angeles Kings), Krissy Wendell-Pohl (Pittsburgh Penguins), Meghan Hunter (Chicago Blackhawks), Gabriella Switaj (Anaheim Ducks) and Brigette Lacquette (Chicago Blackhawks).

Granato moved on from Seattle to become an assistant general manager for the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 10, 2022, and Hunter was promoted to assistant GM by the Blackhawks on June 22, 2022.

“When I first started scouting, I didn’t know of any women in the industry already,” she said. “Cammi Granato got her job with the NHL a year after I started scouting. That’s when I kind of knew it was possible. But I never had anyone to look up to. I just had this dream and the passion for hockey. I knew that I had to the talent and skill to do it, and to try to keep building on them.

"That’s what I’ve always gone off on -- keep evolving, never give up on what you love.”

[southwest-pottery-bracket]

Preliminaries: War of the Utility Wares!

Most pottery you find in archaeological sites isn't painted. Most pottery is unslipped, undecorated utility ware - with the assumption that "utility" typically here means "cooking over a fire." Sometimes grain storage. Usually cooking, though.

It doesn't mean they can't be beautiful in their own right. And one of my friends is working on a dissertation which among other things argues that "surface treatments" like incising and corrugation should be considered "decoration" too, when usually in archaeology "decorated" means "painted." There were lots and lots and lots of types of utility wares. Some were plain. Some were gorgeous.

So this is a Preliminary Round - four different styles traditionally called utility ware will go up against each other... only two will move on to represent utility wares in the final bracket.

Vote for your favorite: More information about each is under the cut:

Corrugated

Mesa Verde Corrugated jars. Southern Colorado, AD 1100-1300.

There are SO many different types of corrugated pottery; if I listed them all we'd be here all day. However, they all have commonalities: They were primarily (though not exclusively) made in the Mogollon cultural region, primarily (though not exclusively) plain and unpainted, and primarily (though not exclusively) used for cooking.

In this region, potters don't use pottery wheels. Pots are hand-built, typically from coil-building: using many thin coils to build up the shape of the pot. For most pots, those coils are scraped smooth as they're still wet. But for corrugated pots, those coils are only scraped smooth on the inside. The outside coils are instead pressed using a tool or the potter's thumb to make a patterned, scaled, or woven texture. Corrugation, due to its association with cooking pots, is not typically considered "decoration" by archaeologists, but it creates beautiful and captivating patterns.

Micaceous

Micaceous Bowl with Etched Flowers. Made by Virginia Romero (Taos Pueblo, 1896-1998).

In northern New Mexico, there are golden-red clays with a lot of sparkly mica in them. The mica self-tempers the clay, and creates a lovely shimmering effect when you see the pots in person. There's evidence of polished micaceous pottery being made as early as the 1300s, but it really took off as a popular type of cooking ware in the 1500s-1600s. In this time, it was made primarily by norther Pueblos like Taos, Picuris, and Nambe, but was enthusiastically adopted by the Jicarilla Apache as well, who have strong social ties to those northern Pueblos. Cimarron Micaceous, the handled jar seen above the cut, is a 1600s Apache micaceous pottery style.

Micaceous pottery is still extremely popular with Native potters today. Some of it is as an art form, with many different experiments in structure and style, but some people still swear by cooking in these micaceous clay pots - beans just taste better when cooked in clay instead of metal!

Incised

Taos Incised jar sherd. Northern New Mexico, AD 1050-1300.

Incised ware is SO underappreciated. However I am also biased because for the past three or four summers I have worked on an archaeology project in the Taos area and we find so much of it.

Incised designs are carved into the wet clay. Usually, these are not painted. Incised pottery is very common on the Great Plains, but less so in the Southwest. The Northern Pueblos like Taos and Picuris, however, has long-standing interactions with Plains groups, trading corn and buffalo hides, holding market days together, Picuris and Taos people fleeing the Spanish invasion to live in Kansas with their Apache allies. This is also visible in the sharing of pottery styles in the northern Pueblos, where incised ware is common. Parallel lines that mimic corrugation, chevrons, and herringbone patterns are common.

Plain Smudged

Reserve Plain Smudged, Mogollon Highlands, AD 600-1250.

As I described in my pottery jargon post, "smudging" is a method of getting that shiny black interior during the firing stage. During firing, different levels of oxygen will cause the minerals in the clay to turn different colors. An oxidized environment (high oxygen) turns iron-rich clays red; a recducing atmosphere (restricted oxygen) plus an infusion of carbon turns them black. To smudge a pot, the inside is polished, and then in the firing pit is covered with ash and charcoal. This puts a lot of carbon on the surface, and blocks the oxygen from reaching it. When the pot comes out of the fire, the part that was covered in charcoal will be shiny black. This was another pottery style particularly popular in Mogollon areas.

[trifoliate-undergrowth]

The thing about politics and administration changes are that they affect so many different branches of government. Personally I am at the moment sad about losing Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland.

Deb Haaland is the first Native American Cabinet secretary, a 35th-generation New Mexican and an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna. She's especially passionate about environmental issues, climate change, healthcare for all and missing and murdered indigenous peoples. She created the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, an investigation of old boarding schools which came after the discovery of the mass grave at Kamloops. This would be "an effort to document known schools and burial grounds, including those with unmarked graves" and to, where possible, return remains to their families/nations. (x) She also created a new Missing and Murdered Unit to "pursue justice for missing or murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives" which has investigated 728 MMIP cases and solved 263 missing persons cases and 8 murders.

I'm currently a seasonal NPS employee so I've been getting weekly update emails from her office, and she includes her pronouns in her signature, which is encouraging to see. She also un-banned NPS uniforms at pride after there was a kerfuffle with that.

She's visited various corps and volunteer organizations (none that I was in. I'm not jealous!...), including Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps, shown here in Canyons of the Ancients National Monument in Colorado:

She's rejoiced at fish progress:

(x)

(X)

And this is just an incredible picture:

(X)

She was present at Biden's historic apology for government-funded boarding schools, an apology which was suggested as part of the road to healing in the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative Investigative Report. This was also the first time a sitting president has visited Tribal lands in 10 years.

Secretary of the Interior is a president-appointed position and she will almost certainly be replaced in January. We got an email from her about a 'peaceful transition' which sounds like she knows she's on her way out. In the (paraphrased) words of my self-proclaimed moderate republican christian coworker, 'It's too bad, I liked her. Trump isn't going to want a Native American. He's going to appoint a middle-aged white businessman to maximize the profits of the National Park System so we can pay for ourselves and so he doesn't have to give us as much of a budget.' Everyone I've talked to has been sad about likely losing her as Secretary of the Interior.

Though many Department of the Interior employees will miss her and in my opinion the department will suffer without her, she'll still be around and now that I know she exists I'm going to make sure to follow her next projects, whatever those may be.

(X)

[vngndr]

happy Small Business Saturday to those that observe ✌️ i'm Eli, a queer disabled man living in Colorado currently trying to make a living off of my artisan work on my Etsy.

some of you may have seen it in the post about the new earrings in the shop yesterday, but on the Indigenous Day of Mourning, 100% of profits from all sales on that day are being donated to the Native American Rights Fund. if you missed that, though, don't worry - 25% of all sales from today (11/25) till December 5th will be split evenly between NARF and the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund. and that's 25% off of sales, not just profit - before expenses are even taken out, so more can go to a good cause.

i really wish i could give more from the shop, but as i said before, i am physically disabled and out of work as a result and right now, the shop is my only source of income. by shopping with me during this period, though, you'll not only be helping keep me afloat, but also supporting two incredibly important organizations in the fight for Indigenous rights.

check out the shop and pick up something today HERE.

[teamfreewill2pointo]

I have heard that both Jensen and Danneel are really digging Connecticut and their new home. I am curious what made them decide on Connecticut, as I thought Danneel’s ideal home would be Louisiana and Jensen has said his was a mountain home in Colorado. Maybe they tried Jensen’s, and Danneel’s too ( they rented an old home in NOLA while filming TW), and decided neither was ideal? Any thoughts? Glad they appear happy in CT. Note, I am a CT native, so a little biased.

I have also heard that they are enjoying their new home.

Now this is totally my bias, and they are very different people than I am, but I think it was about the connections and schools. I hear Danneel is very happy with the new school. My source didn't mention Jensen's opinion on it, but I assume it is the same.

I don't know much about schooling in NOLA and Colorado, but I do know Texas has a horrible reputation. Yes, you can pay for private, but CT has some very elite schools.

[wachinyeya]

https://ictnews.org/news/biden-designates-avi-kwa-ame-a-national-monument

Joe Biden designates Avi Kwa Ame a national monument

President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday Avi Kwa Ame as a national monument in Nevada, following up on a promise he made in late 2022.

Biden also declared a national monument in Texas and the creation of a marine sanctuary in U.S. waters near the Pacific Remote Islands southwest of Hawai'i.

Biden spoke at the White House Conservation in Action Summit at the Interior Department with Fort Mojave Indian Tribal Chairman Timothy Williams commending him during his introduction.

“Under his leadership we have a seat at the table and we are seeing an unprecedented era and opportunity for our tribal communities,” Williams said. “And we are all grateful to the president for taking historic action to combat the climate crisis and conserve and restore our nation’s land and waters.”

Williams was among the proponents to make Avi Kwa Ame, also known as Spirit Mountain, a national monument. It’s considered sacred to the Mojave people and for the nine other Yuman-speaking tribes along the Colorado River, as well as the Hopi and Chemehuevi Paiute tribes, Williams said.

The site in southern Nevada spans more than 500,000 acres near the Arizona and California state lines. It’s home to bighorn sheep, desert tortoises and a large concentration of Joshua trees, some of which are more than 900 years old. It’s also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

It took more than three months for Biden to make the announcement.

“It’s a place of reverence, it’s a place of spirituality, it’s a place of healing and now it will be recognized for its significance it holds and be preserved forever,” Biden said. “I look forward to visiting it myself.”

He thanked Williams and the legislative leaders who advocated for Avi Kwa Ame including Nevada Rep. Dina Titus, Democrat, who sponsored a bill to protect the rugged region near the Mojave National Preserve from development, including solar farms and a proposed wind farm.

“To the native people who point to Avi Kwa Ame as their spiritual birthplace, and every Nevadan who knows the value of our cherished public lands: Today is for you,″ Titus tweeted.

The Honor Avi Kwa Ame coalition, which includes tribes, local residents, state lawmakers and conservation groups, said its members were "overjoyed" to learn the site will be a new national monument.

"Together, we will honor Avi Kwa Ame today — from its rich Indigenous history, to its vast and diverse plant and wildlife, to the outdoor recreation opportunities created for local cities and towns in southern Nevada by a new gorgeous monument right in their backyard," the group said.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland released a press release praising the announcement.

“I am grateful to President Biden for taking this important step in recognition of the decades of advocacy from tribes and the scientific community, who are eager to protect the objects within its boundaries,” Haaland stated.“Together with tribal leaders, outdoor enthusiasts, local elected officials, and other stakeholders, we will manage this new monument for the benefit of current and future generations.”

In Texas, Biden plans to create the Castner Range National Monument in El Paso. It’s the ancestral homeland of the Comanche and Apache people, and its cultural ecology is considered sacred to several Indigenous communities.

The designation will protect the cultural, scientific and historic objects found within the monument's boundaries, honor U.S. veterans, service members and tribal nations, and expand access to outdoor recreation on public lands, the White House said.

Located on Fort Bliss, Castner Range served as a training and testing site for the U.S. Army during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The Army ceased training at the site and closed Castner Range in 1966.

The Castner Range monument "will preserve fragile lands already surrounded on three sides by development,'' help ensure access to clean water and protect rare and endangered species, said Rep. Veronica Escobar, Democrat-Texas.

“The people of El Paso have fought to protect this for 50 years. Their work has finally paid off,” Biden said.

Biden designated his first national monument, in Colorado, last year. In 2021, he restored the boundaries for Bears Ears National Monument in Utah after they were significantly narrowed by President Donald Trump, a Republican.

In the Pacific, Biden will direct the Commerce Department to consider initiating a new national marine sanctuary designation within 30 days to protect all U.S. waters around the Pacific Remote Islands. If completed, the 777,000 square miles, southwest of Hawaii, will help ensure the U.S. reaches Biden's goal to conserve at least 30 percent of ocean waters under U.S. jurisdiction by 2030, the White House said.

Among Hawaiian state leaders, Biden thanked Native Hawaiian leaders who “worked tirelessly to protect our oceans. I want to thank you. I genuinely mean it, it wouldn't have happened without you.”

Biden also announced a series of steps to conserve, restore and expand access to public lands and waters across the country, the White House said.

The proposals seek to modernize management of America's public lands, harness the power of the ocean to help fight climate change, and better conserve wildlife corridors. Biden also will announce new spending to improve access to outdoor recreation, promote tribal conservation and reduce wildfire risk.

Bidden added he’s committed to working with tribal leaders and legislative leaders on bringing “healthy and abundant” salmon run back to the Colorado River system.

“There’s nothing beyond our capacity if we work together,” Biden said.

[revretch]

Revretch I am back with more made up bio questions, what would it take to make a beetle (true beetle!) to be like, a MASSIVE threat of an invasive species across all environments but its own native island? Basically I have this beetle that eats a lot, but on its own island this isn't an issue because the grubs are eaten up when they're still in the ground and population is kept low. I wanna know how I could make this the most fucked up invasive beetle possible because it's extremely useful for medicine which has created a black market for it, and I think as dungeon master I can have my players do a lil environment mission, as a treat for me

Well, it's not just a matter of how much it eats, it's a matter of what it eats. Any important crop--or several--being targeted by a particularly prolific beetle spells trouble.

The khapra beetle is one of the 100 worst invasive species in the world. It infests all kinds of grains, cereals, rice, dried beans, seeds, etc. etc. It can survive long periods without food or water, and is resistant to many insecticides. It can also cause horrible allergic reactions.

It's also a matter of how prepared the people in those environments are for it.

Before pesticides, boll weevils were a tremendous problem (and still are, though to a lesser degree). The effects of their devastation of cotton crops decimated much of the American South's economy and substantially altered American history. Even now, according to Wikipedia, 90% of Brazilian cotton crops are infested by them.

There's also the Colorado potato beetle. After WWII, nearly half of all potato fields in East Germany were infested by it. Again, pesticides helped. (Though, of course, at a horrifying environmental cost, but that's another discussion.)

So, really, you just need to figure out which crops are the lynchpins of your setting's societies, and have the beetle pull that out from under them. Being as invulnerable as the khapra beetle is a bonus. For extra tenacity, you could even make its diet as diverse as the mealworm's--they can get by on styrofoam.

[elbiotipo]

Are you familiar with the Salton Sea? Your post about the Colorado River reminded me of it, not only did US farmers steal an entire river from Mexico, they also ACCIDENTALLY created the largest lake in California from it, because of an irrigation canal flooding, and after only a few decades it started rapidly shrinking, exposing toxic dust and becoming hypersaline so all the life in it died and the whole surrounding area smells like rotting fish

Yes I am! It is one of the biggest enviromental disasters in the US, so big that it can be seen from space. It flooded several towns and a Native reservation. For a while, it seemed like it was an oasis on the area, people made resorts and even stars like Frank Sinatra visited it, until, just like scientists warned, the lake began to dry up, leaving toxic hypersaline dust (I also believe the mass use of agrochemicals in California's Central Valley accumulated there too) and one of the worst-smelling, most awful lakes in North America, which is contributing to pollution all over the region. The state of California spends millions trying to undo the damage but it continues.

One really sad but morbid thing is that birdwatchers used to visit it a lot, but since it's so hypersaline, the poor birds you see around are actually dying from thirst.

I also believe some scenography in Fallout: New Vegas was based on the Salton Sea, it's that kind of post-apocalyptic:

pretty sure my Courier walked by this exact same spot

Wikipedia has more info on it. It's only one of the multiple disasters by the mismanagement of the Colorado river.

[phoebeyates-archive]

location: providence peak + boulder, colorado

date: 25th august - 11th september 2023

(tw: mentions of anxiety, depression, panic attacks, violence/temper, destruction of property, toxic family dynamics)

It started with a cryptic text.

Call you Friday, coming from the woman who had been evading her daughter’s attempts at communication from the last few months. Phoebe didn’t think to believe it, though it made her head hurt slightly. But she kept her head down, focused on work, seeing her friends, ignoring the unhealthy amount of Nerds Rope wrappers in the trash. Stress eating was normal, she wasn’t going to feel guilty for that.

Then Friday came. And the phone rang. And her mom was on the other side, sounding rested and healthy and, to the ire of Phoebe who had spent a good chunk of her summer worrying, happy.

“Where have you been?!” Phoebe had demanded over her mother’s laissez faire “Guess where I am?!”

“Boulder!” She cheered, as the irritated brunette snapped “where?”, her heart immediately plummetting at the reveal.

“Oh,” All the bite in her voice suddenly ceded, and she sounded all but 12 again. “When did you, uh, get back?”

“About a week, hon,” Lisa said, either uncaring or unaware of her daughter’s deflation in mood. “I was going to get in touch sooner but we had details to sort.” It always irked Phoebe how her mom used faux-European pronunciation on words that didn’t need it.

“We? Details?” She asked, ignoring the tears in her eyes at the knowledge that her mom had been in fucking Colorado for over a week and only now got in touch.

“Oh, sweetie, it feels so wrong giving you this news on the phone but, Ian and I are getting married next Saturday. You’ll come right?”

“Ian? Who’s…in Boulder?” Phoebe was glad she had been lounging on her bed when the phone call came. If she had been stood, she probably would have collapsed by now. The room was already feeling a lot warmer, her chest beginning to heave as it seemingly struggled for air.

“Yes.” Lisa dragged the word out, breaking it into two syllables, and Phoebe could picture her there laid out on a sun lounger somewhere, clinging onto the sorority girl cheerleader persona ruined by her accidental not-quite teen pregnancy. “Phoebe, it’d mean so much if you come. You don’t even need to get a flight, it’s just Boulder.”

Phoebe felt like reminding her mom she had never left the city limits of Providence Peak but thought better of it, out of fear she’d be accused of being difficult. So instead she asked all the right questions; the address, how long she had to be there. Wedding theme. What Ian was like.

It would be cancelled anyway.

Except it wasn’t, and after getting time off approved by Asli, Phoebe packed a suitcase and prayed to a God she didn’t fully believe in that Earl would make it to Boulder without incident, wishing she checked the brake pads beforehand. The drive to Boulder was daunting, and she wished she told someone where she was going, what she was doing. How this town had been the furthest she had ever been from home.

It escalated with a sledgehammer to the wall.

Boulder had been a nice place, many similarities to Providence Peak whilst also having its unique identity. Ian seemed nice enough, but all of her mother’s boyfriends did at the beginning. But it was alarming to her how this man; pushing 60, widowed, no kids, was trying to speed up the process of the nuptials.

They had met in Germany, after Lisa ended things with her last boyfriend, Carl. He had been at the airport bar the day she was supposed to board the plane. He was the reason Phoebe looked foolish at 4am in the airport arrivals, with no one to collect. They had bonded over being Colorado natives unlucky in love, though Phoebe bit her tongue knowing full well Lisa had moved to Colorado for college, originally hailing from Utah.

What Phoebe didn’t bite her tongue about was her mother’s indifference to the hell Phoebe had been put through when it came to the house. How taking out a bigger mortgage to fund her lifestyle had Phoebe struggling to pay the bills, on top of trying to control the heaps of debt the house was in. How the bank has given her a grace period to come up with the money or sell it herself, but she didn’t have the former, or the time or money for the latter.

The argument escalated, and Phoebe may have called Lisa a bad mother. And Lisa may have called Phoebe a deranged selfish brat who constantly made everything negative and ruined her life. And then Phoebe drove back to Providence Peak, sardonically wishing Ian the best and definitely telling her mother to royally fuck herself.

She couldn’t remember getting back to the house, she couldn’t remember drinking a full bottle of wine, and several shots of Scotch from a bottle tucked into the back corner of the otherwise empty pantry. She couldn’t remember grabbing the sledgehammer from the toolbox and swinging it wildly, screaming until her lungs gave out and she collapsed in a pile, sobbing uncontrollably, voice hoarse and throat raw.

When she came to, when she saw the damage that had been done, she felt the guilt and shame wash over her for what felt like a full day. She knew she couldn’t stay here, for a myriad of reasons. And she debated calling someone. Aslihan, Sage, Nadia. But she didn’t want them to see this, to show them the real her: violent, out of control. Deranged. Pathetic.

So instead, she stepped through the mess in a haze, grabbing the unpacked suitcase that stood abandoned by the door. And left it behind.

Phoebe debated getting a hotel in town, changing her mind on the off chance she’d bump into someone she’d know. Opting for a motel just outside city limits, she decided to camp out there for the remainder of her paid vacation, to just think of what to do with the mess she had made.

Her fingers were all cut and bruised. Even her face managed to get caught from the debris falling around her as she swung at the walls and the tacky furniture that sat in her living room for over 20 years. It wasn’t anything major, superficial damage at best. A scratch on her cheek that was no bigger than a dime once she scrubbed the dried blood from her face. It’d be gone by next week.

She just wished she could say the same for the loneliness and anxiety that clung to her like a spider web as she laid in the uncomfortable motel bed that night.

It ended with a morning alarm clock.

Her first day back at work. Her first day back in civilization. Her first day back at the ruins of her childhood home.

And Phoebe Yates would do what Phoebe Yates did best.

Survive.

[rubinaitoart]

I am DYING to see more architecture like this, both in my state—Colorado—and other places too.

Incorporating the growth of (preferably native!) plants into a dense metropolitan area not only looks nice but it helps cut down on heat. Also, you know, the benefit of plants converting carbon dioxide into oxygen, that’s always a plus in areas that see a lot of ozone pollution.

'One River North' Colorado that includes a descending nature trail on its façade.

[scentedchildnacho]

Brian lord and Mogadishu...I guess it's ultra sounds to their heads that caused path staff psychopathy or tough love thief ideation....

University of Arizona...it's illegal to claim a human is completely debted to a mistake so it's ultra sounds that is the a.i.....

October 2024 scientific American....

Michael ondaatje billy the kidd....I guess the car bomb in front of trump towers is the very bad man who ordered military process like Abu ghraib and that's if you expect religionists to burn themselves to death then.....that's the sheriff's friend I guess

German shepherds at white people....and that's just wrong it's a just wrong image

People may attack Elon musk a lot

I guess trump towers had no casualties compared to New Orleans

Believing in a lot of votes for trump then prevent terrorism

Sam Garrett killed Billy the kidd

The British man told me he felt addicted to music so I said not really a drug is a pure introspection without cognition and interesting for its interest in meditation....music is maybe wanting to work too much

Kevin mcmahill and Mathew Alan livelsberger from a base in Germany profiled as voluntarily allowed on leave

Minor injuries and no casualties other then mathew Alan livelsberger

Surveillance advertisement....missing person directly seen crossing Mexican border

The book is mostly about hospitality....

My California at Irvine teacher told me normal people have judged gathered incidents as things I could have been informed of several hours prior instead of four or five minutes

Rushes for votes Venezuela Colombia will be much higher volumes of traffick

Mogadishu they would touch dead bodies if

Image analysis Mathew Alan livelsberger and Kevin mcmahill in training officers and.....secret war of don't hit lady veterans....about Kevin's other friends

Colorado springs people become very interested in schizophrenics from a herman von helmholz perspective of a type of color blindness or ability to see color in ways vivid and ways normal people don't

Only Colorado observatories can produce shut down nuclear armament based colors

I am homeless so I just get weeded out about it trainees in jobs get

Weeds like swearing or disrespect for the lawn and people mow it to just grass not a reference to marijuana

Mayfair cosmetics if a fast food job helps detain homeless

Its this hidden abundance.....

Harvard the native species remind of the Haitian revolution and her ancestors were plantation owners so they find it psychoactive....I find them organics.....

Slaves rise up about health care potentials

I find them like an aspirin

I'm not normal and believe the TV has secret messages for me

[bethestaryouareradio]

All I want for Christmas!

“Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments, embark upon a sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour.” –John Boswell

Since I gratefully have my two front teeth and a loving family, my Christmas dream list includes peace on earth, health, happiness, and journeys to savor nature’s wonders. Since my November wishes materialized as I prayed for rain, I’m hopeful for my December desires.

To explore California’s natural wonders, my family traveled to the Mojave Desert to visit Joshua Trees National Park. It is a marvel of adaptation where Native Americans stewarded the land for thousands of years. The park spans the Mojave Desert in the west and the Colorado Desert in the east, protecting 792,510 acres with over 80 percent (558,000 acres) managed as wilderness.

The jumble of stacked boulders began underground eons ago because of volcanic activity. When the magma rose, it intruded the overlying rock. When the granite cooled and crystalized, it formed huge rock formations with horizontal and vertical cracks, and when it contacted groundwater, the granite continued to uplift. As the soil eroded, scattered across the landscape were huge piles of monzogranite heaps.

In the Mojave Desert, the vegetation includes pinyon, juniper, scrub oak, yucca, prickly pear cactus, and Joshua Trees. The Joshua tree, which can grow to 40 feet or more, is not a tree but a species of yucca. It has waxy, spiny leaves with little surface area exposed, which conserves water. The tree is home to many birds, including Scott’s oriole, red-tailed hawks, ladder-backed woodpeckers, American kestrels, scrub jays, Gambrel quail, and loggerhead shrikes. The chunky songbird, loggerhead shrikes use the Joshua tree’s sharp-pointed leaves to impale their prey! Although we didn’t see any on this adventure, the desert is also home to rattlesnakes, desert tortoises, desert iguanas, and bighorn sheep. We did see plenty of comical roadrunners.

In other areas, we witnessed fluorescent pink blooming periwinkle and the Christmas colors of Pride of Barbados. 

Yet, of all the flora in this vast wonderland, my favorite area was the Cholla Cactus Garden. The cholla, pronounced choy-ya, is a cactus known for its barbed spines that attach themselves to anything that touches it. There are several species of cholla, but the ones we saw were referred to as “teddy bear cactus” because they look so sweet, soft, fuzzy, and fluffy. But don’t be fooled; they are covered with formidable spines. We arrived for a dazzling sunset illuminating the cholla in a sensational spectacle.

Getting more into the holiday spirit, I am admiring Christmas decorations. Growing up on the farm, my parents would light up about two acres of land so that Santa could find our ranch in the darkness. As kids, we always loved the decor and were excited to witness Santa’s reindeer racing across the night sky.

My Fire Chief nephew continues the tradition and never fails to embellish his house with the greatest light display. Since he was a little kid, he has been lighting the way for Santa Claus with his creativity. 

Every year, I look forward to the Christmas tree decorations of family and friends. My friends Linda and Steve, always cut a live tree and adorn it with a different theme annually.

My daughter and her husband would make my parents proud with their animated decorations. They even add music!

At my house, I enjoy harvesting pomegranates not only to eat but to hang as ornaments. Many fruit-bearing trees provide wondrous gifts of nature during December. 

Persimmons, quince, and chestnuts offer exotic flavors for holiday gastronomy. It’s also fun to mix up the colors of your décor. Purple is a favorite festive hue that I employ. Don’t be afraid to experiment and have fun with your choices.

It's important to think about safety, however, when you are doing your decorating. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in 2023, 14,900 individuals were treated in hospital emergency rooms due to decorating-related injuries.

To put the magic in your winter wonderland while keeping your family secure and protected, here are a few suggestions.

ü Find the freshest tree to light up your yuletide. Whether you cut it yourself, or buy it from your favorite lot, look for a tree with green needles that are difficult to pull from the branch. The tree’s bottom needs to be sticky with resin and needles should not fall off when the tree is shaken. ü Keep all trees, branches, and flammable decorations away from fireplaces, radiators, and high-traffic areas. ü Hang stockings on chimneys only when there is no fire burning. ü Buy new lights that have been tested by the Underwriters Laboratory (UL). Make sure that lights for your garden are labeled as outdoor capable. All lights need good wiring, devoid of any broken or cracked sockets, frayed wires, or loose connections. Only use extension cords that are designed for the outdoors and beware of the number of lights sets that may be attached. ü Never add electric lights to metallic ornamentations as you could be exposing yourself to electrocution. ü When climbing ladders, use the buddy system. ü Or contact a trained handyman to hang your lights. Get $150 discount for a service at https://honeyh.me/eXEn

Now you know what I want for Christmas. What’s on your list?

Peace on earth. Goodwill to all. Health, happiness, and celebrate the holly jolly with the magic of Mother Nature. Enjoy the golden moments, sentimental journeys, and the idle hour!

Happy Gardening. Happy Growing. Happy Holidays!

For more gardening advice for all seasons, check out Growing with the Goddess Gardenerat https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/books. Raised in the vineyards of Napa County, Cynthia Brian is a New York Times best-selling author, actor, radio personality, speaker, media and writing coach, as well as the Founder and Executive Director of Be the Star You Are!® 501 c3, which was just honored as the 2024 Nonprofit of the Year by the Moraga Chamber of Commerce. https://www.BetheStarYouAre.org. If you’d like to make a tax-deductable DONATION through PAYPAL GIVING FUND with 100% going to BTSYA with NO FEES go to: https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/charity/1504 .

Find info for Cynthia’s StarStyle® Radio Broadcast (http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/2206/be-the-star-you-are )and the teen radio show, Express Yourself!™ (https://www.voiceamerica.com/show/2014/express-yourself ) at https://www.StarStyleRadio.com.

Her newest children’s picture book, Books in the Barnyard: Oh Deer!, from the series Stella Bella’s Barnyard Adventures is available at https://www.CynthiaBrian.com/online-store. Hire Cynthia for writing projects, garden consults, and inspirational lectures. Cynthia@GoddessGardener.com https://www.CynthiaBrian.com

Wishing you a holly jolly Christmas, Hannukah, Kwaanza, or whatever you celebrate from my family to yours! Merry, Merry, Merry!! Thanks for reading!

[kinesthetic-aesthetics]

ABOUT ME

Hannah 

27

she/her

bi

MA in Literature and Feminist Theory

PNW native and Colorado transplant 

cyclist / runner / swimmer / power lifter 

ABOUT THIS BLOG

This blog is a somewhat organized collection of my novel (s) that I am currently writing. My themes center on women's embodied knowledge-making, embodied erotics, and femme-centered relationships. I would appreciate any feedback/ reader-responses!

The story I’m currently sharing here is titled June July August.

Blurb:

Stevie Robinson has always loved sprinting under the summer sun. Now, in her senior summer, the stakes are higher than ever. She must push herself harder and smarter to reach the times needed for collegiate competition.

But she is not alone in her pursuit. Her coach, August, supports her by giving her the feedback and knowledge to improve her proprioceptive awareness, power, and speed. Her best friend, Ella, is also chasing her swimming time goals. Together, they find courage in their separate athletic goals.

But even with support, Stevie is pressing against her bodily and cognitive limits. Can she sustain her intensity on the track? With her erotic and platonic relationships? Or will she burn out before Summer slips into Autumn?