Southwest @ MindSay

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20644329/

You know, it's amazing what makes the news these days. It seems like the whole world is ruled entirely by jealous people...

Maybe this has already been "blogged" about umpteen million times.

But I just have one, and only one, thing to say...

How the heck else are we supposed to get men to buy us warm Amstel Lights?? Those freaking things are like $7.

Stop hating cute people and start loving them :)

CHICAGO -- Police warned residents on the Southwest Side about a string of home invasions that could be linked to attacks on the Northwest Side.

There were strong similarities with the crimes on the North Side, where the culprits posed as utility workers or repairmen, NBC5's Rob Elgas reported.

Police said at least six people have entered Chicago neighborhoods targeting senior citizens. Some of the ruses used have included claiming to need to inspect cars or property, or being members of utility companies.

In a nine-day crime spree, the men, and possibly women, came to the 4100 block of South Montgomery, and at least four other Southwest Side locations.

"Other attempts, members have also received phone calls prior to the incidents occurring," said Sgt. Gregory Jackson of the Chicago p olice. "They knock on the door, they gain entry. One individual would distract the subjects, as other individuals go through the properties, as well as taking personal properties from the victims."

One woman involved in an attempted invasion the Northwest Side fought back in her own way, Elgas reported. She threw the culprit out. Although it was a defensive move, police said people should call 911 if they suspect something is wrong. Police said in two other cases, two people have been attacked inside their homes.

On the second day of my trip, I spent most of the day going on a hike, in the surrouding country side and canyons.

Of course, several million years ago the whole area was a shallow sea bed.  And there are tons of marine fossils in the surrounding rocks.

It is amazing to me that a group of people lived in this harsh environment.  It seems like everyything around either has thorns or spikes, will bite you or is a sharp rock.  But even in the sheer rock surfaces, if given even the slightest chance, life will take hold.  As shown by this small clump of Bushy Bluestem.

The predominate flora of the area is Ocotillo and Sotol. Ocotillo is leaf-less most of the year and  looks like a cactus, but is actually closer related to roses.  It will leaf out after a small shower and sometimes produce a beautiful red blooms.

The Sotol was a primary food source for the Lower Pecos People and is pictured heavily in their Rock Art.   the Shaman in this painting is holding a Sotol stalk in each hand.  The red dots trailing down the stalks and onto the ground are thought to be Peyote Buttons, which were used in the ceremonies.

The tall brown stalks are the Sotol talks after they have bloomed and dried in the desert wind.

I had a blast just walking around in this stark landscape.  Down in the canyons the temperatures soared to about 110 degrees, even though it was the first week of November.  I was every so thankful to come across this crystal clear pool of water in one of the side canyons.  The water was about six feet deep, but you can still clearly see the bottom.  The water was cool and tasty.

The day was, of course, finished off by another stuning sunset.

Tommorrow, I'll post more of the Rock Art form another area that I visisted nearby and rant about the fascists that were patrolling the area.