Rare Minerals In The Mojave

 

This is Highway 395 in Boron, California, located on the western edge of the Mojave Desert. Desolate doesn't begin to describe this area.

Boron, California is named after the element Boron and is the location of the world's largest source of boric acid.  

U.S. Borax operates the largest open pit mine in the state, which has one of the richest borate deposits on the planet.  They meet a third of the world's refined boron demands. According to the Rio Tinto website:

Boron is a naturally-occurring element
Trace amounts are found in soil, water, plants and animals. The element boron does not exist by itself in nature. It combines with oxygen and other elements to form salts called borates.

Boron (B) was isolated as an element in 1808
It is the fifth element in the periodic table.

The first confirmed use of borates was in the 8th century
Arabian gold and silversmiths used them. It is thought that ancient Babylonian goldsmiths could have used borates as far back as 2,000 BCE.

Boron deposits are rare
Boron is present everywhere in the environment but substantial deposits of borates are relatively rare. In fact, ores that contain boron are among the rarest minerals on Earth.

Boron is essential for plant life
It is integral to a plant's reproductive cycle, aiding with flowering, pollen production, germination, and seed and fruit development. 

Borates play a critical role in high-tech products
Such as the tough cover heat-resistant glass in smartphones, tablets, and other electronic displays.

Borates are an important ingredient in insulation fiberglass
This is the largest single use for the mineral worldwide. 

Borates are used in space travel
They coat the ceramic tiles on the underside of a space shuttle to help it withstand the thermal shock of re-entry. Thermal shock occurs when temperatures change suddenly, as when the shuttle leaves the freezing temperatures of space and re-enters the Earth’s atmosphere.

Borates are used in cleaning
Borates’ unique properties enhance stain removal, whiten and brighten fabrics, and soften water, which is why they are used to produce laundry detergents, household or industrial cleaners, and personal care products.

20 Mule Team Borax is a product some of you might be familiar with.  In 1881, Borates were discovered in Death Valley and Teams of mules were used to move them from the mines to the railroad.  That's how this brand got its name.  

The website says, "Teams of mules were used to move millions of pounds of Borax from remote mines in inaccessible Death Valley to the railroad at Mojave.  Originally, teams of eight and ten mules were used, but the trek proved too much.  A man named Ed Stiles came up with the idea of hitching two 10-mule teams together - twice the normal amount - resulting in a 100-foot-long team that took 10 days to carry 10 tons of borax one way across the desert. In 1894, a steam engine named "Dinah" was brought in to replace the mules, but Dinah was no match for the epic 20-mule team's power.  She broke down and was towed back to town by the very mules she tried to replace."

Wow.  Interesting.  Well, there you go.  You know more today than you did yesterday.  You're welcome.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.  Only 28 days in the month this year.
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2019: Sorry, no post on this day.  Only 28 days in the month this year.
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2017: Sorry, no post on this day.  Only 28 days in the month this year.
2016: Leaping Over Urban Blight
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2014: Sorry, no post on this day.  Only 28 days in the month this year.
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2012: I Love You Newman E. Drake
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2010: Sorry, no post on this day.  Only 28 days in the month this year.
2009: Sorry, no post on this day.  Only 28 days in the month this year.
2008: Sorry, no post on this day.  For some reason, I just didn't write one.
2007: Sorry, no post on this day.  Only 28 days in the month this year.
2006: Sorry, no post on this day.  Only 28 days in the month this year.
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005! 

Box Seats

 

Ed and went to see the Harlem Globetrotters this week at the Crypto Arena in downtown Los Angeles.  He bought one of the suites for us - it was inexpensive, not the thousands of dollars they charge for real games and concerts - which had a great view and was very private.  We were alone for a while until a family of four came in.  You can see the suite in these pictures.  

It was an interesting way to spend an afternoon.  I'm not much for sports but I do like to people-watch.

Oh, and I like me a little Sweet Georgia Brown, too.  Now that's something that makes a good earworm.  

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Few And Far Between
2019: Salz Und Pfeffer
2018: Hot And Sweet
2017: My Kind Of Salad
2016: In Disguise
2015: Hawaii Five-O
2014: I Like Big Boteros And I Cannot Lie
2013: The Young Never Have Trouble Screwing
2012: Making Tracks Across The Country
2011: Eddie Is The King Of The Dome
2010: Do It For Half An Hour A Day
2009: Sipping In Nyack
2008: The Tink Tink Tinkle Of Recycling
2007: Ralph’s Service Station
2006: The Isle Of Capri
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005! 

Iron Sky

I just came across this video again a few days ago and had to share it.  I love this guy's voice and this song.  It's an old video - he wound up winning the competition, The Voice UK - but it's still such a great sound.

Enjoy!


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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Tucked In
2018: This Is Who I'm Meant To Be
2017: No Chickens 'Round Here
2016: Piquing Interest
2015: Not Your Average Hula Girls
2014: Some Links Are Sexier Than Others
2013: Who Says I'm Spoiled?
2012: So That’s How It’s Done
2011: Sunny Bright Yellow Moments Ahead
2010: Loaded
2009: C’mon, Just Do It Already!
2008: Counterproductive
2007: If You Need A Reason To Cook More Often, I Think I Have One
2006: Warning: May Contain Traces Of Nuts
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Daughter Of The Wind

 

A few of the beautiful sea anemones we saw at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
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2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: View From The Hill
2018: Where Congress Is Cool
2017: Inside The Queen
2016: Glorious Tulips
2015: Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!
2014: ¡Bienvenido! 
2013: We Couldn't Catch Him
2012: It’s Vital For My Existence
2011: Boxed In By Hills
2010: Ask A Trucker
2009: Getting Our Truck Tweaked While Making New Friends And Enjoying A Free Lunch Pie*
2008: Sunglasses Also Required Here
2007: Windows Vista, Trucker Style
2006: Being A Girl Again
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005! 

Power And Nature

 

Somewhere in New York.

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2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: A Church Near A Castle
2018: Sock It To 'Em
2017: Linked
2016: Stop And Pray
2015: Stateroom 342
2014: The Higher The Hair, The Closer To God
2013: My Two Cents On Oscar Fashion
2012: A Little Nip Of A Love Affair
2011: It’s A Serious Addiction
2010: Why Play Fantasy Football When You Can Spend Your Time Making Lists For The Halle Experiment?
2009: I Hope There Isn’t Going To Be A Quiz
2008: Sunglasses Required
2007: Golden Eye
2006: Making A List And Checking It Twice
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Worshiping In Adobe

 

The bell tower of the Santa Cruz Catholic Church in South Tucson, Arizona.  This historic church near the Santa Cruz River was built between 1916 and 1918.

From Wikipedia:  "The Santa Cruz Catholic Church, or Santa Cruz for short, is significant for its construction using unstabilized mud-adobe bricks made in the Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation. It is also the largest known mud-adobe building in Arizona, and the state's only surviving example of a major public building built of adobe."

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
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2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Country Calling Code 420
2018: Skull Rider
2017: Winter Nuts
2016: Taking A Surf Break
2015: Not So Fat Tuesday
2014: Dinner And A Show
2013: Everything You Need To Live A Bountiful Life Is Inside Of You
2012: From A Bodyguard, To Men Of Honor, To Good Deeds
2011: Just What I Need
2010: Waterfront Dining
2009: The Best Is Yet To Come
2008: It’s Not Just A Medicinal Oil After All
2007: Tracy Hilltop
2006: Calming The Flatulent Tiger
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Souper Tasty

 

I saw this soup on Instagram and on one of our cold Tucson days I decided I had to make it.  I made a large batch, serving it that night for dinner, then making up several containers.  I brought a few containers to my mother and froze the rest. 

It was delicious!  If you're interested in trying it, the recipe is below:

Sweet Potato and Carrot Soup with Coconut Milk

Ingredients
1.5 pounds of sweet potatoes, washed and cut in half
1 pound of carrots, peeled
5 tablespoons of olive oil
2 onions, peeled and cut in half
1 full head of garlic (cut the top off the garlic bulb to roast with the vegetables)
2.5 cups of vegetable stock
1 can of coconut milk (13.5 oz. can)
Salt & Pepper to taste

Instructions
Place the halved sweet potatoes, peeled carrots, halved onions, and head of garlic into a baking dish.  Drizzle olive oil over all of the vegetables.
Season generously with salt and pepper.
Cover the roasting pan with foil.
Road them in a 350-degree oven for 30-40 minutes, or until they are tender and caramelized. Depending on their size, cooking times may vary.
Once the vegetables are done roasting, remove them from the oven and let them cool a bit.
Add all the vegetables to a blender.  Squeeze the roasted garlic from its skin and add to the blender.
Add vegetable stock and blend.
Transfer the mixture to a large pot.  Stir in the coconut milk.
Add more salt and pepper to taste if needed.
Heat the soup until it's hot, but avoid bringing it to a boil.
Spoon into bowls, top with a swirl of coconut milk if desired, and serve.


This soup is excellent with a loaf of crusty bread.

Enjoy!

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Soaking In European Bubbles
2018: Roasted And Tossed
2017: Only A Boob Drives Into A 'Boob
2016: A Citrus Oasis Awaits Me
2015: Ed Travels Light
2014: La Ventanita
2013: Big Fat Proof Of Your Weight
2012: This Could Be Very Confusing For Men
2011: The King Of Thrift
2010: Dances With Sheepskin
2009: The Seat You Offer Your Arch Enemy
2008: The Man With The Silver Handbag
2007: Silver Snowscape
2006: Let Go Let Flow
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

A Snarl In The Valley Of The Sun

 

Traffic in Phoenix, Arizona.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
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2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Hidden Prayer Garden
2018: Picking Peccary
2017: Sometimes Inspiration Comes From Having Cool Tools
2016: Roll On
2015: Adiós
2014: Shades Of SOBE
2013: Set In Stone
2012: How To Make A Mustache Famous
2011: Homemade Dessert Is The Bombe
2010: Olga And Eddie Travel The Country Viking Style
2009: They Say
2008: Eddie Lounges In Cozumel Friday
2007: I Think I’m Dating A Narcoleptic
2006: Groundhog Surprise
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005! 

The Clothing Of A King

 

Detail on one of Elvis Presley's jumpsuits.

See more pictures here.

And read what others have said about him here. 

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Life Between The Cracks
2018: Well, I'll Be Damned!
2017: My Sentiments Exactly
2016: Ed's Last Look
2015: The Lido Line
2014: Puttin' On The Fritz
2013: Proof That A Snowball Does Have A Chance In Hell
2012: I Just Want Tiny Little Elephants To Massage My Earlobes
2011: App-solutely Crazy
2010: NCIS Investigates The Kitchen Aftermath
2009: Sometimes There Are FOUR Sides To A Story
2008: Made With Pride
2007: Coke Crushes The Competition
2006: Tired And Mute
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Land's End

 

Located at the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula you will find the Arch of Cabo San Lucas.  We sailed around it on our way into the inner harbor area of Cabo.  Very pretty!

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Trucks Bring It To Them, They Bring It To Us
2018: Cloud Cover
2017: Vintage Sip
2016: Amateur Arborists
2015: Sea Day
2014: Art Deco Color
2013: Formed Around A Grain Of Sand
2012: Pinwheels, Cartwheels, What’s The Difference?
2011: Maybe You Left It On Mars
2010: The Art Of A French Cooking Friend
2009: Eddie Supervises Friday
2008: Squeaky Clean
2007: Rushing No More
2006: My Constant Gardner
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Olive You

 

Olives at one of the vendors in the Mercado Central in Valencia, Spain.

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2023: Where The Turia River Meets The Mediterranean Sea
2022: A Hail Mary, Lucky Horseshoes, And Some Really Good Trip Planning Are All That's Needed
2021: Beautiful Freak Of Nature
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Ring The Bell For Tips
2018: Snacks & Bar
2017: So This Happened Today
2016: Agrarian
2015: Tied Off
2014: Seek And Ye Shall Find
2013: Frantically Trying To Get Back To Indonesia
2012: I’d Like Some Snow For Dessert
2011: Getting A Little Carried Away
2010: On A Need To Know Basis
2009: Something Has Gone Terribly Wrong
2008: Flying Into The Sun
2007: Riding The Rails
2006: Keeping Me Quiet With A Chocolate Snap
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Death Defying Entertainment

 

Along the Malecón in Mazatlán, Mexico, you can shop, dine, stroll (the Malecón is 13 miles long - one of the longest seafront walkways in the world!), go to the beach, and see their famous cliff divers.

The Clavadistas (divers) dive from a pedestal that’s about fifty feet above the water. 

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Slow Skate Slow Jam
2018: Running Through Hollywood In The Desert
2017: Demo Day
2016: What? This Is Perfectly Normal.
2015: Inside The Walls
2014: What A Difference A Day Makes
2013: The Inner Path To The Outer Banks
2012: The Greatest Love Of All
2011: Step It Up
2010: It May Not Be EVERY Day You Learn Something New, But It’s Certainly True Of THIS Day
2009: Dreams Of Do-It-Yourself Dolloping Come True
2008: Rest In Peace Sweet Green Eyed Beauty
2007: George And Ira
2006: Zip It Up!
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Peace Run

 

A statue of spiritual leader Sri Chinmoy stands along the waterfront of Mazatlán, Mexico.  The statue depicts him holding the World Harmony Run torch and was erected in 2009.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
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2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: A Parade Of Light For The Year Of The Pig
2018: Three Hippie Chicks And Me
2017: The Fanciest Digs In Town
2016: Moon Rising
2015: Almost There
2014: Winter Water Running Through Watertown
2013: The Pretty Pink Sailor
2012: Many Thanks To Those Of You Who Come To Peer Through My Window
2011: And I Thought My Feet Were Big!
2010: ABC. Easy As 123. As Simple As Do Re Mi, ABC, 123, Baby You And Me
2009: Under The Black Palm Tree
2008: The Zoo In Stateroom 7377
2007: Pillars
2006: Fiori Di Como
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Feather Dancer

             

A dancer in Plazuela Machado, located in the heart of the Historic Old Town of Mazatlán.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Discover The Magic
2018: Garlic Is Life
2017: The Queen Of Copper's King
2016: Working The Land
2015: Pre-Columbian Toothlace
2014: Who Needs Sochi? We've Got Watertown.
2013: On The Brink Of A Duel
2012: Cheap And Accessible
2011: What’s In A Name?
2010: Missing The Day
2009: Shameless Self Promotion
2008: Dwarfed By A Behemoth Of The Sea
2007: Ditched
2006: Hudson River Solitude
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

The Giver Of Much Delight

 

The Star of India (originally named Euterpe) is seen in the harbor of San Diego.

According to their website, The Star of India is the world’s oldest active sailing ship. She began her life on the stocks at Ramsey Shipyard on the Isle of Man in 1863. Iron ships were experiments of sorts then, with most vessels still being built of wood. Within five months of laying her keel, the ship was launched into her element. She bore the name Euterpe, after the Greek muse of music and poetry.

Interesting facts about The Star of India:

* Launched five days before Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address

* Sailed twenty-one times around the world

* Never fitted with auxiliary power

* Went aground in Hawaii

* Became an “American” ship by Act of Congress

* Trapped in ice in Alaska

* Still sails in the ocean by a volunteer crew

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Winter Tree Warning
2018: The Dog From The State Of Sonora
2017: More Like A Submarine Sandwich
2016: Good Stuff, Maynard!
2015: Spiky On The Outside, Sinfully Delicious Inside
2014: The Most Awkward Descent Down A Snow Covered Hill. Ever.
2013: At The Top Of My Favorite Cities List
2012: Not Looking Anymore
2011: There Is Hope
2010: Where The Bunnies Of The Desert Hang Out
2009: The Marion County Shirt Factory Incident
2008: Eddie Roams The Mayan Ruins Friday
2007: Self Service Antiques
2006: Begin At Once
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

This Is Talladega

 

Depending on how long you've read this blog or how well you know me will determine whether you're aware that I abhor all things sports-related.  I'm not a fan of any sport of any kind.  Sadly, I've absorbed information about sports in my life and know more than I wish I did about several kinds, but if I had to rank the ones I care about (like if a gun were being held to my head), I'd have to say NASCAR would be at the very bottom of the list. I'd watch dwarf tossing before a NASCAR race.

But, it was Valentine's Day and we were in Alabama, and my beloved (seen below) wanted to tour the Talladega race track.  How could I say no to that face?

The Talladega Superspeedway, formerly known as the Alabama International Motor Speedway, is the fastest and longest NASCAR oval track in the United States.

Its main grandstand can hold 80,000 spectators and if you figure in the areas where people camp and set up RVs for race weekends, the total capacity of the speedway rises to somewhere around 175,000 spectators. 

That's a whole lotta redneck energy.

This is the media booth at the Speedway.  Our guide told us that the window there on the right is where FOX and CBS broadcast from.

Seats in the grandstand range from $60 to $185, with the higher seats costing more. The RV spots located on the infield of the track can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars for a race weekend.  There are even more RV spots on the far east side of the track with plenty of space for fans to gather.

Our guide told us that Talladega hosts only two NASCAR race weekends a year.  The rest of the time, the track sits empty except for a few small events hosted throughout the year.  And the money they make from those two events in ticket sales isn't what sustains them - it's the contracts with the media companies that make them any money.
  

Talladega holds the record for the fastest recorded speed by a NASCAR vehicle on a closed oval course.  That speed was 216.309 mph set by Rusty Wallace in 2004.  He circled the 2.66-mile track in 44.270 seconds.  But, because the record was a radio test and not a NASCAR-sponsored event, the official record of 212.809 mph set by Bill Elliott in 1987 is the one that stands.  Speeds today hover around 200 mph, even though track officials prefer the cars to race a little slower than that citing safety concerns.  

I can't say it was the most romantic way to spend Valentine's Day (although, I did get roses, candy, a beautiful card, a dinner out, and quality time with my handsome husband), but it was something to do on a day off and we have vowed in 2024 to take advantage of as many things as we can when we're on the road with extra time on our hands. 

The interior of the Talladega visitor's center houses the ticket office and gift shop.

It definitely wasn't a bucket list item, but now I can say I've been to Talladega and hopefully, I'll never have to go back.

And let's remember some words of wisdom that work equally well in NASCAR and life, gifted to us by Ricky Bobby himself...

"If you ain't first, you're last." 

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Be Anything, But Be Mine
2018: Comfortable Love
2017: I Heart Cats
2016: Sweet And Undefinable
2015: Grand And Important
2014: Winter Is A Table Set With Ice And Starlight
2013: The Romance Of The Road
2012: Celebrate With A Wild Desire
2011: Powerful Stuff
2010: Falling In Love With Ugly 
2009: A Love Like This Can Know No Death 
2008: Peace To This House
2007: The Sultan Of Love 
2006: It’s Even Better Than Arbor Day
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Wandering The Place Of Deer

Walking the streets of the Centro Histórico in Old Mazatlán, Mexico.  

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: An Icon Of The Old South
2018: Free Spirits
2017: May Your Guiding Light Be Strong
2016: Rock The Moc
2015: Hustle And Bustle In Ancient Guatemala
2014: The Flakes Got Up Early And Stayed All Day
2013: Headed For A Slow Boat To China
2012: A Roaring Forties Tasmanian Devil Of A Blue
2011: Waiter! There’s A Beer In My Soup!
2010: I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Wolf
2009: Eddie Getting His Licks Friday
2008: The Place Is In Ruins
2007: Winter Shadows
2006: The Angels Of The New York D.O.T.
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!