Scenic Lakes In The Southwest For Camping

Above, Lake Mead was created by the Hoover Dam in 1935. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

People are aware that Lake Havasu has RV parks and campgrounds, but there are other lakes in the Southwest U.S. that also have camping. 

RV Life has posted a list of eight scenic places in the Southwest for camping. Oddly, Lake Havasu isn't on the list.

They begin with:

Though you probably know the Southwest for its desert landscape, you might be surprised by the many scenic lakes where you can go waterfront camping.

These lakes are an oasis for activities like swimming, fishing, and kayaking, and they have campgrounds that can accommodate RVs and trailers.

To see what they are, go here. 

Campground Reservation-Only System Started Today At Grand Teton National Park

Above, Jackson Lake at Grand Teton National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The days of waiting in long lines early in the morning for a campsite at Grand Teton National Park are over.

Today, the park went on a reservations-only system.

According to Jackson Hole News & Guide:

Visitors no longer need to worry about lines during the upcoming camping season at Grand Teton National Park. For the first time, the park will only be accepting reservations — so make sure to get a campsite while you can.

Campground reservations became available at 8 a.m. this morning. Those hoping to snag a spot for the summer must create an account on Recreation.gov and then reserve a site accordingly.

To read more, go here. 

Still Snowing

Above, looks like I have more shoveling to do. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The latest storm arrived in Jamestown last evening. It seems to have snowed steadily overnight. It is about 4" deep. It is still snowing.

Above, a view of the deck. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This will be continuing for most of the day. We're under a Winter Storm Warning until 11:00 this morning.

We can use the water.

Additionally, a Snow Squall Warning had been issued for Albuquerque. 

What's a snow squall?

According to Wikipedia:

A snowsquall, or snow squall, is a sudden moderately heavy snow fall with blowing snow and strong, gusty surface winds. It is often referred to as a whiteout and is similar to a blizzard but is localized in time or in location and snow accumulations may or may not be significant.

Above, the east side yard. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

According to the National Weather Service:

Today

Snow showers. High near 26. Southwest wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 4. Wind chill values as low as -5. West wind 6 to 8 mph.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 36. Wind chill values as low as -5. Light west wind becoming southwest 6 to 11 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 17 mph.

Senate Filibuster Rule Preserved

Fox News Brit Hume posted the following (which is great news, but some teeth will be gnashing):

Photo Tinkering

While looking over some of my photos from my recent Texas trip, I decided to do some tinkering with one of them.

It is a photo of me with black & white cutouts of John Wayne and Robert Mitchum from El Dorado. 

Since my computer upgraded to Windows 10, I lost some of my apps that I used for photo manipulating. But at least there's one available for photo manipulation.

Here's the result. I made it into a fully monochrome photo. It would have been better had there not any background glare from the flash.

New Storm Coming

 Another cold system will move through the Four Corners region with heavy mountain snow. - National Weather Service.

Above, after the trip to the post office at the Flying J. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A new storm is creeping across Arizona and will reach here this evening. It has hit the area near the Jack Rabbit Trading Post, which is about 120 miles from here. The storm has turned Interstate 40 icy in the region.

It is a good thing I got The Beast into the GOCO Beast Barn today, not that it couldn't weather the storm. It is possible that we could get about two inches of snow, so it would make moving The Beast into the barn a little more difficult.

I did take the Jeep down to the Flying J today to pick up my mail. Gotta keep the battery fully charged for it to withstand the cold temperatures (it is about 27° now).

According to the National Weather Service:

Tonight

Snow showers, mainly before 11pm. Low around 14. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Tuesday

Snow showers likely, mainly after 11am. Some thunder is also possible. Cloudy, with a high near 27. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

 

Back In The Barn

Above, after getting The Beast back in the barn. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

No sooner than I got back into the house after putting The Beast into the GOCO Beast Barn, the announcer on the radio (KYAT-FM) said that another storm is moving across Arizona and will bring 4 to 6 inches of new snow.

Well, it's a good thing I got The Beast inside (although it is in good shape as far as weather is concerned) now instead of waiting. My main concern was getting The Beast stuck in mud. Since the ground had a good layer of snow, I had no problem.

With the heater inside the GOCO Beast Barn, the temperature inside was at 50°. So I don't have to worry about the holding tanks and plumbing freezing over even though I have antifreeze in the system.

Shoveled Snow Before More Arrives

A few minutes ago, I went out and shoveled the walkways and the garage ramp.

The snow is about 2-3" deep in spots. We're supposed to be getting more this afternoon.

While I was out, I took a few photos:

 

Winter Weather Advisory

 

Above, the front yard this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Winter Weather Advisory

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
329 AM MST Mon Jan 25 2021

...ANOTHER ROUND OF SNOW ARRIVING THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH
TUESDAY...

.Light snow will continue off and on across the northern mountains
throughout the day. Accumulations will be light until this
evening. Another round of light to moderate snow will develop late
this afternoon across western New Mexico and shift eastward this
evening and overnight with a cold frontal passage. Snow showers
will continue through Tuesday afternoon before tapering off.
Snow-packed and icy roadways are likely.

NMZ204>206-251900-
/O.EXB.KABQ.WW.Y.0004.000000T0000Z-210127T0000Z/
Northwest Highlands-West Central Plateau-West Central Mountains-
329 AM MST Mon Jan 25 2021

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM MST TUESDAY...

* WHAT...Snow. Additional snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches with
  locally higher amounts.

* WHERE...Northwest Highlands, West Central Plateau and West
  Central Mountains.

* WHEN...Until 5 PM MST Tuesday. The heaviest snowfall is expected
  this evening and overnight.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. This includes the
  I-40 corridor along the Continental Divide to the Arizona
  border.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling.

The latest road conditions for New Mexico can be obtained by
calling 5 1 1, 1-800-432-4269, or visiting nmroads.com.

"Godzilla vs. Kong" Official Trailer

I may be a little late to the party (just got home from Las Vegas yesterday), but here's the new official trailer for Godzilla vs. Kong:

 

How to Speak to New Gun Owners

Above, an Albuquerque gun shop. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For the past two years, Americans have been buying guns at a record pace. Many of them are first-time buyers.

If one happens to know a first-time buyer, America's 1st Freedom has some suggestions on helping them out with their new purchase.

They begin with:

Millions of Americans have recently become first-time gun owners. How can you help them learn about firearms safety and responsibility? How can you inform them about defending their right to defend themselves and their families?

If you’re an NRA certified instructor, you know the words from your credentials card: “Possession of this card carries responsibility for representing the whole shooting fraternity to those with whom you deal as well as the community as a whole. Much of what people think of guns, shooting and shooters depends on you.”

The same is true for all NRA members, including the many who offer informal instruction or advice, so always conduct yourself with decorum and friendliness. Listen more than you talk. Use your experience to offer helpful advice, but don’t be a know-it-all.

The NRA Guide for New Shooters, available for free at NRAPublications.org, is an excellent starting point.  

To read more, go here. 

Travel + Leisure: Grand Canyon Camping Guide

Above, The Beast at the South Rim's Trailer Village. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There is plenty of campgrounds in the North and South Rims of Grand Canyon National Park, all one has to do is decide which rim they want to visit and make reservations accordingly.

I have camped at both rims. The North Rim is five hours away from the South Rim, which means fewer crowds.

Most recently, I camped at the South Rim's Trailer Village, which is the only campground with full hook-ups available.

Travel + Leisure has an article on everything one needs to know about camping in Grand Canyon National Park.

They begin with:

The Grand Canyon is one of those places you have to see for yourself to truly appreciate. At a mile deep and up to 18 miles wide, the canyon slices through the earth for 277 miles, carrying within it the roaring Colorado River. Each year, between five and six million people visit the national park, which is split into two sections: the accessible South Rim, with its year-round access, airport, and train system, and the noticeably more remote (and less crowded) North Rim. 

While you could visit the Grand Canyon for a day trip (or book a night in one of the lodges), nothing beats finding a perfect tent site with stunning views and watching the colorful canyon walls come to life in the morning light. Plus, when you're sleeping in the park, it's easier to beat the crowds to the trails and canyon overlooks.

And it doesn't matter if you're a tent camper or prefer a full RV hookup, as there's something for everyone within the park's 1,904 square miles. To help you plan the ultimate trip, we've outlined everything you need to know for camping near the Grand Canyon.

To read more, go here. 

More Snow On The Way?

Above, about 5 miles east of Jamestown on I-40 today. Photo by Armand Vaquer

It appears that more snow is on the way to Jamestown, New Mexico.

At least that's what the National Weather Service is saying:

Tonight

A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 22. Southwest wind around 15 mph. Total nighttime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Monday

A 40 percent chance of snow showers, mainly after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Monday Night

Snow showers, mainly before 11pm. Low around 17. South wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Tuesday

Snow showers likely, mainly after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 24. West wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Tuesday Night

A 20 percent chance of snow showers before 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 5. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Mitch & Holly's Wedding

Above, before the ceremony, Holly, Michael and Mitch Geriminsky. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was kind of a weird feeling yesterday being at the Las Vegas wedding chapel where I got married back in 1987 (that marriage didn't work out too well). Mitch married Holly yesterday in it. He married his first wife there in 1976. Now he married his third wife, Holly, there.

Above, the Little Church of the West in Las Vegas. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Little Church of the West was located on the Southern End of Las Vegas Blvd. this time. Originally, it was located in front of the Hacienda Hotel (now long gone) and then moved to the front of the Frontier Hotel (now also long gone).

It still looked the same as I remembered it.

The chapel doesn't allow any video or photographs inside during the ceremony. I did take a few before the ceremony started and they accompany this blog post.

Mitch's son Michael served as Best Man.

Following the wedding, we migrated to Famous Dave's BBQ Restaurant on Blue Diamond Road for dinner.

Above, Holly, Michael and Mitch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the newlyweds at the head table. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the dress code called for that hat.

Above, such a dignified wedding dinner. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Mitch and Holly cutting the cake. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Came Home To Snow

Above, Interstate 40 about five miles from home. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today was a long day of traveling back home to New Mexico from Las Vegas for Mitch Geriminsky's wedding.

It started with a 7:00 morning flight from Las Vegas to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport to catch my flight to Albuquerque.

I was on pins and needles the whole time as it appeared that the Vegas plane wouldn't make it on time in DFW for the Albuquerque flight.

Fortunately, the Albuquerque flight was delayed, so I made it to the gate on time.

Above, this evening with more snow falling. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I arrived in Albuquque around 2:30 and then drove The Beast to Jamestown. It was windy out, but there was no snow for most of the way until I reached the Prewitt, New Mexico area. Then it started snowing in earnest at Continental Divide. I consider myself lucky. I was expecting snowy conditions most of the way from Albuquerque.

At home, there was about 2 inches of fresh snow on the the ground. It started snowing when I was unloading The Beast and hooking up the power cable to keep the holding tanks from freezing.

It was a good trip to Las Vegas. But it would have been better if American Airlines didn't cut things close for connecting flights. 

I'll try to put The Beast into the GOCO Beast Barn tomorrow, weather permitting.

Las Vegas

 Some pics of Las Vegas. 

  

Rain and Snow

It looks like it'll be rainy and/or snowy in Jamestown, New Mexico starting tonight through Tuesday.

I am headed to Las Vegas for Mitch Geriminsky's wedding. It'll be at the Little Church of the West on the Las Vegas Strip. I haven't been there since my wedding in 1986. I was first there in 1976 when Mitch was married to his first wife.

The church will live stream the ceremony at 2:30 tomorrow.

Things may get interesting Sunday when my plane comes in from Las Vegas to the Albuquerque Sunport and then the drive back. Thankfully, I have new tires on The Beast, which will help. 

According to the National Weather Service:

Today

Patchy freezing fog before 8am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 46. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

A slight chance of rain showers before 8pm, then a slight chance of rain and snow showers between 8pm and 11pm, then a slight chance of snow showers after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Saturday

A slight chance of snow showers before 11am, then a slight chance of rain showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 44. Southwest wind 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Saturday Night

A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday

Snow showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. West wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Sunday Night

A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19.

Monday

A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32.

Monday Night

Snow showers. Low around 14. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Tuesday

Snow showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 28. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Tuesday Night

A 30 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 10.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 33.

Biden's Freeze On New Drilling Permits Will Be Costly For U.S.

 

Albuquerque, January 21—President Biden has signed an executive order green-lighting a 60-day suspension on new drilling, permits and leases on federal lands. This move will interrupt plans for oil producers who rely on permits to further oil production. The Biden Administration says the order is needed to review recent energy decisions.   This is another example of President Biden’s plan to hamper the progress of the oil and gas industry’s access to federal lands in New Mexico and other states. This land covers almost all offshore acreage and one fifth of the U.S. land mass.   “President Biden continues to attack the precious and vital oil and gas industry,” says Republican Party of New Mexico Chairman Steve Pearce, “In the last two years, America has become more energy self-sufficient under President Trump. But with this brazen move, President Biden could soon force the United States to depend on foreign nations—many of which fund terrorism--to sell us their oil which would help destabilize the world. This foreign dependence will also damage our economy and will cost U.S. jobs.”   President Biden has made it clear that he intends to destroy the fossil fuels industry with his plan to use and promote green energy sources.  The oil and gas industry in New Mexico is among the most important sources of revenue in the state, and it accounts for more than 100,000 direct or related jobs.

The Republican Party of New Mexico (RPNM) advances the ideals of individual liberties for the advancement of its citizens and the greater prosperity of our communities throughout New Mexico. Led by an Executive Board and its Chairman, former NM Congressman Steve Pearce, RPNM serves all New Mexicans via its headquarters in Albuquerque and can be contacted at (505) 298-3662.

Canada Pissed Over Biden's Keystone XL Pipeline Screw-Up

 

"No Time To Die" Release Postponed To October

Well, this comes as no surprise.

Variety reported:

James Bond’s latest adventure has hit another speed bump. “No Time to Die,” the upcoming installment in the British spy series, has been postponed yet again.

The movie will now release in theaters on Oct. 8. It was originally scheduled to open on April 2.

It’s hardly a surprise that the Bond film has been pushed back to fall. Hollywood has been widely anticipating that “No Time to Die” would face another delay as coronavirus cases continue to skyrocket.

This has to be the longest gap between Bond movies since License to Kill and Goldeneye (July 14, 1989-November 24, 1995). Spectre was released November 6, 2015.

To read more, go here. 

Camping In Nevada

Above, The Beast at the Ely, Nevada KOA Kampground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Nevada is an interesting state.

On the southern end, it is a scorching desert. On the northern end, it has farmland and wooded mountains. Of the two, I prefer the northern end of the state.

RV Life has an article on camping in Nevada. It ranges from casino RV parks and resorts to state parks. At least there's plenty to choose from.

They begin with:

When people think of Nevada, Las Vegas comes to mind. Las Vegas is definitely an interesting place to visit with its huge casinos, extensive buffets, and Broadway productions, among other things to do there. However, that is not all the Silver State has to offer campers and RVers.

Traveling through Nevada, one can find unique forests, amazingly vast desert landscapes, large lakes, and historic towns. Whether you are simply passing through on a road trip or heading to Burning Man, Nevada has a little bit of wonder and adventure for everyone.

To read more, go here. 

RV Camping In New Mexico

Above, The Beast at Santa Fe Skies RV Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those who want to take in the beauty of the Southwest U.S., New Mexico offers many places to enjoy the "Land of Enchantment".

RV Life has an article on the "5 Best Parks For RV Camping In New Mexico". Of the five parks spotlighted, I have camped at one of them and that was a year ago. The park was Santa Fe Skies RV Park in the state's capital city of Santa Fe.

To begin, they wrote:

New Mexico is a state full of beauty. From the Valles Caldera National Preserve to the Gila National Forest, the Sandia Mountains to the Rio Grande Gorge, no two scenes will ever be the same.

With breathtaking sunrise and sunset views, visitors to the “Land of Enchantment” will learn why this state got that nickname. Rich in scenic beauty and in history, New Mexico is an awe-inspiring destination year-round. For a dream RV stay, consider one of these 5 choices for RV camping in New Mexico. 

To read more, go here. 

Reasons Why You Should Invest In A RV

Above, The Beast at Blackstone North RV Park in Fresno, California. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Fed up with sitting around home due to the pandemic, many people are shelling out big bucks to buy a recreational vehicle to travel in.

Granted, it is a big investment, but over time, a RV will save money over the long run.

Scubby.com has an article on six reasons why you should invest in a RV.  If one is thinking about buying one as an "investment", don't. They lose value as soon as they are driven off the dealer's lot.

They start with:

It’s totally fine if you still can’t make up your mind on whether or not you want to buy an RV or not! It’s not a small investment at the end of the day, and you might want to think about it once or twice before making the big purchase! But here are 6 reasons why you should invest in an RV! 

To see what they are, go here.

New Third Party Is A Bad Idea

Above, President Donald Trump. By Asya.

It has been reported that former President Trump is considering starting a new political party.

That is a bad idea.

The problem with this is that it would split the conservative vote between the Republican Party and a new Patriot Party (if that's what it is going be called) virtually guaranteeing a Democrat victory.

The better approach is to run good conservative candidates in primaries against RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) to defeat them and collect I.O.U.s for backing a 2024 run for the presidency (and weed out the dead weight in the party). This is sort of what Richard Nixon did in the 1966 mid-term elections to great success.

Plus, a party organization has to be created out of scratch.

I am opposed to forming a third party for these reasons.

Biden Is Already Screwing Up

It didn't take very long for President "Plugs" Biden to screw things up after he was sworn in.

From the Republican Party of New Mexico:

Albuquerque, January 20—Today President Biden signed two executive orders that will have a serious impact on New Mexico and its workforce. Hours after his inauguration, Biden stopped funding for President Trump’s border wall. He also signed an executive order that will have the United States rejoin the Paris accord.

The following is a statement from Republican Party of New Mexico Chairman Steve Pearce on the two executive actions:

“While we wish success for any new administration and commend President Biden in his call for unity, the executive orders he signed today present serious problems for New Mexico and our country. Cutting off border wall funding will have a harmful impact on immigration policy and will make our American border less secure. Biden’s executive order to re-enter the Paris climate accord will also have a devastating impact on New Mexico, which relies heavily on its vital oil and gas industry. The accord mandate, transitioning away from fossil fuels, will hurt our state even more than COVID-19. This move would mean crippling job losses and billions in lost revenues for New Mexico."

The Republican Party of New Mexico (RPNM) advances the ideals of individual liberties for the advancement of its citizens and the greater prosperity of our communities throughout New Mexico. Led by an Executive Board and its Chairman, former NM Congressman Steve Pearce, RPNM serves all New Mexicans via its headquarters in Albuquerque and can be contacted at (505) 298-3662.

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas had this reaction to Biden's executive orders on the Paris climate accord and the border wall:

By signing this order, President Biden indicates that he’s more interested in the views of the citizens of Paris than in the jobs of the citizens of Pittsburgh. Rejoining the Paris agreement isn’t about ‘restoring America’s leadership abroad’ or ‘solving the climate crisis,’ but instead it is about Democrats’ plans to destroy jobs they don’t like—including thousands of manufacturing jobs—and cede control of our energy future to other countries. America’s ‘commitment’ to the Paris Climate Agreement will be used by the Biden administration as justification for a whole litany of new executive actions and burdensome federal regulations to shape our energy and environmental policy—which will burden American families, manufacturers, and businesses with higher energy costs at a time when they are already struggling.

If the Biden administration believes that rejoining the agreement is something the American people should support, then he should submit the Paris Climate Agreement to the Senate as a treaty and let the people decide through their elected representatives. But he knows that it would fail. So like his Democratic predecessor, President Biden is governing by executive fiat.

Without the Paris Climate Agreement, the United States has led the world in emissions reductions. Likewise, the United States over the last 50 years has dramatically reduced the levels of some of the most harmful pollutants and improved the air quality for all Americans, while at the same time helping more people get better paying jobs and improving their lives.

Rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement will do little to affect the climate, and will harm the livelihoods of everyday Americans all across the country. I’ll continue working with my colleagues to fight for blue-collar workers and to defend America’s energy independence. 

It is deeply troubling that most of Joe Biden’s first acts as president were to protect illegal immigrants and encourage illegal immigration at the expense of American jobs and workers. Not only has he chosen to halt construction of a wall on America’s southern border and to continue Barack Obama’s illegal executive amnesty by preserving the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, but he is promoting open-borders legislation that would gift citizenship to over 11 million illegal immigrants, roll back immigration enforcement, and promote and increase foreign labor at a time when many Americans desperately need work.

These actions illustrate that today’s Democratic Party puts people here illegally – or attempting to come here illegally – before American workers. President Biden and his administration may not see a problem with illegal immigration, but millions of working men and women do. His executive actions and policies make a mockery of the rule of law, and his deeply unserious legislative push demonstrates that, despite his rhetoric, he is fully on-board with the radical open-borders agenda.  I will continue to fight for measures to secure our border, reform our legal immigration system, and uphold the rule of law.

We're in for a rough ride, folks!

Wedding Weather?

Above, yesterday's snow and the GOCO Beast Barn this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This week is going to be interesting. And I am not talking about the inauguration.

I will be heading to Las Vegas this weekend to attend Mitch Geriminsky's wedding and there may be snow showers for most of the week and weekend in New Mexico.

Hopefully, the weather won't affect my flights to and from Albuquerque. If, by chance the flights are canceled, at least the wedding will be live streamed.

In Las Vegas, it won't exactly be "wedding weather", although according to an old Landrover commercial, it is supposedly good luck to have rain on one's wedding day. We'll se.

The Las Vegas forecast:

Friday

A 10 percent chance of showers after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 65. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 11 to 16 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph.

Friday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 45.

Saturday

A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 56.

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 39.

Sunday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 56.

I have to go into Gallup to deposit my check from the class-action lawsuit of the Corn Seed Settlement Program from my farm ownership days. 

According to the National Weather Service, the rest of the week and weekend is shaping up in New Mexico as follows:

Today

A 20 percent chance of snow showers before 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 45. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. West wind around 5 mph becoming south in the evening.

Thursday

A chance of snow showers before 11am, then a chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 46. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Thursday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

Friday

Partly sunny, with a high near 45. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29.

Saturday

A 30 percent chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 44.

Saturday Night

A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Sunday

A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37.

His Fraudulency Begins Today

Hope he (and the Democrats) doesn't screw things up too badly. President Trump left him with the country in good shape except for the stubborn coronavirus.

President Plugs, His Fraudulency.

Ronald Reagan At Pepperdine University

Above, former Gov. Ronald Reagan arrives at the luncheon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While viewing a memorial video of Verna Mattox this morning, who was a friend and political ally back in the 1970s and 1980s, and during the Reagan campaigns of 1976, 1980 and 1984, I was reminded of an event we attended in 1979 at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.

There, in one of the lecture halls of the university's law department, I attended a luncheon featuring former Governor Ronald Reagan as the guest speaker. A fellow member of our Hawthorne, California area Republican Central Committee, Bill Fernandez, came along. Verna Mattox was there when we arrived.

As one can imagine, it was a full house and the speech was in preparation for Reagan's 1980 run for the presidency.

I did some digging in my photo albums and found my photos of the luncheon. They were a bit faded (well, they are 40-year-old prints) from a Minolta 35mm rangefinder camera I had at the time.

Following the luncheon, Bill Fernandez "cornered" Senator Richard Schweiker in the lobby and had a very animated chat with the him. Schweiker was Reagan's choice as vice presidential running mate in 1976.

After scanning a few of them, I did some tinkering with them to get better color and clarity.

Above and below, Gov. Reagan addresses the luncheon. Photos by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Senator Richard Schweiker (left) listens to Bill Fernandez as Verna Mattox looks on. Photo by Armand Vaquer.