Two weeks ago I was in Tucson (E.Toole Ave) and with a group of Mexicans. Now I have to tell you that I dont speak Spanish, but I was amazed when suddenly they all started balancing their bodies on their hands, exactly as I had seen in the dream. It was translated to me that this was an exercise for the voice.
Feb 7th - For the past three weeks I have been parked in my RV out in the desert at an undisclosed location somewhere near Tucson, with other desert residents, the two Bruce's, (Bruce the elder and Bruce the younger, Jeff, Lisa, Dave, Danny, Tom, Packrats, Coyotes, and Desert Birds.
Bruce the elder comes from North Dakota and lives in a 32 foot Southwind RV. He is retired but does carpentry for something to do, and is teaching me to speak American. I can now say YEP with an American accent. The younger Bruce who is not related to the older Bruce is studying to be a nurse and runs a part time business making small sculptures.
Jeff lives in a rented Yurt and who makes his money through "Day Trading" on the stock market. He says the Dollar isnt worth anything but so far hasnt offered to give any to me. He says the stock market is in a state of continual collapse so all you budding tycoons better think about selling your stocks now, before they go down any further!
Danny and younger Bruce ponder life Lisa has allergies to everything, and has come here from Massachusetts to escape family and kids. She is studying for a Batchelors degree so she can get a better job. She lives in an Airstream Caravan which is very well scrubed to remove pollens and moulds etc.
Tom is our friendly local property tycoon, and spends pretty much all his time involved in buying and selling land. In the very small amout of spare time he has, he is in the process of setting up a Spiritual Center. He also plans to teach Yoga, if he can fit it in between phone calls!
Ground Squirrel has some fast food Danny is sort of an American "Crocodile Dundee" and is into teaching people to live off the land, or how to survive in a desert wilderness. This seems to involve catching and eating very nearly everything, its seems very peculier seeing him trying to catch a Packrat for Breakfast. He also catches and eats Rattlesnakes, Squirrels, Groundhogs, Birds, Lizards, and anything else. Danny also plays the Digeridoo, and has been on Arizona T.V demonstrating survival skills.
Mormon Tea - with Danny in background
This web page and the pictures on it are provided courtesy
of White Mountain Innovations - www.remedydevices.comDanny has been teaching me how to recognise animals from their tracks and useful plants that one can eat to stay alive in the desert. The Mormon Tea plant pictured above can be used to make a Tea with slightly stimulating properties - it contains small amounts of Ephedrine. I have also sampled Barrel Cactus Fruits which contain pleasant tasting seeds which contain protein, and Hedgehog Cactus which as Cacti go, is not bad to eat.
March 12th and the weather here is becoming quite hot. Ground Squirrels scamper about playing tag and standing on their hind legs to look at the view, small lizards dart about, and the desert is beginning to bloom after the heavy rain we had in early March..
The view outside my window Now it is August and I have left the desert apart for occasional visits, and am living somewhere in Tucson. Now we are in the monsoon time of the year and green plants are appearing where previously there was only sun dried remains. Datura (Jimson Weed) is now popping up everywhere ansd we have the chance to see this Halucinogenic but deadly poisonous "Power Plant" as mentioned in the books by Carlos Casteneda:
Datura Stramonium - Jimson Weed October 14th and the Datura's are producing their fruit, known as Thorn Apple. This is a spiky ball around 3 cm in dia (not including the spikes) which when dry splits open to alow about 80 seeds to drop out. The seeds I am told are the most poisonous part of the plant.
Datura Stramonium in fruit
