Very Random, Mr. Ranger

I've decided to see if I can outdo my past attempts at "Random Blog" writing.  There are some journalistic jewels in my past blogs, but I hope todays fine blog will set an all time record in randomness.  I will lead off with a photo that defies reasonable explanation. 



Walking around one night we saw this fine example of Mexican transportation.
Makes you want one, huh?
The bull horns make the motorcycle. 

What other random photos have you taken, Mr. Ranger?

Let's roast corn on the cob using an old wheel as a BBQ.

What do you call a Mexican crumpet?  I'm not sure but I bought one.  Delicious.

Right there on the street side of the curb.  I had mine with strawberry jam.

A new light sculpture this week.
As tall as the light poles, with tail extending down the median of the street for several hundred feet.

As we approach Carnaval more cool things continue to appear around town.  This one really lit up the night.

Dolphins of many colors.

What's for dinner?  You have dozens of choices.

Colorful street food lined the Malacon.

Your crown fair Princess.

If you know a Princess or if you happen to be one, I know which store to send you to get your next crown or tiara.  You know you need one.

Well I have wandered aimlessly long enough.  Farewell and remember.... life is good.

February Artwalk

Last night was the monthly Artwalk in El Centro.  We've gone to them for years and it is always fun to see what's new with the artists we enjoy.  Sara, Terri and I decided to go to the galleries that were on the fringes of the Artwalk.  These were mostly the homes of the artists.

The best part is seeing century old homes, some that have been restored beautifully.  The homeowners/artists are very gracious in opening there galleries to the public.

A beautiful pool in the center courtyard of this home.

A grand entrance to this home.

Another beautiful foyer in this home.

Old sombreros hung on this wall.

Another courtyard with a unique palm tree.

I liked this piece of art.

Walking the aged streets of Centro and Olas Altas in the dark is a different experience.  Things take on a whole unique look at night.

Looking down from an artists 3rd floor terrace.

The girls walking the streets.

An entrance gate to Olas Altas ready for Carnaval.

A wiggly fuzzy photo of last nights moon.

After we got home last night a large orange moon was rising.  It was not quite a full moon and both ladies thought it was the shape of a football.  I thought it looked like a slightly deflated football, must be a Patriots moon.

Life is good here in Mazatlán.

As of 10:45am no one had won the big contest yet.  Good luck today.

You Could Be the Grand Prize Winner

This is my 275th post to the Lone Ranger's Blog and it is time to reward my faithful readers.  Sometime during the next day my pageview counter will reach 15,000.  It's time to celebrate.

Thus I announce the "275/15,000 Contest".

Some lucky reader will be lavished with a grand prize to reward their faithful readership.  I know that there are times that I ramble on endlessly on a subject of no interest to anyone.  But you, loyal reader, have stuck with me through boring commentary and fuzzy pictures.  Through dead tree photos and endless sunsets.  Through food photos and frivolous flowers.  Am I rambling again?

Well back to business.  I had strongly considered awarding an exact replica of the Seattle Seahawks Superbowl Ring to the lucky reader, but that option has vanished.

I know a large cash prize would be nice but my dear wife doesn't turn 62 until April so her Social Security check is not available.  It's just as well, she is counting on that money to supplement her Margarita budget.

I could offer one of my paintings that I do each week at the "Women's Painting Group".  But until I improve greatly it would not be a worthy prize for the winner.  As you can see I have high standards.

I think I have a worthy prize figured out.......

A vacation in a tropical paradise.......

Sunsets to remember for a lifetime......

A room with a view.......

Yes, the Grand Prize is a vacation in paradise at the Ranger's home at Portofino Condo in lovely Mazatlán.

As all contest have rules, here are mine.

1.  We will operate on the "Honesty System".  If you see that you are reader 15,000 on the counter you have won.  Your complete honesty is appreciated.

2.  How you get down here is your problem.

3.  You will have to wait until my sister vacates the extra bedroom and that will be a month.

4.  You may stay as long as you want but please remember the "dirty socks and dead fish rule".  Guests, socks and fish get old after a while.

5. This offer is not available to ex-spouses, ultraconservatives, ultraliberals, rednecks or other irritating personalities.  Only the nice need apply.

6.  The impeccable judgment of the author will be the final judge of the winner.  My blog, my rules.

I wish you the best of luck in winning our contest and please remember what I always say.......

Life is good.

Los Suenos de Momo - Carnaval

More photos and a little history on Carnaval here in Mazatlán.  Tonight we were walking around the Grand Plaza Mall and they had a display of the gowns that had been worn by the Queens of Carnaval through the years.

Throughout the gown displays they had photos of each Queen going back to 1900.  That's 115 years of queens.  I need to do a little research and find out what year Carnaval began.  (Just looked and it has been going off and on since the 1700's but has been continous since 1889 here in Mazatlán.) That makes it 126 years.

1900 the Queen next to a horse.

1913, 1917 and 1918.  Good looking Kings of Joy to go with the Queens.

The roaring 20's.

The preparations continue and they have added more "monigotes" (the tall colorful statues) around town.  I'll be on a mission to search them down before Carnaval begins on February 12th.

Life is good here in colorful Mazatlán where it will be over 80 degrees each day for the next week.

Not Quite Home Depot.... Better

Even though you might think of Mexico as some third world country, I'm going to prove to you that we may be better off here than you might think.

All guys love a good hardware store.  There is nothing better than wandering up and down the isles and looking for that next "thing" that you must have.  Sure we have a Home Depot here like every other civilized place on earth, but I'm talking a real hardware store.  In Tacoma we had Lincoln Hardware, a great mom and pop place with real stuff, not plastic junk.

If you drive to old Mazatlán and find Zeragosa Street you will find the Mexican version of Lincoln Hardware.  It's where you go to get things you didn't even know you needed..... like a tortilla press.

For your viewing pleasure I bring you Zeragosa Hardware.

The front counter.

Tortilla presses and Machetes.

Bird cages hung from the ceiling.

But you ask what if I break my axe handle?  They've got you covered.  Right over here, amigo.

Right under stone bowls and baskets are Axe handles

Need a metal watering can or a scale?

Cutting boards and big buckets.

Or a BBQ made from a wheel.... only 385 pesos.

Blue cooking pans.

Or the metal spoons to go with them....
Small spoon 6 pesos or 45 cents.

Need to clean a bottle?

Enough rope to hang someone.

Funnels and pans.

Even bins of nuts and bolts.

And who doesn't need a dried gourd.... they're hanging from the ceiling.

My treasures today.

What did I bring home today?  A new tortilla press and two kitchen knifes.  The small knife was 35 pesos or about $2.40.  The metal tortilla press was 118 pesos or $8.02.  I know I'm a big spender but think what I will save making my own tortillas.

We are making Arrachara (steak) tacos tonight so I will be able to try out my new press.  Cool.

Life is very good..... homemade tortillas.

Paradise Freezes Over, Almost

So we had rain here in Mazatlán yesterday.  It was no big deal and temperatures were in the mid 70's.

But inland a few hundred kilometers it was a different story up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  You've heard the saying, "When Hell freezes over."  Now we can say, "When Paradise freezes over."

The temperatures are in the high 70's today so we haven't had to suffer too badly.

Here's the story from our local paper.

Snow Forces Closure of Mazatlán-Durango Highway

Posted on 3 Feb 2015

As of this morning no time or date has been set to re-open the highway.

Snow generated by the fifth winter storm and reinforced by Cold Front 33 forced the federal roads department to close the Mazatlán-Durango autopista at 6am yesterday morning.
Media reported that as of this morning no time or date has been set to re-open the highway.
Approximately 50 centimeters of snow fell in the area. Drivers were advised of the road closure at kilometer 223 by highway police who suggested they return to a safe location.
Some travellers decided to return to Mazatlán, others to circle around to take the free highway to Durango, while some preferred to wait until the snow covered highway was reopened.

Something Happened on the Way to Victory

We were ready for Superbowl Sunday.  We all had the right clothes on.  The girls were fully decked out, nails done, bling on.  We had reservations at La Catrina.  Terri was ready and willing to scream her way to victory.

Terri even had her Seahawk shorts on.

Nails all done.

What could go wrong, we were fully prepared.  Front row seats at La Catrina.  Great food and drink.  Seahawks fans packing the place.  Everyone yelling and carrying on.  What could go wrong?

A dozen TV's ready to show our victory.

It was a great game.  We're down to the final few seconds and one yard from victory.  We have a 10 million dollar running back ready to go that last yard.  What could go wrong?  It's easy, hand the ball to Lynch and let him earn his 10 MILLION !!!

Oops, it didn't quite work that way.  There's always next year.

Good season Seahawks.  See you next years.

Life is good.