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Attention West TX / NM Exfidels!

By rizzo (Sat Nov 03, 2007 at 05:43:40 PM EST) (all tags)

First of all, why the hell do you live out in that dogforsaken cactus jungle? Are breathtaking landscapes and sunsets really worth the complete absence of green things, cultural diversity, and naturally-running potable water? Are you insane?

Second, I've decided to spend four precious days of my life over an even more precious and rare thing called a weekend in Oppenheimer's own backyard, Las Cruces, Nuevo Mexico between the 9th and 12th of this month, so I can cavort amongst the chili roasteries, chain restaurants and big-box retailers with darling Lady Jane between her two consecutive work weeks there.

Since LJ gets a rental car from work for the weekend, and there doesn't appear to be much to do in Las Cruces, we thought it might be cool to have a HuSi meetup somewhere within driving range. Austin is about an 8-hour drive across the Great Nation of Texas, which is kinda long, but I don't see a lot of cool places to meet in between.

Any thoughts?

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Attention West TX / NM Exfidels! | 10 comments (10 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback

A few things in West Texas... by atreides (4.00 / 2) #1 Sat Nov 03, 2007 at 07:19:08 PM EST

Marfa is nice if you're artsy and it's trying to get more urbane. A star party at McDonald Observatory is an absolute must. It's cool being able to completely open up your car on I10. Other than that, there's not much. Van Horn, Ft. Stockton, Sonora, Ozona: all crap. And Las Cruces was nice to visit or a couple of days but only because it was different, though, now that I think about it, it wasn't great at all since I went for a funeral.

If you come here, let me know. I have obligations Sunday, but Saturday has nothing I can't move around a bit...

_{He sails from world to world in a flying tomb, serving gods who eat hope.}

It's realistically by blixco (4.00 / 1) #2 Sat Nov 03, 2007 at 10:56:23 PM EST

an eleven to twelve hour drive.

I'll actually be in Cruces during the Thanksgiving holiday with the fam.

If you end up in Austin, let me know!
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"You bring the weasel, I'll bring the whiskey." - kellnerin

11 - 12 hours? by Lady Jane (4.00 / 1) #3 Sun Nov 04, 2007 at 12:15:00 AM EST

Google maps suck! I was mapping it from El Paso, since that's were I fly in.

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"Buttons aren't toys" -- Trillian
[ Parent ]

El Paso by blixco (4.00 / 2) #5 Sun Nov 04, 2007 at 11:51:09 AM EST

is probably an hour or so from Cruces, though you can bypass El Paso by taking the Anthony Gap and going through the new highway through Ft Bliss. That saves some time, but I'll have to look up the route.

We've had the trip from Austin take anywhere from 11 to 14 hours, depending on traffic and stops. Timing and such is crucial.

We could all try to meet in San Antonio! Or Sonora! Or...or....hell, I dunno. As long as it's on a weekend, I should be able to get away, but I'm currently taking time off, so I may not be able to get away. But I'll find out more by wednesday.
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"You bring the weasel, I'll bring the whiskey." - kellnerin
[ Parent ]

have you by rizzo (4.00 / 1) #6 Sun Nov 04, 2007 at 09:37:44 PM EST

ever been to the Caverns of Sonora? They do look cool...

Research Credit: Lady Jane
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: I haven't, by blixco (2.00 / 0) #10 Mon Nov 05, 2007 at 05:56:10 PM EST

actually, since I have been to Carlsbad Caverns. That sort of ruins caverns for ya.
But I'd be happy to get out there!
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"You bring the weasel, I'll bring the whiskey." - kellnerin
[ Parent ]

also by rizzo (2.00 / 0) #8 Mon Nov 05, 2007 at 05:44:15 PM EST

any thoughts on a good reason to spend $100 on a rental car for a daytrip into Sovieto Mexistana by way of EL Paso?
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: I've never by blixco (2.00 / 0) #9 Mon Nov 05, 2007 at 05:55:17 PM EST

been a fan of driving in Mexico. Too dangerous.
But a walk over to Juarez is normally OK, though there's always risks of kidnapping or getting caught in drug lord crossfire.
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"You bring the weasel, I'll bring the whiskey." - kellnerin
[ Parent ]

Hey now by kwsNI (4.00 / 2) #4 Sun Nov 04, 2007 at 08:45:52 AM EST

I loved the 3 years I lived in Las Cruces and would gladly go back.

Are breathtaking landscapes and sunsets really worth the complete absence of green things
Why not? What makes green things so great when you just admitted the landscape and scenery is stunning? I've lived in the southwest, midwest and east coast, they all have their own forms of beauty and I don't see why some people are facinated with trees. Especially since you're less than an hour away from some of the lushest mountain forests you've ever seen.

cultural diversity
The university in Las Cruces was running 55% minority enrollment when I was there 5 years ago, you're 60 minutes from the Mexican border and inside the inner border patrol checkpoints. Just because it's not the cultural mix you are accustomed to doesn't mean it's not diverse.

and naturally-running potable water?
As opposed to Georgia and Tennessee? Oh wait, New Mexico does have rivers, they're just a few hundred feet underground. They also have higher quality tap water than we get here off of the wonderful Mississippi.

Are you insane?
Probably, but I blame the time I lived on the east coast for that.

: how did you know by rizzo (4.00 / 1) #7 Sun Nov 04, 2007 at 09:57:39 PM EST

I wrote that whole diatribe as an ad hominem personal attack on your happy memories? Damn you're good. I thought ridiculous and obviously-overstated hyperboles about the southwest from a native Mainer would be a particularly effective cover for a directed string of sincere and bigoted insults. :-)
You're also quite right on all counts bro, except the part about cultural diversity. I may be wrong about this, but rural desert native/Mexican meta-monoculture with a salt-sprinkling of multicolored transplants doesn't really count as cultural diversity to me. Then again, the State Dept has sort of spoiled us up here in Portland with all the in-your-face diversity that refugees of war-torn post-Clintonian nations bring to a 99.8% anglo/caucasian state.
The east coast will drive every sane, sovereign human being absolutely ape-shit crazy after a short period of exposure, and the effects are nearly-permanent. But wouldn't chronic boredom and isolation combined with perpetual moisturization and frequent risk of sunstroke also push a person over the edge eventually? I don't know anybody who's lived in LC for more than a couple years.
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[ Parent ]

Attention West TX / NM Exfidels! | 10 comments (10 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback