Goodbye 2013 and Hello to 2014; Wonder What's in Store for the New Year?

Wish List for the 2014 New Year

Every New Year, it's a tradition to make a list of "resolutions" that most people end up not keeping. It's a good concept, but unfortunately we tend to make goals for ourselves that are more wishful thinking than practical. Then there is the "wish list"; concepts or ideals that we hope will get resolved for the New Year, but is dependent on others, not just ourselves; for instance, "World Peace". Back to being practical, this will more than likely not happen in our current lifetime, perhaps not at all in the lifetime of mankind itself. War is profitable, oh not to those fighting, losing their lives and leaving loved ones without them; but for those who are either greedy or need to prove that they are right. Politics and Religion do not go hand in hand, they are Siamese Twins joined in such a manner that any type of "surgery" guarantees death. The leaders of these groups have been raised up to the status of "omnipotent gods" instead of being recognized as simple human beings with flaws and capable of being wrong. Until the populace develops "common sense" and refuses to hold these humans in higher regard than their own lives, the business of war will always be more profitable than life itself. The popular quote from Rodney King is, "Why can't we all just get along?", but we cannot so long as the majority of human beings meekly follow along as "sheeple" those that they consider "right". If each political and/or religious leader is right, than how can anyone be wrong, and what is all the fighting truly about?

So for the New Year of 2014, I'm not going to waste my time making resolutions that I probably will not keep, perhaps not even begin. I am going to make a wish list that is dependent on others. Why? I want to see if anyone is listening, not just hearing; I want to see if anyone cares about a stranger and wants to help her obtain her "wish list" for a very simple reason...just because.

Wish #1: All loans and credit card debts are paid off in full. Start the New Year off free of all old debts; begin at zero and build upwards instead of being held down.














An old fashioned "comfort food" diner; yeah, that's my dream.

Wish #2: My food blog, Food Adventures of a Comfort Cook, becomes so popular that an entrepreneur actually wants to invest money into the restaurant idea I dream about.



Wish #3: My travel blog, The Southwest Through Wide Brown Eyes becomes so popular that a company actually gives me a brand new Jeep or SUV (with their advertising printed on the vehicle) for my use in furthering my excursions.








 



Wish #4: For my husband, Roy, that his Artwork becomes so high in demand, he can finally afford to build his own art studio and do what he went to school to study for, and loves. Or he gets that high paying job with a studio, either way he would be doing what he loves. The picture I've posted is one he did by taking one of my photos of Agathla Peak and doing "photo manipulation" to it; Roy's passion is graphic arts and digital artwork.

"El Diablo Towers" - a photo manipulation of Agathla Peak

Wish #5: This wish is for the town I live in, Monticello, Utah and has several parts.

A: That common sense finally prevails, more businesses are allowed into the town limits, allowed to flourish and, thereby, providing more funds for the town itself.






B: That the housing market has an upsurge; all properties are finally purchased, homeowners have, or receive, the finances to upgrade their homes; that Monticello, Utah makes it into the "Top 100 Places to Live in the USA" list.














C: That the town becomes a tourist mecca; employment will be non-existent due to the need; businesses of all types will, again, flourish.




Wish #6: That the medical professions and pharmaceutical companies stop jerking everyone around and finally release the cures for cancer, diabetes, AIDS and other diseases/illnesses that are so very profitable for them. I have Type 2 Diabetes and am so sick and tired of pills and insulin shots; I'm sick of pharmaceutical companies putting out commercials saying that as soon as you're diagnosed, you must use their products or suffer the consequences, including death. I'm sick of organizations asking for research donations, and they're the same organizations I've been seeing begging for money for over 50 years. What are they doing with all that money, over all those years, that they haven't developed a cure yet!!??!!

Six wishes, I'm not going to be greedy; then again, I'm not a politician or religious leader. Not all the wishes are about me either, they're about my husband, the town I live in, and for those suffering medically. I have lots of wishes inside my head, but I'm sticking to these six, since they're the most important of all to me.

Have fun at your end of the old year parties; don't drink till you end the year looking like a total ass; the next day is a whole new year and people will be remembering. Most especially do not drink and drive; don't end the year by ending your own life and/or the lives of others.

A Happy and Healthy New Year to everyone, everywhere; and for my wish list...bring it on!!!

Mary Cokenour

Flagstaff, Arizona - The Old West Keeps a Toe Hold.

Route 89 in Arizona; if you decide to bypass Route 64 leading to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, then you're headed towards the San Francisco Peaks and Flagstaff. So now you're saying, "Really, pass up seeing the Grand Canyon?" No, not exactly; I'm suggesting you enhance the total experience with a visit to Flagstaff. In fact, if you have a couple of days to spend in the area, even better; visiting Wupatki National Monument and Sunset Crater Volcano is highly recommended, and I'll explain why in future writings.  Roy and I went to the Grand Canyon twice, once using Route 64 off Route 89 and once passing through Flagstaff via Route 180 to Route 64; basically it is a loop of sorts.  It's not that confusing, I promise.

Lets get this road trip started; so you've just done a rest stop at the Cameron Trading Post, gassed up the vehicle, maybe purchased one, oh who am I kidding, many souvenirs.  Traveling on Route 89 westward, you'll see the turnoff for Route 64 to the South Rim, but you're going to stay on Route 89 towards Flagstaff (two hours in travel time).  You'll notice that the landscape will begin to change from desert to more residential areas here and there, and much more greenery.  In the distance will be the San Francisco Peaks; a volcanic mountain range with Humphreys Peak as the highest point in the state of Arizona at 12,633 feet.  You'll be traveling through this range much later on when you finally get back on the road to the Grand Canyon.

San Francisco Peaks

As you begin to get closer to Flagstaff, the traffic will increase and the scenery will change drastically to typically urban encroachment...malls.  Starting to get hungry?  Hold off on that until you park in the older section of Flagstaff; there is a virtual smorgasbord of restaurants to choose from.  The biggest clue that it's time to park, get out and begin exploring the area is when you see the train engine pulling its load of timber; and the old train station which is now the Visitors Center.

I'm not going to give you a detailed history of Flagstaff; better yet, click HERE for the information guide given out by the Visitors Center. Oh, and for those interested in historic Route 66; this road through Flagstaff is part of it.




So, welcome to Flagstaff, Arizona; you're in the historic section with many of the original buildings sharing the city with modern attributes.  While in some cities, tall steel buildings overwhelm the historic ones, but Flagstaff has managed to avoid that mistake.  As I mentioned before, there is a cornucopia of restaurants, along with offices, retail stores and micro malls within buildings; one of which houses the Flagstaff Chocolate Company...yum!

Brick facade office buildings might have a small "park" for public use; showcasing works from local artists.  A mural decorates the outside of Diablo Burger restaurant, again displaying how the old and new have married well with each other.

Hotel Weatherford

Outside the Federal Building, old time street lamps are adorned in copper leafing.  The Hotel Weatherford (circa 1890) still stands on the corner of Aspen Avenue; a piece of history seems to be on almost every street in Flagstaff.






Alright, you've had a fun time in Flagstaff, but what about the Grand Canyon!?!  Simply head west on Route 89 until you see the sign for Route 180 and make a right onto it.  This will take you through the San Francisco Peaks, a wonderfully scenic ride; you'll eventually meet up with Route 64 again.  Just make a right and follow the route until you see the signs for the entrance to the Grand Canyon's South Rim.  See, not that confusing and you're dealing with major routes, no side roads to get lost on.

Route 180 through the San Francisco Peaks

Enjoy the visit to Flagstaff!

Mary Cokenour