Windy City

Flags at attention

Mark Ronchetti of KRQE is my favorite weather caster. Apart from the fact he has such enthusiasm for his job, he actually acknowledges Las Vegas, New Mexico exists in the real world. We are not Brigadoon. We do not disappear into the mist except when something bad happens. We're here all the time. Thanks, Mr. Ronchetti, for noticing us. He makes note of how windy it can be in our little corner of the world when it isn't all that windy anywhere else. He'll have a lot to talk about tonight, if he chooses to do so. It is a windy, windy day.

Fortunately the winds only last for a time, and then they're gone, whistling up some other town's streets, flinging Wal-Mart bags into trees and plastering them against fences. Farewell to you, Mr. Wind, and I'll be glad to see the back of you.

So, I don't sell advertising and a subscription isn't required to receive Happenstance, however I will accept sponsorships. If you think Happenstance is worth keeping around, your support will be welcomed. You can send your check to Happenstance c/o PO Box 187, Las Vegas, NM 87701. There will soon be a Paypal icon on the website for your convenience. From the website can also purchase Kathy Allen's recipe book, Someone's in the Kitchen, on CD, and a digital PDF copy of Tiger Lilly, a contemporary novel by moi. The novel is being serialized in Happenstance, but if you can't wait to get the rest of the story, it is for sale in digital format only. The novel begins in the October 2010 issue.

I have Tiger Lilly out there in the netherworld looking for an agent or a publisher. So far no luck.

In the March 7 issue of Happenstance look for a two-page spread featuring poetry, some about spring and some about life. Connie Mack comes on board as a contributing writer and if you know Connie you know to expect something a little different. There's more MUCH more to look forward to.

So much for every day!

My very best intentions went awry in the recent days. I haven't blogged, which I said I was going to do EVERY DAY. So what is the point of blogging every day anyway? Good question. One friend said she didn't have time to read other people's personal lives every day. Got that, really, I do. I would hope this blog—the Happenstance blog—would be more, much more than that.

For a heartbeat of time I wondered if it couldn't be an ongoing calendar of events around town, but realized that's already being done rather effectively by the local newspaper, radio stations, chamber of commerce and Karyl Lyne's e-mail blasts.

February 7, 2011

In reality this blog is about Happenstance, life happens, but how much can you say about a magazine that comes out digitally once a month? Talk about it too much and you might as well do the zine in the blog, which believe me, I've considered. It would be cheaper, because, yes, despite there being no print costs, there is a fee for maintaining a website plus the zine publishing site. The blog is free.

Hmmm, where was I going with this. Blogging. Right. To blog or not to blog, that is the question (forgive me Mr. Shakespeare).

So, my purpose in the blog is to draw attention to Happenstance and build readership. With that in mind I'm going to highlight articles through the month as a reminder of what readers missed in the current issue, and give hints about what to expect in the upcoming issue.

I might from time to time sneak in current events.

I'm also looking for submissions: essays, memoirs, poetry, fiction and non-fiction, how to articles, photo journalism, cartoons and illustrations. For submission guidelines e-mail happenstance@happenstancelifehappens.com. Unfortunately right now I can't pay writers, but if it's publishing credit you're looking for this is a way to get it done. I am selective so do ask for the guidelines.

About the February issue. Did you read the article on human trafficking? It is a story most of us would rather ignore, but in it you will find out about an local agency developing a program to identify and provide aide to victims of this horrifying practice. To access the article go to the Happenstance website home page, and click on the Hidden in Plain Sight link under Inside This Issue.

Cindy Charlton

I really loved Cindy Charlton's story about finding romance at a time in her life when it wasn't even on her radar. Check it out.

If you haven't made time to read the last Happenstance don't forget another one will be out in two weeks, on March 7.

More about what to look for in tomorrow's blog... maybe.

Scammed! Hacked! Grrrr...!

It's happened again. My e-mail list was snagged! I hate this. I was having a perfectly wonderful day when I opened my hotmail account to discover I had a slug of e-mails. During the week that's pretty common; on the weekend, not so much. These were all notifications that my "mail would be sent later" as my sending limit had been reached! I couldn't even e-mail everyone and say, "Don't Open That!" because, well, my sending limit had been reached because some slug was using my account to send his junk e-mails.

I did the next best thing and put out an alert on facebook, but really, people don't check their facebook page that often, so when will they see that message among all the other messages posted?

Arrrrggghhh!

I've changed my password, but that doesn't mean it won't happen again.

The Internet is an interesting foray into a world one truly does not understand. You try to protect yourself, but in the end you want to make life easy so you end up keeping the same password or creating easy-peasy passwords you won't forget. That's why changing your password regularly is important, something you should probably do every month or so. Too inconvenient? How would you like to find out you are the author of an ad you had nothing to do with? What really frosts my cookies is that now folks will be leery of anything they get from me for a while.

I guess I'll catalogue this under, "That's life," and roll with it, but it sure does bug me!

Smile, it takes the edge off life's little surprises.

Beautiful Day!

Foraging for grass.

We got a lot of snow, but as is true with New Mexico weather, wait a minute and it will be gone! Well, the snow isn't gone, but it sure did go down today. Love that sun.

Museum Reminder:  (From the Museum website) Make history again by sharing your family photos, diaries, letters, and other historic memorabilia or family ephemera with Friends of the City of Las Vegas Museum. Just in time for New Mexico’s centennial, the Friends will be publishing a photographic history of the first century of Las Vegas entitled: Las Vegas, NM: Boomtown on the Southwestern Frontier, and would like your family to be a part of it. So, get into the attics and basements of Las Vegas! Call your tias and abuelas to see what’s in their shoeboxes and family Bibles!

In addition, historian and contributing editor, Elmo Baca is seeking to include brief essays and other literary expressions from the general public to help explore the major themes to be included in the book. Submissions will be accepted through Friday, April 1, 2011.

Nat God Players: If you have a yen for acting here's an opportunity for you. Nat Gold Players’ Auditions will be held Sunday, February 13, at 4 p.m. at the Las Vegas Arts Council office, 140 Bridge Street (the orange, gold, blue and purple bldg.) Auditions are for Box Seats—10 minute original plays by local playwrights. Rehearsals will be set up around participant schedules. More Info: Cyn Riley 454-6873.

TeatroJoven youth art classes: Caroline Rackley is seeking contributions in support of Teatrojoven's arts education and production fund. Tuition for an 8-week series of 2-hour classes is $80. All gifts of any size are welcome. Tax deductible contributions may be sent to: YoungTheatre c/o Goodwin, Inc., 1320 6th Street, Las Vegas, NM 87701. For more information call 505 425-6092.


Writing Contests: If you have a great idea for a story, poem or article, and don't mind stiff competition, Writer's Digest has launched its annual writing contest request for entries. For more information go to Writer's Digest. I entered all three of my books in the self-published books competition, and while I didn't win, I got valuable feedback from the judges. I'm planning on entering the contests for unpublished works (short fiction, articles, essays and poetry) this year.

If you want a blurb on my blog, please send your information to happenstance@happenstancelifehappens.com.

Have a happy!

Extending Submission Period

I'm extending the Happenstance submission period to Feb. 25. I forgot this is a short month, partly because the first Monday fell rather late in the month, but also because February is, well, a short month. If you have article ideas or want to submit an article, essay, short story, poem, photo essay, cartoon or any other interesting media, please e-mail it to happenstance@happenstancelifehappens.com.

Happenstance Community: 
Saturday, Feb. 12 is a Second Saturday and there are many activities to take part in. For a full list of activities go to Mainstreet de Las Vegas. Below are a couple of highlights.

From 1 to 5 p.m., jewelry artisan Tito Chavez will be conducting a free jewelry-making event at Tito’s Gallery, 157 Bridge St. in Las Vegas. Make either a pendant or earrings using discs of brass, copper or nickel embossed with metal stamps (including hearts). Several people can work at the same time, and a new participant can start as soon as one has completed a project. Light refreshments will be served.

El Zócalo Gallery's featured artist Kristy Klaiber who is having a reception celebrating her new exhibit of assemblage from 2 to 5 p.m., el Zócalo Gallery, 212 Plaza Park.


Celebrate Las Vegas. It's a great place to be.

Health Lectures at Alta Vista

Feb.  8, 9.25 p.m. -3 degrees!

I don't mind the snow, as long as I can stay inside. I have to say it is beautiful and I know we need the moisture, so I refuse to complain, especially inside my cozy home. Stay warm! 

Happenstance Community  

Alta Vista Regional Hospital 

Doc Talk is a series of programs offered by Alta Vista Regional Hospital.  On Feb. 15 at noon, family medicine physician Michael Green will be giving the Healthy Woman talk entitled "Caring for Her Heart; Heart Disease More Prevalent Among Women Than Men." A light meal will be served at 11:45 a.m. To make reservations call 505 426-3772.

The monthly Senior Circle Doc Talk On Feb. 25 features internist Dr. Raymond Ortiz who will present "Congestive Heart Failure Can be as Deadly as a Heart Attack." To RSVP call Linda Leyba at 426-3772. 

Fund Raiser

For only $12 you can enjoy a fashion show and support the Salvation Army. The event is Sunday, Feb. 13 at the Plaza Hotel, beginning at 3 p.m. Coffee, tea and desserts will be served. 

Send your events to happenstance@happenstancelifehappens.com and I'll list them on my blog. 

Have you read your Feb. Happenstance? Check it out at www.happenstancelifehappens.com

February Happenstance is up

Did you know that El Zocalo Gallery in Las Vegas has a featured artist every month? Check out the latest issue of Happenstance to find out who is being featured this month. Also read about the Friends of the Museum annual fundraiser for the endowment fund. There's more, much more! Don't miss anything.

I frequently hear that nothing ever happens in Las Vegas, our Las Vegas. Get real! Something is happening in Las Vegas, NM ALL the time. The Optic has a list of on-going and daily events, and while they may not all apply to your interests, the variety of events and activities is mind-boggling. The UWC alone has enough going on to keep your calendar full nearly every weekend. The Chamber website is also chock full of events throughout the year. Since Happenstance is a monthly we shy away from doing calendar listings but I welcome the opportunity to list events in my blog. It keeps me on my toes and gives me ideas to feed to writers who want to submit work.

With that in mind here's an upcoming event you won't want to miss. 

Favorite Places, a show of paintings by Nancy Philo is being exhibited through April
in the El Fidel Restaurant on Douglas Avenue. Her work has been widely exhibited in New Mexico, the Midwest, and all over New England, and is included in many corporate and private collections in the United States, and in Europe and Asia.The artist's drawing of Martin Luther King, Jr. is in the Smithsonian Museum in the National Portrait Gallery collection. Nancy owns Hyperbole Gallery and Studio at her home on Fifth Street in Las Vegas. An artist's reception is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 11, from 5-7 p.m. at the El Fidel.

Hope to see you there!

Look for new Happenstance Feb. 7

The Feb. 7 Happenstance is full of great stories. Look for Points to Ponder, thoughts from retired minister Chad Boliek; an article about long time Las Vegas resident Gretchen Bush; What is it About Romance? by regular contributor Cindy Charlton; an article about the Friends of the Museum fund raiser, Planning Ahead for the Future of the Past.

Tracey Preiskorn's Stampin' Up business is just getting off the ground. Her story mirrors that of women who opt to be full-time moms yet want to have something to do that adds to the family income and stimulates creativity.

Artist Trading Cards is an innovative way to get artists and art lovers together. The story in the Feb. 7 issue tells all. A companion article is about the El Zocalo Artist of the Month, Kristine Klaiber, a found art artist.

Pamela G. Daves had an interesting idea called Recipes and Chat. She gives snippets of life encounters and includes a recipe. Look for it and tell us what you think.

Robert E. Gallegos wrote a column in a now defunct weekly called "There Was a Time." It has be "repurposed" in Happenstance as Yesterday. It will be some of his previously published articles plus some that never made it to print.

Mamma and the Monster, by Kayt Peck is a lovely story suitable for any age, though she calls it a children story. It's really about the power of love.

And of course Tiger Lilly continues. If you are following the story or want to start following the story, it begins in the October 2010 issue, which can be found on the archives page at http://www.happenstancelifehappens.com/.