Au Natural

Sonnet and I visit the Ouray natural springs which is clothing-optional. We've been here many befores and can agree: It mostly ain't pretty, Dear Reader. Today however we have some yuf (not that I am concentrating or anything). Ok - the hot springs temp is between 97 and 105 degrees depending on the season and the height of the water table within the eart. In order to increase the temperature of the main pond, flumes mix water from the crater and well pit of approximately 118 degrees. The Tabagueche Indians, led by Chief Ouray, soaked in the hot springs for its calming affects as well as medical healing for such ailments as arthritis. The waters have traces of Calcium, Flourine, Magnesium, Mangnese, Potassium, Sulfer and Lithium which may enhance a mood of tranquility and is used as a drug treatment for manic depression. Sonnet and I lounge sans kids and sans clothes. Hippie dippie fer sur.

Watching the men's 4X100 freestyle I yell so loudly the hotel reception calls: "Is somebody screaming?" she asks. The drama intense as A) Phelps needs the W for eight; and B) the French are quoted: "we will smash zee Americans." The American victory smashes the world record by four seconds which is unimaginable given improvements are tenths and hundredths. Anchor Jason Lezek's unofficial anchortime of 46.06 the fastest ever swum for this distance and steals the race by eight one-hundreths of a second. Lezark and Garrett Weber-Gale are Jewish BTW and Cullen Jones black - Israel's Haaretz Magazine: "Two Jews and a black man help Phelps fulfill dream." And there you have it.

The painting by Nicolai Fechin (Seated Nude, 1950); she is one of the most unusual and inventive of the Taos artists.