Notes on nursing

Doll Clothes by Evie

Sorry it has been so quiet lately but I've been running a hospital ward here for the past few weeks. 

Not only is Grandpoppa on his third round of antibiotics for pneumonia, but Momma was diagnosed with pneumonia on Monday, too. 

I know! Pneumonia? In Arizona? In July?!  

I think I shall have to order either a nurse or candy stripper outfit.

Incidentally, the first known nurse was Phoebe, mentioned in Romans 16:1. Paul sent a deaconess named Phoebe to Rome as the first visiting nurse where she took care of both women and men.

I knew Phoebe left too soon!

The Indian Capital of the World

As previously mentioned, the only city we visited last weekend that is actually mentioned in the song Route 66 was the city of Gallup, N.M. 

Gallup (Navajo: Naʼnízhoozhí) is is the county seat of McKinley County and the most populous city between Flagstaff, Ariz., and Albuquerque, N.M.

Gallup was founded in 1881 as a railhead for the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad. The city was named after David Gallup, a paymaster for the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad. 

During World War II, the city fought successfully to prevent 800 Japanese American residents from being placed in wartime internment.

Gallup is sometimes called the "Indian Capital of the World", for its location in the heart of Native American lands, and the presence of Navajo, Zuni, Hopi and other tribes. Gallup's nickname references the huge impact of the Native American cultures found in and around Gallup. 

One of Gallup's biggest events is the Red Rock Balloon Rally, which is the second largest balloon festival in the world and has been held annually in Gallup since 1981. The three-day event features a Friday lift off from both the Red Rock Park and Fox Run Golf Course.

The largest hot air balloon festival in the world is the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta which takes place in Albuquerque, N.M. during early October. The balloon fiesta is a nine-day event, and has around 750 balloons.

Sadly, we did not see Saige while in New Mexico.

Happy birth/steampunk/flag day!

Wow, what a day!

Just in case you forgot, today is birth/steampunk/flag day!

Happy Birthday, H.G. Wells!

Happy International Steampunk Day!

Happy Flag Day!

H.G. Wells, the Victorian author of science fiction pieces such as The Time Machine, was born on June 14, 1866 and so steampunk lovers around the world chose this date to celebrate everything steampunk.

Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened on that day in 1777 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. Flag Day became a holiday on June 14, 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation.

Honor America Days are a United States Federal Observance observed June 14 to July 4. According to 36 United States Code § 112, the 21 days from Flag Day through Independence Day is a period to honor America. On these days, there be public gatherings and activities during that period at which the people of the United States can celebrate and honor their country in an appropriate way.

Travel the wigwam way

I was able to show Phoebe (and Clementine) one of my favorite pieces of Americana when we drove down historic Route 66 in Holbrook, Ariz.: Wigwam Village #6.

Arizonan Chester E. Lewis first became aware of the distinctive wigwam designs when he was passing through Cave City, Ky., in 1938. He purchased the rights to Frank A. Redford's design (Redford called the buildings "wigwams" because he didn't like the word tipi), as well as the right to use the name "Wigwam Village."

Opening in 1950, Lewis operated Wigwam Village #6 successfully until closing it in 1974 when Interstate 40 bypassed downtown Holbrook. Two years after his death in 1986, children Clifton, Paul, and Elinor bought it back and renovated the motel, finally reopening it in 1988. The Lewis family continues to run and maintain Wigwam Village #6. 

Fifteen concrete and steel wigwams are numbered from 1 to 16 (there is no teepee 13). Each wigwam is 14 feet wide and 32 feet high. Behind the main room of each unit is a small bathroom with sink, toilet, and shower.

Rooms currently contain the original restored hickory furniture, two double beds, cable television, and a window-mounted air conditioner; there are no telephones, Internet access, or ice machines (although ice is available in small buckets upon request).

Vintage restored automobiles from the 1960s and earlier are located throughout the parking area. Small green metal benches etched with the words "Wigwam Village #6" are scattered throughout the complex as well.

Seven Wigwam Villages were built between 1933 and 1949, but only three remain - two of which are on Route 66.

Better get your kicks while you can!

Miss Navajo

www.missnavajocouncil.org

Phoebe, Clementine and I were quite excited to discover we were in the presence of Navajo royalty when we visited Navajoland last weekend. 

Miss Navajo 1963-1964: Anna Mae Begay Fowler!

Anna Fowler, who is married to The Rev. Jack Fowler, Rector Emeritus of All Saints Church in Farmington, N.M., was one of the most beautiful and gracious women any of us had ever met.

(In fact, we were quite smitten.)

Miss Navajo Nation is a pageant that has been held annually on the Navajo Nation since 1952. The name has changed over the years from Miss Navajo, to Miss Traditional Navajo and Miss Modern Navajo, back to Miss Navajo, to Miss Navajo Nation.

Currently, pageant contestants must be unmarried, over 18 years of age, be a high school graduate, and be able to speak the Navajo language. They compete in such activities such as answering questions about traditional and modern Navajo customs both in Navajo and English, sheep butchering, and performing a contemporary and Navajo cultural talent.

www.missnavajocouncil.org

The role of Miss Navajo Nation is to exemplify the essence and characters of First Woman, White Shell Woman and Changing Woman and to display leadership as the Goodwill Ambassador.

Miss Navajo Nation represents womanhood and fulfills the role of "grandmother, mother, aunt, and sister" to the Navajo people and therefore she can speak as a leader, teacher, counselor, adviser and friend.

www.missnavajocouncil.org

I was fascinated to learn more aboout Anna Fowler, according to the Miss Navajo Council website:

• Hometown: Black Mountain, AZ
• Age during reign: 20
• Education: Intermountain Indian school for Junior High School, Window Rock High School, B.S. in Elementary Education, minor in Early Childhood Education at Univ of New Mexico
• I am (Nishlí): Red Running into the Water Clan (Naasht’ezhi dine’e Tachii’nii)
• Born for (Báshíshchíín): Bitter Water Clan (Todich’ii’nii)
• My Maternal Grandparents are (Dashichei): Salt Clan (Ashiihi)
• My Paternal Grandparents are (Dashinálí): The Water Flow Together Clan (To’aheedliinii)

I was born Dec. 17, 1943, in Black Mountain, Arizona (Chinle). Herded sheep ‘til 8 years old. Then enrolled in Chinle Boarding School, where I continued ‘til sent to Intermountain Indian school (Brigham City, Utah) for Junior High School. After that, I attended high school at Window Rock High School living in the dormitory at Good Shepherd Mission, Fort Defiance, Arizona. It was from there that I competed for Miss Navajo 1963. Later on, I found my future husband at Fort Defiance and married following my reign. These years of our marriage we have raised five children, now all married and who have given us 13 grandchildren. My career as a graduate of UNM in Elementary education has spanned a variety of teachings and administrative positions. Sharing God’s love as a minister's wife has been a satisfying part of my career. My years as Miss Navajo Nation contributed richly in preparing me for my life’s work.

What do you feel were your significant accomplishments during your reign as Miss Navajo Nation? The public relations and goodwill that I accomplished for the Navajo Tribe through my visibility.

What do you feel are your accomplishments in your career? My graduation from University of New Mexico and the success I achieved with early childhood and pre-kindergarten children.

What is your greatest accomplishment? Motherhood and grandmotherhood which I am accomplishing.

What do you feel are your accomplishments in your life? Teaching for modern living and teaching the tradition of the Navajo people in school and outside the school setting. Understanding and accepting the two cultures that I live in that I can get along with the other culture and people. Using my god-given gifts as a mother and grandmother to help my children and grandchildren to cope in this world.

What are your fondest memories of your reign as Miss Navajo Nation? I was attendant to the Sun Bowl Queen in El Paso, Texas along with several other royalties. My Clearwater and St. Petersburg (Florida) trip when I received the key to the City of St. Petersburg from the Mayor and the pride that I felt in sharing information about my people.

What challenges did you face as Miss Navajo Nation? I was trying to finish high school at the same time during my reign, but made it with a lot of studying on my part.

What was your greatest learning experience during your reign as Miss Navajo Nation? That I can be a winner and believe in myself and that I can reach my life goals. Interacting with people different than myself helped improved my self-image.

What was required of you when you were running for Miss Navajo Nation? Commitment and persistence to improve my skills in both modern and traditional categories as I was the first to compete in both. In the traditional, the weaving, spinning and carding for a rug and sung a song, jokes. Modern; typing, sewing and public speaking.

What is your advice to future Miss Navajo Nations? To make sure full backing of family and friends first as well as a good sponsor. Even if you don’t win, the experience in worth it. Go for it!

I'll bet Phoebe's Momma won't get to meet the Queen of England while she's in Great Britain!

The Main Street of America

Have you gotten your kicks on Route 66?

We did!

Route 66 was established on Nov. 11, 1926. (Road signs erected the following year.) The highway became one of the most famous roads in America and ran through eight states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.

Covering a total of 2,448 miles, it was recognized in pop culture by many books as well as a hit song and the Route 66 television show in the 1960s. Sadly, Route 66 declined in popularity with the completion of Interstate 40 in 1984.

I don't know if Phoebe has ever taken the highway that is best (since she lives in Pennsylvania) but she hit three towns on this trip - although only one (Gallup, N.M.) is mentioned in the song.

The (Get Your Kicks on) Route 66 lyrics read as a mini-travelogue as you head west: Chicago, Ill., St. Louis, Mo., Joplin, Mo., Oklahoma City, Okla., Amarillo, Texas, Gallup, N.M., Flagstaff, Ariz., Winona, Ariz., Kingman, Ariz., Barstow, Calif., San Bernardino, Calif., and Los Angeles, Calif.

(Winona is out of sequence with the rest of the cities because the author of the song, Bobby Troup, needed a word that rhymed with "Arizona.")

If you ever plan to motor west,
Travel my way, take the highway that is best.
Get your kicks on Route 66.

It winds from Chicago to LA,
More than 2,000 miles all the way.
Get your kicks on Route 66.

Now you go through Saint Louie
Joplin, Missouri,
And Oklahoma City is mighty pretty.
You see Amarillo,
Gallup, New Mexico,
Flagstaff, Arizona.
(Don't forget Winona,)
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernandino.

Won't you get hip to this timely tip:
When you make that California trip
Get your kicks on Route 66.

Did you know, of the eight states through which the actual route passes, only Kansas and its cities (Route 66 spends just 11 miles inside Kansas' southeast corner) are not mentioned by the song?

Take it easy

Phew, it will be a busy week telling you about our adventures in Navajoland and northeastern Arizona, but one of my geeky favorites was Winslow, Ariz.

You know, the small town mentioned in The Eagles 1972 hit song, "Take It Easy."

Well, I'm a standing on a corner
In Winslow, Arizona
And such a fine sight to see
It's a girl, my lord
In a flatbed Ford
Slowin' down to take a look at me

The city of Winslow erected a life-size bronze statue and mural in 1999 commemorating the song at the Standin' On The Corner Park.

The statue of a man holding a guitar stands near a lamp post, and a metal sign, crafted in the style of U.S. Route 66 shields, displays the words "Standin' On The Corner."

The trompe-l'œil mural on the wall behind the statue is that of a storefront, and what appears to be the reflection of a red flatbed Ford pickup truck driven by a blonde-haired woman. The second floor of the mural features an eagle perched in one of the windows.

(It is literally a wall. A fire destroyed the building in 2007. A grassy park now occupies the space behind the wall.)

If you ever make it to Winslow, make sure you go to the northwest corner of Second Street (Route 66) and Kinsley Avenue.

Fancy that

Oh boy, we got to attend a Gourd Dance tonight!

First we attended a banquet with many delicious foods, including traditional Navajo fry bread and mutton stew.

Then they danced!

The Gourd Dance is a Native American celebration dance and ceremony that originated with another tribe, not the Navajo.

The Master of Ceremonies tonight told us that four men went off to war, but one became ill so the others went for help. They heard an unusual sound coming from the other side of a hill, where they saw a red wolf singing and dancing on its hind legs. The wolf spoke to them and told them to take the songs and dances back to The People. A "howl" at the end of each Gourd Dance song is a tribute to the red wolf.

Veterans or their families traditionally do the gourd dance, but women can do the Shawl Dance around them. Most of the women were wearing plain street clothes, but their beautiful shawls reminded me of Kaya's Fancy Shawl Outfit of Today.

The women's Shawl Dance represents the opening of a cocoon when the butterfly emerges. The shawl is frequently the most extravagant piece of their wardrobe.

Fancy dance was originally created by Native Americans in the 1920s and 1930s in an attempt to preserve their culture. Fancy dance was considered appropriate to be performed for visitors to reservations and at "Wild West" shows. But today, fancy dancers can be seen at many powwows across the nation and even the world.

Navajo lullaby

We finally arrived in Farmingon, N.M. after a seven hour drive.

I don't know about Momma, but we need our beauty sleep!

I sleep in beauty
Yes I do, yes I do,
I lie in beauty
Yes I do, yes I do,
Just for you and only you
Hay ya ha na

News for nerds

Thankfully the internet cooperated today (I think it ran out of steam yesterday) so here (finally!) are the photos of our adventures at Phoenix Comicon 13.

Phoebe, Clementine, and I had a blast. We hope you can join us next year!

I'll post more this week about various experiences, but for now enjoy the photos and feel free to ask questions.

https://plus.google.com/photos/112240988257177027782/albums/5882735746861350577

Let's make a deal

It is now official.

Within a month or two beloved Star Trek: The Original Series actress Nichelle Nichols will have a cloned copy of Yours Truly.

We stopped by today while Nichols was signing autographs at Phoenix Comicon to see if she really, truly wanted an Uhura fangirl doll - and she did!

(We also asked which doll she wanted. While she loved Phoebe it was My Awesomeness that won her over.)

What a brilliant woman!

While we all know that I am An Original, Momma agreed to make a doppelgänger just for her.

Now Momma is off to scour the world for a doll that looks something like me - as well as try to recreate my Awesome Star Trek fangirl costume.

Stay Tuned!

Down to Earth

I am so excited I don't even need my beloved Airship Enterprise to be in the clouds.

Nichelle Nichols likes Me us! She really, really likes Me us!

Nichols, well known as Lt. Uhura of Star Trek: The Original Series television series and six feature films, is also a singer, dancer, and a lifelong supporter of the arts and sciences.

Today at Comicon we made a beeline for Nichols to get her autograph. She loved us! In fact, she wanted to keep us but Momma said that wasn't possible.

(Phoebe got her tummy signed!)

Later, we went for a photo opportunity where Nichols again admired us. Momma said it still wasn't possible to give either of us to her, but if Nichols really wanted a doll she would make her one - and Nichols said, "Yes!"

Make it so, Number 26

Energize.

Stardate 47988

On this date in 1994, Star Trek: The Next Generation ended with the episode, "All Good Things...."

ST:TNG was an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise.  The show was created 21 years after the original Star Trek show and ran for seven seasons, unlike The Original Series which ran for only three seasons.

Phoebe is an Uhura fangirl, but I persuaded her to visit the future with me.

She liked how Captain Picard called Commander Riker Number One, so I promised I'd call her Number 26.

She was not amused.

A hero will rise

I return from my latest adventure to find a stasis chamber.

Could it be?!

Now that's a knife.

I carefully slit the hermetic seals.

Oh no! The stasis chamber appears to be full of smoke!

I quickly assist Phoebe out of her stasis chamber.

After reviving, Phoebe shows me her Star Trek uniform and gives me a gorgeous steampunk necklace.

Phoebe, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Mr. Mailman, bring me Phoebe

Phoebe is scheduled to arrive today.

I simply cannot wait!

Only one more day until Phoenix Comicon!

Mr. Mailman, bring me Phoebe
Make her the cutest that I've ever seen
Give her two lips like roses and clover
Then tell her that her lonesome nights are over

Mailman, I'm so alone
Don't have nobody to call my own
Please bring her oh so speedy
Mr. Mailman, bring me Phoebe

Mr. Mailman, bring me Phoebe
Make her the cutest that I've ever seen
Give her the word that I am a rover
Then tell her that her lonesome nights are over

Mailman, I'm so alone
Don't have nobody to call my own 
Please bring her oh so speedy
Mr. Mailman, bring me Phoebe

Mr. Mailman, bring me Phoebe
Give her a pair of eyes with a come-hither gleam
Give her a lonely heart like Leonard Nimoy
And lots of wavy hair like Nichelle Nichols

Mr. Mailman, someone to hold
Would be so peachy before I'm too old
So please bring her oh so speedy
Mr. Mailman, bring me, please, please, please
Mr. Mailman, bring me Phoebe. 

 

Steampunk Addie Into Darkness

I flew my Faithful Dirigible (the Enterprise, of course) back from the Navajo Nation in time to join Momma for tonight's premier of the moving picture Star Trek Into Darkness.

 
When the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization has detonated the fleet and everything it stands for, leaving our world in a state of crisis. With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction. As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew. 
 

Only eight days until Phoenix Comicon - and the arrival of My Dear Friend, Phoebe!

Mirror, Mirror

Phoebe fangirling as Uhura/EofA

After considerable debate, I have decided how I shall dress when I go to Phoenix Comicon 13 in May with Momma and my Dear Friend, Phoebe.

Phoebe will be fangirling as Lt. Nyota Uhura, so I have decided to do my own steampunkish version of Uhura in the classic 1967 Star Trek episode, Mirror, Mirror.

Beamed up during an ion storm, the landing party find themselves in a mirror universe aboard an Enterprise run by ruthless barbarians.

Enchanted Designer/Etsy

Momma ordered me my very own Star Trek uniform, to which I shall add my own special touches once it arrives.

(I do, however, refuse to bare my tummy!)

Stay tuned!

 

The signature pop culture experience of the Southwest

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Momma has been granted a media pass for the upcoming Phoenix Comicon 13!

That means that I, Steampunk Addie, shall be there in an official capacity!

Not only that, but my arch nemesis, Evil Wil Wheaton, will be there again - his sixth year appearing at Phoenix Comicon.


I am sooo excited.

I simply cannot wait for Phoebe to get here. We are going to have so much fun!

Now where did I put my Li'l Wil....

The adventurous type

I've been thinking.

Clementine and I are always having adventures of one kind or another, but we're starting to think that others might like to occasionally join us.

Would you?

So far I've has adventures with Sam, Ruth, Josefina Ester at the St. Louis World Fair, and Inky and Raven in the Chiricahua Mountains.

My dear friend Phoebe is scheduled to arrive for a visit in May so she can meet Nichelle Nichols at Phoenix Comicon.

If you (or your vinyl friend) have always dreamed of an adventure but don't know how to fulfill that dream - let me know!

Who knows, maybe you (or your vinyl friend) can have the adventure of a lifetime without leaving home!

Just contact me at steampunkaddie@gmail.com.

Attention all hands!

Oh, is my good friend Phoebe going to swoon when she hears that Nichelle Nichols is one of the scheduled guests for the upcoming Phoenix Comicon!

photo by EofA/used with permission

As you might recall, Phoebe is the original Uhura fangirl.

Nichols, an actress, singer and voice artist who broke racial barriers on Star Trek: The Original Series as Lt. Uhura, will become the last of the surviving main cast to appear at Phoenix Comicon.

Incidentally, Walter Koenig who played Ensign Pavel Chekov on Star Trek: The Original Series is also scheduled to appear at Phoenix Comicon.

Woo hoo!