A Story of Survival As we transition from our hot summer to a glorious Fall season here in Arizona you may notice that the number of flying pests (I’m not speaking about visiting out-of-state relatives here) are diminishing with the seasonal change. It seems like we had an overabundance of mosquitoes this year. More than 40 species of mosquitoes...
Unraveling the Mystery Behind This Puzzling Pinnacle On nearing the Colossal Cave road turnoff by way of Interstate 10, your eyes may be drawn to an innocuous looking metal spire that looms high above the prickly pear and sandy soil of Vail. When I first moved to our city in 2014, it was this very structure, towering above the desert, that...
I’ve sometimes been accused of seeking out a bit of drama to add some spice to my life, and I admit–I am guilty as charged. But it has always been the “wow factor” of things in the world that get me worked up and float my boat. The recent photos from NASA and the Webb telescope showing our universe as it existed 13 billion years ago is a...
Here’s a novel way to “return to sender” By Khevin Barnes I want to preface my story with a disclaimer: This won’t put a stop to the endless junk email that finds its way onto your cell phone, desktop or tablet, but it’s sure to give you a sense of consumer satisfaction, paired with a touch of sweet revenge. The fact is, fake email scams cost...
Being a Zoophilist May Add Life to Your Years By Khevin Barnes Springtime in Vail brings much more than just a return of “snowbirds”. It’s a splendid arena for viewing and interacting with nature in all its glory and pageantry. Don’t believe me? Just take a look out your window. Birds of all kinds are busy preparing nests for their newborn...
Our “Town between the tracks” inspires a Train Yard Tale By Khevin Barnes One of my fondest childhood memories are of those few weeks around Christmas time when my brother and I were permitted to set up the big, Lionel electric train around the tree. I still have that train in my possession after nearly seven decades, along with my fascination for...
Remembering the mini-careers that shaped our lives By Khevin Barnes I feel fortunate to be a resident in the “Over 55 Active Adult Community” of Del Webb here in Vail. While many in this community are retired from their life-long vocations, there are lots of folks living here who are still working full or part time. The age of 55 is certainly not...
(Yeah, But It’s a Dry Heat Isn’t it?) By Khevin Barnes Arizona is a fabulous destination if you’re looking for sunshine and incredible natural beauty. The sixth-largest state in the United States, Arizona is home to the Grand Canyon and attracts millions of tourists every year just for that, but there’s a lot more to Arizona than its...
Don’t let a mountain get in your way By Khevin Barnes Philosophers and poets have often compared our lives to mountain climbing. The best view comes after the hardest climb. Living in Vail we have some stunning mountains surrounding our Rincon Valley and a number of these peaks are accessible with proper preparation. Looking out my office window I...
By Khevin Barnes In recent days, as the Covid travel bans have been cautiously lifted, many of my neighbors here in Vail have eagerly booked vacations, cruises and other travel plans. A few of my friends are aware of the fact that I have been fortunate to visit 50 or so countries on our planet, and I’m sometimes asked what my favorite places were...
