jackalog

Louis grew up in Santa Fe, but was more interested in Mendelssohn than in mariachi. . . more interested in Byzantium than in Zozobra . . . . more interested in men-o’-war than in movie stars . . .

Louis, his ex-wife, and I have reared 5 offspring, and we have 9 grandchildren. Now Louis and I are guardians to oodles of animals.

Louis always wanted to be an archaeologist and solve some of the great mysteries of southwest United States pre-history. Family responsibilities necessitated his withdrawing from the University of New Mexico to devote his efforts to a fulltime job. Attending community college part-time for several years thereafter resulted in his receiving an Associate’s degree in Anthropology (although he has accumulated enough credit hours to have a much more advanced degree). He has become something of an expert on “Chaco Roads”, one of the areas of on-going research in the archaeology of the Southwest.

I always wanted to be an actor, because I felt as though that was the only (relatively sane) way I could give expression to all of the people I contain. When I started college in 1968, I majored in Theater. After “The Sixties” took its toll on my focus, I re-entered college in 1979, declaring a Journalism major. But then one of my multitudes decided to switch to English, then one to Psychology, then back to English, then Languages, then Geology, then English, then Wildlife Management, then English, then Physical Anthropology, then Archaeology–I briefly majored in Education, then Art, then American Studies, then History. I ended up with a Bachelor’s degree in English and Anthropology–almost by default as (similar to Louis’ situation) I’d accumulated enough credit hours in the scatter of majors to have a Ph.D., but enough focused credits only in English and Anthropology to actually get the B.A..

I used to do contract archaeology for money, and Louis worked with me part-time–not for money, but out of the goodness of his heart (because he’s the best man in the world–and because I whined so much about having to go to the field by myself. And also because he really loves archaeology. Okay, so I really love archaeology, too–but I love real archaeology, and as any archaeologist will tell you, contract archaeology is not real archaeology). Now I just try to sell art to make money. By profession, Louis is a pipeline survey coordinator for a major natural gas company.

Louis is one of the world’s foremost model-ship builders. Starting out as a boy building the USS Monitor out of a felt-tip pen, 2 potted-meat cans, and a few scraps of balsa wood, he went on to finer things, and has meticulously assembled and painted over 250 model ships in the past 14 years; the quality of his work is unsurpassed. He is also an excellent sketch-artist and painter, and can identify a piece of classical music upon hearing any 3 measures of it. Also (which amazes me, because I lack the ability entirely) Louis remembers every single fact or concept or plot or character he reads–and he reads voraciously.

I have used a myriad of media to express my compulsive creativity, including but not limited to: crayon encaustic, charcoal sketch, watercolor, oil paint on canvas, acrylic paint on anything-it-would-stick-to, home-made tempera paint, clay sculpture, decoupage, stained glass, mosaic, crochet, embroidery, sewing, poetry, creative writing, clothing design, tile stencil, polymer clay, house design, interior decorating, “house jewelry” creation, upholstery. For many years, I was something of an expert at the replication of traditional Plains Indian material culture. And I lived in a tipi.

Louis is an amateur-bordering-on-expert carpenter, 1960’s pontiac-bonneville-restorer, landscaper, gardener, house-painter, plumber, electrician, tile-layer, comedian, race-car-driver, media critic, child protective agent, financial advisor, world historian, vigilante, mechanic, encyclopedia, guidance counselor, story-teller, restaurant critic, tire-changer, cartographer, maid/janitor, anti-pc policeman, post-hole digger/fence-builder, dish-drier, wood-worker, backhoe, masseur, preacher, astronomer, connoisseur of wines-under-$15-a-bottle . . .

I am an amateur astrologer, psychologist, linguist, doctor, desk-top publisher/graphics designer, movie critic, sociologist, carpenter, mechanic, flooring installer, book/magazine/newspaper/billboard editor, philosopher, chef, horticulturist/gardener, furniture-finisher, lawyer, maid/janitor, bookkeeper/accountant, mud racer, botanist, secretary, laundress, natural scientist, barber, forensic investigator, grammatician, plumber’s assistant, computer technician, drywall-finisher, cartographer, genealogist, astronomer, child protective agent, nutritionist, teacher, landscaper . . .

My pettest peeve is bullies–people (or institutions) who gratify themselves by harming or exploiting innocents (animals, children, earnest people of any age). I also detest phoniness, manipulation, envy, greed, laziness, and wastefulness. Louis hates stupid drivers.

I have a wry and satiric sense of humor which is sometimes expressed in the art I create, and is often expressed in the titles I give to my pieces. And I am full of self-mockery.