I Heart Denton

 So, Denton, Texas, has become quite a cute little spot. We've been visiting it for quite a few years now because there is an amazing bookstore there (Recycled Books). The town square, a classic small town square with the courthouse in the middle and shops all around, was a bit bedraggled for a few years. Now there are hip restaurants and coffee shops and this fun shop, Atomic Candy. Not sure what this big head was on originally, but here he is in the front window.

That's the courthouse reflected in the window. 

 The candy shop also has a big hand...

 And this head, which looks like a muffler man head but is too small (prototype?)...

Weird animal masks for Halloween...

 There are two theatres on the square (this one slightly off the square)...it appears to be used as a theatre for performances (not movies).

 And you gotta love small town America!

Muffler Men, Yee-Haw!!!

 It was a THREE muffler man day in Dallas, y'all! AND two of them are the semi-rare "happy half-wit" variety (not politically correct, but that's what they're called!). They are both at outposts of Ken's Mufflers.

 Here is the one at another branch of Ken's Mufflers. He needs some refurbishing...

 And this is the classic Muffler Man--and he's holding a muffler! He also needs some cosmetic work...

Three in one city! Woot!

New Mexico Odds and Ends: The End

The end! It was an amazing 4 days; I covered many miles and saw many cool and beautiful things. New Mexico, I'll be back!

Arty

 Also in Santa Fe: Meow Wolf, "an immersive, multimedia art experience." (The name was chosen by pulling random words out of a hat!)

It is located in an old bowling alley, which was purchased with funds from George R.R. Martin, Santa Fe resident and author of the books upon which my beloved Game of Thrones is based.

The official greeter...

 You can see that it is, indeed immersive--lights, colors, music, sounds, interactive elements.

The exhibit is called "The House of Eternal Return," and it is a complicated narrative that starts out in an abandoned house and leads through...well, all of this (and MUCH more!). Here is a good overview of the exhibition.

Unfortunately, I didn't start at the beginning, so I was a bit confused about what I was seeing. And it was VERY VERY crowded, which made it less enjoyable than it might have been.

Still, very cool and quite unusual--very happy I went!

 Clouds. Of course!

 There were still a lot of lovely wildflowers along the road...

 Gnarly.

And these amazing clouds turned into an epic storm that evening--I watched lightning from my 15th-floor hotel room.

An exhausting but wonderful day in New Mexico!