Image: Mattress, Wendover Airbase

Post-war the Airbase was abandoned. The wooden buildings, having housed a temporary population of around 20,000 military and civilian personnel, were left to the elements. Most of these structures have now been removed and this has produced a space between my accommodation (to the East of the old settlement and South of the rail-tracks) and the newer dwellings (to the North-west, by the road). Its now mostly used as a dumping site - although the local people I met tonight were dumbfounded as to why someone would rather drive 15 minutes to illegally dump their unwanted wares in the desert instead of 15 minutes to the free, municipal dump on the south side of town.
It produces an interesting transitionary space for me when I leave from or return to CLUI's residence unit.

It was great to meet with some local people at the Nasa dinner tonight (don't mention Obama as 'he's not even American' and 'we need a good American man to lead our Country'). Most of the family's I met were of Mexican descent, the situation meant I was able to sample some Horchata rice drink. Ms Bushman, a teacher who runs the NASA club, leads a crew of 9 teenagers, the funds from tonight's dinner go towards their imminent trip to NASA's Ames facility in California where they will undertake a day's work experience.
I met a nice Finnish guy called Juha who's been living in the States since 1969, he volunteers at the Wendover Senior Centre and he invited me along to join him and some of his friends for dinner tomorrow (at 4.30pm). I think I will go.
Its bin collection in the morning so I'm up early to 'wheel out the trash', the wind will get it if I do it tonight.

13th April 2011