{"id":5,"date":"2006-06-18T16:58:10","date_gmt":"2006-06-18T23:58:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pwoodford.net\/blog\/?page_id=5"},"modified":"2026-04-26T17:48:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T00:48:07","slug":"about-this-blog","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pwoodford.net\/blog\/?page_id=5","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"

About Paul’s Thing<\/strong><\/h4>\n

There’s this thing in southern Arizona.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_0381\"<\/a><\/p>\n

As you drive across the state on I-10, you’re reminded of it again and again.<\/p>\n

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Generations of travelers have pondered the mystery of “The Thing?<\/a><\/strong>”<\/p>\n

What is it?<\/p>\n

A roadside attraction<\/a><\/strong> near Dragoon, Arizona.<\/p>\n

No, really, what is it?<\/p>\n

It’s the Mystery of the Desert.<\/p>\n

No, you know what I mean . . . what is<\/em> it?<\/p>\n

Damned if I know. Even though I paid the price of admission and looked The Thing? right in the eye, I can’t tell you what it’s supposed to be:<\/p>\n

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Who am I? I’m Paul, and this is where I write about life, culture, books, consumerism, my love of wristwatches and dachshunds, politics, the media, war, aviation, current events, the internets, cooking, and other mysteries of life in the desert.<\/p>\n

Welcome to Exit 322!<\/p>\n

About Paul<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Woodford, Paul Q. G.: English major, retired US Air Force lieutenant colonel, fighter pilot. I flew the F-15 Eagle in Arizona, Virginia, Alaska, the Netherlands, and Okinawa before retiring in 1997. From 1997 to 2005 I worked as a defense contractor, training fighter and recce pilots at USAF bases in the USA and the Pacific. I worked for the VA Hospital from 2005 to 2008, when I retired again, this time (I hope) for keeps. Until recently, I was a volunteer docent at Pima Air and Space Museum.<\/p>\n

Donna and I have lived in Tucson, Arizona since 1997. We’ve been married since 1965.<\/p>\n

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My professional interests include flying, flight safety, aircraft mishap investigation, and aircrew training; my personal interests are hashing<\/a><\/strong>, watch collecting, dogs, cooking, reading, banned books, writing, and blogging.<\/p>\n

More here, if you’re interested:<\/p>\n