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Karen Funk Blocher

@mavarin.bsky.social
958 followers 742 following 1.1K posts

Bookkeeper, editor, fantasy novelist (pending), Democrat, Tucsonan, Whovian, sometime birder, & amateur photographer. One husband, two dogs, no kids, no cats. Bots, p*rn accounts and strangers who DM me will be blocked.

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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 1h
Sunday was the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis, so naturally we had the Blessing of the Animals, or, as I like to call it, Take Your Dog to Church Day. In recent years, many people have chosen to get their animals blessed by proxy, usually by pulling up a photo on their phone. 1/2
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
For just about 3 weeks I’ve been struggling with pain in several places down my left side. It started with “overdoing it” on my knee rehab exercises. My doctor, my physical therapist, my trainer and “Dr. Google” all gave similar advice on exercises for the lower back and hip pain, 1/2
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
The Gaslight Theatre is a quirky, fun troupe and venue that produces quirky, fun musical parody spoofs. The building, adjacent to 1950s-themed Little Anthony’s Diner, has always had a faux Old West vibe, but recently they’ve upped their game with new building facades and a Tucson mural. 1/2
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Dusk today. My day started w/ remembering l was supposed to come in early—in ten minutes! I almost managed it. Later I rushed home to help John medicate Kito’s feet. Then I went to the hospital for x-rays my doctor ordered. I got there by 2:30. 1/2
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Lots of people have dramatic pictures tonight of flooded washes and rivers after Tucson’s day of rain, but I was at work and didn’t get that far. Maybe tomorrow! But I did get a few shots of the church labyrinth after rain, and clouds at sunset. 1/2
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
The Blochers had kind of a rough day. It was the day of our somewhat long-awaited appointment with Kito’s vet, to check in for an assessment of Kito’s quality of life. At 16, Kito is mostly deaf, with severe arthritis and mobility issues, eye problems, bad dental disease, and bleeding rear feet. 1/2
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Photos are from September 28, 2021. Still having too much muscular pain to go gallivanting. I appear to have pulled a muscle in my abdomen while trying to rehab my back.
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Six years ago today, I helped to rescue three ducks. In the wake of COVID, someone had acquired about two dozen domesticated ducks, only to later dump them at Sweetwater Wetlands Park. The ducks were not equipped to survive in the wild. (These photos are from 3 weeks earlier.) 1/2
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
I have no good new photos from Friday, and my archive for September 26 in past years is less than thrilling. So here instead is a photo of two somewhat unusual-looking objects I used today. Can you identify them?
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Bunny and Bullfrog, five years ago today.
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Wednesday’s Fireball sunset.
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
You might say that over the years I’ve been available in a variety of sizes. This is not all that unusual for someone who has struggled with the disease known as obesity for over 50 years. 1/4
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
New photos tonight, although I left the office in a hurry after sunset and didn’t go anywhere special to capture it. #TucsonSunset #TucsonMonsoon
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Mostly Cactus Forest Trail, probably, September 22, 2021. #SaguaroSunset
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Reposted by Karen Funk Blocher
Jon Cooper @joncooper-us.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
🎯🎯
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Hoodoos and pinnacles above Windy Point, a year ago today. I walked about a quarter mile round trip along Mt. Lemmon Highway to get these photos. 1/2
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
On September 20, 2019, I photographed a woman doing yoga at sunset at the Gates Pass overlook.
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Three years ago today, Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band rocked Ronstadt Music Hall.
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
A year ago today, as I was too distracted with back pain and a PT appointment to take new photos on Thursday. But I do have a way forward to heal from this. #TucsonWeather #TucsonMonsoon
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
A year ago today. This Wednesday was at least as rainy but less photogenic, and I got no new photos. I’m still dealing with major pain from a muscle strain and will be seeing a physical therapist in the morning.
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
When I picked up our 2025 tax return this morning, I saw something highly unusual nearby. The entire three eastbound lanes of Broadway Blvd were blocked off completely at Prudence! My tax guy said that Monday’s brief storm had been so violent that one or more telephone poles were damaged.
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
“Do you think it’s going to rain?” my friend asked when I dropped her off after shopping. Five minutes later I was driving in a cloudburst down Golf Links Road, with flooding and ten feet visibility. I stopped at Safeway, which had a brief power failure. 1/2
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Monday sunset (last week) on Mica View Trail. I’ve hurt my back somehow, specifically my lower back between my spine and my left hip. Massage, acetaminophen, stretching not helping. I’ll probably try urgent care in the morning.
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Saturday sunset. Better views were available but I was very late for the gym and didn’t have time to drive to a more scenic spot.
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
More from Radio Ridge last Saturday.
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Wednesday in the LA Fitness parking lot looking east, at 6:30 PM and 9 PM. Sometimes we get better sunset views looking north or east instead of west. Later I pointed my iPhone camera at distant lightning. There were no individual bolts visible, but the light poles made interesting patterns.
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Saguaros on Saturday near Sunset.
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
I had no idea that Star Trek was having theater screenings today (Tuesday) until a co-worker asked me whether I’d gone to one. There were a number of different double features, but the only one that worked for my schedule was The City on the Edge of Forever… 1/2
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
I found my 40-year-old Star Trek shirt late last night, at the bottom of my bag of vintage shirts. I’m therefore out of compliance with the office dress code today.. Happy Star Trek Day! Watch out for salt vampires and don’t wear a red shirt!
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
How Star Trek changed my life, aside from general influences on my personal interests, activities, and philosophy: Because of Star Trek, I was writing for, editing, and publishing fanzines before I was out of high school, developing skills I still use today. 1/2
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Mediocre Monday sunset, and a bunny. #Tucsonsunsets #saguaro
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
On Saturday after Windy Point and a stop at the Mt. Lemmon General Store, I drove up to Radio Ridge near the summit of Mt. Lemmon. There is a rather steep-looking dirt road there that I’d hiked up maybe once before, years ago. It was time to do it again. 1/2
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
I only managed a mini-gallivant on Saturday. Following a trip to the gym, I just headed up Mt. Lemmon. First stop, as usual, was Windy Point. Less usual was the fact that I used a restroom there to change from workout clothes into jeans and my “The mountains are calling and I must go” T-shirt.
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
More from The Loop at Rillito River Park on Thursday. I hope to gallivant something the next 48 hours.
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
My writing group meets at IHOP (Grant and Rosemont) on alternate Thursdays. Sunset in Tucson is currently around 6:45 PM and I normally get to IHOP at 7. So today I drove out to Rillito River Park off Swan to grab some sunset shots before the meeting. Well worth the detour!
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Wednesday sunset at Golf Links and Wilmot. #Tucsonsunsets
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Reposted by Karen Funk Blocher
Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
This is why you can't have healthcare. www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigratio…
nbcnews.com
ICE plans to buy robot ‘dogs’ for some immigration enforcement operations
The doglike robots are equipped with cameras and sensors that can detect chemicals and would be used in situations that
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
I’ve waited a long time to post this, and in my darker moments, I started to doubt I’d ever get here. But here I am, 150 pounds lighter than when I started on 4/10/2015. That was when I got my new smart scale, my prescription for Ozempic, and my marching orders from PCP and knee surgeon. 1/2
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Still more photos from Saturday pre-sunset on Mica View Trail, Saguaro National Park East. #tucsonsunsets #saguaros
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
More from Saturday pre-sunset on Mica View Trail - portrait mode. #saguaronationalpark #TucsonSunsets
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
I made it out to Mica View Trail at Saguaro National Park on Saturday, and the sunset did not disappoint. The first shot I took a few miles away after distractedly missing a turn. The rest are from the first few minutes of my 1.7 mile walk. Much more to come!
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Area and a tiny piece of the Arizona Trail, five years ago today. This is the former site of a prison camp, whose inmates helped to build Mt Lemmon Highway. 1/2
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
The monsoon is still monsooning! Tucson had some really dramatic weather today - more than a few miles west of where I was. #tucsonweather
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
August 27, 2022. Las Cienegas National Conservation Area & Patagonia. Aside from Mt. Lemmon, I haven’t been out of Tucson since February, partly because of knee pain while driving, partly because gas costs for a non-hybrid. OTOH, the Honda can handle places the Prius couldn’t go - when I’m ready.
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Three years ago today, in Patagonia and Sonoita, AZ, there was a rainbow.
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
What a day! On Friday, my Honda had a low tire pressure warning, and late Saturday afternoon I learned the car had FOUR nails in one tire! Monday morning the dealership said I had to buy two tires, plus rear brake pads. Husband John was furious! 1/2
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Last Tuesday’s sunset at Mica View Trail.
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Saturday afternoon clouds. #Tucsonmonsoon
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Friday clouds over Calle Mumble. #monsoon
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Karen Funk Blocher @mavarin.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
I saw my surgeon today for my 3-month follow-up, including x-rays. Everything looks great and is proceeding as it should. Dr. G. agreed with me that there is no need to consider replacing the other knee for years to come, if ever.
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