Old Town Albuquerque

We woke up Tuesday morning to snow in Tucumcari, New Mexico. We took our time leaving because we figured time would be our friend, but it actually started snowing harder once we were on the road. We had planned on taking a side trip to Santa Fe to spend one night, but scratched that since it's a higher elevation and gets more snow. Instead, we decided to spend the night in Albuquerque. And am I glad we did! We visited Old Town and it was fully decked out for Christmas. Seeing all the beautiful decorations there really put me in a Christmas mood! I took loads of pictures -- so many that I'll need to organize them to post! These are just a few teasers. By the way, we kept hearing this Elvis Presley/Martina McBride duet on the radio, so I thought I'd post it!

Don't Mess With Texas!

Is this a hoot or what! This photo was shot in Conlen, Texas.

Thirty minutes after we encountered Tex, we saw this angry Texas sky.

There's No Place Like Home!

I thought I'd fire up a little road trip music because we're heading out today. Craig's mother should be leaving the hospital by noon, so we'll be taking off down the road in hopes of beating a winter storm that's supposed to arrive tonight. The storm is also hitting northern New Mexico, but hopefully we can get to Albuquerque on Tuesday so we have some sights to explore while we wait out the storm! We've booked a room in Tucumcari tonight. Sounds kind of exotic, but when viewed from the interstate -- not! Sorry Tucumcari. I could be wrong? Hopefully, we'll be back to much milder weather at home by sometime Wednesday!

There's no place like home! There's no place like home! I'm clicking my heels, but I forgot my ruby red slippers!

Some Midwest Photos -- Hays, Kansas

Craig and I took a long lunch away from the hospital to look around downtown Hays. There were some surprises. Main Street has a lot of historic charm!

Saby or Statue?

Old Downtown Hays

Old Stone Church

This old stone house was on the backside of the block where the old stone church stands. It appears that the entire block was some type of church complex at one time. I think a stone sculptor occupies the house because the yard contains a lot of sculptures in stone like the one below.

More historic buildings in downtown Hays.

Could this be where my little elves got their training for those Christmas videos? :)

Downtown Antique Store

Notes from the Road

Craig learned not to 'mess with Texas!' We were pulled over by a state trooper in East Texas right beside a stinking feedlot. Saby, of course, was in cow heaven nervously whining and snotting up the back window wanting to get at those cows over the fence. I was a little concerned the trooper would think Saby was trying to get at him! We were overcome by the stink as we sat there with the window down for 15 minutes. The nice young guy let Craig off on a warning when Craig explained the reason for our trip. He was going 76 in a 70 mph zone. We saw a huge number of 'Smokies' running speed traps throughout the trip. I'm guessing that states, in the current economic funding crisis, are trying to maximize their revenue from speeding tickets. In fact, there were electronic signs in New Mexico warning of the 'Cop Blitz.' I was going to have a little fun with Craig and post his warning ticket, but realized there was too much vital information!

Craig's mom is doing better than ever expected. They installed a pacemaker yesterday that's supposed to help overcome some of the damage done to her heart by the attack. She's really weak, but the cardiologist sounded fairly optimistic. By the way, 2008 has just been a hell of a year. Among numerous other pitfalls, that's our second near and dear relative air-lifted to a major medical center in the last few months.

Not even a heavy-duty prescription antacid can overcome the ravages of fast food. Ugh. I took two yesterday and that didn't even do the trick. Maybe I should do a foodie blog on Fast Food U.S.A. I'd give a thumbs up to the In and Out burger 'animal style,' but a thumbs down to almost anything else I've consumed on this trip. The Kentucky Fried Chicken BLT salad with roasted chicken last night was fairly mundane. The biscuit that we ordered with it was the taste equivalent of styrofoam. But maybe I'm too harsh a critic since our fast food trips are few and far between.

Wind farm technology is expanding -- rapidly! The only place in the past where I've noted wind farms is right off the interstate in the Palm Springs area. I know there's a lot of T. Boone Pickens buzz now about wind farms, but we were still surprised to see the number of large windmills being transported cross-country. And we were shocked to see a huge wind farm right off the highway in a little town south of Hays, Kansas.

I saw some great shots on the way here as we were flying by, but we just didn't have time to stop for the picture. So maybe on the trip home we'll take some time to smell the roses. We may be able to head back sometime early this next week. We'll just have to wait and see.

See ya when I see ya! :)

Dancing with the Stars, Part II

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Saby -- Road Warrior!

Saby's a real road warrior! There's nothing she likes better than a long car trip. She can sit up in the backseat for two days straight staring out the window at the scenery -- jack rabbits, dogs, horses, sheep. She particularly loves feed yards, but not for the smell! She can't believe the sheer number of cows in one location. If only she could jump out of the car and herd! But after a long day on the road, she wants her blanket. After we got into the room tonight, it suddenly registered with me that she was loudly lapping up water and I hadn't even gotten her bowl out yet to fill it. Oh GOD! Not the toilet! Ick ick ick. I won't be asking Saby for a good night kiss tonight! :)

An Unexpected Road Trip

We got word yesterday that Craig's mother had a massive heart attack and was airlifted from her small town to Hays, Kansas on Wednesday morning. After considering the best way to get there, we decided to throw our bags and the dog in the car. We left Phoenix about 5:00 p.m. We arrived in Albuquerque around 11:30 p.m. last night, slept for about 6 hours, and drove the rest of the way today. After talking to Craig's sister from the road, his mother's doing better than expected. So we're happy about that and hoping for the best.

It's easy living in Phoenix to forget what four season climates are really like. Sometimes when I'm a little homesick for Washington I wonder whether I really like living in Phoenix. But all it takes is a road trip north between November and April to remind me how much I hate leaving Phoenix this time of year. It was 75 and sunny when we left the house yesterday. These photos were taken in New Mexico today. And they're color, not black and white! Gloomy and cold.

A Blast from Christmas Past!

A friend shared this photo of me on Santa's lap. (Thanks Jenny!) For some reason, the picture was in her family collection, and it's one I'd never seen in my family's photo drawer. Since it was taken in my little hometown, I'd love to know who was playing Santa! My friends think Santa's sleigh swooped into the Methodist Church for photo ops. My family was Baptist and I don't remember Mr. Claus ever being inside those doors, so we must have gone to the Methodist Church to sit on Santa's lap. I actually can't believe I'm being so cooperative in the picture. I'm guessing I'm eyeing a candy cane or the sugar cookies and punch! And I think, once again, I'm wearing the famous little white angora hat.

Cabo Christmas Slideshow

I put this slideshow together last year after that famous Cabo San Lucas trip. I thought I'd bring it out of the closet for a second play. By the way, the mute setting is automatically on, so you have to click on it to get sound.

A December Afternoon

Early December 2005, post-Wilma, was my absolute favorite trip to Isla Mujeres. The streets were washed clean, the buildings repainted, and the tourists were sparse. It was almost like being in a time warp. No daytripper boats, very few people on the beaches, and just quiet! I'm sure the quietest I'll ever experience the island. And the people were so happy to greet returning tourists. Here are a few of my favorite afternoon scenes from that trip!

Afternoon Arrival

Birds on the Dock at Playa del Sol

Those mattresses were new then!

I'm amazed there were any cocos on the palms post-Wilma.

Sergio's December Post Wilma

Rebuilding the Dock

Navy Docks

December Afternoon on the Beach

Isla Mujeres Skyline 2005

Happy Hour at Sergio's

Somebody's Moody!

Michael left today after almost a month in Phoenix and Saby went into a depressed funk. Kind of a surprise after her dancing elf moves yesterday. :) She loves it when Michael's around the house since she used to live with him. And she definitely knows what it means when she sees luggage being packed and wheeled out the door.

Once Saby noticed the camera, she decided to turn her best side to me.

And here she's giving me the look!

Saby spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon hiding, but when we returned from an afternoon trip to the pharmacy, she greeted us at the door feeling all better.

And once she got a treat, she was in Saby Heaven!

We've Been Elfed!

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A Fifties Christmas

I'm the baby in this photo!

My parents sent these Christmas cards for years. My mother always went on and on about the white angora hat I had on in this photo. You'd think angora equaled mink!

Notice the bride doll next to my drum. Bride dolls were big that year! My brother evidently had cowboy fever. He must have gotten the full outfit to go with his Hopalong Cassidy bedspread.

My brother and I with our two cousins at a family dinner. We usually sat at a children's table in the family room, but Christmas was special.

Black Friday

Now I know why they call it Black Friday! Everyone in our household has been sick. I finally succumbed to the dreaded crud on Wednesday. It's really making the rounds here in our area. It starts out with a horrible sore throat, then massive head cold, and who knows from there. Fortunately, I had no plans other than trying to get some exercise -- and I skipped that. I've spent the last two days in a tryptophan/cold medicine daze. Mostly sleeping on the couch!

I started looking at a crafty project that looks like fun for Christmas. I have some antique wooden bowls that have been hiding in the closet since we moved. Here's a decoupage idea I found at Hallmark Magazine online. I think I'll try it with copies of old family pictures, antique postcards, newspaper clippings, and old Christmas cards. If it works well, I might make some memory bowls for Christmas gifts.



Here's another gifty idea that I'm thinking about. There's also a collection of old china teacups lurking on the shelf. This would give those new purpose, and cactuses are readily available down here. :)

On a happy note, after a drenching hail/rainstorm last night, the weather is now crystal clear and beautiful. And everything in Phoenix has been washed clean!

Anyway, life's not such a beach right now. I'm hoping my crud doesn't last as long as Craig's (he's at the two week mark!). If I felt better, it would have been a great day to soak up the sun!