Mary Poppins at the PopeJoy

This weekend the play version of Mary Poppins is starting at the PopeJoy on the U of New Mexico campus.  I'm excited, a musical I actually like the songs and it should have some serious dance numbers.  Yeah!!  I've never seen the play.  The movie a ton, I think it was one of the first movies I ever say... let me google that...  okay I think this is a truth.  I would have been 3-4 years old when it came out.  Younger sibling of 5, so very possible they took me along.  This is back in Minneapolis, I think I actually know which theater we were at... is that possilbe. Maybe.  Anyway, it made a big impression on me, cause when it came to actually deciding my wedding dress I wanted it to look pretty similar to the dress in the film that she's wearing when they jump into the chalk  picture and go into the cartoon world and ride the merry-go-round.  Maybe this is why I love chalk art, merry-go-rounds, and that dress.

Adding to this post, after seeing the play I can only say good things.  It was delightful and had a couple great dance scenes.  While watching I started to think about how much seeing this movie as a young child probably affected my life... above the pick on my wedding dress.  Maybe it's why I decided to be a nanny - twice!  The first time it was to a boy and girl... sound familiar.  I was a perfect nanny; fun but firm on discipline.  High expectations is what I'd call it.  Kid's perform well to high expectations. 

Amusement - Hanging off a Cliff

Last night we went to the one and only Albuquerque amusement park called Cliffs.  We walked in and first ride the kids want to do.... "the Rattler".  It's a classic looking wooden roller coaster that, actually looks sort of small, and harmless.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD96nmLJjJw
Very deceiving - it's short in time, but not harmless. 

With the first few seconds my head was thrown to the left and I crashed my head into my husbands shoulder and from that wack major head pain on two sides... which is weird.  The rest of the ride was done in a state of terror, for fear of further injury.  After the shock wore off - left with head, neck and lower back pain.  Today I am resting it off.  I did ice everything before bed, which I think helped a lot.

Generally I think Cliff amusement park is a very cute place and has more than you would guess from the small foot print it takes in this city.  In past trip I enjoyed the log ride - not super scary, just fun.  I also liked the water slide thing where you are in a little raft, so you don't get that wet.

Last night- even though I wanted the soft ice cream with oreo cookie crumbs on it, I was coerced to try the "dipping dots."  I always thought they would be interesting, but not worth the price.  I ordered the cookie something and it was actually kind of fun. My favorite thing to do, kiss them with wet lips and see how many stick.  Got the entire group to follow suit.  Should have got picture of the entire group with dipping dot lips.

The funniest looking area in the park is the kiddie water park area.   I need a grandkid...  I repeat, I need a grand kid.

Yesterday June 16th, Albuquerque had it's Summerfest Cenntenial Celebration in the downtown area closing off Central (part of Route 66) for most of the day.  They had many stages with music - a full range.  Saw Rock-a-billy music, Indian drumming with dancers, country western dancers and then Roy Rogers Jr. and others.

Food for sale and some booths of local businesses and museums.  We got there right as it opened and have very light crowds.  We were already downtown ushering at the Popejoy that morning so it made for a full morning downtown.

We thought it seemed sort of smokey and turns out a fire started a 11AM just south of ABQ and so it was smokey.  The sun only peaked through the haze occassionally.

We talked to the owner of the car I have pictured for a long time.  He told us a ton about what all he did to make this beauty of a car look brand new again.  He told us that he bought the car from three ladies in Arizona I believe who were the original owners - so the car has had a total of 2.  That's pretty crazy and it has less than 100K miles on it.  He insisted I sit in the car and asked what I thought the dial of numbers on the right was.  It looked like a second spedometer - but it turned out to be the radio.  Very fancy for it's time. 

I'm a bit of a fan of of street fairs and I've been to some really good ones.  I didn't linger at this one long enough to give it a grade honestly.  But the reason I didn't linger is it was just a bit too hot.  The best street parties I've been to happen in the evening when it cools down a bit.  Then you want to dance and eat and hang out.  I think ABQ needs to rethink the day time street parties in the summer.  This one started at noon and went to 6PM - total middle of the hottest time of day??  Why??

When I first got to town I was completely intrigued with people watching here.  Coming from Portland Oregon things were  the same in some areas and completely over the top in others, but now I'm totally used to it and not much draws my eye.  I'll never be a fan of tattoos. I've tried to stop thinking about what that tatoo will look on an old person, but it's hard.  I really hate seeing tattoos on old skin, it's so gross.  I saw a lady with so much tatoos on her chest going up to the top of her neck - just under her jaw line, that her head looked like it was floating.  Not pretty.  Okay that caught my eye and I really wanted a picture.  I think I should have asked, and I think she would have said okay.  I mean.... you don't have junk put all over your body and dress so that everyone can see it because you want to keep it private...?  Right?

They had an art area - but it wasn't anything that I was interested in.  There is so many great places to see art in this area.  What I'd really like to go to is the usable folk art show in Sante fe... need to get that on the calendar. 

Free ABQ Concerts at the Balloon Museum

This past Wednesday we went to a wonderful evening of music and kid fun.  There are 4 others planned through out the summer, using the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, the last one being on August 8th.

The schedule is 6-7pm kid stuff inside the Balloon Museum.  Use the east door.
And 7-8 the ABQ Concert Band plays in the shade of the museum, east lawn.

This week they had story teller and an African drum group teach the kids some rhythms and it was quite the jam session.  I should have brought my drum.  I have a thing about drumming.  I think it's from my one quarter Chippawa Indian blood.  One of these days I will buy one like they had at this event.  They are like furniture.  I'd use it for an end table so that it was a justifiable expense.  Multi-purpose or I can't indulge my whims.

Back to the event.  The band played a variety from of music: marching tunes, a montage of songs from a musical or our favorite - theme music from the original Star Trek (the final frontier).  Did you know the origin only had three seasons for a total or something like 75 episodes.   That's why you think you remember all of them - you've seen them over and over.  My friend who we went with, says that there are 5 cast of Star Treks - if you include all the off shoots.  Wow, didn't know that.

The daily high had been 92 degrees, but by 6pm in the shade it was pretty perfect.  We had clouds so the sunset was extra great, nice breeze.  They have some chairs, but your own camp chair... if it's a nice one would be more comfy.  Blankets work too.   People bring picnics, but they also have gourmet food trucks and the pizza looked really good, so I think I'm going to try that next time.  Maybe I'll see you there.

Holding a beautiful Corrales home open tomorrow.  Come and see it.  Only been on the market for 5 days.