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.

Why didn't I get here sooner!

 Had a little gift from God come my way today when I was feeling like I was going to go into a bit of a slump.  Talked the hubby into going to the botanical garden here in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  We planned to bring the bikes, but last minute didn't, which turned out okay.  We got there and from the first second I was blown away.  It was an oasis in this desert that I really needed to know that I can go to whenever, just whenever.  So I became a member.  So now I can go to the zoo, the aquarium or this garden any day and I can bring a guest for free.  Yeah!

This was a great day.  I even had a good lunch of Thai curry in town.  Didn't think I could get that, but obviously I just hadn't tried hard enough. 

The garden had a nice butterfly area.  The kids area is GREAT.    My favorite spot would have to be the Japanese garden. It was honestly like being back in Portland and that's a nice thing to be able to go to when I want to.  Yet it will be sunny which is even greater. 

NM news - could you eat your best friend?

Woke up, turned on the morning national news show and New Mexico is in the news.  In Roswell there is a couple that would like to be able to slaughter horses and export to Europe mostly where they consider the meat to be a delicacy.  I love horses and I'm so excited that there will be two in the next yard where we are building, but I don't have strong feeling for this topic.  The opposing voice is that you can't eat your friend and horses are man's friend.  I'm assuming that no one is taking a person's best horse friend to the slaughter house without that person's permission.

Would I eat  horse meat myself... I don't think it would freak me out or anything.  I eat veal and that should freak me out, some say.  Would I eat my own horse that I had trained and raised and cared for, probably not.  But that's not to say that when the time comes for the horse to be put down - as happens - would I be opposed to sending the horse to be meat - I don't think that is a bad way to go.

I happen to have had the experience of watching a horse be loaded on a trailer after it died, and I have to say that that was not a particularly humane experience in itself, even though the horse died on it's own, in it's own barn.  Due to the size and weight of these guys, they hitch them up to a winch and drag them to the trailer.  I lived in the next lot, across the field and was painting a room when I notice the commotion outside.  The buddy, Shetland pony was having a complete fit that his pal was dead and it was pretty tragic.  The family who owned the horses had left during it, knowing it would be upsetting.  Wish I had got the memo.

This issue is piggy backed with my daughter coming home all excited from her anatomy class yesterday.  "Guess what I got to do today???"  No idea. "I got to look at a human cadaver, 60 year old woman, it was so cool.  I want to donate my body when I die."  So there you go.  Hundreds of people will look and poke and dissect my daughter for a year after she dies.  Then her body will be cremated and set to me in an envelope.  Is that humane...?  It's fine.  I never want to spend money on a casket, let alone a horse casket.

Spring Break Every Day

Today was one of those days when I got up and went for a walk before the shower.  I had the added fun of my recently returned college kid joining me and it was great.  The weather was perfect if not a little blindingly sunny, but I had my specs and hat, so I was fine.  After being raised in Minnesota and living a bit too long in Oregon, days like today need to be savored - like you would a family holiday.  Only it's not a holiday - well it is in much of Europe, but not here.  It's May day.

When the kids were little we made a big deal of May Day.  We made some sort of container - that would hang on peoples doors.  We filled them with candy and in the wee hours we delivered our May Day baskets.  We filled the red wagon and the kids loved it.  People suspected it was us - as we also were the organizers of the block party and anything else that happened there.  We made our baskets out of paper plates, or folded paper or cups.  Each year trying to think of something new.

Miss those days a bit.  Loved the young kid stage.  Now all they want to do is go shopping with my credit card.

BUSY weekend April 28, 2012

I know where I will be this weekend, at the Rio Rancho first ever expo, at the Santa Ana Expo Center from 10AM to 5PM.  People get this mixed up with the Santa Ana Casino which is understandable.  I will be at a booth for Keller Williams Realty - greeting and trying to meet as many people as I can.  They got quite a few companies to come out for this event and they have entertainment lined up all afternoon from noon on.  Kids are free and tickets are $5, but there is some 2 for 1 deal if you come early I think...  It was in the paper.

Other things going on this weekend - the big Pow Wow is in town.  Went last year and will miss it this year, but I'm going to schedule it for next year and not schedule over it.  I love the Indian culture and this is the largest Pow Wow in the US.  I'm a quarter Indian myself... but you need to look closely at my high cheek bones to believe.

I'm also missing the car show at the Cabazon Park.  Went last year and there was some great cars.  Cars with some history recorded.  I love to see the years and think who I know that would have been driving that type of car.  They were in mint condition and I apprecitate the dedication to this expensive little hobby people have.

The weather is supposed to be low 70's and so far I'm not seeing wind in the forecast.  Hopefully that will stick and it will be a great weekend to be out and about!