Beautiful, Bored and Pizza

Beautiful - this place really is. Roman and I were on the mountain yesterday inbetween rain falls and I was captured by the simple elegance of the terrain. From the simplest cactus to the sky. It is a far cry from Minnesota. Every day there is a change. If we get rain at night the mountain is a bit more green, the air is fresh. If no rain falls we are reminded of the fagility and arid nature of this climate. The mountain remains brown. . . even the smell of the air gets more pronounced with . . . nothing. It's like smelling something in a vacuum - like your olfactory senses are lulled to sleep with the lack of moisture in the air.

Roman and I stolled to the highest elevation for us yet. My guess is about 2000' above Albuquerque's 5300' base. Roman is the smarter of the two of us. We walked the three blocks of sidewalk leading to the mountain trails and then he insisted that atop Pop's shoulders was the place to be. We enjoyed the walk and when we hit the peak of our climb I did a cursory check of the plateau we reached for snakes, scorpions (both the German rock group and the animal - don't know which makes me more nervous) and spiders and then let the little man play with his favorite toy on the planet - rocks. I snapped some photos (including the one above of the rain/no rain horizon above Albuquerque) called Gabby and Tori and relaxed for a bit. We then decended from our lofty endeavor and made our way back home. It was a good afternoon!

Bored - you would think that after 5 1/2 months of being unemployed that one week of being unemployed in Albuquerque would be no big thing - nothing could be farther from the truth. I am so ready to re-join the work force it is simply rediculous. Of course the week has not been without adventure in that realm. I called Fred (the gentlman who lined me up with my upcoming employment) on Wednesday to check in - found out that he was no longer at the dealership. . . saw my work life flash before my eyes for a moment. My deal is still intact (upon confirmation from the dealership - that was my immediate call after exiting the conversation with Fred). I don't know what Fred is going to do but, honestly, I really do not care compared to my ability to provide for mine. Good luck Fred!!!

Pizza - a few years ago Steph and I were surprised to find that the best sushi we had ever had (still remains that way to this day) was found at a sushi place in Tulsa Oklahoma. Imagine that. . . Today I am equally surprised to find that the best pizza I have ever had came from a shop here in town called "Dino's". Simply amazing stuff. I am equally unimpressed with the spicy cuisine I expected to find here - harder than you might think. I have asked a few folks about some places that are not afraid to bring the heat and am hopeful that on payday I can swing by for lunch and test the theory.

Later - Frank